Home > Furman Bisher > Archives > 2008 > May > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCox, extension deserve rousing ovation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nothing came easy in Bobby Cox’s life, beginning at the beginning. His childhood years were spent on a farm in the “dust bowl” of Oklahoma, when harsh conditions finally drove his father to pack up the family and head west, a sort of a belated chapter as of “Grapes of Wrath.” In the heart of agricultural country in Selma, Calif., his father found work with the railroad company and dropped anchor. Selma became Bobby’s home from the age of 4, and in his own words, “It was a good life,” in which he established many of the values that he still lives by today.
He spent a year at Reedley Junior College and left when the Dodgers offered him a minor league contract. He rode buses and spent many a night in roadside motels from Reno to Salem to Panama City to Albuquerque, and eventually landed in Richmond. Yes, he was a Braves farmhand for a season, then finally the sun broke through. The Yankees traded a catcher and a pitcher, Bob Tillman and Dale Roberts, for him in 1967. By the time he was 30, after just two seasons with the Yankees, the old knees sent the signal — it was over, and those he walks on today are artificial. He had made an impression, though, and the Yankees gave him a job managing a farm club in Fort Lauderdale, and the only time he has been off the bench since then was when the Braves put him in a suit behind a desk and a name plate that said, “General Manager.”
It’s a strain on the imagination to recall that he once managed the Braves and was fired after four seasons, replaced by Joe Torre. That was the day that Ted Turner, with Cox present at his own firing, was asked who his choice of manager would be, and the bodacious one wryly said, “Bobby Cox.” It would so happen again in mid-season 1990 when Cox returned to the kind of suit he felt most comfortable in, with “Braves” across the chest. Not many managers get second chances, but Bobby turned this tour of duty into a career, and since June 22, 1990, only Bobby Cox has managed the Braves. That, of course, includes those 130-some times he has lost debates with umpires and had to retire to the tunnel.
There is a deep sense of kindness in his face. I have known managers that I feared, managers that I liked, managers that I admired and managers at whose firing I never shed a tear. The first manager I covered as a rookie reporter just out of the Navy Air Corps was 69 years old. He could have bitten the head off a nail. Cox has a habit of treating every newsperson who approaches him with the same sort of courtesy. Oh, I’ve heard snap a time or two, but in situations when most managers would have bitten the head of that nail.
He doesn’t view his players as chattel, rather as compatriots in a cause. If he is unhappy with a player’s performance, he takes it up with the player. It doesn’t become a headline. To be traded to Atlanta is on nearly any player’s wish list. Those who don’t fit in are soon gone. No shrieking tapes or boomboxes in the Braves clubhouse. Players soon learn to respect the unwritten rule of team: What takes place here and what’s said here, stays here. In fact, I’m not even certain that there’s such a caveat posted in the Braves clubhouse. It may be simply understood.
In all these years, I’ve heard Bobby Cox make unpleasantries about only two players, and only one opposing manager. Considering all the swords he has crossed with umpires, it’s amazing he hasn’t amassed a book on those guys. Let it be said, that rarely, if ever, when he is dismissed from the premises is it a personal matter, more in the defense of one of his players.
Since he parted company with his knees, golf is no longer one of his passions. The country place near Adairsville is. And his and Pam’s love of animals. They have a party that has been an annual off-season function raising money for animal care. Good citizenship is more than a card to be carried in the wallet, it’s a habit and tradition with the Coxes. None of us can be sure that signing on to manage the Braves one more year will be the end of it, but it’s a move to be met with a rousing ovation in all corners. My guess is there will be more to follow.
Permalink | Comments (36) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By SFC BRENT E. BAGLEY
May 24, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
The ATL is very fortunate to have the Braves and Bobby Cox leading them. May he manage as long as he wishes and perhaps we’ll celebrate with a championship this year.
By T to the D
May 24, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Go ahead and build the statue.
Go ahead and name the street, better yet, rename the venue.
The house that Cox built.
By DJA
May 24, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bobby Cox and you, Mr. Bisher are simply CLASS ACTS. Enough said.
