John Madden: Will Ferrell Lacks Respect For Baseball
On Thursday, Will Ferrell visited 5 different ballparks and played all 9 baseball positions at spring training games around Arizona’s Cactus League. One of the biggest complaints that came in about Ferrell’s stunt wasn’t from baseball fans, but from the world of football. When asked about it, Hall of Fame coach John Madden said he hates it.
According to CBS Sports, Madden told KCBS, “”I hate it.” He added, “That’s a lack of respect, that’s a lack of respect for the game, I think, and a respect for what players have to do to get where they are. There’s no easy way, and there’s no ‘jump’ and all of that stuff. I’ve never believed in that type of stuff.”
As an example, John Madden talked about a time when he was coaching Oakland and then NBA star Rick Barry told him that he wanted to suit up and go through a Raiders practice to play a joke on a friend. Madden says he told Barry he could, but only if he didn’t mind being treated like every other player at practice. According to Madden, “At this exact time, Jack Tatum and George Atkinson come walking by and I told them, ‘If this guy comes out on the field, he’s live bait. I want you to go after him the way you would go after any other player that plays on another team. Not like an NBA player.’ ” John Madden said that Barry never did dress out for practice, adding, “He stayed out of the pads and the joke was over.”
Will Ferrell was able to raise almost $1 million for cancer charties and shoot his day at the ballparks for an HBO – MLB – Funny or Die special for later this year, but at the same time make an enemy out of one of the country’s favorite all time coaches and color commentators. Boom! That’s tough actin’ Tinactin!
