John Smoltz gets his wittle feelings hurt. Imagine that.
We all but had a stopwatch on it in the press box Wednesday night. How long would it take for John Smoltz to rip the Braves for releasing Tom Glavine? If you had four hours, you won the pool.
After reading Smoltz’s latest rant, I thought, “Par for the course.” (Par. Course. Golf. Smoltz. Funny, huh?) Because that’s what John Smoltz does: He takes every slight, real or imagined, and personalizes it and stews over it and nurtures his resentment. I know.
It was 1997, the year after Smoltz won his Cy Young award, and he was pitching badly by his lofty standards. I wrote as much. The next day he stomped through the clubhouse and glowered but didn’t say a word to me. Because part of being John Smoltz is to smolder from afar.
I told one of the Braves’ announcers — I won’t say who — that Mr. Smoltz appeared to be displeased with my printed appraisal. And the announcer said, “The truth hurts.”
Not long afterward, Smoltz worked a good game — even I would never suggest he’s anything less than a Hall of Fame pitcher — and was surrounded by the usual media throng. Casting his glance across the clubhouse, he saw yours truly interviewing someone else. And he told the throng, “There’s Mark Bradley. If he comes over here I’ll have to stop talking to all of you. Because that guy dogged me out.”
(Dogged? Hmm. In his early days with the Braves, Smoltz’s nickname was Marmaduke. I have no idea if this is apropos of anything.)
Naturally, my colleagues were happy to inform me of Smoltz’s anti-MB stance, and I, not wanting to deprive my brother and sister journalists of the torrent of insight that is Smoltz, simply stopped going near him. And you know who found it all hilarious? Glavine, who dubbed me, “Smoltzie’s favorite journalist.” (Have I mentioned that Glavine is my all-time favorite Brave?)
Never mind that I’d written 10 gushing Smoltz columns over the previous decade. Those were eradicated by my one egregious sin. Since he didn’t want to talk with me, I mostly stopped writing about him. When he did something great, I’d say he did something great — fair’s fair — but I kept my distance.
Loading ...We wouldn’t even say hello when we passed in the hall. (I know, saying hello is a two-way street. But I can be stubborn, too.) I did break my moratorium to shake his hand and say, “Congratulations,” after he won his 200th game. And he did say, “Thanks.” And that, to this day, is the extent of our contact over the past dozen years.
Having been on the end of a Smoltz grudge, I wasn’t surprised by the vitriol he hurled at Frank Wren after negotiations with the Braves broke down. (I’d have been surprised if he’d done anything else.) And for Smoltz to pile on regarding Glavine is simply another chapter in a lengthening tome.
Because that’s John Smoltz, who has apparently convinced himself the team that employed him for two decades, the team that essentially let him decide whether he wanted to start games or close them, was out to get him — and his little pal Tom, too. You might think he has point. I think he’s just being petty.
But I’ve got a history with Marmaduke. I’m the guy who dogged him out back in 1997. And oops, I did it again.
Rip-A-Hall-Of-Famer Friday: In case you missed it, here’s what I thought of Tom Glavine’s appearance on 790 the Zone this morning.
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337 comments Add your comment
AJC
June 5th, 2009
10:05 am
Public Service Announcement to any former, future & current Braves players:
YOU ARE NOT BIGGER THAN THE TEAM
Jack
June 5th, 2009
10:05 am
Way too much extremism on some of these posts.
Sterling
June 5th, 2009
10:05 am
This is the same Glavine that dumped the Braves for a few dollars more w/ the NYM’s correct? After that, he wants the Brave’s to treat him like a prized pitcher? And the same JS that left for more $ also? Why would either think they deserve “honored” status when they didn’t want to be a part of the Braves? A**Holes
bushwacker
June 5th, 2009
10:05 am
Hey AJC, why not do a poll,if the Braves were to meet Boston in the WS, who would you pull for, the Braves “what a joke, they will never get back to the WS” or the Red Sox?
ben
June 5th, 2009
10:05 am
First MB you have it backward the team told him he was closing b/c I have never read anywhere that Smoltz didnt want to start. I dont know where you get off saying He told him he want to closer other than the first year of rehab. Second this was a guy that took less money and restructured his contract to help this team. So i guess it is ok for a player to help the team and be loyal to it but the other way around is wrong?
