Bobby V for President
Okay, not really. Maybe he’ll just run for governor of my new state, Connecticut. He could be great … or he could be a disaster. Hey, that kind of sums up his career as a manager.
Yesterday, Bobby Valentine was named public safety director of Stamford by the city’s new Republican mayor, Mike Pavia. Of course, the announcement has raised some obvious questions (like, “Say what?” and “Really?”). But I have every expectation that Valentine will do great in the job; he’s incredibly smart and well read, and, for a political novice, he’s dipping his toe into the water at just the right depth.
I covered Valentine’s tenure as Mets manager. I can tell you this: He’s a fascinating guy. People (and some players) in New York hated Bobby V. But a lot of people (and players) loved Bobby V. Really, really loved him. Passions ran deep in both directions. Then again, some who started out hating him, ended up loving him. Many who loved him slowly grew to despise him. He was a lightning rod.
He’s also got a noteworthy life story:
- He was a championship ballroom dancer in high school as well as a great football player (recruited by Notre Dame) and, of course, a top baseball player.
- He was drafted fifth overall by the Dodgers in 1968. However, in 1973 while playing with the Angels, he smashed his leg in a disastrous accident while trying to catch a home run against the outfield fence. He recovered, but not fully. It killed his playing career and he retired at age 29. Valentine still has a slightly altered walk, but he’s in incredible physical shape otherwise. He’s a bit of a workout maniac.
- He was part of the famous “Midnight Massacre” Mets trade which caused my beloved Dave Kingman to leave the Mets. When I was a kid saying my prayers at bedtime, I said, “Thy Kingman come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” However, it wasn't called a “massacre” because of Kingman and Valentine. The key player leaving the Mets was pitcher Tom Seaver.
- As the Mets manager, he was part of Whartongate in 2000, a typical Bobby V-type drama. He also wore a fake mustache once (see above) so he could come back into the dugout after being tossed out of the game by the umpire. Oh, to be a reporter during those days was fun, let me tell you!
- Players like Mike Piazza and Al Leiter (both Republican-leaning, by the way) liked Bobby V. Some other players really, really didn’t.
- Then-GM Steve Philips and Bobby V didn’t get along too well. But Philips’s embarrassing marital issues have given Bobby V the post-game moral high ground. A self-professed serious Catholic, Bobby V took pride in his marriage.
- He’s married to Ralph Branca’s daughter. Branca, of course, threw the infamous pitch that Bobby Thomson shot around the world.
- He spent many years in Japan where he developed a rabid fan base – and taught ballroom dancing.
- He’s pals with George W. Bush
- Bobby V claims to have invented the “wrap” sandwich. Does it get any better than that?
What’s next for Bobby V? I’ll be watching.
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Comments :
Re: Bobby V for President
You should invite him to join ranks with us here on Ricochet! ;)
Re: Bobby V for President
Well, he'd be a natural, but I'm not sure I'm the man (woman) for the recruiting job considering my frantic life of momness and the fact I'm several years from any lasting connections to that world.
May '10
Re: Bobby V for President
Do the folks at Disney/ABC/ESPN understand that they have a full-blown Dancing with the Stars ringer at Baseball Tonight?
Re: Bobby V for President
Oooh. Hadn't thought of that! It's brilliant!
Jul '10
Re: Bobby V for President
All the folks at WFAN wanted BobbeeVee as Mets manager, especially Evan Roberts...he took a team that had no business being the World Series and could have won it...
Edited on Jan 14, 2011 at 8:52amMay '10
Re: Bobby V for President
Yeah, well, um, Caesar invented the book. So he's not as good as Caesar!
Man, Emily fled NY for Texas. You went to Connecticut? I've lived in Connecticut. It ain't all that, and you can forget the bag of chips here and now.
The fake moustache dodge is hilarious. That's why it's a game, at heart.
Jul '10
Re: Bobby V for President
Love 'em/ Hate 'em
You ain't kiddin'. He certainly did divide Us Ranger Fans.
And it was rather funny listening to those "hate 'em" types do so in Bobby V's restaurant.
Edited on Jan 14, 2011 at 6:55pm