Dusty Baker off Stephen A. Smith's show

[Scott G. F.]

The funny thing is, that show got more promotion out of this story than it ever would have if they even managed to get a couple Cubs fans to go to the taping just to boo Dusty.

 

 

It's bad enough that you "saved" Dusty from possibly facing critics, but you've also given undue attention to a terrible show.

Oh please. I'm sure the producers of the "Screamin'" Stephen A. Show are basking in all of the attention that they've received from all the controversy generated by a couple of podunk blogs (no offense to the bloggers, but in the grand scheme of things, your blogs - Deadspin included - qualify as podunk) and a Ted Greenstein article in the Tribune.

 

Consider his ratings, even if only a dozen people who read that article or the blogs watch the show in the future, that could double or triple his audience.

 

And quite frankly (no pun intended), even if Dusty were to face a hostile crowd, my bet would be that he comes off looking sympathetic. Besides, Hendry isn't going to base his decision on whether to hire or fire Dusty based on a TV show that nobody watches.

 

Which is why I don't understand why somebody is trying to take on the hero role of saving Dusty from an "ambush".

 

You protect Dusty from critics (even when the likelihood of critics being around was extremely low) and sympathize with Stephan A. Smith at the same time and I just can't much support for your cause.

 

 

 

I honestly feel that Kurt did the right thing here. Did he over-react? I dont think he did. I dont like Dusty, but to ambush him on air is just stupid, and I'm sorry, I dont place the people in Bristol much higher then the people running Jerry Springer. A show with those ratings is begging for some attention.

 

 

Then why didn't they go to Chicago to do the show, where they would actually have a chance to get people to boo Dusty?

 

 

why would they have to if they could get them to go to the show in NY?

 

The point is they couldn't. The boo line wasn't going to attract Cubs fans to the show in NY.

 

They didn't try to get people to boo, they said they could if they wanted to. That's like saying that the Tribune is inviting fans to boo at Wrigley simply by allowing them to show up and boo.

 

Somebody is trying to make it look like the producers had this secret plan of flying in 100 Cubs fans to perform a punk'd episode on Dusty, when that isn't even close to the truth.

 

Gooney, Sometimes it's not the crime itself but the cover-up. ESPN sent out e-mails to Cubs blog writers inviting them to the show and to feel free to boo. Most blogger thought that was a stupid thing to do even if it was Dusty Baker. So some blogger call ESPN in it and ESPN and Steven A. Smith lied about it. Flat out lied about the e-mail and said it was a doctored e-mail.

 

It's a publicity grab for a crap show. They were co-oping the Cubs fans dislike for Dusty Baker and trying to convert that in to contraversy, which brings ratings.

 

Kurt from "GROTA" and Len Kasper stopped it from happening. Now you might not agree that Dusty sould be spared this humliation. That's your opinion. But IMO even Dusty Baker, the current Cubs managers, shouldn't have been subjected to that.

 

I, "quite frankly" wouldn't watch either way.

[BigbadB]

I'm not fond of the idea of having him on just to boo him either. I'd much rather hear that they were having him on to ask him the critical questions that always seem to get ignored.

 

If that embarrasses him, so be it.

[Yeti]

rotflmao...as if finding a cubs fan to boo dusty would be difficult

[minnesotacubsfan]

The point is they couldn't. The boo line wasn't going to attract Cubs fans to the show in NY.

 

They didn't try to get people to boo, they said they could if they wanted to. That's like saying that the Tribune is inviting fans to boo at Wrigley simply by allowing them to show up and boo.

 

Somebody is trying to make it look like the producers had this secret plan of flying in 100 Cubs fans to perform a punk'd episode on Dusty, when that isn't even close to the truth.

 

I didagree with you. I could see them thinking "what a perfect opportunity to attract some attenion. with Cubdom so worked up over Dusty, its going to be EASY to get them to show up for this in NY. We dont need to go to Chicago for this at all, there are more then enough Cub fans all over the country to get this done in NY...."

 

I really think was their line of thinking. Why would the deny an email existed if in fact they REALLY wrote it? If the email wa fake, that would be another story and I would fully by your thoughts.....

