As if Bernie Williams Needs Further Vindication...

At my first duty station, I had the opportunity to work with an incredibly difficult colleague. I was shocked that in a professional workplace, adults didn't necessarily act their age. To help me deal with this person, I'll never forget the lesson my folks taught me: "Morgan, if you think they're an asshole, odds are everyone else does too."

I was reminded of this in the sad/unconscionable case of former Yankee Mel Hall.

(Mel)Hall taped "Mr. Zero" to the top of Williams's locker to signify that he meant nothing to the team. One day Hall nearly brought Williams to tears by saying, "Zero, shut up," every time Williams tried to speak. The more Williams tried, the louder Hall interrupted with repetitive chants of "Zero."

- Birth of a Dynasty, Joel Sherman

Let's look at the stats.
Bernie Williams: five all star games, four gold gloves, one batting title, and four championships
Mel Hall: zero.

And now,
Mel Hall: 45 year sentence for an incredibly egregious sexual assault conviction against a minor.
Bernie: Still a fan favorite.


Disgrace to the Pinstripes

It's funny how in life, the bad guys are so often exposed as truly bad and the good guys are almost always vindicated in being good guys. The Yanks cleaned house in the early 90's and developed into a franchise that epitomized character, class and a championship pedigree. Mel Hall became an example of the old guard that needed to go in order for the franchise to return to glory.

While I feel terrible for the victim in the case (12 at the time, TWELVE!), here's hoping the prison system lives up to its remarkable tendency to ensure that scumbags like Mel Hall get their comeuppance.