Monday, May 17, 2004
CAN YOU LOVE SOMEONE TOO MUCH?
Neil Swidey interviews Nomah for the Globe's Sunday Magazine.
"I have feelings just like you," he says during our meal at Sonsie, with two-day stubble surrounding his goatee, his dark hair swept back except for a Superman curl descending onto his forehead. "People think I'm different. I'm not. I'm just like everyone else."
And that is why New England loves Nomah.
In a sports-obsessed and celebrity-deprived city, Nomar became the hot property. Women swooned, and men didn't seem to mind. No cause for envy. He wasn't one of those lucky specimens God blessed with a perfect face and chiseled physique. Ethnic without being foreign, every muscle and achievement earned through sweat and drive, a heartthrob with a handyman's nose. One of us.
And that is a reason why Nomah may leave us.
Nomar stresses that he doesn't want to dwell on the trade saga. But press hard enough, and it's clear the sting is still there. "It's like your wife says, 'I'm going to get rid of you for a new husband.'[Long pause] 'Damn it! I couldn't find anybody in time! I thought I had one, but you know what, on second thought, we couldn't come to terms. Darn it! [Another long pause] Um, I want you back now. I want you back now to take care of our kids. We're all right, right? OK, good. Everything's cool, right? I know I said you were a bad husband, but I didn't mean it.'"
It looks like this will be his last season in Boston, but not until he leads this club to victory in October. A feat that will forever cement a spot in our heart for Nomah and he can then take his place beside Larry Legend, Bobby Orr and Teddy Ballgame on New England’s Mount Rushmore.
Other news, notes and B.S.
• Nixon’s return may have a bigger impact than Nomar’s. The weighted average of Nixon’s subs (Kapler, McCarty, Dauber) in OBP and SLG are 294 and 368, respectfully. Nixon’s average over the last three seasons is 369 OBP and 514 SLG; an upgrade of 75 and 146. The improvement over Nomar’s temporary replacements (Bellhorn and Crespo) is 11 points of OBP and 172 of SLG. If Pokey is on the bench instead of Bellhorn, the difference becomes 96 of OBP and 210 of SLG. Tito needs to seriously consider giving Bellhorn the bulk of the playing time at second.
• Ben Sheets is becoming one of my favorite non-Sox players – now that Javy has turned to the dark side. What a performance yesterday!
• It is nice to see Junior getting his groove back - stay healthy.
• I can’t stand those freaking Red Sox movie commercials. They are driving me crazy. Anyone else?
Neil Swidey interviews Nomah for the Globe's Sunday Magazine.
"I have feelings just like you," he says during our meal at Sonsie, with two-day stubble surrounding his goatee, his dark hair swept back except for a Superman curl descending onto his forehead. "People think I'm different. I'm not. I'm just like everyone else."
And that is why New England loves Nomah.
In a sports-obsessed and celebrity-deprived city, Nomar became the hot property. Women swooned, and men didn't seem to mind. No cause for envy. He wasn't one of those lucky specimens God blessed with a perfect face and chiseled physique. Ethnic without being foreign, every muscle and achievement earned through sweat and drive, a heartthrob with a handyman's nose. One of us.
And that is a reason why Nomah may leave us.
Nomar stresses that he doesn't want to dwell on the trade saga. But press hard enough, and it's clear the sting is still there. "It's like your wife says, 'I'm going to get rid of you for a new husband.'[Long pause] 'Damn it! I couldn't find anybody in time! I thought I had one, but you know what, on second thought, we couldn't come to terms. Darn it! [Another long pause] Um, I want you back now. I want you back now to take care of our kids. We're all right, right? OK, good. Everything's cool, right? I know I said you were a bad husband, but I didn't mean it.'"
It looks like this will be his last season in Boston, but not until he leads this club to victory in October. A feat that will forever cement a spot in our heart for Nomah and he can then take his place beside Larry Legend, Bobby Orr and Teddy Ballgame on New England’s Mount Rushmore.
Other news, notes and B.S.
• Nixon’s return may have a bigger impact than Nomar’s. The weighted average of Nixon’s subs (Kapler, McCarty, Dauber) in OBP and SLG are 294 and 368, respectfully. Nixon’s average over the last three seasons is 369 OBP and 514 SLG; an upgrade of 75 and 146. The improvement over Nomar’s temporary replacements (Bellhorn and Crespo) is 11 points of OBP and 172 of SLG. If Pokey is on the bench instead of Bellhorn, the difference becomes 96 of OBP and 210 of SLG. Tito needs to seriously consider giving Bellhorn the bulk of the playing time at second.
• Ben Sheets is becoming one of my favorite non-Sox players – now that Javy has turned to the dark side. What a performance yesterday!
• It is nice to see Junior getting his groove back - stay healthy.
• I can’t stand those freaking Red Sox movie commercials. They are driving me crazy. Anyone else?
0 Old Comments:
Thank you - Red Sox!
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