What is your opinion about Gary Sheffield's comments on Joe Torre?

Question

A couple of days ago, Sheffield randomly talked about the fact that Torre treated him very poorly because he is black and that he wasn't embraced as a Yankee. He said that the Yankees showed no class towards him, and also thinks that it doesn't count that Jeter is embraced because he is only half black. I really hope this is a misunderstanding because Torre seems to be a great guy who doesn't see race in his players. Sheffield does tend to take things personally, so that might be the case. I think Sheffield needs to clean up his act as a player, he looks like a circus act. Instead of actually talking to people that he has problems with, he talks to the media like a clown and doesn't have the guts to actually act like a man and confront a person. What do you guys think?

Just for the record, when I say black I'm referring to African American players. Robinson Cano is Dominican. When I say black, i am referring to more of a cultural thing, not a color thing.

To the comment made by "The Saint", regarding the fact that Hispanics are considered white, so you are saying that David Ortiz and Robinson Cano are considered white. Yeah I'm sure Cano would be totally accepted in the deep south and would fit in with every white person there.

To "dark night", nice post, calling me out on some of my slip ups, such as the issue with the word black.It is viewed a cultural thing and is also a color.But the fact that you say that he didn't actually say that Torre treated blacks unfairly is incorrect.From Sheffield, "I know when I was there, the couple of blacks that were there, every one of them had an issue with the organization," Sheffield told Kremer, according to Newsday."They had an issue with Joe Torre. They weren't treated like everybody else." Now it doesn't take a genious to figure out that Sheffield is saying that blacks were treated unfairly. I think that also might imply racism, just maybe.The fact that you accused me of thinking that people can act black is a misunderstanding. I was saying that blacks are commonly stereotyped, which could have led Sheff to believe that he was being persecuted for being black. I have every right to judge Sheffield if he wants to put himself out in the media I have the right to judge.

Final post unless anyone else has anything to say and I'll make more then, but I think it's stupid to bring up the fact that Jeter is "only" half black. Does he not think that Jeter faces prejudices just like he does. He could face more because his parent's marriage is interracial, which is greatly frowned upon in society. Sheffield thinks he has a chip on his shoulder, when in fact he is one of the luckiest people in the world financially.

Man, i can't leave this question alone, but by the way there is certainly a black culture, or African American culture which includes distinct music, food, dance, and beliefs, such as the belief to be proud if you are black. I'm not saying every black person has to be a part of this culture, but it does exist.

Answer 1

Gary Sheffield is a great ballplayer that has many skills. But among his many skills he does not include the ability to think what he is saying before it passes his lips; he is just not an educated man.

The members of the media seek him out, much like Terrell Owens. They know that they will get a quote that can make news no matter how silly it sounds. I just wish that this was brought up directly to Joe Torre rather than in the media; a real (mature) man would do it that way.

There is a reason that Sheffield recently set the record for 20+ home runs in a season with different teams (7). They simply tire of his actions and decide the bat is not worth the aggrevation he causes on a team. We'll see if he makes it through his full three-year contract with the Tigers.

Answer 2

Sheffield is ineffective incorrect. what's worse, he retains beginning up his mouth and making himself look like extra of an fool each and every time he does. Sheffield has had hassle everywhere he's been. He has astonishing skills, however the certainty that he has performed for 7 communities would desire to assert something. each time he leaves, it incredibly is frequently the group's fault, in no way his. Sheffield admitted that he intentionally made blunders in Milwaukee so he would be traded, which he replaced into. He had a great year with the Padres in 1992, yet demanded to be traded the subsequent season. he's in basic terms a huge toddler. what's worse, he consistently performs the race card. His new group would have the flexibility to stand him his first year, yet then his authentic self consistently comes out and he has to open up his mouth and coach in basic terms how stupid he's. Torre isn't a racist. Sheffield is a coward to assert that stuff AFTER he's long gone, rather of speaking approximately it to Torre in guy or woman. The remark approximately Jeter being "no longer all the way black" appears like an somewhat uneducated, ignorant, and RACIST guy or woman. Sheffield ignored almost all of final season, then whilst he got here back, he mentioned he replaced into excited approximately playing first base, that it would "boost my occupation", then he's traded and mentioned he hated it. Sheffield talks plenty crap, is an somewhat hateful and racist guy or woman and the main egocentric participant right this moment. He says the Yankees are "all approximately triumphing" and "a corporation". properly, he consistently is going the place the money is, and wasn't delighted approximately going to Detroit till they gave him an extension. Is appears like he's all corporation too. Sheffield isn't an sensible, or a properly-spoken guy. he's in basic terms a whiny toddler, who makes use of racism to mask the certainty that he's a grasping, hateful, sorry excuse for someone. additionally for the genius who says there have not been many black participant on the Yankees because Torre's been handling, it incredibly is not Torre who makes workers judgements. additionally, what proportion black gamers do you notice on ANY group? no longer many. Get a clue.

