I can't BELIEVE none of our greater New Yorkers here have had nothing to say (so far) about the article about Piazza in the Sunday NY Times Magazine. Please, people, discuss!

I'll start off by saying that he comes off as rather a cold fish, both on and off the field.

I loved the bit about Alomar's home being filled with paintings and photos of... Alomar.

The Season That Wasn't - NY Times Magazine Article [registration required]

When I read it, I thought it had more clues than Inspector Clouseau could handle about Piazza, not to mention the rest of the team. It opens with:

"Inside the soundproof den of his Gramercy apartment, Mike Piazza shows off his $70,000 Krell stereo. It's 2:30 p.m. on a midsummer Wednesday, almost time to go to work. In the kitchen his girlfriend and the woman who doubles as his personal assistant and housekeeper are absorbed in the World's Strongest Man competition on ESPN."

I know that's where I'd have my "girlfriend" when the NY Times reporter comes over!

And on a different note--I thought it gave a lot of clues about why they don't win. A shame that even at that level, many players just don't "get it" in terms of team-work, and staying in shape and doing their best.

[quote]doubles as his personal assistant and housekeeper

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That intrigued me to Brent. Is that a normal het arrangement among wealthy guys? Doesn't seem like a 'liberated woman' situation. I suppose she has a lot of security..and maybe great sex in the bargain?

He did say he dated a playbunny, so lib ladies probably aren't his type. There was a lot of talk of his inability to maintain a relationship, to women or a place of residence. And he seems four-square in favor of the players getting a better deal with the MLB.

I got the overall impression he's a bit of a spoiled rich kid..but a nice guy nonetheless.

''In the kitchen his girlfriend and the woman who doubles as his personal assistant and housekeeper...''

That job description sounds like a wife to me, only without the ring & the piece of paper...

Thanks for posting the link, Brent, me too computer illitrate to do it myself...

[ August 13, 2002: Message edited by: Jerzoid ]

Sounds like a wife, except that with a title like "personal assistant", I expect she receives a salary.

<<In the kitchen his girlfriend and the woman who doubles as his personal assistant and housekeeper are absorbed in the World's Strongest Man competition on ESPN.>>

Isn't this referring to TWO people?

Reading it again...yes, it does. I missed the use of the plural form of the verb "to be".

Piazza is the best hitter ever to catch, and seems like an honorable guy. But I found this piece almost as uninteresting as most celebrity profiles. Mike's unironic admiration of the film "Patton" -- a very savvy Hollywood product that depicted him as warrior and rebel to appeal to both sides of the Vietnam audience -- didn't help.

Just read the article today. I liked the part about Alomar and the pictures of himself in his home. Alomar apparently didn't appreciate the humor when a teammate taped his (Alomar's) rookie baseball card to his locker.

One of the other interesting things the writer focused on in the article is the lack of camaraderie on the Mets. Overall, Piazza seems to be a nice enough guy.

Off-topic segment. This NY Times magazine issue also had an interesting article titled Coincidence. It debunks the 9/11 numerology stuff, the Kennedy/Lincoln "coincidences," and discusses the birthday problem. Very good read. I guess it can also be found on the NY Times website.