By tj
May 24, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the great article Mr. Bisher. Like you, I’ve been around here a long time. Been a Braves fan since the beginning and always liked to read another old timers columns. Just one request: if you know who that unknown Chop Chick is that does the blog on the AJC you need to have a talk with her/him. Seems she/he knows more than Bobby and wants him to go,especially when the Braves lose a game or two.
By drixie
May 24, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox - Hall of Fame
By Drixie
May 24, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
To the loser that signed in as “Furman Bisher” - get a life punk; it’s not Mr. Bisher’s fault that you’re sitting at home in momma’s basement without a date or a future on a Saturday night.
By dack jerrick
May 24, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
As one who was 22 when the Braves came to Atlanta in 1966, I’ve been a dedicated fan all these years. What is so amusing is reading what people write who never saw the miserable facilities, the terrible teams, the sad managers who tried with little or no front-office support. This last run with Bobby’s teams has been a gift to all of us who suffered through the days of bad, nasty infields and crowds of 5,000 fans. If you knew what some of us know, you’d be as thrilled as we are with the consistent performance of Bobby’s teams. He makes it look so effortless folks, but it is anything but easy. This is a truly amazing run of excellence. Congratulations Bobby!
By hop
May 24, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
amen, to all the accolades for bobby and furman!
one does not see very much class with many of today’s sport’s figures.
By Gene
May 24, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
Like Jerrick above, I attended many of the early Braves’ games. I went to one at the end of the ‘67 or ‘68 season when there were less than a thousand fans present. People who criticize Cox must not have been around back then. You seldom hear of a Braves player getting into trouble or using steroids. I have never heard Cox criticize a player in public, although I am sure he has done so in private. He is a fine person and a great manager, and the Braves would not have been successful without his leadership and baseball skill.
By Furman, you're off base on this one
May 24, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Sorry, but Cox should have been fired back when he slapped his wife Pam.
Either an organization has rules and high standards, or it doesn’t. Please don’t waste your breath on that tiresome “everyone deserves a 2nd chance”, or “nobody’s perfect”, as actions have consequences.
Abusing a weak female isn’t very manly or anything to be taken lightly.
It’s nice that we haven’t heard of it happening again, but that doesn’t change the facts.
By Ben Robertson
May 24, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
Great tribute to Bobby Cox.
Mr. Bisher, I’m 85 and native of N. C. Use to attend Bi-State League games back in 1938 in Mayodan, Martinsville, Bassett and Leaksville. Also followed very closely the games played in Lexington, Hi-Toms, Salisbury etc. I would really like to know the name of that Manager you referred to that was hard as nails.
Thanks for the great writeup on Bobby.
By Fahim
May 25, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this
Wonderful article as usual Mr. Bisher. Never forget that you are truly a class act and belong in the same league as Mr. Cox. Though I am only 29, it has been a true pleasure reading your articles throughout my life…and as writers come and go, you are truly one I will remember the rest of my life.
Take care Mr. Bisher and keep up the good work!!
By Steve
May 25, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this
There are some things we take for granted. I hope two of those are NOT Bobby Cox or Furman Bisher.
I know the two player Bobby Cox could not get along with, Kenny Lofton and Deion Sanders. Who was the manager?
By guy
May 25, 2008 3:07 AM | Link to this
The person who wrote this article and the person he’s writing about are the very best at what they do.We are all fortunate we came along in their lifetimes.Simply put,they are class acts!!!
By CarolinaJacket
May 25, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
I strongly believe in the freedom of speech but that does not mean that the AJC has to allow such trash of that expressed by nahjay to on its blog. Delete it and keep the jerk off.
By guy
May 25, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
nahjay davnpooh should be ashamed about saying just die Furman. There is a special place in hell for people like nahjay. Why even display such awful comments,ajc?
By Robert
May 25, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
I have great respect for Furman Bisher. I’m thrilled that someone who actually interviewed Shoeless Joe Jackson is still going strong today. In 1949 an aging Shoeless Joe granted his only interview pertaining to the 1919 Black Sox scandal to a young Furman Bisher. In his own words Shoeless Joe reveals his side of a legendary baseball chapter, invaluable stuff for any fan of baseball history. The article can still be found on the internet. Furman Bisher made it happen, and continues to bring perspective and valuable commentary to baseball issues today. KEEP IT GOING MR. BISHER!
