Inspired by Paul Terris' reference and the awesome responses about a fallen hero and the American Dream, here's an article to balance the life of A-Rod. Chipper Jones. What a guy. Very different departure from baseball than what A-Rod is likely to experience.
Some questions ... How does this article play into the sentimentality surrounding the game of baseball and the idea of heroes? Is Chipper the anomaly or the norm? Let's play arm chair psychologist for a moment: why was Chipper able to resist the pull of steroids when A-Rod could not. Give me your best psycho-analysis.
Loved the insights and honesty of last week. Keep up the good work. Remember -- be insightful but be concise. I love your thoughts.
From the title, “Only One Chipper”, to the beginning of the last paragraph, “’He has had the true heart of a Brave in him’”, this article plays into the sentimentality of baseball and the longing for a hero that a franchise can rally behind. Chipper Jones was loyal to his team for his entire career, which is more often the exception than the rule in modern baseball. The article recognizes this when it says that Jones “seems certain to be one of the rare modern players with just one franchise engraved on his Hall of Fame plaque.” As for why Jones was able to resist steroids when A-Rod was not is anyone’s guess. In my opinion, when a person is happy and comfortable with their situation, they seem less likely to make bad decisions. A-Rod more than likely had a bigger salary than Jones throughout his career, and with that money comes a larger dose of pressure to succeed from the media. You can make the argument that Jones had a better moral compass or something like that, but maybe it’s just that Jones didn’t feel the same pressures as A-Rod.
ReplyDeleteGreat start, Amanda! Good analysis of Chipper and how his story compares to A-Rod. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteSome questions ... How does this article play into the sentimentality surrounding the game of baseball and the idea of heroes? Is Chipper the anomaly or the norm? Let's play arm chair psychologist for a moment: why was Chipper able to resist the pull of steroids when A-Rod could not. Give me your best psycho-analysis.
ReplyDeleteI think the most impressive thing Chipper did through all his years in the MLB was decline a $20 million option of a contract if he left the Braves. He was a very respected man who stayed with the Atlanta Braves his entire professional career. I believe that Chipper is definitely an anomaly. He fights hard, plays fair, and earns respect from his teammates both on and off the field. I think he was doing so well without any steroids and has such strong morals that he was able to deflect any offers or desire to try. Unlike A-Rod, I believe Chipper plays the game not to break records although he certainly did that, but because he loved the game and if you love the game you wouldn't take illegal drugs or anything that could possibly change your mentality towards your favorite sport. Overall, he was a much better person and baseball player than A-Rod, and this showed on and off the field..
Great, Trevor. You get to a tricky thing to measure ... the love of the game. Is that saying that A-Rod loved the fame and fortune more? Such a great point to raise and a sticky issue to think about. I just hope Chipper isn't the anomaly.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, while A-Rod does not represent a hero, Chipper Jones does. I do not know much about Chipper Jones or other professional baseball players, but after reading this article, I think that Chipper Jones seemed to appreciate and love the game and had natural talent and determination whereas other players, such as A-Rod, felt like he needed to use steroids in order to become better. I think Jones captured it perfectly when he said, "“You don’t want everybody’s last impression of you limping off the field behind third base in Houston or being carted off the field in Kansas City, not able to play the game anymore. Each player wants to leave on his own terms.” Jones was a player that made decisions that allowed him to "leave on his own terms" and because of this, he was able to leave as a hero and idol. However, A-Rod made decisions that have eventually, in my opinion, led to his demise as a player, causing him to leave on other's terms, rather than his own. My last impression of A-Rod, putting aside the fact that his career is not over, is that he was the drug-using guy. Simply put, Chipper could resist the steroids because he has a kind of persistence that only the best have, a kind that A-Rod obviously does not have.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chipper Jones is a model athlete, and hero for baseball youth. He is the perfect example of a humble player, who, as the article states, goes about his business “quietly.” I think this is the main difference between him and A-Rod. They are similar in many ways, including their love of the game and their innate skill. However, Chipper is so modest and humble, while A-Rod has a reputation of being flashy and self-involved. The fact that Chipper gets much less media attention than A-Rod, in my opinion, is the main reason that Chipper was able to resist the pull of steroids. Chipper never felt the pressure by the media, or the fans, to be the best. As a result, he enjoyed a pressure-free environment throughout his career to simply play his game to his potential. On the contrary, A-Rod, playing for “America’s team” the New York Yankees, was always at the center of media attention, which in turn, put pressure on him to always be better than he was. Chipper’s experience is an anomaly, for his avoidance of using steroids, as well as his complete loyalty to his club, which both have proven to portray is heroism for not only Braves fans, but all baseball fans.
