To my esteemed CDMSBL colleagues, John Corrigan and Jim Edelman:
Gentlemen,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments on my recent post. I am concerned, however, with John Corrigan's suggestion that Ron Jeel and John Reel are one and the same. Forgive me John C, but after combing through every word of Spike's piece, I don't see any evidence of shared identity beyond the coincidence of similar sounding names. But let's now take a look at the relevant parts of the text together and see what we find.
Here is the first reference that could apply to John Reel, as a "League official."
"There's probably little that League officials can do for him anyway...."
Honestly, I don't see any criticism of John here, as Spike appears to be giving those officials a pass. And I would agree with you and Spike that there is probably little John could have done to help Mike Hart form a team. Other than that, there is no reference to John as a League official anywhere else. And no one could disagree with you that there are "a lot of people playing ball right now because of [John]"; indeed, I would say that with the exception of Mike Hart, no one has done more than John to grow our League.
And regarding Spike's teammate Ron Jeel, let's look at what was said:
"Any self-respecting player would be grateful to wind down his career with dignity, like Ronnie, as a white-bearded bench gnome on a championship team....
"if he's fully awake, he'll do a commendable job at keeping our scorebook....as he makes his way to the other side, he never fails to throw in some jaunty dance moves, followed by a theatrical bow to the home plate ump....Ronnie does an eerily spot-on impression of...Phil Rizzuto."
Yes, it is conceivable that "white bearded bench gnome on a championship team" could describe John Reel, except that from what I've learned from the League website, John isn't a member of a championship team; I believe the Twins are a middle-of-pack team, and the Reds are an expansion team. Moreover, I would naturally assume that John is an active on-field participant with those two teams, rather than solely a bench warmer.
And as far as the physical description, many of our older players sport white beards; more to the point, all gnomes have white beards! In other words, white-beardedness is hardly unique to John.
And having observed John for twenty years, I have never known him to be anything but "fully awake." In addition, I've never seen him dance on the field or bow to an ump; nor have I witnessed John doing Scooter Rizzuto, for heaven's sake! None of that is John's style.
Actually, rather than featuring any kind of silly dance steps, I would say that Mr. Reel moves with the measured, purposeful step of the true long, tall Texan that he is. If anything, he puts me in mind not of a gnome, but of "The Duke," John Wayne. In fact, I think our dear Prez should wear a ten-gallon Stetson, a neck scarf, and boots when he's not in a baseball uniform--but that's just me!
So, from what I can see, Ron Jeel bears no real relation to John Reel. I believe one would have to agree that the available evidence just doesn't support that contention. And I will aver that Spike's focus has always been primarily on organizations and policies, not on individuals.
Hey, if a similarity in names is the only link, then I guess one could just as easily say that Spike Gonard is actually Mike Girard. Ridiculous!
Frank
PS. I'm still researching the rumor that John Reel was briefly a sideman for the Texas rock band ZZ Top.
PPS. And to my fond compatriot, Ralph Caputo: I don't do as much conditioning work as Mike Hart, but I manage to mess myself up, nonetheless. This time it's a hamstring, that I seem to have slightly torn by sprinting at full speed while pushing a loaded shopping cart up the hundred-yard parking lot incline at the Valatie Hannaford. Usually, I can do this without trouble, but last November I wasn't warmed up properly and I've been paying the price ever since, including twice-weekly physical therapy since March. Otherwise, it's spin bike or road bike, weights, isometrics, power walking, sprinting, running backwards, and throwing against my tool shed. I'm not sure what Spike does for exercise, but I'm beginning to think he may be working his biceps with bong curls.
-- Edited by Frank Montagano on Saturday 24th of May 2025 01:19:35 PM
Geez Frank ..... you must have hired a lawyer to come up with that .... or just slept at a Holiday Inn the night before!
While a judge may find you innocent based on technicalities I would imagine a jury of your peers on an adult baseball bulletin board will come up with a guilty verdict ... and it will most likely be unanimous!
Oh, gosh! Does that mean I risk getting kicked off my team?
But wait a second: I'm not on a team....
So, I'm guilty as charged!...but of what, exactly?
I didn't criticize John Reel specifically or anyone else in my comments. Neither did Spike. Your solicitude for John is uncalled for, it would seem.
Besides, as the President of an organization, John is obliged to receive comments from members, critical or otherwise. Who better to petition for redress of grievances?--if I had any.
And John isn't infallible like the Pope--and yet it appears I have been called before a bulletin board inquisition. Nor does he rule by divine right, like a king--so no one should be concerned that he'll chop off my head. Nor is he a dictator who will "disappear" his supposed detractors--though I'm pretty much disappeared from the League already!
John is a big boy who has proven for decades that he can well take care of himself. And he knows and you should know that if I ever have concerns, I'm not reluctant to address them with John privately.
What really surprises me is your narrow focus on John in relation to my post. Spike raised some interesting organizational issues in his message; funny how nobody seems to find his thoughts worthy of comment!
-- Edited by Frank Montagano on Tuesday 27th of May 2025 06:29:01 PM
Weve got the makings for a reality TV mockumentary here. it could be filmed right here in the Capital District with all profits going to CDMSBL. Now were gonna have to figure out whos gonna play each one of these key people on screen. I wasnt gonna post anymore on this thread, but I had a few extra minutes on my hands and was a little bored honestly.
-- Edited by crowbait on Tuesday 27th of May 2025 06:42:37 PM