Larry
June 5th, 2009
10:06 am
Screw you, Bradley. Smoltz and Glavine have done more for this town than you could ever even imagine. While it may have been time for them to go (yeah, Glavine was really washed up the last time we let him go, right?), it absolutely should have done in better manner. The vaunted Braves talk about tradition and loyalty and show none. Wren is a complete jackass and an utter failure in the front office. The Braves stink and nothing is going to change that until the entire front office is replaced.
Shamus Thacker
June 5th, 2009
10:07 am
Wish Smolts played football!!
Be nice to see him get hammered like Unitas when he hung-on too long in San Diego!!
Here’s hoping there’s rotator-cuff news in John’s future. I’d like to see his arm fall completely off!!
GOOD RIDDANCE to the whining bitch!!
Dr Soul
June 5th, 2009
10:07 am
There is very little difference in the temperament, character and egos of Bradley and Smoltz…when Bradley writes of Smoltz, as today…it is not about baseball, it is a narcisstic mind set.. you have to remember that sports writers, like Bradley, are the ‘entertainment’ side of sports writing and paid for sensationalism to get responses; not responsible reporting and fact finding..
Johan
June 5th, 2009
10:07 am
Now, Mark, if you’d only rip Francoeur to shreds…
Farsider
June 5th, 2009
10:07 am
Nice column, Mark.
I understand that premier athletes sometimes also have premier egos, and Smoltz is certainly no exception. In his world, its all about him. It’s nice seeing Smoltz and his puffed-up ego get a little air let out of it. But Smoltz is indeed predictable, is he not? Good job.
P Rose
June 5th, 2009
10:08 am
Sometimes When I Pitch
by John Smoltz
You ask me if I’m sensitive
And I choke on my reply
I’d rather glower from afar
Than to let you see me cry
Cuz who are you to dog me
On what I say or do?
Dr. Lewellen told me that I’m as good as you
And sometimes when I pitch
My jock begins to itch
And I think of how your column hurt my pride
I wanna glower til I die
Til we both break down and cry
I wanna glower till the fear in me subsides
Baseball and all its strategy
Leaves me battling with my mind
And through my insecurity
Some bitterness I find
I’m just another pitcher
Still injured by the truth
A hall of fame first ballot
Still trapped within my youth
And sometimes when I pitch
My jock begins to itch
And I think of how the Braves have hurt my pride
I wanna glower til I die
Til we all break down and cry
I wanna hold Tom till the fear in me subsides
Hot Phone Sex Goddess
June 5th, 2009
10:08 am
Hi Mark,
Great column and so spot on.
raymond
June 5th, 2009
10:08 am
Smoltz and Glavine both think the Braves were obligated to keep on paying them to play based on their PAST performances. The bottom line is who would you want as your 5th starter Hanson or Glavine? Get over it! We appreciate what you did but your time is done.
The Doktor
June 5th, 2009
10:09 am
Another ‘kid’ that can’t get over the fact that he’s done a job, nothing more or less than anyone else has done here for their respective employer – just for a helluva lot more $$$. He still puts his trousers on one leg at a time, and that this game is bigger than him or any other individual that has or will come along…
Breathe deeply John Smoltz, look into the mirror… and get a grip!
AJC
June 5th, 2009
10:09 am
bushwacker,
Come again? Was there a point to your drivel?
Father of 5
June 5th, 2009
10:09 am
MB, there is an outstanding book called “Total Forgiveness” by R.T.Kendall — please do everyone (mostly yourself) a favor and read it. Or just scan the chapters and read the first two that catch your eye. You have some issues here. I suspect you will regret taking such embarrassingly cheap shots.
jch
June 5th, 2009
10:10 am
MB, you and Smoltz don’t like each other because you’re so much alike. Both of you carry enormous grudges and emote like school girls at a sleepover party. If Smoltz took 4 hours to complain how long did it take for you to launch your retort? Who won that pool? You’re an Atlanta sports reporter and you avoided one of the greatest pitchers for the Braves since 1997?? Wow…
Hamad Meander
June 5th, 2009
10:10 am
Tom Glavine’s farewell present was last year – 13 starts, 2 wins, 5.54 ERA, $8,000,000 salary. Four million a win. What are we? The Yankees?
puppydawg
June 5th, 2009
10:10 am
Smuck Foltz!