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ReplyDeleteThis article portrays Chipper Jones as a hero, but one of a kind. I do not have any knowledge of other great baseball players that would be compared to him and I already believe him to be the most deferential player in the league. What makes Chipper such an admirable hero is not only his great skill,love, and commitment to the game, but rather his humble attitude and efforts to keep young aspiring baseball players on the right track by offering guidance and being a role model. I believe that Chipper is neither the anomaly or the norm. Chipper is an example of what many great baseball players should strive to be like. Such honorable actions are neither expected nor necessarily inconsistent with how famous athletes act because they are not held to a certain standard. In the world of sports there are a lot questionable issues that are not addressed and athletes demeanors are not always disapproved of. Essentially the masculinity and competitiveness associated with sports do not leave much room for compassion and sympathy. The fame and fortune is the only thing that many people focus on. It is up to the individual to decide whether to give back to their community in some way and if they do not there are not many consequences. However, this is not the case with Chipper. He did not become a sucker for the glory, which kept him on the right track and makes him an exemplary player. Unlike A-Rod, he did not gain the admiration and support of Americans nationwide by simply being a great player; he won their hearts through his actions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Chipper Jones and Alex Rodriguez followed similar paths to athletic stardom, their careers led them to quite different places over time. From his championship win as a rookie in the MLB to his induction into the Braves Hall of Fame, Chipper Jones has always been noted for his incredible determination and talent. Over the course of his career, he remained grounded and did not succumb to the pressure from the demanding game enough to become involved with performance-enhancing drugs. His dedication was more rooted in the shared spirit among baseball players and fans than in a selfish desire to have personal success. I believe that this internal drive to succeed is shared by many players in MLB; however, Chipper’s record-breaking talent and devotion to his team led him to be considered a hero of baseball. This isn’t to say that A-Rod lacked devotion to the Yankees; I just believe he grew too desperate to maintain his status as a celebrity athlete. With less mainstream media attention and a more humble mindset, Chipper Jones was able to remain loyal to the idea of playing a fair game.
ReplyDeleteThis article about Chipper Jones plays very directly to the idea of sentimentality and heroes in baseball by showing the true hero that Chipper Jones is. He is not as famous, or as rich as someone like A-Rod, but he is the definition of a loyal baseball hero. It is so rare that a player plays for 18 years, and does not play for another team, let alone go into free agency. This shows that although Chipper made a whopping 155 million dollars during his playing career, he cared more about baseball than the money or the politics of baseball. I believe that this is an extreme anomaly in baseball today. An example of this is even some great players who are considered incredibly loyal join free agency solely to make more money from the team they are already on. Lastly, I believe that Chipper was able to resist the pull of steroids while A-Rod was not because Chipper cared about helping the game of baseball and "affect(ing) one little kid out there and mak(ing) him want to be a professional baseball player", while A-Rod cared about being the best player of all time. Another reason is the places where they each played baseball. Chipper played in Atlanta, a place where he was loved for his accomplishments and loyalty to the team when he was younger, and he was not going to be despised even if he could no longer play baseball at the same quality he was able to when he was younger. On the other hand, A-Rod, in New York, would have been disliked had New York spent a huge contract on him and A-Rod not fulfilled the expectations. These differences caused Chipper to end his career on a high note, while A-Rod is going to be going through one of the more painful seasons for any player in recent history.
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DeleteChipper reminds me of BLAH BLAH and the reasons he chose to play and become a professional baseball player. “'I just told him, ‘How stupid — you’re going to retire, and you could make another $20 million!’ ' Ozzie Guillen, the Miami Marlins’ manager and a former teammate, said Wednesday." He doesn't care about the money, he played the game because he loved it. If he did care about the money, like Ozzie Guillen hinted, he would've played another year for that extra 20 million dollars. The article plays into the sentimentality of baseball and the reasons for playing professional baseball. When looking at Chipper's success compared to A-rod's failure I think it comes from the amount of press and spotlight that was put on them. I don't know about other people but for me, I rarely ever heard about Chipper Jones; he was never prevalent in the my world of famous players. I know that I am not the biggest fan of baseball and I barely know any player other than the players on the Giants, but I saw A-rod everywhere! It could have been on a commercial or magazine or an article online but he always somewhere. Chipper didn't fall under the pressure of being everywhere, he just performed on the field and got all of his stardom while performing in the ballpark.
