Few people could truly understand what it has been like for Bill Buckner, author of arguably the most memorable athletic error in history. Not Georgetown’s Fred Brown, probably not even Buffalo’s Scott Norwood. But Buckner sure knows what Alex Rodriguez is going through – and is going to go through for a while.
Buckner’s name became famous – or in New England, infamous – the instant Mookie Wilson’s slow, two-out dribbler passed between his legs to give the Mets an improbable Game 6 victory on the way to their 1986 World Series win over Boston. He experienced Beantown’s collective bile for years afterward.
Buckner now lives in Boise, Idaho. He was in town to plug a Johnnie Walker ad campaign based on the mythical Mighty Casey getting a second chance. Buckner knows exactly what kind of venom Rodriguez and the Yanks are in for.
“I know pro sports is about winning, but when you don’t win, I don’t think it’s about criticizing people. I wouldn’t criticize Alex Rodriguez as much as he’s going to get criticized,” Buckner said. “What message are you sending to kids: Don’t take a chance because you might get penalized?”
Rodriguez will be criticized for postseasons as small as his $25 million salary is bloated. He was 2-for-17 in the final four games of the Yanks’ ALCS collapse against Boston last year and hit .133 with no RBIs this year against Anaheim. He also made the error that led to the Angels’ tying run in their Game 2 win, and hit into the 5-4-3 double-play that all but ended the Yanks’ season.
“If you win your division, which the Yankees did, what [else] do you need to do? When the season starts, that’s your goal. The Yankees can say nothing short of a world championship is acceptable, but that’s [bull],” said Buckner, who took umbrage with fans finally “forgiving” him after last year’s title.
“I was almost offended that people would think that was supposed to make me feel good,” Buckner said. “It’s OK to rag on you for 18 years, but I got a laugh out of ‘We forgive Buckner.’
“What do you forgive him for? What crime did he commit? Besides busting his [butt] and soaking his foot in an ice bucket three times a day for 10 years so he could go out and try and win a game for your city? And now you say we forgive you? Up yours, y’know?
“I was offended with the stuff that I’d done something wrong. I maxed out; I did physically everything that I could do. What more can you ask of yourself?”
While this loss may well shake up the Bombers’ roster and staff, Buckner said they shouldn’t do anything drastic – just address their shaky, aging rotation and determine who’ll play center.
He also predicted a Houston-Chicago World Series.
Once the hitting coach for the White Sox while Ozzie Guillen played for them, he went with his heart when forecasting a champion.
“I have a feeling the White Sox are going to win,” Buckner said.
