one more Nomar post and I'm moving on.

Red Sox Nation seems to have divided into two parts: the anti-Nomar camp that feel that he was a cancer in the clubhouse who was probably exaggerating his injury and had to be traded, and the pro-Nomar camp that are swayed by their emotional attachment to one of the best players RSN has ever seen and feel that the man could do no wrong.

(There's lots of history and hearsay here, which I won't dwell on. See the 8/1 Gammons thread on SoSH for backstory.)

Anyway, the first problem is that neither of these two opinions are correct. The truth most likely lies somewhere in the middle, with both Sox management and Nomar making mistakes that led to the disintigration of their relationship. But when controversial things happen, it's only natural for the masses to align with one extreme opinion or another. So I can let that slide.

But what is really aggravating me in this whole mess is how no one has called Nomar on his incredibly selfish attitude. Let's simplify: This guy was treated like a King in Boston since he arrived. No one could have asked for a better career; his bat was on fire, the city worshipped him, everything seemed to be perfect. Fast forward to the Nomar contract talks. The Sox offer him 4 years at 60 million dollars - not exactly a raw deal. Nomar turns it down, which essentially tells management that Nomar is not the "I'll do whatever it takes to stay in Boston" kinda guy. (If the rumors about Nomar's miserable attitude in the clubhouse are tue, this would even further cement this in management's mind.) They know that with several other key Sox players on the fringe of free agency, they can't offer him more money. Fast forward. When it becomes apparent that A-Rod, the best shortstop in the game, is available, the Sox publicly attempt to work a trade with the Rangers. Nomar hears about said trade talks while on his Honeymoon and takes the time to call into a Boston radio station to make it known how insulted and hurt he is. This is the point when Red Sox fans should have been seriously questioning this guy's motives. Take off the Nomar-colored glasses for one second and realize that this is a business. These guys play a sport for a living and get paid shittons of money to do it. Trade talks are common; sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't. Great players are traded all the time...because no matter how good you are, your team can probably always get something equally as good or better in return. Nomar, you turned down 4 years at $60 million from a team that you claim to love...a team that has 3, now 4, top players to resign. Selfish, selfish, selfish.

(It should also be noted somewhere that Nomar's play hasn't been quite the same since midway through last year. He had a weak October in 2003 and his post-injury play in 2004 has been subpar defensively, to say the least. I don't know where it fits in here, but it's something to keep in mind when considering Nomar's hurt feelings at the thought of being replaced.)

Let's look at Manny Ramirez..the anti-Nomar. During this past off-season, the Sox put Manny on waivers...if you want Manny, he's yours for the taking. Except no one did. Not with that enormous contract and the constantly-chronicled attitude problems. The national media were giddy with the idea that when the season began, Manny would be disruptive and problematic. And what happens? Manny sees the light, undergoes an attitude make over, and becomes a media darling and a clubhouse favorite.

No one knows at what point Nomar decided Boston wasn't for him. No one knows why exactly he turned down that $60 million contract. No one knows how bad his injury really is, and how much time he told the Sox trainers he'd miss.

But a few things are clear. Curt Schilling signed with Boston for less money than other teams would have given him. He cited the fans, and the passionate GM, and the city's fervor for the game. Gabe Kapler chose a backup position with the Sox over a starting job with a less talent-stocked team, citing the amazing relationships in the clubhouse and the excitement of playing in a city like Boston. Jason Varitek is quoted as saying "I don't want to go anywhere. I want to stay here" when he assumed he had been traded to the Dodges at the deadline.

Nomar, on the other hand, turned down $60 million to keep playing baseball in a city that worshipped him, on a team that always had a chance at the playoffs, for fans he claimed were the best in the league, for a group of management that proved this past offseason they're dedicated to winning.

No one will dispute how great of a player Nomar was. He was the most beloved Sox player in years, he became the face of the team...the face of the city. But the ease with which so many Red Sox fans just overlook Nomar's role in this whole mess is absolutely mindblowing.