Memo to Costas: I'd Rather Watch Manny Than Listen to You posted by Greg Archuleta
I used to like Bob Costas.
When he first broke into broadcasting, he was one of the best in the business. His knowledge of any sport he covered and style of delivery had eloquence without pomposity.
As he became more well-known and famous, his opinions started to matter. I didn't always agree with them, but they were thought out and well-expressed, so I gave him a pass. He was still Bob Costas, one of the best broadcasters in sports.
Then came the movie appearances and the moving away from sporting events to host talk shows. Costas, while still eloquent, wasn't always as funny as he thought. But that was OK, because he was Bob Costas.
But his latest salvo at an entire community during Los Angeles Dodger Manny Ramirez's minor-league assignment as he prepares for his return tonight from a 50-game suspension for using a banned substance shows that Costas now has become pompous and overbearing and self-righteous.
Costas was a guest on the final Tirico and Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio earlier this week and bashed Albuquerque for turning Ramirez's two-game appearance into a "celebration." Costas said he didn't have a problem with Ramirez having the opportunity to tune up at the minor league level as he gets ready to return from his suspension.
"What I do have a problem with," Costas told co-hosts Mike Tirico and Scott Van Pelt, "is the ideal that when he shows up in Albuquerque, he's treated like a returning hero. It was tasteless to have Manny Ramirez promotions around there.
"I understand the possible political aspect of it, but Bill Richardson shows up, the governor of New Mexico and the mayor of Albuquerque show up as if they're greeting Lindbergh coming back after his transatlantic flight. What the heck is that?"
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