Over It
June 5th, 2009
10:10 am
If Glavine and Smoltz were the professionals they claim to be, then they would realize that they need to keep their mouths shut and realize their times are over. Teams that make the playoffs have the best. The best for Glavine is over. That does not take away from what he did, it only means he cant do it anylonger. Teams have to move on. Thats the way it is.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 5th, 2009
10:12 am
JEERS & CURSES is the only thing Tommy Boy deserves…HAHAHAHA, I wish I could have been the one to break the news to him.
GO back to NY you back stabbing spoiled brat.
This punk is a total politician.
puppydawg
June 5th, 2009
10:12 am
…and Guck Flavine too!
Biff Pocaroba
June 5th, 2009
10:13 am
It sometimes hurts to find out that our heroes were jerks all along, but in Smoltzies case, most of us had figured it out. Good job, Mr. Bradley.
BigPapaT18
June 5th, 2009
10:13 am
Maybe Glavine didn’t belong in Atlanta, but whether your a hater or not, you have to admit the way it was handled was horrible. The guy did everything they asked him to. He took less to be here, he worked hard to be back, his velocity was up from spring training, and he did well in his last rehab start in Gwinnett. Bobby Cox said “his arm is pretty darn strong now.” And as Glavine said, he would hang ‘em up if he didn’t think he could get outs. The timing was horrible if this was solely a performance based decision. Before they signed him, they should’ve weighed the possibility that he may have setbacks and may not make it back. If the current scenario was a possibility they should not have signed him. Instead, Glavine leaves the Braves feeling wronged and disrespected.
AJC
June 5th, 2009
10:13 am
puppydawg,
That’s a very juvenile thing to say…I did LOL though.
Hamad Meander
June 5th, 2009
10:14 am
P Rose – I am laughing so hard tears are coming out!
TC
June 5th, 2009
10:15 am
A couple funny things.
1. Bradley has “wittle” feelings too and that was the total point of this blog.
2. Although the point of this was to point out the shortcomings of an athlete to make Bradley feel better, it has evolved into something more compelling. I understand the business aspects and can see both sides of the coin in releasing Glavine. Firstly, loyalty never won anyone championships. Sentimental favorites don’t necessarily get the job done.
I think you guys that view a million dollars in today’s economic climate of a professional baseball franchise as a crap ton of money are sorely misguided. Obviously, it’s much more than the majority of us make! When was the last time YOU were expected to win 20 games pitching for a baseball team?! You can’t compare what we do and what they do! However, it’s relative with professional sports and that’s the context it has to be taken in.
It was not a million dollars for one start. He would have been expected to perform several more times. THat was simply the benchmark insentive to receive the pay out. In my opinion an organization that releases an individual that was performing adequately in their rehab JUST before they would have to pay the meager amount of a million bucks is bush league. It’s also that type of penny pinching and wallet watching that keeps this organization at the .500 level under this ownership. It’s appalling.
DanDawg
June 5th, 2009
10:15 am
Smoltz turned down many millions to stay with the Braves over the years. He even re-worked his contract when he was asked to work from the bullpen. Glavine turned down a guaranteed $15M from the Mets to come back to Atlanta for half as much. All of you who arguing that it’s about their greed should know the whole stories and stop making snap judgments.
William
June 5th, 2009
10:16 am
I didn’t think Smoltz’s comments were over the top at all. Pretty fair criticism to me. Kind of feels like Mark wanted a reason to rip Smoltz, which is the same thing he is accusing Smoltz of doing to the Braves.
mcdawg
June 5th, 2009
10:16 am
it has been time to move on for the past 3 years-we can’t keep these aging guys on the roster when they are on the DL half the time-making wayyyy too much money-Boston can afford it we can’t
TC
June 5th, 2009
10:16 am
Forgot one more funny thing…
You guys that say Smoltz (not Smolts or Smoltx) should have “kept his mouth shut”…WTF do you expect him to do when he’s posed a question by reporters. It’s not like he stood on the top deck of the dugout in Boston to tell anyone who would listen! He was asked a question and answered it!
Da Real Real
June 5th, 2009
10:18 am
Bradley…I have to admit that I haven’t always been a huge fan of your articles, but this one here….I can do nothing but agree with you. I admire Smoltz for what he did for this organization but still be crying about nothing is indeed petty. Glavine and Smoltz can say whatever they want, but the Braves gave them both options. Smoltz felt booty hurt and left for the money…Glavine was definitely released harshly, but oh well – that’s life! Smoltz could have easily still been a Brave this year it was HIS decision to move on. I agree with you on this Bradley, good read.