By Paul
May 25, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
I too have great respect for Mr. Bisher, Bobby Cox, and for what the Braves organization has become. To keep this short I will say “keep up the good work.”
By jeff
May 25, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
Braves will have another year of great hope but no ring with Mr. Cox.
Mr. Bisher you’re the best but don’t agree on this one.
By Bowie
May 25, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
Steve- The Manager was Chuck Tanner. Ted hired Tanner when Bobby was a Blue Jay. Chuck Tanner more or less had total control at the time. Ted ask Tanner if he wanted to hire Bobby back as GM or did Tanner want to be GM and hire Bobby as Mgr.are if he wanted to hire him at all. Tanner told Ted to hire him back as GM and he did. To make a long story short, Bobby later fired Tanner the man who agreed to bring (hire) him back. Moral of the story, “Watch your back” around Cox.
By bobby
May 25, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Furman, you will never be my favorite person because of the hatchett job you did on Wally Butts and Bear Bryant but I do respect you. Your columns are almost always entertaining and informative and regardless of the above statement, I usually agree with you.
By CarolinaJacket
May 25, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Tanner was popular in Atlanta, but his yearly records with the Braves were: 72-89; 69-92; and 12-27 (the year he was fired). I believe most teams would have let a manager with this record go.
By Pat
May 25, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
Baseball, you’ve gotta love it. And to have it the way it should be played. By a team of players under a true Skipper. Right down at the Ted. Thank you Bobby. Did anyone notice the Mets trying to stir up some mischief with our club? But the Skipper’s boys would have none of it. They kept thier minds in the game. Got the sweep. And the visitors will have to look elsewhere for a spark. That focus comes from our manager folks. And we will see the New York club another day. That’s Baseball.
By The Truth
May 25, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox is the best manager in baseball. Furman Bisher is the best sports writer in media and I am proud that my city has both of them. Hang in there guy’s you still have a lot of great work left in you!
By Buck
May 25, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
There is a wonderful study in human dynamics occurring with the renewal of Bobby Cox’s contract. I suppose I am the only one in the world who thinks professional baseball players need to know how to execute the fundamentals. The braves are lacking in this area. You only have to watch the execution of a bunt, the looking over the shoulder while running the bases, the lack of mechanics when a clean-up hitter goes for two years batting below 230 and is never corrected either with the bat or at the plate. And let’s not forget the revolving door when it comes to the relief pitchers. My wish for reincarnation is to return as a relief pitcher who can only pitch in the eighth inning to left handed batters and make three million dollars.
By AL
May 25, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Buck ….your trying to coach pro baseball from your couch. Realax man and enjoy the sport. Atlanta has become a fine organization in the past 20 years. Top five for sure. They have suffered with relief pitching for years. That is league wide my friend. I live in Seattle and they have more than a revolving door it’s more like a spaceship. Relif pitching is the hardest thing to pin-down and even harder to maintain. Check the Braves record over past 20 years that’s the only true barometor.
By Pat
May 25, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
“shreaking tapes and boomboxes”???
Welcome to the 21st Century Mr. Bisher.
By Phillip Barton
May 25, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
I can’t speak with experience like some of you who are true Baseball fans or the ones who have been around longer than my 45 short years. I can say that Bobby Cox along with John Schuerholz was/is the best thing that ever happened to the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Braves organization.
Understand what I’m saying. You root for your team because you love them whether they’re good or bad. I love the Braves because they are my team and they’re consistent even when they don’t blow thru there division and win all the World Series. The fact is they are competitive and they give me a reason to watch them each and every year regardless of where they place in the standings. That’s doing a lot better than 90% of the other teams in the Major Leagues. I would take a team with the Braves record since 1990 over any other team including the Yankees since I know I get a team that plays their hearts out and have a reliable manager in Bobby Cox. Say what you will. Bobby Cox is a great manager and screw anyone who says otherwise.
