Hartford, CT (AP)- All of the turbulance in the Hartford Whalers
organization finally reached its boiling point today. Team veterans Matt
Williams and Ken Hill announced that the team had voted to sit out starting
tomorrow instead of playing another day under Manager Kevin Kennedy, a man
they described as, "An insensitive, ruthless, nazi dictator on a collossal
power trip who cares more about abusing everyone around him than winning."
Williams and Hill had been chosen by their compatriots to represent the
team and called a press conference following their loss to Macon to issue
the following, ever-so-brief statement:
We, the Hartford Whalers players, have decided we would rather sit out and
not step foot on another playing field than to go on another day under the
guidance of so-called Manager Kevin Kennedy, an insensitive, ruthless, nazi
dictator on a collosal power trip who cares more about abusing everyone
around him than winning.
The players did not expand on their statement and provided no examples of
Kennedy's proposed tyranny. Nevertheless, during the seventh inning
stretch, Kennedy left the park and headed out to "clean his (my) desk out."
In the middle of all this stand GM Peter Gammons and Owner Jeremy
Chrabascz who have been struggling to find solution to the team's woes this
season. Gammons simply commented, "I'm flabbergasted," upon hearing the
news. Meanwhile, Chrabascz was quick to support Kennedy, "We will accept
both Kevin's resignation and the team's indignation. However, that doesn't
mean we have to like it and that doesn't mean that Kennedy will no longer
be employed by me." When asked to expand, Chrabascz replied, "Kevin was
immediately offered another position within the Chrabascz Corporation." A
source close to the situation confirmed that the "position" would be as a
baseball analyst for Chrabascz's sports networks, ESPN, ABC and NESN.
Kennedy himself did not issue an official statement and neither did team
management.
Meanwhile, the Dwight "Dewey" Evans era has begun in Hartford as the
Whalers' batting coach was designated as interim manager. Dewey is
reportedly well respected among the players, especially the veterans. His
distinguished career as a member of the Red Sox undoubtedly aids his
credibility within Hartford and throughout the league. His "interim" reign
begins tomorrow when Ken Hill and Ramon Martinez take the mound,
respectively, in the doubleheader.
Tradewinds
Interim Manager Dwight Evans and GM Peter Gammons have pulled all of the
Whalers OFF of the block and have decided to stand pat.