Cherokee STH
June 5th, 2009
10:18 am
Season ticket holder here…for almost twenty years. Big Smoltz fan. Big Glavine fan. Not a huge Mark Bradley fan…but Bradley is absolutely spot on. John was a great guy, but also had his fair share of “spoiled rotten pro athlete” (ask his ex and his neighbors). Not sure where John’s moral outrage was when Glavine took the money and went to NY…I guess that financial decisions are justified on his buddy’s side and not from management? John was a great player and a good guy…wish him well…also wish he would shut up and pitch.
Marmaduke
June 5th, 2009
10:18 am
Mark, i usually enjoy your columns, but this is nothing but a gratuitous rip job. When you heard of Smoltz’s comments about how the team handled Glavine’s release, you should simply have taken a page from that anonymous boadcaster’s book and said, “The truth hurts.” Seems to me Smoltz is not the only one who got his “wittle” feelings hurt.
Phibbs Jenkins
June 5th, 2009
10:19 am
Mark nailed this one. Smoltz does look petty on this front. And did when he whined in the public……..oh the last 2 or 3 times when things didn’t go his way. Love the guy for what he did for the organization and city, but the organization and city did a TON for him.
Nativebird
June 5th, 2009
10:20 am
WELL SAID MARK! And about time somebody said it! Of both these prima donnas!
You have also joined, say, the Smoltz neighbor in Alpharetta that he actually sued because the neighbors tree cast a shadow of his (now ex) wife’s swimming pool; as well his kid’s Christian School he quit, started a competing school, and eventually sued (Smoltz’s sure to have a penchant for lawyers) because they dared to be too Christian with their curriculum.
Fear not Mark, you’ve joined a long list of Smoltz-enemies that this Braves-fans-dear-ol-nice-guy-John has conjured up in his imagined world of paranoia. Congratulations.
Murph
June 5th, 2009
10:20 am
Don’t make me choose between the Braves and Smoltz. I don’t think I could. Smoltz was always the poster boy for Braves baseball, and he was the one guy that brought fire to the team. I miss having him on the team everyday, and whether I think he’s right or wrong with what he’s saying, he’s earned the right to speak out about his former team.
Smoltz, if I were the GM, you’d be on the Braves… but I still would have released Glavine. Sorry buddy.
AJC
June 5th, 2009
10:20 am
TC,
Smoltz could have simply said that he feels bad for his friend, and not get into blasting the Braves organization.
what-ever
June 5th, 2009
10:21 am
Glavine says that the Braves didn’t take into account what he had done for organization; well, all I’ve got to say is “welcome to the real world, Tom”. There are very few businesses who will keep you around (employed) just because of what you did in the past (making $50K a year vs $1M+) – it’s what you can do today or tomorrow that will keep you around. I just don’t understand how players like Smoltz and Glavine can whine so much when they make millions a year. They will make more in one season than I will make in several lifetimes – and then they COMPLAIN – Let’s see them in the “real world”.
Butch Reese
June 5th, 2009
10:21 am
I’ve gotta hand it to you Mark, I love it. You are right on the money here, great article. I’ve told you before when I didn’t like what you said so I figured I’d tell you know when I did. I love Smoltz but the man is an ego-maniac and isn’t very smart. You can’t expect him to do anything other than act as he does.
Gray
June 5th, 2009
10:21 am
I guess I really don’t understand where athletes have so much to say how terribly they were treated at the end of their career. When they hold out for millions of dollars when they are in their pride and then decide to leave because the team didn’t pay for their demands. Yes, Glavine and Smoltz both had great careers here no questioning that for sure. The only thing players can’t beat is “TIME”.The Braves wasted 3 years on Mike Hampton and what kind of thanks did the Braves get for doing that, nothing. I am sure Glavine and Smoltz can still pitch very well but the Braves need to get younger players up to the Braves to start developing them. I wish the best for these two because I sure enjoyed the great years they gave the Braves.
Mark Bradley's newst fan!
June 5th, 2009
10:22 am
Smoltz is a BIG BABY! I’ve known lots of people who have met him and I have myself and all of us were just put off by his demeamor ( and I’ve heard good stories about prostitutes peeing on him in limos ). YOU GO MARK! Once again you are (pardon me) right on the Mark
Chris
June 5th, 2009
10:23 am
Here’s hoping another one of the AJC’s ‘journalists’ gets a buyout offer.