ReplyDelete"BLAH BLAH" refers to James Bell. I was going to come back to it and change it when I remembered his name but I forgot :).
DeleteGrace Donahoe:
ReplyDeleteI think that Chipper Jones' story could have ended much differently. With all of the pressure on him, it was very possible for him to go down the same path as A-Rod. Both of these players grew up as prospective players surrounded by high expectations. Jones said, "Who's ever going to remember Larry, you know? Except in New York. They wanted to give me a unique nickname." Both Jones and A-Rod wanted to be players worth remembering. I think that there is a very fine line between ambition and greed. It is one thing to want to be successful, but that line is crossed when the rules are broken. I think that it all comes down to having to compare any possible gain with what might be lost. Was it worth it for A-Rod to become a better player by using steroids if he risked not being able to play the game he loved? This reminded me of the last passage in We Are The Ship: "We were fortunate men. We got to play baseball for a living, something we would have done even if we hadn't gotten paid for it. When you can do something you love to do and get paid for it, it's a wonderful thing" (Nelson 78). I think that for baseball players it is easy to lose sight of everything they are risking when faced with the fear of failure. I believe that both Jones and A-Rod dealt with this internal struggle during their careers, but A-Rod momentarily lost sight of the everything he might lose.
From Wes (via Mary)
ReplyDeleteChipper Jones is a hero who knew when to quit and because of this the name he has made for himself over the past 18 years will live on, untarnished. It is a noble thing to turn down $20 million, but in doing so he has publicly shown that how own beliefs and feelings come before the money. Luckily for the sport of baseball I believe that Jones is the norm. ALthouhg he may have been especially good I believe that he is part of the majority, a majority of players who play the game honestly and drop off without any drama. These are often the men you don't hear about, but they are the men who put people like A-Rod to shame. As to why Jones was able to resist steroids and A-Rod couldn't, I believe it comes down to ego. Jones was content to play to the best of his ability and receive whatever records came along with that. A-Rod wanted something more. I would never question or compare their love of the game, but besides love of the game they played for different reasons. Steroids would have done wonders for Jones, especially as he got older but he could say no. A-Rod, who would have been a great player without drugs clearly wanted to be better than he physically could be. His success may have made him a household name, but what it took to get there will tarnish his name forever.
From Noah (via Mary)
ReplyDeleteI think the differences in the two players careers simply reflects a character flaw in one player that was amplified by the situation he was in. Judging by the careers of the two players I think that they are probably pretty similar talent wise minus the steroids.That being said there is clearly a character difference between the two which was amplified by the media, the organization and team, and the money as Rodriguez submitted to temptation and ended up in a fall from grace. Whether it was greed, cowardice or some other flaw, Rodriguez clearly let his flaw dictate his actions while Chipper stayed true to himself and he became a hero.
Chipper Jones is a great and rare player in the history of the MLB. Throughout his long and faithful career in Atlanta, Chipper remained a constant player both on and off the field. He was the face of the Braves, and someone who everyone could count on each season (which is very rare.) In this day and age, it is very uncommon to see a player have so much loyalty to one team. At the end of their contract most players seem to have no problem leaving their team to go to a higher payroll on another teams roster. Chipper is definitely an anomaly in the MLB. His attitude and loyalty, is also what kept him off the steroid path. Jones has always had a good head on his shoulder and was not impacted by the fame or fortune that baseball gave him. It was always about the game and his team, which is what has made him a player that will always be remembered.
ReplyDeleteFrom Luc (via Mary)
ReplyDeleteChipper Jones is a great example of professionalism at its finest. He is not only an exceptional player, but also a great person and teammate. He is a player that will be placed in the same category as players like Gehrig and Ripken. These three men exemplified great character while playing at an incredibly high level. They were all great Baseball players but its their character that separates them from the rest. Their actions off the field is what makes them heroes. All three of these men showed great loyalty to each of their ball clubs and is why all three of them are the face of their franchise. A-Rod however does not fall into this category. I think a major factor that kept Chipper away from the temptation of steroids was the loyal fan base that has been behind him all of these years. Unlike Chipper, A-Rod has played for the most demanding fans in the sport. The Yankees and their fans hold players to an incredibly high standard unmatched in the world of baseball. I cannot even imagine the amount of pressure that A-Rod has had to deal with during his time as a Yankee. Chipper on the other hand has played for a team that he was able to turn around. Before Chipper the braves were nothing he is a major reason for turning that team around and making it the franchise it is today. I also believe that Chipper Jones is a strong man that stuck to his morals and was able to not cave into the temptation of steroids. This as well as his amazing numbers and accomplishes is what makes Chipper an amazing player and is the reason he will be remembered for years to come.
