in a lengthy article discussing their "record of futility" including a shot of Sid Bream sliding around Spanky's attempted tag--here's a few highlights (or low lights depending at how you look at things):Frank Coonelly, the new president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was soaking up the sounds of bat cracking ball and ball popping leather on Thursday when a fan pierced the paradise.
Hey, Frank!” the man yelped from behind a Pirates-gold chain guard. “Frank! Hey, we make a trade today with the Chicago White Sox?”
Coonelly turned his head, grinned and said: “I don’t think so. Was it a good one?”
“Nah,” the man grumbled. “We don’t make no good trades.”
The crowd around the fellow laughed, Coonelly walked over to absorb some abuse and offer some encouragement — “Just trust us,” and “We’re going to build with youth” — before conceding that for long-suffering Pirates fans, placation will come in wins, not words. This once-proud franchise has not posted a winning record since 1992. A 16th straight losing season this year would tie the major league record held by the positively wretched Philadelphia Phillies of 1933-48 — raising the hackles of Pennsylvanians everywhere, or at least Arlen Specter. ....
For inspiration, the 0-for-15 Pirates appear to have tapped none other than Aristotle, who knew a thing or two about potentiality. On a clubhouse bulletin board, a quote attributed to him begins, “
We are what we repeatedly do.” Dangerous words for a not-yet-dangerous team.
here's the link:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/sports/baseball/24pirates.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
