Milton Bradley

I wondered what to write about for this first blog, but Milton Bradley sparked my interest this week. Two articles came out recently saying Milton has never felt comfortable in Chicago (discomfort) , while another suggested he has been the victim of racial slurs(racist).

One thing Milton failed to realize when signing his $30 million dollar contract (now $32 million due to reaching a certain number of at bats) is that the Cubs have not won a world series in 101 years. Did he ever stop and think Cubs fans are a very frustrated fan base? In Milton's world, the answer is probably no. He is happy collecting his huge contract to do absolutely nothing. Cubs fans want to root for the guy, but it is hard when it took him five months to start hitting the ball like Jim Hendry signed him to do. It is also hard because Milton is very hard to like. Alfonso Soriano has been quoted several times saying he does not know how to talk to Milton. When a fan base has high expectations, and you do not produce, they will not be happy. Booing is a part of the game, whether people like it or not. Milton you are a professional athlete, it is going to happen, especially when you struggle. You are not going to get a standing ovation for breaking your bat and weakly grounding to second base consistently. When you finally do get a hit or go 4-4 in meaningless games, do not mock the fans, you will not win that battle.

Onto the other point of Milton saying he has been the victim of racial slurs. The only people that can really confirm this are Milton and the people have may have said these racial slurs. Milton was asked to give examples but declined to give specifics and then said there is nothing he can do about it. Milton if this has been a problem all season, why wait until now to say something? Say something to security, the fans in right field would gladly help point the person out. No one can stop these things from happening if they do not know its going on. You are a big boy, it is ok to use your words like your mom taught you to. Being heckled has nothing to do with race, just as Jim Hendry said, ask Kent Mercker and Todd Hundley. One thing all those players had in common is that they were bad in Chicago. I am not condoning racist behavior at all, but if it is happening, say something and get them kicked out. Handling it through the media is never a good idea. I think it is as cowardly as those fans who might have said something.

Lou says Cubs fans are very supportive and they are. How else can you explain a team that has not won a world series in 101 years have people who still care after years of heartbreak. Maybe once Milton gets over the everyone is against me mentality, Cub fans will warm up to him. Will that happen? Unfortunately, does not look like that will be happening anytime soon.