They're crying foul over apologist for Manny Ramirez

From Albuquerque

It sounds as if Phil Jackson doesn't want to spend any more time with the Lakers than necessary, and I certainly can relate.

Ask Manny Ramirez about the Lakers, because what else is there to ask him about these days, he says, "I'm not into basketball," and folks wonder why I like the guy so much.

Now I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the Dodgers parade.

"Your idolatry of Manny is ludicrous," is the way Shirin Patel put it in an e-mail, rewriting an earlier headline in The Times, but hey, if Manny needs me to be his mule so he can keep going like he did a year ago, I'm here for him.

"Let me understand your warped logic," writes Dan Howard. "It's OK to be a cheating drug user if you are charismatic, talented and interesting like Manny."

It also helps to hit home runs.

"Now I get it," e-mails Jack Tracy. "Persecute GaryMatthews, but kiss Manny's [behind]."

It's such a satisfying feeling when people finally get it.

I like someone, I'm far more forgiving. I don't, and I'm going to treat them like Kobe.

I know what Dodgers games were like before Manny arrived, and I wouldn't wish that on any paying customer or someone obligated by employment to attend.

The Dodgers are not only relevant again, but a show worth watching. Of course, Times beat reporter Dylan Hernandez thinks "Sponge Bob" is a show worth watching, sitting in the Isotopes press box before the game, hanging on Bob's every word.

So granted, one man's entertainment might not be another's, but Manny still gets credit for one of my all-time favorite perspective quotes in sports.

"We're just going to go, play the game and move on," he said after the Red Sox trailed the Indians three games to one in the playoffs two years ago. "If it doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like the end of the world."

The Red Sox then won the next three, outscoring the Indians, 30-5.

"OK, I will tell you, you have it all wrong," writes DavidCook. "Manny is a drug user, a cheat, and a liar. He is laughing in the faces of all Dodger fans. Manny should be traded, or better yet, fired from the Dodgers. . . . Manny's replacement, Juan Pierre, has done an outstanding job, and all he has to show for it is a 'thanks, but now it's back to the bench so we can bring the drug cheat back.' "

Would you rather watch Juan every night, satisfying your moral outrage, or Manny?

It's the start of Game 2 here, and just as they do in Dodger Stadium, a bunch of kids run on the field to stand beside each player for the national anthem.

The kids assigned to the second baseman and third baseman, shortstop, and right fielder change course, and run to left field to join Ramirez. Just following their parents' instructions I'd imagine.

When they play the anthem, Ramirez is surrounded by 13 admiring youngsters. Two appear taller than Pierre. I'm guessing 12 have better arms.

Manny plays four innings while scheduled to play five, Dodgers PR guy Josh Rawitch saying Manny left "because the grass is wet and he'd have to play six innings to bat again."