Thank you for a well written article Mr. Bisher. I look forward to reading your next one.
By Jerry
May 25, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
I see that several people have commented about the posts that “Furman Bisher” and “Najah Davenpooh” made, but their posts have disappeared. Finally, kudos to AJC for taking these hate-filled and void of any substance comments off this post. I assume, AJC, that you will follow up this and bar those e-mail accounts from ever posting another comment in the paper. Or, you could do us serious bloggers a huge favor and publish their e-mail addresses. That would scare those cowards back to their mommy’s wombs, where they never seemed to have made the complete break.
By Yo
May 25, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Oh the titles we could have had if not for Bobby holding us back. People forget the TALENT he has had and wasted. It would be like congratulating Bill Gates for making Microsoft a Fortune 500 company versus the Fortune 50 company they became.
By Dylan
May 25, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
What would have happen if C Tanner had elected to be GM and let B Cox be manager? Would C Tanner have fired B Cox for same record as *CarolinaJacket *posted at 11:16am.?
If B Cox was GM why didn’t he get better players for C Tanner? Was not that his job?
Sounds like a lot of if, if, if, and which side you like or agree with.
God Bless The USA. Thanks to All our Troops, Past and Present that have given so much for our freedom and safety.
By Jeff
May 25, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
No apologies yet…Still hating on those Japanese, Bisher? We won’t forget your recent blog posting. It will follow you until you do.
By Dawg Fan in Fla
May 25, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Bobby’s 10:59 a.m. post raises the one question that has long plagued me re Bisher. It may have been before most who comment were even around. That said, I agree with Bobby’s conclusion. There are none better at his craft today than Furman.
By Pat
May 25, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Hey Pat, this Pat new what he meant. Loud music in the clubhouse is a distraction to a team. And the team is what is important as game time comes around. Respect for a baseball sanctuary that allows focus on the game. Like in “Damn Yankees” You’ve got to think about the game! It’s not the time or the place. And has caused clubhouse trouble for teams around the league. What Furman wrote is what I consider as ‘Bisher slang’. He made a valid and correct point about the way our Braves run their locker room. This Pat knows the game of baseball. So does Furman and Bobby. There is a right way and a wrong way to run a clubhouse. Some get it and some do not. It is a baseball truth that is not up for dispute. If by chance you have used my name to get on this post. Please take the error and move on.
By gayle
May 25, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
This column sounds like Geezer Appreciation Day.
Did anyone else catch Bobby’s comments Friday re: the extention? He said he was glad to have it so he could finish his career here. Am I to believe that Bobby was willing to go elsewhere?
If that was the case, I’d say to Bobby don’t let the door hit you on the way out - this town deserves titles not underachievers.
By Phillip Barton
May 25, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
This is for those who keep crying about what Bobby Cox and the Atlanta Braves coulda, woulda, shoulda done. If a Manager puts you up to hit or pitch the ball and you don’t hit or pitch the ball in a manner that allows you to score runs or strike out/force a ground out ball then you as a player failed to do your job! Bobby didn’t serve up the Home Run ball (a Slider!) to Jim Leyritz which caused the momemtum to swing and gave the Yankees a tie when they were down 6 to 3! That would be Mark Wohlers fault! The Braves Steve Avery walked Bernie Williams to pitch to Wade Boggs who drew a bases loaded walk to earn the winning run. That was Steve Averys fault! The bottom line is the Braves as a Team failed to hit and score the runs required to win against another team that was good and became great the following years. All Bobby could do and did was give a great group of talented players the chance to win and they as a group failed to do so. It is what it is and I still love my/our Atlanta Braves.
The General Manager and The Coaches can only do so much. The Players have to man up and get it done. If John Rocker hadn’t been such a **! Maybe they coulda, woulda, shoulda won a little more. The man was a joke and a distraction! People who say Bobby held the Braves back are no better than announcers who say after the fact : Why didn’t he do this instead of doing that. It’s very easy to sit back and watch then comment after the fact. That’s why I can’t stand most anouncers.