LINCICOME: A Holliday from logic

By Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 6, 2008 at 9 p.m.

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Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The Chicago Cubs' Kosuke Fukudome was voted by the fans to start in the All-Star Game for the National League.

Without surprise the two best Rockies are on the National League All-Star team, pitcher Aaron Cook and left fielder Matt Holliday.

Why Holliday is not a starter is still unclear, never mind that the fan vote totals would suggest that two thirds of the Cubs outfield is better and that Milwaukee knows how to stuff a ballot box. Or is it an e-mail box? However it is done these days.

Starting ahead of Holliday are the Brewers' Ryan Braun and the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome.

The first thought might be why Ken Griffey Jr. is not there if not Holliday. But with more than 600 homers in his pocket, and more sentiment than Barry Bonds ever deserved, Griffey isn't even on the team.

Soriano has been out injured for nearly a month but swears he will play, and Braun is still riding his rookie notoriety and catchy nickname (The Hebrew Hammer) to end up with the second-most votes in the NL. But those are not the most dunderheaded, or the weirdest, of the fan selections.

It's the other guy, the guy who has caught on inexplicably, becoming a folk figure without any real credentials. With only a T-shirt and the exploitation of a ghost.

By coincidence, I received unsolicited in the mail the very piece of clothing. It celebrates in its fashion Fukudome, his name on the back of the shirt, and there is no argument that he must be given some of the credit for the Cubs' fine season so far.

In fact, so fine a season are the Cubs having that seven of them are on the All-Star team and, let's be honest here, never in the history of the Cubs have there been seven All-Stars all at once, not Tinker- to-Evers-to-Chance, not Santo-to-Kessinger- to-Banks and certainly not Ramirez-to-Theriot-to-Lee.

On the front of the T-shirt is a Cubs logo, sort of, the cuddly bear face wearing oversized glasses, the eyes either squinting or racially insensitive. Mostly surely the latter.

The resemblance to famed broadcaster Harry Caray is there on purpose. Caray was a good-hearted soul but not always politically correct. For example, he once wondered how a player from Mexico could lose a ball in the sun.

Caray's home run call was memorable. It could be. It might be. It is. But more notable was an honest reaction of the joys of baseball. Holy cow, he would say.

On the front of the Fukudome T-shirt, someone has imagined what Caray might say about the new Japanese right fielder. And it is this. Horry Kow!

As if the caricature isn't enough of a slur, surely the coolie English is. Not that Caray might not have actually said it.

Fukudome has said he is insulted and the Cubs have banned the sale of the T-shirt, yet it remains a hot seller outside Wrigley Field. Unauthorized, as they say, even though there is a trademark on the shirt.

And, I am convinced, it has more to do with Fukudome being in the starting outfield ahead of Holliday in the All-Star Game than anything he has done on the field.

What's the other explanation? A .287 average to Holliday's .343? His seven home runs to Holliday's 13. His 40 RBI to Holliday's 49? His one-game hitting streak to Holliday's 10?

Attention is important no matter how it comes and even as improper as is the T-shirt, it does contain a kind of affection and an unmistakable wit, and clearly it has boosted Fukudome beyond just another guy in right field to some kind of instant myth.

Is it just because Fukudome hit a game-winning home run on Opening Day? There was once a Cub named Tuffy Rhodes who hit three homers on Opening Day and is now playing his 11th season in Japan. Maybe the two of them passed each other somewhere over Wake Island.

It is not just Holliday, who has the best numbers of all NL outfielders, but others, too, who have as much of a gripe.

Fukudome is only the 10th-best outfielder, and less deserving than Ryan Ludwick of St. Louis and Nate McLouth of Pittsburgh, who join Holliday as reserves in the outfield.

Better also are Brian Giles in San Diego and Randy Winn in San Francisco and Carlos Lee in Houston and even the remarkable Rick Ankiel in St. Louis.

It is one thing to lose out to a better player. It is another to lose out to a T-shirt.

Holy cow.

