Miguel Cabrera: We don’t know the whole story and we may never know the whole story.
The two parts that trouble me most about this story are, “Do you know who I am?” and, “You don’t know anything about my problems.”
No, Miguel, I don’t know anything about your problems. But I really don’t care any more about your problems than you care about mine.
That may sound cold, but at 54 years of age, I learned long ago that the typical morning query from my colleagues—“How are you today?”—is at best perfunctory. If I thought they really cared I might be more forthcoming about my life, especially during those times I’m feeling blue. But then I remember to breathe.
My dad once told me that half the people in the world don’t give a damn about your problems and the other half are relieved that you’re saddled with them and they’re not. Dad was a curmudgeon and I’m following in his footsteps to make him proud. But there was truth in his words.
As events surrounding the Cabrera story have been unfolding I was reminded of Christian Bale’s tirade a few years ago during the shooting of a Batman film. Someone on the set moved, causing Bale to break character, which resulted in a five or six-minute rant during which Bale berated the poor lighting technician who’d had the audacity intrude on Bale’s moment.
Bale apologized the next day—after the episode appeared on YouTube—but it was a half-assed apology with a caveat.
“Imagine your worst day …” he began.
I don’t remember what came after that because I can’t imagine having a day bad enough that would result in such an infantile outburst. Not when I’m being paid $20 million to play act and so what if my concentration was broken? It’s not live theatre. Back up to the beginning of the scene and roll the cameras again. People in the real world with real jobs, they don’t always get a “Take Two,” Christian. But we forgive him because of his box office appeal.
About Miguel’s problems: Even without my knowing what they might be, if I could hit a baseball as far as he can and as often as he does, I think I’d be willing to trade my problems for his in a New York minute (Johnny Carson once defined a New York minute as “the interval between a Manhattan traffic light turning green and the guy behind you honking his horn”).
In these troubling times there are people without jobs who’ve been without jobs for two years or longer and whose unemployment benefit has run out. These folks can’t pay their mortgages and have no idea from where their next meal might come. Now they have real problems—problems I’m sure they’d be willing to trade for Miguel’s.
I don’t mean to belittle Cabrera’s issues. Celebrities are constantly under a microscope. Athletes especially are under pressure to perform; but I recall what Lee Trevino said many years ago in response to a reporter’s question about pressure in a skins game.
In short, the reporter asked Trevino if he felt pressure in sinking a putt that was worth $200,000. Trevino said, “That’s not pressure. Pressure is when you need to sink the putt for $10 so you can feed your family.”
Trevino is a wise man.
The Detroit Tigers organization, and indeed MLB, has taken a lot of heat over their handling of this latest issue. Some have called for a season-long suspension. That might get Cabrera’s attention.
Then again, a new baseball season might be just what he needs to get back on track. It seemed to do wonders for him last season, when he was runner up for the MVP award.
But a lot has been said about Cabrera’s accountability. Frankly, I’m not convinced he’s convinced that he has a problem. Twice now, over the last 18 months, he’s been in the news over drinking. One strike is acceptable; he is young and prone to poor judgment. Now he’s taken a second strike. Each time he’s said all the right things in apology—to family, his team, the Tigers organization.
But there’s something canned about it, like Michael Vick’s contrition in the aftermath of his jail time. Dangle a carrot big enough—a multi-million dollar contract to play quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles—and heck, I’ll say anything you want me to say.
But there comes a time when actions speak louder than words.
Now is the time to get the bat off your shoulder, Miguel.
While the rest of us wait and wonder whether there will be a third strike down the road.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com