Dustin Pedroia plays for my beloved Boston Red Sox. He's a former AL Rookie Of The Year. He's got a ring. He's from Woodland, California...about 10 minutes west and 30 years removed from Sacramento.
It's a small town...rural, yes; one could say it's a bit backward and "redneck" in places, but then again there's a lot of that in NorCal (hey, we can't all be Modesto, can we?). Apparently, it's a bit more rural than Mr. Big Time Ballplayer would like.
Pedroia on Woodland: "It's a dump. You can quote me on that." Well, "Boston" magazine did just that. Also: "Everyone wants to get out of there. You don't want to stay in Woodland. What do you want to stay in Woodland for? The place (stinks). The newspaper there, I don't really get along with. I come from your town (Woodland). You should embrace me. I play for the Boston Red Sox. You haven't had a lot of major leaguers come out of your city."
Understand: I've been in Woodland. Hot and cold running ick, for my taste. But you only have one hometown in your life...it's where you come from, and the people and experiences you have there enable you to become "Mr. Big Leaguer." You may have a beef with the cops (they picked up his brother on child molestation charges last year); you may not like the town in general. But it is as much a part of you as you are of it.
When Dustin returns home next week as the A's host Boston, don't expect Woodland Vice-Mayor Art Pimentel to hold a parade. Unless it's to run Dustin right out of town. They still do that in Woodland, you know...
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