• July 7, 2008

  9:58 a.m.

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  M2 writes:

  The ever famous homerun call coined by Harry Caray is: "It might be, it could be, IT IS!"
  Please do your homework before putting it in print.

  The All-Star game is a popularity contest. Right now Fukudome is the hot topic. He'll be rookie of the year. Also last time I checked Fukudome had over 700,000 more votes than Holiday.

• July 7, 2008

  12:06 p.m.

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  guymcnasty writes:

  Sounds like sour grapes from the Rockies' camp. The Cubs are the best team in the NL, with 16 more W's than your Rockies. It's no wonder why Cubs fans have voted for "The Dragon" as he is commonly called. He isn't simply a "t-shirt" as you'd like to claim. He has backed it up with gold-glove caliber defense and a .391 on base % in his rookie year. Watch this guy play a few more games before you compare him with Tuffy Rhodes, and claim he's inferior to Brian Giles or Randy Winn. The NL West is a joke of a division this year. Show Fukodome a little more respect...he's earned it.

• July 7, 2008

  1:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  mdnantkes writes:

  WOW! I know there are a lot of Cubs fans in CO but come on Mcnasty...There is NO WAY that Fukadome should receive a starting nod period, let alone over Holliday. And dont compare division records and overall hitting stats. The best pitching in MLB resides in the NL West (Lincicome, Webb, Haren, Peavy, Young) and Holliday is still hitting .340. Fukodome hasn't earned anything yet...a .280 avg and 7 HRs would make him the 4th best outfielder on the Rockies behind Spilly and Hawpe. He won the vote because he had all of Japan voting for him on-line.

• July 7, 2008

  2:04 p.m.

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  twags15 writes:

  And Fukudome did not hit a game-winning homer on Opening Day. He cracked a 3-run shot, tying it in the ninth to force extra innings, before the Cubs lost to the Brewers in 10.

• July 7, 2008

  2:42 p.m.

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  guymcnasty writes:

  Best pitching in the MLB comes out of the West? Get real. That statement just lost any credibility that you had. Spillborghs over Fukudome? If the Rockies have all these great players, how are they so bad this year? Don't tell me it's b/c Tulo is hurt either. I respect Matt Holliday...he's obviously an elite player. Just don't try to tell me that Fukudome is a gimmick, or a flash in the pan. If the Rockies fans actually voted for the all-star game, you'd have nothing to complain about. At least you guys will get another really high draft pick next season.

• July 7, 2008

  3:27 p.m.

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  Cwillyrun1 writes:

  mcnasty, Fukudome isn't a great player, and isn't deserving of an All-Star berth. But it's a popularity contest with the starters so I take it with a grain of salt. Fukudome can be Holliday's bat boy in New York at the All Star game.

  By the way, Colorado played in the World Series last year, as I'm sure you should know.... where were the Cubs? When was the last time the Cubs played in the World Series? When was the last time the Cubs were even relevant?

  The one good thing, the NL manager is Hurdle. I don't see overrated players like Soriano or Fukudome lasting long when Hurdle knows he'll have to match the power the AL has.... and he'll bring in Holliday.

• July 7, 2008

  5:19 p.m.

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  AKuser writes:

  Are we really to the point where a Cubs fan is talking trash, really? The Rockies have a lousy record as a franchise but it would take a long, long, long time for the Rockies to approach the standard of consistent losing that the Cubs have put up. 1908 is the year the Cubs last won and unless you are 100 years old you have watched as many Cub championships as I have watched Rockie titles. The Rockies are the reigning national league champs and Cubs are not. There is a team in Chicago that knows a little something about winning in baseball but they are called the White Sox's...

• July 7, 2008

  5:35 p.m.

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  RDenver writes:

  A cub fan bragging? Say it ain't so..! After they get beat in either the first or second round of the playoffs, he/it/she will have to be put on suicide watch for the rest of the year. Get a life guymcnasty. Nevermind..I forgot..you're a Cubs fan and they have no lives.

