In an interview with Ian O'Connor, a reporter for the Bergen Record, Mets manager Willie Randolph speculated that part of the reason for his unpopularity with the team's fans was that he was African-American: "Is it racial? Huh? It smells a little bit." Randolph then proceeded to cite the experiences of Jets' coach Herm Edwards and former Knicks's president and coach Isiah Thomas as examples of other black New York coaches he perceived to have not gotten a fair shake.
Though I agree with Randolph's macro assertion - African-Americans are given fewer opportunities and less rope than their white counterparts in the coaching and executive ranks in major American sports - his examples are poor. Herm Edwards jumped ship from the Jets after a 4-12 campaign riddled with speculation that he coveted the Chiefs job, held by retiring mentor Dick Vermeil; his bags were packed for Kansas City well before season's end. Herm's main defects, his conservatism (run, run, pass, punt should have been tattooed on Chad Pennington's forearm) and inability manage the clock (the Jets actually hired a clock consultant to stand on the sidelines and advise Herm when to call timeout), were what ultimately alienated Jets fans. But whereas Herm's experience is at least relevant to Randolph's complaint - would a white person in a similar situation be taking as much shit? - Isiah Thomas is out-of-the-ballpark nutso. Thomas, through a series of botched trades and inept signings, managed to tarnish the NBA's marquee franchise while crushing a rabid fanbase over and over again. He even managed to extend the ignominy off the court, serving idiot owner Jim Dolan his just deserts by sexually harassing the team's vice president of marketing; the suit settled after a jury returned an $11 million dollar verdict in the plaintiff's favor at trial. Knicks fans are entitled to hate Isiah Thomas the same way that Detroit Lions fans are entitled to hate Matt Millen or Americans are entitled to hate George W. Bush: these guys fucked something up so profoundly that you would swear they were being paid to do it. In short, this is not the guy Willie wants to be comparing himself to.
The obvious common thread between all three men - Randolph, Edwards, and Thomas - is that they are/were not winning. It's no secret that New York fans are hard on losers; perhaps they're even harder on teams that are supposed to be winners. Right now, Randolph's resume includes a division title in 2006, a bad series loss in the NLCS to an inferior Cardinals team (Jeff Suppan and Jeff Weaver are not Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, a fact that their subsequent careers have borne out in grotesque detail), an embarrassingly epic collapse - blowing a 7 game division lead with 17 to play - to conclude the 2007 season, and thusfar a 22-21 record in 2008. The Mets presently have a $130 million payroll, acquired ace pitcher Johann Santana this past post-season, and Randolph has guided them to mediocrity.
Speaking as a die-hard Mets fan myself, the perception is a) that Willie has the tools necessary to make the playoffs, b) he refuses to call-out under-performing veterans or shake up the lineup, c) his clubhouse is in disarray, with players either completely tuned out or in open revolt, and d) regardless of what he believes, nothing in his C.V. entitles him to an endless supply of the benefit of the doubt. The fact that he has the time to bitch and moan to beat reporters about how SNY treats him or what the fans think is insulting enough; the fact that he basically implied that Mets fans who dislike him are racist is appalling. Perhaps that's how Willie sees it; I'm not in his shoes. But I do know that the Mets suck right now, and if you're not being paid to win baseball games, what are you being paid to do? As the team goes, so goes the perception of Willie. Win 8 out of 9 or 10 out of 12 and you're on top of the world; drop 3 out of 4 at home to the Nationals and you're in the toilet. Right now, Willie looks like a loser. And with comments like these, he's beginning to sound like one too.
