-- A couple weeks ago I shared a memo from Miami Herald publisher David Landsberg in which he announced that another round of layoffs was soon coming to the newspaper. He wasn't specific, but said the paper would try to limit the pain. Well, news from a Herald sister paper at McClatchy indicates the layoffs will be deep and will be accompanied by wage cuts and furloughs. Expect the move to be made in early March (or at least after February 27). Click on the link above for the gory details. I don't have much to add but to say McClatchy is a heinous company that should be selling its newspapers right now.
-- Speaking of terrible companies that should be selling newspapers, there's also news on the Tribune front (thanks Romenesko). Rome isn't falling, but the Tribune bureau there is folding and 20 newsroom jobs were just cut, including "photographers, foreign correspondents, and two Pulitzer Prize winners." Apparently 40 more layoffs are coming to the Trib. This all bodes poorly for the Sun-Sentinel, where management has also been intimating more layoffs are coming. Sources there tell me that most of those cuts are expected on the copy desk.
-- Let me get this off my chest right now: I love Ivan "Pudge," Rodriguez.
He carried the Marlins to the World Series in 2003. The division series he had against San Francisco was possibly the greatest feat of will and athleticism I've ever seen. I always thought there should be a statue of Pudge holding up the ball from his catcher's mitt, showing he held on to tag out J.T. Snow to win the clincher and send them on their way to a world championship. More than that, I loved the way he always played: hard, every inning, every game.
I still like Pudge, but sadly I can't endorse him coming back to the Marlins. It was bad enough that Jose Canseco named him in his book (which has been totally true), but Rodriguez basically just admitted that he was on steroids during that championship season.
From today's AP story:
Rodriguez's mood changed when that subject was broached during a wide-ranging interview in his 44th-floor apartment overlooking Miami Beach.
Is the 37-year-old star known as Pudge on the list of 104 players who tested positive for steroids during baseball's 2003 survey?
"Only God knows," Rodriguez said softly.
Yes, and now we do too (at least the answer to the question of whether he was using them at the time). I don't have tolerance for the 'roids (if you want a steroids apologist, follow Dan Le Batard). They're dangerous and they set a horrible example for children, including my own. And in the case of Pudge and that great 2003 Marlins team, It's a damn crying shame.
