Wow. No one deserves to get beat up. No one is saying that Buzz did. OK, I guess Daulerio kind of did. But I'm not. I'm sorry to beat a washed-up sportswriter, but let us reflect on exactly how "rare" and "out of character" Buzz's outburst on Costas Now was. This is the guy who complains about the breakdown of society and the immaturity and lack of civility on blogs. Here is a brief, non-chronological list off the top of my head (I wish I could have made this a "List," but I wanted the link and a place to reflect). Note that the Times piece and the story about Griffey are right from his own mouth/word processor (more likely, old-timey non-electric typewriter. Less speed, after all), so it's not like someone else is embellishing them. The other two are on internet video and streaming radio for all to peruse.
-- Buzz goes so nuts at the College World Series that he gets beat up by security in front of his kids, and apparently has no problem writing about it in a column for the New York Times.
-- Costa Now! "Excuse me, but you're full of shit." W. C. Heinz was never so poetic.
-- In another "isolated incident," that was totally unlike how he really is, Buzz tell Ken Griffey, Jr. that he "doesn't give a fuck" if Jr. doesn't want to talk to him.
-- In the spirit of open criticism and exchange of ideas, Buzz responds to Boog Sciambi's questions on the radio by calling a different host a "slimebucket." It's at the end of his time on the air, so at least he wasn't promoting "speed" or whatever.
Yeah, the Costas thing was definitely out of character. Buzz is a shining star of civility that we should all emulate. I'm not sure where people get the idea that he's some angry guy with a short fuse who isn't subject to reason.
Buzz Bissinger: picture of civility, and an internet meme that won't die soon.
Buzz, America is ready to embrace you. All you have to do is turn your life around like Josh Hamilton.
