New York is a tough city to play professional sports in. You are expected to succeed each and every time you are on the field. If you are not, the fans let you know it. If you are a high priced player and you fail, the fans will never forget to remind you that you are not living up to their expectations. As Ol’ Blue Eyes sang, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
Before the 1985 season, the Yankees signed free agent pitcher Ed Whitson to a five-year contract. Whitson got off to a horrible start with the Yankees that resulted in death threats, heckling and Whitson’s refusal to let his wife come to games. It got so bad for Whitson, that for part of the season, manager Billy Martin tried to only pitch Whitson on the road. Near the end of the 1984 season, Whitson and Martin got into a fight that resulted in Whitson having cracked ribs and Martin’s right arm being broken. After a bad start in 1986, Whitson indicated to the Yankees he wished to be traded and the team sent him back to the Padres.
Bobby Bonilla is another players that had production elsewhere, signed a big contract with a New York team (the Mets) and then did not live up to expectations. He was signed by the Mets in 1992 and was traded in 1995 after signing a five-year contract. He was part of many unfortunate incidents with the team and became a fan favorite to boo and to heckle. The Mets re-acquired him in 1999 and as the Mets were losing their last playoff game, he was in the clubhouse playing cared with Rickey Henderson. The Mets waived him for the last time after the season. If his poor attitude and play was not bad enough, Mets fans can continue to hate Bonilla as the Mets will be paying Bonilla $1.2 million annually until 2035 as part of a deferred salary payment.
The most hated New York Knicks person may be former general manager Isiah Thomas. Thomas became Director of Baseball Operations in December of 2003 and by the 2005-2006 season, the Knicks had the highest payroll and 2nd worst record. He made some all-time bad trades and draft picks with his time at the Knicks. He traded away multiple players and multiple 1st and 2nd round picks for Eddy Curry. He kept making trades and signing players in hopes of winning, but all he did was raise the salary and watch the team fall in the standings. He would stand in the tunnel of Madison Square Garden to watch games because he would be booed consistently. He was involved in a sexual harassment suit and eventually relieved of all duties with the Knicks. He is so hated that when rumors that he may be involved with the team again rumored, talk radio and newspapers were immediately on top of the story with such negativity that Thomas once again faded out of New York.
Why the look back at people New York hates? It looks like the latest one is about to leave town, AJ Burnett.
Burnett was signed with much fanfare and introduced to the Yankees fans and media along with the other starting pitcher signed, CC Sabathia. Burnett’s contract was for five years and $82.5 million. His first season with the Yankees was an overall good one, he was 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA. He had issues against the Red Sox that were well publicized. But he survived as the Yankees #2 starter, brought the walk-off “pie in the face” to New York and won Game 2 of the 2009 World Series as the Yankees wont heir first championship since 2000.
In the next two years, Burnett’s troubles in New York were more and more obvious. It has been well stated that he is a great pitcher but the issues are in his head. His 2010 season was 10-15, with a 5.26 ERA and in 2011 he was 11-11 with a 5.15 ERA. He became ineffective as a starter in New York and in 2010 he had the worst season of any Yankees starting pitcher in history. For his salary and his value, it became obvious that New York was not the place for his talents to be for the last two years of his contract.
Over the past few days, the Burnett trade rumors have gotten stronger and stronger. According to multiple reports, the Yankees are in trade talks with the Pirates for Burnett. The Pirates and the Yankees are trying to establish how much of Burnett’s salary will be paid by the Yankees and what the compensation will be in return. The Yankees are looking for First Baseman/Outfielder Garrett Jones, but the Pirates reportedly said no.
I looks like he is going to be traded. The Yankees currently have seven starting pitchers and Burnett has become expendable to the Front Office (he has been expendable to fans for the last two years). Burnett, and his pitching, will be a thing of the past to the Yankees fans.
Burnett will be gone. New York fans will need to find a new pariah. Right now, it cannot be a Giants player. Will it be Rex Ryan or Mark Sanchez? Will it be one of the Knicks stars or one of the remaining Mets players that people care about? No matter who it is, it will happen to someone and that person will always think about New York…
If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.