Total drivel. I disregarded pretty much everything you wrote because you’re too much of a child to hold a grudge like that.
Glavine got hosed, end of story. There used to be a time in this town where the name on the back of the jersey was just as important as the one in front. I guess all that success has made people forget that there are individuals that make up a team, individuals that do more for this community than anything any journalist for this ‘paper’ has ever done. Or for that matter, any of the dour me-first little children who lap it all up. A couple comments about the Braves, and Smoltz can rot in hell? Damn, ya’ll are shallow little things. And holding a grudge over the player’s strike? Fifteen years later? The day they went on strike was my birthday. Took me a long time, but I got over it. You should try it.
I’m guessing all the people here who are agreeing with the oh-so-important blogger are the same ones who are starting to boo anytime a game doesn’t go their way anymore. Ya’ll make me sick.
leggomyego
June 5th, 2009
10:24 am
Dear Mr. Smoltz and Mr. Glavine,
You guys are two of my greatest lifetime heroes. I can’t thank you enough for what you did for the city of Atlanta and for all the joy you brought to me and my family personally. I assume you got the checks for those years, right? Anyway, I love you guys for the excellence you brought to this team, the class, the competitiveness, and the glory that can never be taken away from us Braves fans. I can’t wait for you boys to be honored in Cooperstown, and if i’m blessed enough i’ll be sitting around telling my grandkids about how i got to see the greatest 3 pitchers of all time throw every season for my own Atlanta Braves, just right down the road. I will always have that, and I have you guys to thank for it. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Thanks Again,
LmE
P.S. – I wanna win now too. I don’t feel like my team owes you guys any back pay or is obligated to keep you based on what’s happened in the past. It would be a disservice to this city, the Atlanta Braves organization and it’s fans for Frank Wren to do anything other that try and put what he feels is the best group of guys on this team every given day. And seeing as how neither one of you has pitched a game yet this season and the guys we do have are doing so great, I’m glad we’ve got who we’ve got and I think our team is better off the way it is. Thanks again guys. No hard feelings. Good luck in whatever it is you plan to do.
atlbravesmania
June 5th, 2009
10:24 am
I believe that what he did frank wren was correct. keith the thing is to win not be more whether or not it was player of the past . need to come back to win back to reach world series . and i regret what step with glavine but is the time of hanson.
TheAntiMe
June 5th, 2009
10:24 am
Thanks, Mark, it all makes sense, now that you’ve shed some light on the real reason that John Smoltz left for Boston. lol – It’s pretty obvious that this town just isn’t big enough for the both of you, so Smoltzie had to get out of Dodge, er, I mean Atlanta.
PN
June 5th, 2009
10:25 am
This blog is childish at best. That’s how Smoltz is, he has an opinion about everything. Some people “no comment” everything when asked. Smoltzy is still my favorite Brave of all time, and I wish he were still wearing an A on his cap. Sorry Mark Bradley, I’ll take Smoltz over you in Atlanta 12 days a week. “Even Sundays”.
No Loyalty!!!
June 5th, 2009
10:25 am
Remember when Glavine left the Braves to go pitch for their hated rivals the
Mets!!!!!
SC Ace
June 5th, 2009
10:26 am
Can I continue to like Smoltz, Glavine, and Bradley? I think so, though the particular fondness I had for Smoltz has been tarnished in the last few months. Though I continue to think I prefer them in that order as pitchers (and probably as golfers).
Are Glavine and Smoltz a bit disconnected from the real world? A bit cocky and self-important? Of course.
Are Glavine and Smoltz (esp. John) making kneejerk, emotional reactions to an emotional deal? Yep.
I’m tired of the soap opera. In all of these circumstances the receiving end always feels slighted, unappreciated, and all that crap, while the one giving the news (you’re done or I’m leaving) always talks about the “business.” Let’s just play ball.
TC
June 5th, 2009
10:26 am
AJC,
It’s much easier for two guys sitting at a computer at their (not million dollar jobs) to say how someone should have acted or what they should have said. I’m sure that when you’ve been asked in the past about something you had an emotional tie too, you have an emotional response. Much easier to take the objective high road when there are no emotions involved.