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[url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080510/SPORTS/805100343/-1/SPORTS]Willie says Mets players respect him[/url]
by J.P. Pelzman
The Record (Hackensack N.J.)
May 10, 2008
excerpt:
NEW YORK — When Willie Randolph sees his cousin Barry's number come up on his cellphone, he really doesn't want to answer it.
It's not that the two relatives aren't close. It's just that Randolph knows exactly what's coming.
"He loves me and he's a big Mets fan and a big sports fan," Randolph said of his cousin, "and he's kind of addicted to it. He can't help himself."
So Barry listens to talk radio and reads newspapers and the Internet and hears all the criticism being directed at Randolph, the manager whose Mets entered yesterday at 17-15, two games behind surprising first-place Florida in the jumbled NL East. The Mets' game against Cincinnati yesterday was postponed, and the teams will play a day-night doubleheader today at Shea Stadium with game times at 1:10 and 7:30.
"I tell him all the time," Randolph said, laughing, "Barry, I don't want to hear that. Why are you calling me with that?"
Even if he decided to let his cousin's calls go straight to voice mail, Randolph admitted he can't totally insulate himself from his critics. They have said that he isn't tough enough on a veteran team that sometimes seems to be sleepwalking.
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[url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spmets105681252may10,0,5057828.story]Randolph realizes culture of sports has changed[/url]
BY JIM BAUMBACH | jim.baumbach@newsday.com
May 10, 2008
excerpt:
When Willie Randolph's cell phone buzzes and he sees his cousin Barry's phone number on the caller ID, he knows it means only one thing.
Someone somewhere is criticizing the Mets manager.
"I tell him all the time, 'Barry, I don't want to hear that. Leave me alone. Why do you call me with that stuff?'" he said. "But he loves me, he's a big Mets fan, a big sports fan and he can't help himself."
Randolph chuckled as he told the story, explaining that no matter how much he wants to shield himself from the constant criticism of managing in New York, he knows it's impossible. "I grew up in this town," Randolph said. "I know what it's like."
But when Randolph was asked if it's any different from when he was a player, he said, "It's worse, really."
The Internet has led to a never-ending 24/7 news cycle filled with nonstop analyzing. It's a situation that puts an increased spotlight on Randolph, especially when his team is not playing well.
Randolph doesn't pretend to like it - "Sometimes you wonder how did it get to this point?" - but, he insisted before the Mets-Reds game was rained out, he realizes this is now the culture of sports.
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