Torii Hunter Calls Reporter A "Prick" At Press Conference

[Mike Sixel]

If he is going to use his fame to try to get his beliefs embedded into law, then there is every reason to continue to bring it up. As long as he tries to do so, people should ask him about it. Otherwise, he should stay out of politics.

[Eephus]

I don't understand what Deadspin has to do with it. He's in an tv ad exclaiming his views. That's not speculation or spin or anything. 

[jokin]

 

 

I'm pretty sure the term "Constitutionally protected points of view" shouldn't be used in the same sentence as despotic Communist regimes in China and North Korea because, you know, despotic regimes without Constitutional rights and all that jazz.

 

Yeah, that's my point, I'm pretty sure I parenthetically noted the difference between our countries, with the intent to appreciate the irony of where certain aspects of the media now reside.  Certain areas of the US media have taken upon themselves the "denouncing job" against "thoughtcrimes" here that the Communist Party used to dictate to the "journalists" in those countries.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yeah, that story on the Senator-elect from Colorado supposedly caught lying about playing football in high school was Deadspin's finest hour of credibility.  And the Governor of Arkansas is germane, how so?

 

If what Deadspin does is so credible, why don't the writers at Twins Daily emulate their style of gotcha games all day and freely sprinkle each editorial with multiple vulgarities? 

This is my last post on the subject but, again, Deadspin's credibility has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. Hunter said those things. Whether the referenced source is Deadspin or the ghost of Walter Cronkite is irrelevant.

[nicksaviking]

 

If what Deadspin does is so credible, why don't the writers at Twins Daily emulate their style of gotcha games all day and freely sprinkle each editorial with multiple vulgarities? 

 

Woo hoo! No more warnings and infractions!

[jokin]

I don't understand what Deadspin has to do with it. He's in an tv ad exclaiming his views. That's not speculation or spin or anything. 

 

Deadspin is an ideologically driven, vulgar and sensationalistic sports-TMZ, and was the cudgel that Berardino acknowledged that he used to give his line of attack a patina of credibility.

[jokin]

This is my last post on the subject but, again, Deadspin's credibility has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. Hunter said those things. Whether the referenced source is Deadspin or the ghost of Walter Cronkite is irrelevant.

 

Are you dodging my second paragraph, Brock?

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm not dodging anything.

 

1. I'm not a writer on Twins Daily and I do not speak on behalf of Nick, Parker, Seth, or John.

2. It's wildly off-topic in a thread that has gone completely off the rails.

[DaveW]

Free mark DeRosa!

[nicksaviking]

I'm not dodging anything.

 

1. I'm not a writer on Twins Daily and I do not speak on behalf of Nick, Parker, Seth, or John.

2. It's wildly off-topic in a thread that has gone completely off the rails.

 

I think a good rule of thumb is, if the title of the thread has the word "prick" in it, all bets are off as to where the beast will head.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think a good rule of thumb is, if the title of the thread has the word "prick" in it, all bets are off as to where the beast will head.

Well, it is news-worthy. Hunter was "officially" a Minnesota Twin for all of 15 minutes before he called a beat writer a prick.

 

That's... not awesome.

[Mike Sixel]

I wonder how the press feels? the one time someone actually asks a Twin a hard question.......frankly, I'd like more actual questions, and not PR from the writers in this town.

[D. Hocking]

If Mauer calls Reusse or Souhan a prick four times at his next interview, we will know the Twins were correct about Torii having a club house influence.  

 

OK - I would maybe pay to see Mauer dismissively say in reference to Pat or Jim "Who is this......#)#)##)?"

[Major League Ready]

I would have really liked to see Hunter answer respond with something like ... Well Mike, I will continue to be very open with Sports Reporters on any baseball related questions.  For those reporters who elect to use an event like this to sensationalize old news or capitalize on my private life (marriage), I am going to avoid them on all matters, baseball or any other topic.  Congratulations, you just made the top of the list in my first day back.

[Mike Sixel]

Again, how is it old news if he appeared in political ads last month? How is that old news? He wants to endorse candidates, in tv ads, but won't talk about it in press conferences? 

[Mike Sixel]

And, he first got demeaning when asked about his defense......is that also off limits?

[Brock Beauchamp]

For those reporters who elect to use an event like this to sensationalize old news or capitalize on my private life (marriage), I am going to avoid them on all matters, baseball or any other topic.

That's a "moral high ground" Hunter can't claim at this point. He publicly endorsed a politician just last month based on his stance on gay marriage.

 

One doesn't get to leverage their fame to push a personal agenda and then cry foul when others call them out for it.

 

I'm a staunch defender of celebrities being given privacy and hold the utmost disdain for paparazzi who dig into private lives but the kid gloves come off when the celebrity willingly throws their opinion into the public domain.

[Squirrel]

Again, how is it old news if he appeared in political ads last month? How is that old news? He wants to endorse candidates, in tv ads, but won't talk about it in press conferences? 

Then where is Berardino's story on that?  As soon as it was a possibility that Hunter was in the picture, why wasn't Berardino writing about that angle?  Did he try to get an interview with Torii about it?  I'm sorry, while the topic may be legit, the timing was not, imo, and Berardino took an opportunity to jump on that bandwagon at an inappropriate time.  It just wasn't good.  And Hunter was exactly who Hunter is, and Berardino probably knew that, too.  Neither in this scenario comes across at all well.  But the more we harp on it, the more sensational it gets.

[jokin]

And, he first got demeaning when asked about his defense......is that also off limits?

 

Quite the opposite, I think everyone on here has stated that all baseball-related questions are/were fair game. This isn't about Torii's multiple gaffes, just about an inappropriate line of questioning at a "baseball topic" presser.

