July 4
Boston Globe
columnist Dan Shaughnessy
"
Manny is back. Surrounded by the love of his teammates and thousands of Dodgers fans - some wearing "Free Manny'' T-shirts - Manny RamÃrez returned to the Los Angeles lineup at Petco Park (appropriate, no?) last night. He went 0 for 3 with a walk in the Dodgers' 6-3 victory and was replaced in left field after popping up in the top of the sixth. When asked afterward about the fan reaction, he said, "It was great man. It was the best.'' It was Manny's first game since he was slapped with a 50-game suspension for failing a drug test in spring training. And it was, of course, a circus. It's always a night at the Big Top with Manny. In addition to being one of the greatest righthanded sluggers ..."
May 11
Boston Globe
columnist Dan Shaughnessy
"
Wonder if doofus Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has checked "The RamÃrez Provision" in Manny's $45 million contract. It's never polite to gloat. But with the Bruins staring down the barrel of elimination and the Celtics falling behind in Hooterville Heights, we take what we can get, and Red Sox Nation is beaming over the news of Manny getting slapped for 50 games for using a banned substance. The German word is schadenfreude and it represents the pleasure one derives from the misfortune of others. It fits nicely in the wake of all the nonsense aimed our way when Manny was rewarded for quitting on the Red Sox late last summer. You remember. The savant slugger went to Los Angeles, where he was ..."