An Angel with Horns

Ehsan Azad

An Angel with Horns

                Josh Hamilton led the Texas Rangers to back to back World Series appearances and brought home a 2010 AL MVP award. For five years he was the face of the Rangers, and the team along with the metroplex did everything in their power to make him feel comfortable. Maybe they even spoiled Prince Hambone. They dealt with his weird problems that only Josh could have, and they managed to win games in spite of the constant distraction he brought.  He was sold to us a recovering saint here to lead us to Baseball paradise. What a shame we couldn't see past the halo and notice his horns.

                As we know now, Josh Hamilton is now a member of the Los Angeles Angels and good for him. I personally thought he was a huge distraction and you could find easier ways to get the same production without the hassle. Face it, it was exhausting as a fan or a teammate or a manager of Josh to help and support him.  Every day there was a new issue either dealing with his addiction, faith, or his simple approach to the game. It was detrimental to the team and a cancer to that locker room.  I am not angry he didn't let the Rangers match the offer from the Angels or that he said he didn't owe the team anything. That is fine and dandy, because Josh is his own person and he had the right to choose to find a better place for him and his family. What I am upset about is that he decides to shoot criticism back at the entire DFW baseball fandom.

                In an interview with Gina Miller of TXA 21, Josh Hamilton was asked about how he will be perceived when he returns to play the Rangers this season. Hamilton said it won’t bother him either way and that those who boo him don’t really understand baseball. He went on to say that the reason for that was that Arlington and the metroplex as a whole really isn't a baseball town and it is more of a football town. He says that the fans were “spoiled a bit”, and knows the true baseball fans will cheer him.

                What a load of crap! Josh is entitled to his opinion and he is partially right. True, this is a big football town, and the Cowboys have a lot of attention in the metroplex.  But, look what this city has done for Josh and the Rangers. Fans continued to support Josh when he was caught off the wagon twice, once in an Arizona hot tub and a bathroom at Sherlock’s bar in Arlington. The team would celebrate with ginger-ale instead of alcohol to help support their teammate who was a former addict. The front office made sure he was coddled and his ever request was fulfilled.  The city came out in droves and broke the 3 million mark for attendance for last year. Josh was loved in this city. Then like the devil he is, he threw the Rangers fans under the bus.

I wonder what bible verse covers that.