KFDM COOP Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Craig Biggio isn't one to air his gripes through the media, but the 20-year veteran was clearly unhappy when he summoned reporters to his locker during the Astros' game with the Nationals on Thursday night.Biggio was hopping mad about an order that came down from the league office prior to the game, asking that he remove his Sunshine Kids pin from his Spring Training cap.For most of Biggio's career, he has been the spokesman for The Sunshine Kids, a support organization for children with cancer and their families. He wears the pin -- yellow, in the shape of a sun -- on every cap while not playing in a regular-season game. He wears the pin on his batting practice hats and his Spring Training caps, as well as during every photo shoot.He's always worn the pin during spring games without any backlash from the league or opposing teams, but according to Biggio, a league official, having watched the Astros-Devil Rays game on the local Houston Fox Southwest feed, sent word to Kissimmee that he must remove it.A picture from that game was faxed to the Astros, who informed him of the league's request.Biggio was not happy with the ruling, to put it mildly."For 20 years I've been wearing it," Biggio said. "Obviously, I'm not a disrespectful person, and I'm not disrespecting the game. I've been wearing this pin for 20 years, and it puts smiles on 20-something-thousand cancer patients."A lot of the bubble-gum card pictures are taken during Spring Training. The kids see it, and it makes them feel good. That's why I do it."Biggio mentioned the threat from the league office regarding a fine, but general manager Tim Purpura said there was no fine, and no threat of one. Purpura chose not to comment further on the issue. The Commissioner's Office declined to comment as well.Biggio, on the other hand, had plenty to say."I just felt it was pretty stupid," he said. "I'm the last person that's going to disrespect the game. I don't ask to wear it during the season, because that's not right. I wear it before the game, but when the games start during the regular season, I wear the regular hat. That's the way it's supposed to be."
Guest Diva Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 Let the man wear the pin! After all, isn't baseball alot about making kids smile? Stupid league official!!! >
Cat22 Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 This is stupid!! I think MLB has more to worry about than a guy making sick children smile!!!
Diehardstro Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 I guess their argument would be, If we let one do it, then everyone else will want to wear something as well... BS, so what!Didn't they let them use pink bats last year in support of Breast Cancer Awareness?Should they then also bar all tattoo's? Should all players wear the same color glove, batting gloves, same style socks?I think there is a MLB Official out there that needs to get a life and quit sweating the small stuff.
TXBaseball Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 So we're going to let Barry Bonds walk, but harrass Biggio about a pin on his hat during spring training. What morons!
adminbaberuth Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 Ya'll can let me have it, but I back the league on this one.
Guest Diva Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 Ya'll can let me have it, but I back the league on this one.And your line of reasoning is?
adminbaberuth Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 And your line of reasoning is?Of the uniform, the hat is the most sacred. The pants,shirt and sock can be dibbled with, not the hat.
Guest Diva Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 I understand your concern and you know that I respect you and your view of the game and everything associated with it. I, however, feel differently. Ain't America grand? ;D
formerpirate Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 I really think that there are more important things to worry about than a small pin on a hat in spring training. I say if it is for a good cause, what is the problem. This will only cause bad PR for MLB, and everyone knows they don't need anymore of that.
KFDM COOP Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Posted March 23, 2007 ALOT more to worry about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JohnnyT60 Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 It's freaking Spring Training! A lot of things happen in Spring Training, that are not allowed during regular season. It took them 20 years to notice it?!!! MLB Bureacrats@#$$%^%^&^%$##@!@#$%$%^&&^%$#@!
Diehardstro Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 If The Sunshine Network offered MLB a big fat wad of cash they'd make every player wear one....................PrioritiesWhile I respect your opinion of the game admin, the league lost more of my respect with this bone headed action.Some time this season, during an Astros home game, check out the face of the Sunshine Network Kid when they put it up on the big screen. Priceless!
Cat22 Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 Ya'll can let me have it, but I back the league on this one.Why do they wait 20 years to say something about it? If they would have made him take it off after the first year he wore it, I would understand alot easier, but 20 years later!!!
Underdawg Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 This is horrible, this make a sick child smile, a hurt heart happy for just a small amount of time, this makes a difference in a life, in several lives! I'm sick and tired of every white collared person that believes they are in charge of the world making a ridiculous decision just to say they made the decision! THIS IS HORRIBLE!! >
Diehardstro Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 The ground swell has begun. Check out this article on ESPNsports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/070323and this post on mlb blog http://hotstoveandbeyond.mlblogs.comAM 790 in Houston is trying to keep the subject a hot topic this evening.You might also be interested in where this all startedhttp://www.forums.mlb.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ml-astros&tid=63500Let someone hear how you feel. It matters to the kids!
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