[DutchFarmer]

Not that it should matter but everyone seems to be qualifying their posts with whether they agree, politically, with Hunter or Berardino. I fall pretty much in the middle of the two. 

 

I really enjoy reading, talking, arguing politics. However, I don't always enjoy it. When I don't enjoy it I go to sports and specifically to the Twins. I can't imagine I'm alone in the thought I want my sports completely devoid of political discussions.

 

In this way I think Berardino failed miserably. This was not a relevant line of questioning to bring up. It had (almost) nothing to do with the game. He may as well have also asked him what his favorite color is or whether he likes Thai food. Berardino was simply engaging in ego gratification, knowing he'd be lauded by the "tolerant" readers out there. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

This was not a relevant line of questioning to bring up. It had (almost) nothing to do with the game. He may as well have also asked him what his favorite color is or whether he likes Thai food. 

While I don't think the question was well-timed, your two examples are far too prevalent at pressers. I'd much rather see someone ask tough questions - even if badly timed - than throw platitudes and softballs at every presser, which is what we usually get around these parts.

 

Personally, I'd be the biggest Mike Berardino fan in the world had he instead asked Hunter which teammate he plans to punch first because that is baseball-related and exposes Hunter as the questionable clubhouse presence he is.

[Mike Sixel]

Not that it should matter but everyone seems to be qualifying their posts with whether they agree, politically, with Hunter or Berardino. I fall pretty much in the middle of the two. 

 

I really enjoy reading, talking, arguing politics. However, I don't always enjoy it. When I don't enjoy it I go to sports and specifically to the Twins. I can't imagine I'm alone in the thought I want my sports completely devoid of political discussions.

 

In this way I think Berardino failed miserably. This was not a relevant line of questioning to bring up. It had (almost) nothing to do with the game. He may as well have also asked him what his favorite color is or whether he likes Thai food. Berardino was simply engaging in ego gratification, knowing he'd be lauded by the "tolerant" readers out there. 

 

Except Torii is using his status as baseball player to endorse candidates that agree with him.......that's what makes it relevant, Torii's decisions, not the reporters. And, I have not at all said how I feel on the topic. This isn't about the topic, it is about Torii's decision to be in the public eye on the topic. You can't put yourself in the public eye, and then say questions about it are off limits. 

[DutchFarmer]

While I don't think the question was well-timed, your two examples are far too prevalent at pressers. I'd much rather see someone ask tough questions - even if badly timed - than throw platitudes and softballs at every presser, which is what we usually get around these parts.

 

I think any of those types of questions are ridiculous so we're probably in agreement there.

[Squirrel]

While I don't think the question was well-timed, your two examples are far too prevalent at pressers. I'd much rather see someone ask tough questions - even if badly timed - than throw platitudes and softballs at every presser, which is what we usually get around these parts.

I think Berardino DID ask the tough question ... about Torii's defense.  Those kinds of questions at that particular press conference I do laud, because that's what it's about.  But the other?  No, I don't laud that because the timing of it makes it suspect and sensational. 

[Celebrity Weddings!]

Personally, I'd be the biggest Mike Berardino fan in the world had he instead asked Hunter which teammate he plans to punch first.

 

And, as a follow-up, his second choice in case that punch somehow misses it's 6'4" target.

[Saul Goodman]

Page two of the prick thread and no one has brought Dick into the mix:

https://twitter.com/dbremer_pxp/status/540276987672014849

[Brock Beauchamp]

And, as a follow-up, his second choice in case that punch somehow misses it's 6'4" target.

It wasn't only Morneau. Hunter also went after Pujols when he was with the Angels.

 

Though I often disagree with him, I appreciate some of Hunter's candor and fire but taking swings at teammates is bad form under any circumstances and Hunter has done just that on multiple occasions.

[Celebrity Weddings!]

It wasn't only Morneau. Hunter also went after Pujols when he was with the Angels.

 

Though I often disagree with him, I appreciate some of Hunter's candor and fire but taking swings at teammates is bad form under any circumstances and Hunter has done just that on multiple occasions.

 

I was not aware of that. Who's the Punto-analogue in that fracas? Maicer Izturis?

[DutchFarmer]

Except Torii is using his status as baseball player to endorse candidates that agree with him.......that's what makes it relevant, Torii's decisions, not the reporters. And, I have not at all said how I feel on the topic. This isn't about the topic, it is about Torii's decision to be in the public eye on the topic. You can't put yourself in the public eye, and then say questions about it are off limits. 

 

I tend to believe that context matters. Where is the contextual connection between endorsing a candidate in a different state than this one and his signing to play right field for the Twins?

 

Also, when I said "everyone" I was engaging in hyperbole. I tend to pretty much always like "mike wants wins" viewpoints on TD but you shouldn't always be so literal.

[jokin]

That's a "moral high ground" Hunter can't claim at this point. He publicly endorsed a politician just last month based on his stance on gay marriage.

 

 

The very stance which was President Obama's identical stance up until May 10, 2012.

 

Look, I don't have a dog in this hunt, my opinion is strictly libertarian- in that the state shouldn't have any say in the sanctioning or defining of any marriages, all matters of this level of import with regard to personal freedom should be based on the credo- "minimum government, maximum freedom".  Unfortunately, this view is all too uncomfortable for both political spectrums.  But it's the left in particular of late, that has led us to the point- in increasing areas of American life, a person risks sanction for exercising his or her freedom of speech, thought or belief- in this case, for the support of "traditional" marriage- but free expression has been frozen in many areas, it's called The Tyranny of the Majority.  I believe those that hold each opposing viewpoint feel that it is they that hold the "moral high ground." (And again, that's not a hill I would ever to choose to climb, because it's a place that takes away personal liberty).