11/05/24
November 03, 2004
Backman's new job apparently safer than his driving record: New Arizona Diamondbacks manager Wally Backman has been answering questions about his past after a newspaper story revealed he had a DUI arrest, an assault arrest and had filed for bankruptcy in the past. Should any of this stuff have been brought up in the hiring process? Is it fair to Backman that these issues be made public?
It means he'll be able to relate to the players better...except for the bankruptcy part. They rarely go bankrupt while they are still playing and the jack is rolling in. The stuff is all public information so that's no biggie. Should it prevent him from getting the job or something? Not really. But don't ask me, I liked Billy Martin and he was well beyond this sort of stuff as far as being a crazy bastard in general. So Backman has that to shoot for...
posted by chris2sy at 10:28 AM on November 03, 2004
How is the manager of a pro baseball team not a public figure? There's nothing unfair about revealing his criminal record. Talking about his personal finances is a bit strange, but if you're going to make a sweet living in pro sports, where fan attention pays your salary, you gotta live with the down side of that interest.
posted by rcade at 11:47 AM on November 03, 2004
Whether these things should be publicly revealed is one question but whether a potential employer should be told before the hiring decision is quite different. I don't know about you all but every job I've held has included an application that asks for felony convictions. And false information on that application is grounds for dismissal. But the Dbacks execs are probably embarassed for not catching this at the right time and reacting defensively. Not a good way to start a managerial career, especially with a team that barely avoided the worst record in MLB last season.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:21 PM on November 03, 2004
D'Backs should've gone with Bob Melvin.
posted by kjh at 03:01 AM on November 04, 2004
If you think about it for a minute, baseball is full of players and coaches that live less than a 'perfect' lifestyle, does that make any of them less of a player or manager....no, the only thing any D-Backs fan should worry about is can he mold the team that lost more than 100+ into a winning (.500) club after getting rid of players like Finley and Womack, and Spivey. Cant wait till spring training.
posted by Bo at 12:16 PM on November 04, 2004
ESPN is saying Backman has now been fired. Press conference at 1pm EST.
posted by usfbull at 11:59 AM on November 05, 2004
Well the D-Backs come outta this smelling like a pile of turd. "Well we didn't actually do a backgroud check, and that was okay on Tuesday. Now it's not. Mett your new manager Bob Melvin. He only had 99 losses last year, that's 12 better than us!". Maybe he'll bring back Brenly as his bech coach or something, yay! I would rather have the broke, drunk guy who was unproven in the bigs than most of the "known commoditiy" retreads floating around the managerial ranks. Gonna be another long summer here in the desert.
posted by pivo at 12:23 PM on November 05, 2004
Melvoin and Backman are both white guys, right? At least the Mets got past the owner racism barrier with Randolph.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:34 PM on November 05, 2004
The thing that gets me, is that Backman was in the AZ Minor League system. So they promoted his criminal record from within!
posted by usfbull at 02:05 PM on November 05, 2004
Yikes. How do you fire a guy a week after hiring him because of things that came out in the paper? All this suggests is: 1. The Diamondbacks didn't bother to get the best guy out there. If they did, they wouldn't fire him for off-field activities that occured before he was hired. 2. They didn't investigate him well enough to find this stuf out on their own. 3. They're spineless cavers.
posted by yerfatma at 02:25 PM on November 05, 2004
I couldn't agree more, Yer. After the D'backs went on and on about how he was a fiery, in-your-face competitor that their bench needed, they turn around and pick up Melvin, who's about as fiery as milk. What I like best is that Backman had no comment today, but said he "will definitely have a statement tomorrow." I think it will be brought to you by the letters "F" and "U". Here's a link to the story, and here's Ray Ratto's take on the whole deal.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:05 PM on November 05, 2004
Somebody please tell me why they hired Melvin. I can understand why they let Wally go, BUT why did they hire Melvin. Is he really the man for the job???????
posted by daddisamm at 03:45 PM on November 05, 2004
If you are looking for competitive fire then guys like Wally Backman and Lenny Dykstra, for an example of a similar player, are the way to go...but if you expected them to be good as designated drivers or something, then forget it. hey, I say that if they want someone who is a crazed baseball psycho, then why not go out and get Rex Hudler. He was always an intense player too and he could religion them up too if that is the type of thing they are looking for...otherwise stick with a guy like Backman, sure he's embarrassing as far as the off the field stuff, the psycho-intense guys always are, look at Pete Rose. and I'm only kidding about the Hudler thing...otherwise I would have said Gary Gaetti...
posted by chris2sy at 03:52 PM on November 05, 2004
Also, is Melvin the most bland white-on-rice-on-a-paper-plate-in-a-glass-of-milk-in-snow-storm manager that they could have went out and got, or is someone even more bland than that?
posted by chris2sy at 03:58 PM on November 05, 2004
Torre already has a job, chris2sy.
posted by pivo at 04:42 PM on November 05, 2004
hey, I say that if they want someone who is a crazed baseball psycho, then why not go out and get Rex Hudler. He was always an intense player too and he could religion them up too if that is the type of thing they are looking for...otherwise What's a man's religious beliefs got to do with anything?
posted by daddisamm at 05:33 PM on November 05, 2004
What's a man's religious beliefs got to do with anything? Oh please.
posted by dusted at 06:22 PM on November 05, 2004
Hey bartender! Jobu needs a refill!
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:05 PM on November 05, 2004
What's a man's religious beliefs got to do with anything? So we're wrong if we discuss a person's religious beliefs and wrong if we don't. God bless America.
posted by rcade at 10:29 PM on November 05, 2004
the problem, rcade, is that religion is usually made fun of or its not spoken of at all. In this case, a man's ministry was used to make a joke. In Schillings case its was avoided by the media. I am not trying to say what is wrong or right. I am trying to carry on a discussion. I should have said--"what does Hudler's religious beliefs got to do with this?" Just stating my opinion. I did the same with Schilling. I am glad that I live in America because we have the freedom to state our opinions!
posted by daddisamm at 01:55 AM on November 06, 2004
technically, no, as the position does not make him a public figure. and yet, it is fair because baseball teams are practically the public's own possession, with a manager being the spokesman. besides, a DUI, an assault, and financial troubles don't make him evil or unfit.