The Main Spark Ill

by Madville on Nov 3, 2010 2:55 PM EDT

Ii appears that the only MLB manager to win the World Series in both National and American league health is declining rapidly. I can only wish him well and hope that he is not in great pain.They sure don't make 'em like Sparky no more.

I remember, as do many of the other old timers here at Red Reporter, how a young unknown AAA ballplayer came out of nowhere to inherit one of the great Major league teams of all time, The Big Red Machine and guide it to back to back series wins in '75 and '76. Do you have favorite Sparky Anderson story?

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More infl in jch's fanshot -

Sparky moved to a hospice because of dementia.

If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
Simone de Beauvoir

by Madville on Nov 3, 2010 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

TLR won a WS in both leagues too.

by Brian B on Nov 3, 2010 4:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

TLR did it with the help of roiders. Sparky won his three with assholes. I'd rather be with the assholes.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Nov 3, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

If assholes could fly, RR would be an airport-blog.

Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Nov 3, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

If RR was a plane it would be the Spruce Goose.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Nov 3, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

If RR was a plane, would you get on it?

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Nov 3, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Farney's the kid in the corner trying desperately to light his shoe on fire

by Brendanukkah on Nov 3, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

You wish, sir. I'm the one in the corner with the box cutter.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Nov 3, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, I think I'm the one with the fire.

"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."

by crolfer on Nov 4, 2010 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yes, yes you would be.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Nov 4, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

No, it's loud, bulky, poorly built and filled with jackasses. And it works best

when everyone is completely wet.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Nov 3, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

If RR was a plane

it would be a train.

by the finest muffins on Nov 3, 2010 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

I was gonna say this, dangit!

"just a couple of weeks ago a first year student in my program told me i was charming and charismatic, it was a guy, but the point still stands.: -- justin007000

by jch24 on Nov 4, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Only if Justin is the pilot

If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
Simone de Beauvoir

by Madville on Nov 4, 2010 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions

If RR was a gong, would you get it on?

The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!

by TheC on Nov 4, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

jch would bang it.

If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
Simone de Beauvoir

by Madville on Nov 4, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

If RR was Raven Riley, would you get on it?

by Brian B on Nov 5, 2010 8:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

See Mads' reply above

"just a couple of weeks ago a first year student in my program told me i was charming and charismatic, it was a guy, but the point still stands.: -- justin007000

by jch24 on Nov 5, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

only if i'm the pilot?

"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can't think of at least two ways to spell any word."

-President Andrew Jackson

by justin007000 on Nov 8, 2010 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

Yes

Religion is about turning untested belief into unshakable truth through the power of institutions and the passage of time.
Richard Dawkins

by Madville on Nov 9, 2010 12:12 AM EST up reply actions

depends where she's been, and the strength of my rubber

by Highlifeman21 on Nov 5, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

"The players make the manager, it's never the other way."

So wonderfully unassuming, that man was.

by ken on Nov 3, 2010 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

still is

he aint dead yet. keep the fight alive, Spark!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Nov 3, 2010 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

People have said, "yeah, but anyone could have won with those teams."

Just anyone couldn’t. Sparky did a tremendous job of melding all those personalities. A lot of those guys weren’t just the best players in the game, but among the best players ever to play the game. Sparky knew when to feed egos and when to check them.

The Reds usually didn’t have the starting pitching of the Dodgers, Mets or even the Astros, yet Sparky handled his rotation well and used the bullpen maybe as no one had before.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Nov 4, 2010 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

They didn't call him Captain Hook for nothin'

If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
Simone de Beauvoir

by Madville on Nov 4, 2010 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. Sparky led this franchise to four WS, winning two. He was in Cincy for nine seasons,

during those years the Reds made the playoffs five times.

Anyone who says “yeah, but anyone could have won with those teams” is a complete and total moron. Sparky didn’t just win he dominated the NL in the 70s. Four pennants, five division titles and two world series rings.

Then he went to Detroit and won some more. Sparky isn’t just the best manager in Reds history he’s one of the best managers in the history of baseball. Ever.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Nov 4, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember Sparky refused to step on the base line when coming to the mound with his hook

I forgot who it was against and the year, but I remember watching on TV one day when he almost stepped on the foul line,caught himself in mid-stride then tripped (he didn’t land on the ground but it was a close one).

When you chart (the plays) and see where it broke down there was no common theme to it. Bob Bratkowski

by featherman on Nov 4, 2010 3:09 PM EDT reply actions