FanHouse TonyWomack

Since I just brought up the latest fine Gary Sheffield will have to pay for opening his mouth, it only seems fitting that we review one of the things Sheffield said that he didn't get fined for. At least I don't think Gary was fined for it, to be honest, it's kind of hard to keep track. I don't think Gary knows for sure.

Last month Sheffield publicly stated that Yankees manager Joe Torre is a racist. He said if you didn't believe him, you could just ask Tony Womack and Kenny Lofton. So a couple of reporters did ask Kenny Lofton, and Lofton told them that Sheffield was right.

Now Lofton wants you to know that Sheffield was right but he wasn't right. Make sense?

Lofton was quoted by an Associated Press reporter as saying, "All I can say is, Sheffield knows what he's talking about; that's all I'm going to say," but Lofton said yesterday his quote was misrepresented, saying the question he was asked related specifically to being called out by the manager in meetings.

"They're trying to say it's racism? That's a word I don't even bring up," said Lofton, who played for Torre in 2004. "I didn't say that, and that's something I won't say."

"Was I treated differently? Yeah," Lofton said. "I got treated differently and always wondered why. Maybe (it was because) I was the new guy, maybe I can't play and he didn't want to put me on the field. I don't know. Maybe I (stank) to him and he didn't want a guy who (stinks) on his team."

So now we know for a fact that Joe Torre is not a racist, but a suckist. Joe just doesn't want players who suck to be on his team, and I don't think we should stand for it. This is America, Mr. Torre. In America we all get an equal opportunity whether we suck or not.

I suck at writing, but FanHouse lets me do it because Jamie Mottram believes in America. Of course, at the same time, you sent Kyle Farnsworth out to the mound many a time, so maybe you aren't a suckist after all. But wait, Kyle Farnsworth is white. So is it okay to suck as long as you're white, Mr. Torre? Kenny Lofton sucks, and he's on the bench. Kyle Farnsworth sucks and he gets to play.

Wow, maybe Sheffield was right after all. I'm so confused.

Previously at FanHouse:
Gary Sheffield is Back, Baby!
Kenny Lofton: Sheffield is Right About Torre

It happens to all of us sooner or later. One day, you're in the prime of your life. Before you know it, you can't get around as easily as you used to ... you're taking advantage of early bird specials ... you're cutting off all of your hair in front of various members of the paparazzi ... stuff like that.

This inevitability is hitting Tony Womack. In 2001, Womack was tying up Game Seven of the World Series against the Yankees, and helping to end their dynasty. Six seasons, four trades and eight franchises later, Womack is the first cut by a team that might very well lose 100 games in 2007. Not a good sign, but Manny Acta hopes that the early cut will help get Womack another job.

According to Acta, Womack, 37, took the news like a professional. The team felt it was best to release him early in camp so he could hook up with another club. Womack was not available for comment.

"We just told him that we didn't think he could help us and he is not in our plans," Acta said. "He took it well. We didn't want to waste his time. If he is not in our plans, then why keep him here until March 28 and then not give him an opportunity to hook up with another club?"

Hopefully, there will be another shot for Womack. But if not, it's comforting to know that he's handling it well, and that there isn't going to be a Britney style meltdown in Tony's future.