[goonys evil twin]

The point is they couldn't. The boo line wasn't going to attract Cubs fans to the show in NY.

 

They didn't try to get people to boo, they said they could if they wanted to. That's like saying that the Tribune is inviting fans to boo at Wrigley simply by allowing them to show up and boo.

 

Somebody is trying to make it look like the producers had this secret plan of flying in 100 Cubs fans to perform a punk'd episode on Dusty, when that isn't even close to the truth.

 

I didagree with you. I could see them thinking "what a perfect opportunity to attract some attenion. with Cubdom so worked up over Dusty, its going to be EASY to get them to show up for this in NY. We dont need to go to Chicago for this at all, there are more then enough Cub fans all over the country to get this done in NY...."

 

I really think was their line of thinking. Why would the deny an email existed if in fact they REALLY wrote it? If the email wa fake, that would be another story and I would fully by your thoughts.....

 

A, we don't know it was fake. The guy who is using this to promote his site is the one claiming it was not fake. B, if it was real, we don't know who sent it, who knew it was sent, or who denied it was real. What we have is a guy who is trying to bring eyeballs to his own site by acting like some sort of hero, and then repeating the story.

 

I live here. I see Cubs fans from time to time. When I talk to them most of them are just bummed about the season, and they do not have anywhere close to the amount of disgust toward Dusty that I have. They generally buy the myth that he's a great manager and that things just haven't gone our way.

 

And bottom line is it was a joke. They didn't go out recruting booers, they mentioned that if you wanted to boo, you could boo. Big freaking deal. Characterizing this as an attempted ambush is a joke.

[minnesotacubsfan]

The point is they couldn't. The boo line wasn't going to attract Cubs fans to the show in NY.

 

They didn't try to get people to boo, they said they could if they wanted to. That's like saying that the Tribune is inviting fans to boo at Wrigley simply by allowing them to show up and boo.

 

Somebody is trying to make it look like the producers had this secret plan of flying in 100 Cubs fans to perform a punk'd episode on Dusty, when that isn't even close to the truth.

 

I didagree with you. I could see them thinking "what a perfect opportunity to attract some attenion. with Cubdom so worked up over Dusty, its going to be EASY to get them to show up for this in NY. We dont need to go to Chicago for this at all, there are more then enough Cub fans all over the country to get this done in NY...."

 

I really think was their line of thinking. Why would the deny an email existed if in fact they REALLY wrote it? If the email wa fake, that would be another story and I would fully by your thoughts.....

 

A, we don't know it was fake. The guy who is using this to promote his site is the one claiming it was not fake. B, if it was real, we don't know who sent it, who knew it was sent, or who denied it was real. What we have is a guy who is trying to bring eyeballs to his own site by acting like some sort of hero, and then repeating the story.

 

I live here. I see Cubs fans from time to time. When I talk to them most of them are just bummed about the season, and they do not have anywhere close to the amount of disgust toward Dusty that I have. They generally buy the myth that he's a great manager and that things just haven't gone our way.

 

And bottom line is it was a joke. They didn't go out recruting booers, they mentioned that if you wanted to boo, you could boo. Big freaking deal. Characterizing this as an attempted ambush is a joke.

 

 

I disagree it is a joke. if Kasper and the Tribune are involved, its one hell of a joke, and it would seem that Smith at some point would either say "hey, look kids, it was all a joke!!" or go after this guy for lying about the email and getting everyone else involved.

[goonys evil twin]

I disagree it is a joke. if Kasper and the Tribune are involved, its one hell of a joke, and it would seem that Smith at some point would either say "hey, look kids, it was all a joke!!" or go after this guy for lying about the email and getting everyone else involved.

 

I don't know why it can't be a joke just because Kasper and the Trib were involved. I don't see why Smith necessarily had to have know about it. The staff are the ones who do that kind of stuff, including unpaid interns or other schmoes. It could have easily been a case of a kid denying it to stay out of trouble for costing them a guest.

 

I don't see how anybody can think it wasn't a joke. It did not say "come and boo Dusty, but don't tell him so we can ambush him", it reportedly added a line like "you can boo him if you want".

