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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Cox’s passion for game, team hasn’t diminished
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two days after agreeing to manage through at least his 68th birthday, Bobby Cox sat and watched as his best player was lost to back spasms, his starting pitcher surrendered two homers and six walks, his pitching staff walked 11, his catcher left with heat exhaustion and his team lost, 9-3.
But, just for the record, he didn’t change his mind.
“I’m still here,” Cox said Sunday. “I’m just really tired right now.”
He asked for this. From spring ‘07 to spring ‘08, he went from almost certainly retiring to almost certainly returning. Why? Because of what changed (his wife, Pam, gave her blessing). Because what didn’t change (his passion for the game). Because of what he senses from this team (Sunday notwithstanding).
It’s Memorial Day, the first important turn of a baseball season, and the Braves are in a pennant race — despite having their rotation and bullpen wrecked by injuries, and two of their biggest run producers struggle (Mark Teixeira and Jeff Francoeur). They trail only Florida in the division.
“I love this team,” Cox said. And, yes, he always says that.
But players can either wear a manager down or cause him to rethink retirement.
“A team can keep you going,” he said. “It’s not just the game, it’s these players. I love their spirit, the way they go about their business. It’s a fun bunch to be around. It’s kind of like the ‘91 team.”
Sunday wasn’t fun. Tom Glavine missed the plate. Chipper Jones couldn’t stand straight. But Cox suddenly feels like that vacation in Prague can wait. Go figure. It wasn’t that long ago when he saw the end. He spoke the end. He wanted the end.
“When you talked to me in the spring [a year ago], my mind was pretty well made up that day,” he said. “I had pretty well decided I was going to retire. But why announce it when you may still want to manage? Always wait.”
What changed?
“Nothing, really. I was thinking about it. My love of the game has never changed. That’s never gonna change. My wife is allowing me to do it. That’s one of the real determining factors.”
He had said he wanted to spend more time with family. He had said, “I’d like to start doing the things I need to do instead of the things I want to do.”
When reminded of those comments, Cox smiled.
“That’s exactly right. That’s always on my mind.”
But his energy hasn’t diminished. His health is fine (he has back issues, but welcome to the 90-percentile). If the Braves win the World Series this season, he promises that he won’t look around and think, “That’s good enough. I’m done.”
“I love the day-to-day of baseball,” he said. “Whether we win, lose or draw, there’s still a game to play, and it’s still fun. The game will keep you going. When I do retire I’ll probably still show up in spring training. I could never completely walk away. John [Schuerholz] is the same way. There’s a lot of pressure and expectations on a daily basis. That never goes away. But John thrived on it and so do I.”
In November, general manager Frank Wren approached Cox about an extension. In the spring, the two spoke again. By the end of camp, Cox had pretty much made up his mind.
“At the end of spring I indicated [to Wren] I probably would come back,” he said. “And then Frank asked me four times during the season.”
But that was more about hammering out details. Cox’s mind had already been made up. Or, re-made up.
And after 2009?
“Don’t ask me that,” he said.
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