Josh Hamilton just signed a $125 Million deal with the Los Angeles Angels after he felt unwanted by the team that had allowed him to blossom into one of the premier players in the game. The headline after his press conference read: “Hamilton Reflects, A Devil Ray Turned Angel.” Hamilton’s own growth as a human–from number one overrall draft pick, to heroin addict, to MVP and champion of one of the more memorable Home Run Derbys in history–is remarkable. His decision making has not been.
That he included this religious wordplay in his opening press conference is ludicrous. It shows that the team’s name really, actually played into his decision to sign in LA. Hamilton is fully aware of his own story and it’s almost as if he is crafting it consciously. After he hit all those homeruns in Yankee Stadium, all he could talk about was God. In the past, he’s blamed his struggles on his sins, and now he’s committed five years of his life to an organization because it’s named for biblical characters. I’ve had enough.
To go from a “Devil” Ray to an “Angel” was the last straw. The logic is crap. If he really wanted to make a complete turnaround, how about becoming a predator of the Ray? (I looked it up, apparently the “Devil” Ray has no real predator in nature. Humans pose the largest threat, thanks to our insatiable apetite for fossil fuels; sharks and Killer Whales are known to feed on the Ray.) To make his baseball baptism complete, Hamilton should have joined “The Smog,” the most comprehensive and accurate online resource for competitive Pokémon battling. Better yet, Hamilton could have joined the Padres, or their Double A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions. The “Missions” would better represent Hamilton’s transition from heroine addict to religious figure while still on Earth. He’s not an angel yet: remember this? Go play for the Missions. Josh, I’m sure they’d be happy to have you.
In an interview with Pedro Gomez, Hamilton says “When I go 0-4, I think about the person that’s homeless on the street, doesn’t have anything to eat or clothes.” That’s not true Josh. I’ve gone 0-4. I appreciate the sentiment, but to continue to rub this religoius, self-righteous persona in our faces is a bit much.
Hamilton continues to struggle with his addictions and decision making on a day-to-day basis. I appreciate that celebrity more than I care to mention, but the way Hamilton wants to be seen and his actual personality are very different. I don’t know the man and I shouldn’t write anything with authority on his personality, but I’m tired of the uber-humble facade he continues to show the general public, .
What’s so wrong with saying that you felt scorned by the Rangers’ pursuit of Grienke, Upton, and Shields? What’s so wrong with admitting that the Angels gave you the most money? God wouldn’t be upset. He would just expect that Hamilton uses his new financial platform to continue to spread The Word. I’m in no position to comment on Hamilton’s motives, but I’m tired of athlete’s pretending they do things for reasons as simple as the name on the organization.
Hamilton is as talented a player as there is in Major League Baseball. He’s a joy to watch and honestly one of the guys I root for because I truly believe his day to day struggles are real. His teammates are the ones that know him best, and they all seem to like him. But Hamilton needs to be more aware of the image he portrays in Los Angeles. That city cares very little for the religiously self-righteous, and will not be happy with him if he continues this escapade of resurrection. In no way is Josh Hamilton an Angel; he shouldn’t imply it.
-Sean Morash
Stat of the Day: The San Antonio Missions were first known as the “Ballapeno.” A baseballing jalapeno. That’s awesome.
