THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610020457
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: 71 lines
Judging from the reception Roberto Alomar received at Camden Yards, one can confidently report that Orioles' fans approached the first game of this Division Series with great expectorations.
After the Orioles spit out Cleveland Indians pitching for a 10-4 victory, Alomar reminded us that, ``Everybody makes mistakes.''
Presumably, this includes everybody who cheered mightily for Alomar when he was introduced before the game. And those who gave him a standing ovation before his first at-bat.
This accounts for most of the 47,644 who were inside Oriole Park Tuesday afternoon.
Supposedly, the good burghers of Baltimore were embarrassed and angered by the incident in Toronto in which Alomar spit in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck.
Apparently, though, none of the people who called talk shows demanding that Alomar be suspended, traded or worse could get tickets to the game. The few brave souls who actually booed the second baseman were drowned out by Alomar apologists.
This was surprising only to those who expected the crowd to provide a moral referendum on Alomar's reprehensible act . . . those who don't understand fans.
``We're human beings,'' Alomar said while sitting in front of his locker. ``I'm a good person. I made a mistake. I confront that and I apologize. The fans understand that. We are in this series all together.''
For now, American League umpires also are in this series all together, though that was no sure thing as late as 20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch.
Home plate umpire Drew Coble and his crew sat in a hotel room near the park, waiting for a call from their lawyer, who would tell them whether to report to work or boycott the game.
Meanwhile, replacement umps were on the scene.
Once of those was Bob Willman, a former minor league umpire who now calls balls and strikes for college games. He drove down from Atlantic City, taking the day off from his job as a dealer at the Tropicana Hotel.
``I deal everything but blackjack,'' he said. ``Dealing blackjack is too boring. It's like umpiring at third base.''
For the moment, major league baseball is gambling the umpires will be pacified by Alomar's hearing, originally scheduled for after the season, but moved up to Thursday, an off day for the Orioles and Indians.
After the game, Coble announced that the umpires would abide by whatever decision is reached by American League president Gene Budig. But when asked if there was still a chance the umpires would march out in protest, Coble said, ``Yeah, if we're not treated fair.''
The umpires' union is as arrogant as the players' union. But, for now, the umps are the only ones standing up to Alomar. You've got to like anybody who rallies around the quaint concept of fairness.
That Alomar might receive only a five-game suspension, to be served next season, is laughable. Pete Rose once was excused for 30 days after pushing an umpire. Is spitting less offensive than shoving?
``He really feels terrible about everything that's happened,'' teammate Bobby Bonilla said of Alomar. ``It's unfortunate, but we all learn from our mistakes.''
When thousands roar their support for Alomar, we learn only what we already know about human nature.
Meanwhile, in its halting, inept way, baseball will attempt to come within spitting distance of justice. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Associated Press
Umpires who had threatened to walk are back, at least until
Thursday, when the AL hears Roberto Alomar's appeal of his 5-game
suspension. by CNB