Answer 3

I say just look at the source (Sheffield) who has complained in one way or the other at place he has played. I'll give Sheff credit for being a good player but his mouth has had the tendency to runneth over too many times. The only other player to come out and pretty much agree with him is Kenny Lofton, which isn't saying much. Yes, Sheffield does like to have a 3 ring circus every place he plays. This isn't the first time he has made some sort of racial comment. he also made the comment about hispanics earlier this year. It seems the only people he would be happy with is team of Sheff's and himself as manager.

Answer 4

Sheffield is totally 100% out of line. If you read the NY post this morning, Daryl Strawberry came to Torre's defense. He said that Torre is a great manager and he had no idea what Sheffield was talking about when he said "he was singled out of meetings because he is black" Strawberry said that he has great respect for Torre and has a great relationship with him. Our clubhouse still his very diverse. We have men from the Domincan (Cabrerra, Cano, A-Rod (he lived there for four years)) We have Japaneese (Matsui, Igawa, Wang) just to name a few. Not only that but we also just signed to Chinease players. There have been many great black man to pass through the clubhouse under Torre (Bernie and Strawberry) Torre is a great manager who handels him self and the clubhouse very well. Sheffield is pissed off that he was traded and he is acting extremely imature. Like you said, he doesn't have enough courage to confront the person he has a problem with, and he uses the media as a pawn to do so. He was totally out of line saying what he said. He has no bussiness in the Yankee Clubhouse, he needs to grow up and get over himself.

Answer 5

So what, leave Gary alone. He has a right to say what he wants to say. That's how he feels so leave him alone. And by mainstream society, Hispanic players are considered white. I mean, that's a fact, no matter how brown their skin may be. Especially if you have any kind of education and when they ask ethnicity. Ever seen White/non-Hispanic then they have a bubble for Hispanic. Go figure!

Anyways, I mean Tom Gordon is black, so take it for what it is, and that's Gary just being Gary!

And to comment back to the poster...Yes, according to the U.S. he is white. Like I said fill out documents that ask for ethnicity and you will see exactly what I am talking about. It's so funny how people don't actually read stuff and put words into other people's mouths. If you are asking me personally, then no he is not white, he is Latin. I live in the "deep" south as you put it and a lot of morons that don't watch baseball would look at him as black. But yeah, maybe read next time if you can and you will understand!

Answer 6

When people can't see their own faults and look objectively at their own actions, they look for something that doesn't centre on them and look for faults in someone else.

So, if Sheffield is a prick, but can't see that, then Torre not treating him with the respect Sheffield thinks he is due, he may assume it's racism, where really it's cause of his personality.

Same reason it boggles the mind that people bring the race card into the Bonds argument.
If it was race, it would mean anyone of colour would be so harshly criticized for the same accomplishments and that's just not so.

Sheffield is probably a very arrogant, self centred individual and is only out for himself, which is what the Yankees seem to attract.

I really hope they never attract Grady Sizemore, that would be a shame.

Answer 7

I think Torre needs to stop being placed on such a pedestal. None of us knows him personally. None of us has ever been in the dugout, clubhouse, or anywhere else where we could observe how he treats his players.

Sheffield has no filter, he speaks his mind no matter what people might think about him. I commend him for that, it's a rarity nowadays.

Someone named Cano as a black player that is embraced by the Yankees. Wow, one whole player out of a 25 man roster?

Sheffield is bitter because he was let go by the team (clearly a mistake on their part in hindsight -- look at his replacement's [Abreau] numbers.)
.

Answer 8

Okay, I get it, already! Gary Sheffield is black and therefore he's wrong about anything he has to say about race. However, he played for the Yankees and Torre and he was there in the locker room, so the only people I'd listen to who would be reliable in rebutting him would be other people who were there, not people with opinions about Torre. Sheffield might BE too sensitive about race, but stats back up a lot about what he says and white people who don't face the issue really don't qualify as experts. As to why he's so sensitive, I don't know. Could be that blacks in sports have only been around since 1947, but I can't say. Can you?

Answer 9

I am just sick of Sheffield shooting off his mouth. I am not going to say that he is saying stuff without thinking, because I don't think he is smart enough to realize what he is saying or the repercussions of what he says. He is not a smart man, and uses race as an excuse for not getting along with others. He's like the little kid who can't get along with any of his playmates, and blames them for the problems, even though he's the troublemaker.

Sheffield is an awesome hitter. But isn't there a reason he's played for SEVEN teams during his career? According to him, it's always their fault never his. Also, look at the guy who just spoke up for Sheffield, Kenny Lofton, himself a guy who can't get along with most of his managers and who can't stay on a team for more than a year.

I heard an interview this spring with Sheffield on ESPN radio. Nothing was his fault, everyone was against him, and everyone was racist. Afterward the callers just killed him. And I agree with you about Sheffield not having the guts to confront the people he disagrees with. He's a real big man to take shots at Torre AFTER he's gone.

BTW, did anyone notice how well the Yankees played without Sheffield last season? Then laid an egg against the Tigers after he came back after the lineup was shaken up to make room for him? A-Rod takes all the blame for the Yankees' failures, but Sheffield disppeared after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS too. I guess that's not his fault either.

Answer 10

I am no New York Yankee fan, but I still think my comment should be valued. I have never heard of another complaint like that from any other Yankees player other than Gary Sheffield. Once others start complaining, I'll turn a deaf ear to his comments.