After reading this article, I am convinced that Chipper Jones shows the true character of baseball at its finest. Dubbed with "helping amateur baseball grow," I feel like he has simply made a name for himself by remaining modest yet still being excellent at what he does and maintaining consistency in skill as well as reputation on and off of the field. I believe Jones is in fact the anomaly. I just get the sense that he is still in the game for the love of the sport even as he grows older. He respects the game and wants to see it thrive on a fundamental level of advancement, not just from a financial point of view. From his roots in local, small ball in Florida, he has grown the mentality that every modern baseball player should dream to possess.
ReplyDeleteI think that the difference between A-Rod and Chipper is so interesting because after reading this article, they seem(ed) so similar. Up until A-Rod started using drugs, I feel as if this is how he was going to be remembered; however, the main difference I see is that Chipper already had guaranteed fame and recognition. Due to the fans that surrounded him, Chipper already knew that he was going to be remembered and felt that no matter where his career went he would be remembered forever. He was able to resist the pull of steroids because he already achieved all he ever wanted. He was given the name Chipper, and he had been around the game so much that he was even credited with helping amateur baseball grow. To amateur athletes he was seen as a hero, to professional athletes and teams he was respected, and he put up some of the top numbers in Brave's history. He had no reason to take steroids because he had everything that he could possibly want in the baseball world. I also think that their goals are what separated them. Rodriguez wanted to put up the numbers that would make him famous but Chipper wanted to help inspire others to want to put up those numbers and that's a big part in seeing a contrast between him and A-Rod. - Patchy
ReplyDeleteChipper Jones is a baseball hero. He only played for one team, he was a role model among players and fans, he won many championships with the Braves, and was an amazing player. Chipper Jones started playing a long time ago, and I think back then, Chipper was the norm among baseball heroes. I believe that back then there were more heroes similar to Chipper who believed in staying with a team, and being a figure for their city to look up to. However, more recently I think that these types of heroes are disappearing due to how money has played a bigger role on baseball player's careers. I think that ideals are changing and that old heroes are starting to fade. I also believe that Chipper was able to say no to steroids because he is more of an older player. I believe that he did not use them because when he was at his peak, the new faster, stronger and better image of a baseball player had not been created yet and he felt no need try and keep up. Chipper Jones might be one of the last genuine baseball heroes for a while.
ReplyDeleteChipper loves baseball, but baseball loves Chipper more, and that's a guarantee. Right before steroids captured the game, baseball was drowning. People generally don't like to admit it, but in many ways steroids saved the popularity of the game as the homeruns of Conseco and McGuire captured the hearts and imaginations of the American public. The article does a great job of acknowledging how amazingly consistent Chipper was, but in fact it really understates it, because Chipper was one of the most consistent players in baseball's history while the league itself was at its least consistent moment. To the point concerning Chipper's "status" of anomaly or norm, I would argue he's both. Even during the height of the steroid era there were many players who refrained from the temptation, but few who did so as successfully as Chipper. In the aftermath of the era, the MLB found itself floundering under the scrutiny that they had known and allowed this to happen, and so it disassociated itself with the likes of Sosa and Clemens and instead punched its ticket with Chipper's and Jeter's of the era, players who had quite simply outclassed the league itself. So yes, obviously Chipper embodies the epitome of the hero to the average fan, but he could just as well resemble the Messiah to the MLB. As to why he was able to resist while A-Rod, Palmiero, Giambi, and countless others weren't, I think it's really situationally based, and more specifically, needs based. Chipper grew up with a strong family, as his dad was a teacher and baseball coach at the private high school he'd attend in Jacksonville florida. He was never pushed to his limit, and thankfully so for him, the fans, and the league itself.
ReplyDeleteI loved how this article played into the sentiment of baseball by talking about Chipper's many years/seasons playing in the MLB. It kind of illustrates his gradual cycle as the hero-turned-teacher figure on the Braves team. To be honest, I'm not really sure why a player like Chipper Jones was able to resist the temptations of steroids while A-Rod was not. Jones shows this extreme consistency that I don't believe A-Rod had, perhaps this played a role in A-Rod's need to be better and stronger.
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