There is no crying is baseball, thank goodness!

    I have a very "manly" point of view on an athletes displaying emotion in public. I am so very tired of watching millionaire athletes balling their eyes out at every retirement, trade, or elimination from whatever playoff. I watched several players show emotion after they got eliminated from the NCAA tournament, which I can understand to a degree. Two weeks ago I saw an NCAA basketball player from a local college ball like a baby on senior night (which ironically or not got them more air time on our local ESPN affiliate than they got all year), and then watched him blubber like a seal after they were dismissed from the NCAA tournament. Enough already. Then I think about baseball, and I remember, when was the last time I saw a baseball player cry in public? I don't remember one distinctly in recent years (honestly, I am sure there is one somewhere). Why, because there is no crying in baseball! Movie line or not, I just think it rings true that baseball players just don't show the emotion that others do. I do remember Jim Joyce crying after hosing Andres Gallaraga out of a perfect game, but he wasn't a player, and he wrongly cost a man a once in a lifetime accomplishment. If I take a look back, I remember Ozzie retiring, Edmonds getting traded, Tony and Albert winning World Series', Tony retiring (all at a local level), numerous Hall of Fame inductions, and I just don't remember baseball players crying.

   If I take a look at some other sports, recently of course, I think of Manning's speech leaving Indy, T.O.'s circus in Dallas, then, going back in hockey, I think of Shanahan getting traded to Hartford from the Blues, and I remember Gretsky's classic trade out of Edmonton speech. I want to clarify, honestly, that there are circumstances where showing emotion is OK, and I will sight some examples. But as I look back, most of these aren't actually active players. Luckily I was on hand to witness the night the St. Louis Blues hung Doug Wickenhiser's number in the rafters at the then Kiel Center, and remembering how emotional Bernie Federko was, (everyone was for that matter). I remember vividly Jack Buck's amazing speech at Busch II the day baseball resumed after September 11, and how broken up he was, and I think that and Wick's night were very special and understanding. I know that this is hard for some of the kool-aid drinkers to swallow, but does it occur that athletes might cry to garner attention? Maybe some YouTube hits? A spot to lead off on SportsCenter? Of course they do. I even know that some local media types scoff when fans call out a player for dis-ingenious show of emotion, like every time a player cries it is absolutely legit. Save the tears for Lifetime network, and if crying in baseball or whatever floats your boat, my wonderful Grandmother would love your company watching Lifetime while the rest of us watch baseball (editors note: her cooking is addicting). Tom Hanks had it right, and the only time I remember crying is about 8 of the last 10 drafts as a Rams fan (football note). Thanks for reading-Joe