 

If you really wanted to cause a ruckus, you would plant some of your own people in the audience to boo, you wouldn't throw around emails to random people hoping that A) they'd keep quiet, B) they'd show up and C) they'd actually boo once they got in the studio. It would be much easier to grab a dozen interns, throw Cubs hats on them and have them boo at an opportune time.

 

 

This story is a pathetic waste of time. I can't believe I've contributed to it and I'm ashamed I've played along.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

This story is a pathetic waste of time. I can't believe I've contributed to it and I'm ashamed I've played along.

 

i can agree with you on that.......

[KurtEvans]

A, we don't know it was fake. The guy who is using this to promote his site is the one claiming it was not fake. B, if it was real, we don't know who sent it, who knew it was sent, or who denied it was real. What we have is a guy who is trying to bring eyeballs to his own site by acting like some sort of hero, and then repeating the story.

 

Read the article, sir. The EMail was sent to my site, to Desipio, to View from the Bleachers, to 1060, and to Bleed Cubbie Blue, among others. A strong majority of people who read the EMail thought that the "feel free to boo Dusty" comment was in bad taste. I was not the only one who voiced my opinion on the matter, but for whatever reason, my column was picked up by Deadspin, a second EMail was quickly sent out by ESPN, they soon began to deny the very existence of the EMail, Teddy Greenstein picked it up for the Tribune, and here we are.

 

I just expressed my opinion on the subject and, feeling sorry for Baker, gave someone a heads up. I didn't call up the radio stations, I didn't EMail the news papers. I think the situation speaks for itself, and if you actually took the time to read any of the columns, you would see that I am not trying to set myself up as some "hero." I posted info about it here because it's an interesting topic. If it wasn't interesting, you wouldn't be discussing it still.

[treebird]

A, we don't know it was fake. The guy who is using this to promote his site is the one claiming it was not fake. B, if it was real, we don't know who sent it, who knew it was sent, or who denied it was real. What we have is a guy who is trying to bring eyeballs to his own site by acting like some sort of hero, and then repeating the story.

 

Read the article, sir. The EMail was sent to my site, to Desipio, to View from the Bleachers, to 1060, and to Bleed Cubbie Blue, among others. A strong majority of people who read the EMail thought that the "feel free to boo Dusty" comment was in bad taste. I was not the only one who voiced my opinion on the matter, but for whatever reason, my column was picked up by Deadspin, a second EMail was quickly sent out by ESPN, they soon began to deny the very existence of the EMail, Teddy Greenstein picked it up for the Tribune, and here we are.

 

I just expressed my opinion on the subject and, feeling sorry for Baker, gave someone a heads up. I didn't call up the radio stations, I didn't EMail the news papers. I think the situation speaks for itself, and if you actually took the time to read any of the columns, you would see that I am not trying to set myself up as some "hero." I posted info about it here because it's an interesting topic. If it wasn't interesting, you wouldn't be discussing it still.

 

if it's really nothing and you don't care about it, it's kinda weird that you started a thread about it and linked to your blog.

[sherwood921]

A, we don't know it was fake. The guy who is using this to promote his site is the one claiming it was not fake. B, if it was real, we don't know who sent it, who knew it was sent, or who denied it was real. What we have is a guy who is trying to bring eyeballs to his own site by acting like some sort of hero, and then repeating the story.

 

Read the article, sir. The EMail was sent to my site, to Desipio, to View from the Bleachers, to 1060, and to Bleed Cubbie Blue, among others. A strong majority of people who read the EMail thought that the "feel free to boo Dusty" comment was in bad taste. I was not the only one who voiced my opinion on the matter, but for whatever reason, my column was picked up by Deadspin, a second EMail was quickly sent out by ESPN, they soon began to deny the very existence of the EMail, Teddy Greenstein picked it up for the Tribune, and here we are.

 

I just expressed my opinion on the subject and, feeling sorry for Baker, gave someone a heads up. I didn't call up the radio stations, I didn't EMail the news papers. I think the situation speaks for itself, and if you actually took the time to read any of the columns, you would see that I am not trying to set myself up as some "hero." I posted info about it here because it's an interesting topic. If it wasn't interesting, you wouldn't be discussing it still.

