Is he the next McGwire?
I wonder what Albert Pujols would have thought if no one showed up for the invitation-only grand opening of Pujols 5 restaurant on Monday night in Westport?
How would he have felt if he was standing there, waiting to welcome guests and media members, and no one bothered to attend?
Even worse, what if guests and media members sent someone to represent them that didn’t like baseball or dining out?
Well, quite frankly, it would have been just desserts for Sir Albert.
On Sunday, Pujols was the lone member of the Cardinals who did not meet with the winner of the Shirt Off His Back jersey, which was a fundraiser for charity.
All other winners received the jersey from a player. But not the poor soul who was to receive Pujols’. That man stood waiting…and waiting…and waiting, until a clubhouse person brought the jersey.
Pujols’ season has been great statistically, but some of his actions and words have been troublesome.
This latest gaffe makes me wonder if Pujols has lost some of the innocence that graced him when he unexpectedly showed himself to be among the game’s elite five seasons ago.
Maybe the 2005 National League MVP Award has led him to believe he is above taking part in pregame events such as last Sunday’s.
Whatever the reasons might be, Pujols owes an apology to the person whom he embarrassed on Sunday.
He also needs to stop being so surly with the media.
I can’t find a person who covers the Cards on a regular basis that cannot give you a tale of the caustic nature of the Redbirds’ superstar. He has insulted media members and fans’ intelligence on several occasions and is becoming aloof.
By the way, Pujols reportedly also blew off a commitment to a national sports journalist last week, so it’s not just a local thing. He seems to have an attitude with just about everyone these days.
I thank him for the invite to his party on Monday, but unfortunately, a commitment to one of my daughters made it impossible for me to attend. I’m told that one player – yep, one – attended the grand opening. That was the injured Jadier Molina. It was a day off the Cardinals. The fact that just a single player showed up could be an editorial comment on Pujols. It also could be that the players are tired and just wanted a night to themselves. Maybe they were all home, getting a good night’s rest.
If you believe that, you’re as naïve as Pujols’ comments as to why the Cards’ sloppy play of earlier this month should not be booed.
Cardinal Nation openly questioned Pujols on sports talk radio on Monday. Some of it was knee-jerk, some if it was race-based. However, some was sincere and to those fans – and to that person he stiffed on Sunday – Pujols owes an apology.
As off-center as Cardinal fans can be, the team’s best player can’t make a habit of treating them with disrespect.
It’s one thing to be a great Cardinal player. It’s another to be a great Cardinal.
This is a lesson that Pujols must learn if he is to be remembered as a fan favorite and not just the next Mark McGwire.