Garret Anderson is Embarrassing

This weekend, Major League Baseball will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line. In his honor, the Dodgers are having all 25 players on their roster wear Robinson's No. 42. The number was retired by MLB on the 50th anniversary but teams and players have received special permission to wear it on this day. You'd think there'd be no way for a commemoration such as this to have a controversial side, but Garrett Anderson of the Angels has managed to find one. Actually, this story hasn't received as much attention in the mainstream media, which surprises me. Blogs have been on it pretty good, but here's the skinny if you didn't hear:

Basically, Anderson, an African American, declined when given the chance to honor Robinson by wearing the No. 42. Anderson's issue: Ken Griffey Jr. of the Reds came up with the idea first. So Anderson didn't want to "jump on the bandwagon."

"It wasn't my idea, and I'm not the type of person to jump on the bandwagon because someone else is doing something," Anderson told the Los Angeles Times in a short story that appeared on the lower part of page 4 of the sports section. "If I did it just because someone else was doing it, it would seem kind of empty to me."

Are you believing this? Can this man actually say these words and NOT realize what a pompous jerk he comes off as? How can he possibly think this mentality would fly with the average fan? It's just another example about how disconnected the majority of professional athletes are with society in general and with the past especially. Among those participating in the tribute with Griffey are Dmitri Young, Derrek Lee, Mike Cameron, Carlos Lee, Josh Barfield, Orlando Hudson and Coco Crisp. Heck, even Gary Sheffield and Barry FREAKIN' Bonds are on board and those are two of the most self-centered guys in all of sports. I've usually given Anderson the benefit of the doubt when fans and media called his hustle and enthusiasm into question over the years. I figured if the guy was producing, then perhaps he deserved some slack. I tried to look past his lack of personality and the fact that it seemed as if he'd rather be anywhere else than on a baseball diamond. I tried to believe Mike Scioscia when he defended Anderson in the face of all these criticisms and that perhaps that I, along with all fans, simply didn't know the REAL Anderson. Well, after this latest slap of the face, I finally do know the real Anderson: A person who has made nearly $50 million because of baseball, but one who hasn't a shred of dignity in my book and one who will never regain my respect. And don't bother trying to explain it away by saying Anderson is standing up for his individuality or some of the other BS I've been reading. This is NOT about Garret Anderson, it's about Jackie Robinson. Once Anderson made it about himself, he lost the chance to explain it away with any sort of credibility.