 

if it's really nothing and you don't care about it, it's kinda weird that you started a thread about it and linked to your blog.

 

Agreed.

 

It looks like a joke to me, it doesn't say come and boo Dusty. I don't watch the show, but based on what you're saying they probably even have trouble filling the audience. Therefore, they know a lot of Cub fans are unhappy, so in an attempt to put more butts in the seats they add a joke that "you can boo if you want." It didn't say, "come boo Dusty."

[stitchface]

wow, its like a scene out of twister! you're driving straight into the tornado Kurt!

[Andy]

I read about this before it was posted here and it sure seemed like they were recruiting booers. I cannot stand Dusty, but I'm glad he's not going on that joke of a show.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

DON'T HATE ON STEPHEN A. SMITH! :x

[Jon]

Questions Stephen A. Smith would have asked Dusty:

 

1) Why don't people recognize you for your greatness?

2) Is it hard being so great?

3) Why don't people recognize me for my greatness?

4) Do you believe in curses?

5) Why don't people recognize you for your greatness?

 

It's pretty sad that the producer still has to post on message boards to get an audience. Hasn't it been on for over a year? The guy has been doing it since the beginning.

[SouthSideRyan]

But Scoop says this was the most important talk show in the history of TV!

[cbbryan]

Questions Stephen A. Smith would have asked Dusty:

 

1) Why don't people recognize you for your greatness?

2) Is it hard being so great?

3) Why don't people recognize me for my greatness?

4) Do you believe in curses?

5) Why don't people recognize you for your greatness?

 

6) Who's better Dusty..... you or Joe Morgan?

 

It's pretty sad that the producer still has to post on message boards to get an audience. Hasn't it been on for over a year? The guy has been doing it since the beginning.

[Soul]

They obviously did it. I didn't think cowardice was one of Stephen A's traits.

 

Well, I was wrong.

 

Own up to it, man. You tried to perform a hack job on Dusty. Just admit it.

 

(not that I don't think Dusty should be booed, mind you.....but not as a bush-league setup job)

[Twiggy]

Love your articles and your posts alot. Great site you got going :) I just joined the Cubs Blog Army a few months ago.

[A New Era]

I don't understand why people warned Dusty about this. What, is he too good of a man to have to face people who will actually be critical of him? I'm sure the show wouldn't have turned into a boofest.

 

The problem I have with it is not the fact that people would boo Dusty, it's the fact that the producers of the show were recruiting for people to boo Dusty.

 

So?

[jwhatti]

It's pretty sad that the producer still has to post on message boards to get an audience. Hasn't it been on for over a year? The guy has been doing it since the beginning.

 

Google Jackea Chan, she sends the same email out for pretty much every guest. Minus the booing part.

[Sosa21MVP]

A, we don't know it was fake. The guy who is using this to promote his site is the one claiming it was not fake. B, if it was real, we don't know who sent it, who knew it was sent, or who denied it was real. What we have is a guy who is trying to bring eyeballs to his own site by acting like some sort of hero, and then repeating the story.

 

Read the article, sir. The EMail was sent to my site, to Desipio, to View from the Bleachers, to 1060, and to Bleed Cubbie Blue, among others. A strong majority of people who read the EMail thought that the "feel free to boo Dusty" comment was in bad taste. I was not the only one who voiced my opinion on the matter, but for whatever reason, my column was picked up by Deadspin, a second EMail was quickly sent out by ESPN, they soon began to deny the very existence of the EMail, Teddy Greenstein picked it up for the Tribune, and here we are.

 

I just expressed my opinion on the subject and, feeling sorry for Baker, gave someone a heads up. I didn't call up the radio stations, I didn't EMail the news papers. I think the situation speaks for itself, and if you actually took the time to read any of the columns, you would see that I am not trying to set myself up as some "hero." I posted info about it here because it's an interesting topic. If it wasn't interesting, you wouldn't be discussing it still.

 

I think you did the right thing.