• July 7, 2008

  6:05 p.m.

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  sickandtired writes:

  Hey Cubs fan - take your Fuky Wuky shirt and go back to Chicago. There's too much Chicago trash in the state of Colorado already.

  Talk big about an All-Star starting spot all you want - it's nothin but a popularity contest. Yes, nothin but a popularity contest - all the All-Star games are. H***, Carmelo Anthony made the NBA game - enuf said.

• July 7, 2008

  6:41 p.m.

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  fastnloose writes:

  Let's face it any poll or vote that involves the Cubs,will always slant to the Chicago side.When it's time for the money shot(fall)they disappear like a f*** in the wind.Unless a hundred years of history is totally wrong.

• July 7, 2008

  7:09 p.m.

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  grandmacoach writes:

  M2, You criticize the writer for making a mistake, yet you spell Holliday's name incorrectly?????

• July 7, 2008

  7:38 p.m.

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  Broncoflow writes:

  If I recall an all star break a few years ago....Steve Trachsel was the Cubs lone All-Star that year. After that, it seemed the only player who got recognition was Sammy Sosa, and not all of it was positive--remember? This year, the Cubs really do have something special happening on their team which requires attention. The Cubs haven't had this in quite a while. Give them some credit. If they lose, what else is new?

  Yes, I've been to Coors Field when the Cubs are in town. Yes in some instances the Cubs fans out number the Rockies fans. What else is there to say? No reason to be upset at the popularity of the Cubs. Sorry if some annoying fans have made it hard for you to cheer for the Cubs--it goes both ways, I've met some obnoxious Rockies fans too. Doesn't mean I dis-like the Rockies. Finally, Fukudome may not be the rookie of the year this year, but Geovany Soto will. Hey Hey!!

• July 7, 2008

  9:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  guymcnasty writes:

  The Rockies made the playoffs b/c of a blown call by the home plate ump. Holliday never touched the plate. So the Rockies got lucky, good for them. Enough about the past, how bout the Cubs decimating the NL West (the best pitching in the league, as claimed by mdnanktes) with a 20 and 7 record this year. Holliday is awesome, no doubt about it, and i'd rather him in the game over Soriano every day of the week. Fukudome is a popular player AND an above average player. Lincicome made some ridiculous statements that sound like the rants of a jealous Cubs-hater. Every post so far thats anti-cubs talks about the 100 years. Get some new material and an original thought people. You guys should be thanking the "Chicago trash" for the ticket sales when the Cubbies come to town. You might as well close off the upper deck for 75% of the season. Enjoy being bitter, and i wish you the best vs. the Brewers. SEE YA CHUMPS!

• July 7, 2008

  9:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  sickandtired writes:

  I don't thank Chicago for anything at all. This native Coloradoan would be quite content for you to take your money and go back to that which spawned you. Colorado doesn't need you, or anything you have.

  New material? When the Chicago "Dwubs" or Chicago in general does something decent worth talking about, even in the recent sports world, we'll talk about it. Until then, "lovable losers" makes sense to me. Actually, just plain "loser" is even better.

  I'm sure there are some Chicago blogs that are missin' you bad. See ya!

• July 7, 2008

  10:47 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  platoro79 writes:

  Hey McNasty--- if your boys are still around in Oct. feel free to blow your putrid hot air--- if not, well history speaks for itself

• July 7, 2008

  11:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  iggypuppet writes:

  One more shot, Bernie. In the days of Santo, Kessinger and Banks, there was a 2B named Beckert. Usually when a ball is hit to the left side of the infield, the 2B would take the throw on the double play ground ball. So (while I am more of a White Sox fan), I don't ever recall hearing Santo to Kessinger to Banks once. I often heard Jack Brickhouse call a Santo to Beckert to Banks double play.

  Shoot, Bernie. You're supposed to be a sportswriter! One who came here from Chicago! One who doesn't know Harry's home run call accurately OR what happens on a grounder to short!

  Any gigs open in the Lifestyles section?

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