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DEL.ICIO.USFurry pastime reveals Cox’s ‘soft heart’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
He is not to be confused with the Bobby Cox who leads all major league managers in losing confrontations with umpires, ejection being the ultimate outcome. No, not at all. This the Bobby Cox with a heart. And it all seems to have begun years ago, just as World War II was closing down and the troops were coming home. A troop train paused in Selma, Calif. — Selma is about 15 miles south of Fresno, and trains rarely did more than pause — and an English bulldog jumped off. The train pulled out, soldier and dog were parted forever, but something good would come of that.
Bobby’s father brought the bulldog home, and boy and dog became instant pals. Bobby gave him the name “Teddy,” and Teddy took to his new duty with bulldog tenacity.
“He became our guard dog,” Bobby said. “Nobody could get near our house without Teddy knowing it.”
The Coxes knew the life of “Okies.” They could have identified with “Grapes of Wrath.” Things had gone bad around Tulsa, where Bobby was born, so the family packed up and headed west, as in Steinbeck fiction, only this was real. They found this place called Selma, a mere farming village, and settled there when Bobby was but a child. For all his disputations with umpires, Bobby Cox is a soft and gentle man when it comes to four-legged animals.
“He would bring every homeless dog and cat home with him if he could,” Pam, his wife, said. “We were at an animal shelter awhile back and there was a little bulldog that got his attention. He was going to take him with us. Maybe it was the name, ‘Yogi.’ But I said, ‘You can’t take all of them home with you, honey.’ “
Where this story gots its impetus was one late night a few years ago when Bobby and Rosa, his all-time favorite, a female of Oriental vintage, showed up at Town & Country Clinic in Marietta, presided over by Dr. Michael Good. (How appropriate a name.) Rosa had an eye problem, which the good Dr. Good treated, and this set off an affiliation that has led to many good things in the lives of animals in need of love and care. Bobby didn’t realize it, but he had walked into a whole new mission in life.
Dr. Good has a fetish — find a place for every homeless animal in the land. That comes to something like 18 million, so I’ve read, a rather daunting mission. Pretty soon Bobby and Pam were into events with catchy names dedicated to creating homes and raising money for animals roaming aimlessly about the country. This year it’s “Bobby Cox’s Paws Because,” and it takes place Saturday night in the 755 Club at Turner Field. On the side, there will be a so-called “casino,” and that will be known as “Bets for Pets.”
Clever, wot?
First off, the Coxes staged their fund-raiser on their farm up near Adairsville, and they called it “Bark in the Park.” At another one, Charley Pride came to sing and entertain. Another old baseball guy, in case you didn’t know that Charley once was an outfielder in the minor leagues. Another contributor this year, for “Paws Because” will be a name of familiarity. Even Barry Bonds has autographed a ball for auction. No great sacrifice, but consider that it’s Barry Bonds. The Coxes appreciate that.
Another “item” up for auction is the “Manage-a-Game” feature. Win that bid and you get to “manage” the Braves in a spring training game, with, of course, the able assistance of Bobby himself. Whatever fine the “manager” may draw in case he/she assails the umpire is on him/her. Saturday night, several Braves will be at the 755 Club in support of the boss, bridegroom Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann, for sure.
“What I’ve discovered is that baseball players are big animal lovers,” Dr. Good said. “Bobby’s soft heart for them has led to all this. Our goal this year is 3,000 adoptions. We’d like to free the animal shelters of all their inmates. What we have learned is that all people who have pets live seven years longer than ones who don’t.” Better rush to get in line.
It behooves me to bring this up, but can you imagine how much happier the Falcons might have been if Michael Vick had discovered the other side of dogs? And wouldn’t it be nice if umpires gave Bobby Cox some extra leash for the love he and Pam give dogs? Just a thought or two to encourage proper love for animals, and in passing, should anyone be desperate for a very intelligent cat, his name is Norman. On second thought, thanks, Norman, for my extra seven years.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
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By UGA75
November 14, 2007 3:15 AM | Link to this
Only in the South will you find a great Gentleman Columnist writing about a great human being who happens to be a great baseball manager.
Mr. Bisher and Mr. Cox are living credits to this part of the nation where family values not only extend to the Wife and Children, Grandchildren, etc… but also to their pets and even other people’s sometime discarded pets.
Thank you both for the great example you are living for anyone young or old to emulate.
By tim
November 14, 2007 5:02 AM | Link to this
Bobby Cox is not only a great manager, but more importantly a great man. Not only in his quest to save the dogs, but in his quest to make men out of baseball players. It s easy to see why so many call him a “players manager”.
By Larry
November 14, 2007 5:23 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher,
I’m looking forward to your Thanksgiving column as I have for decades.
“UGA75” and “Tim,”
This story is about a soft heart and tenderness toward dogs, something in common I have with Mr. Cox and others. It is not about managing! To call Cox a “great” manager is laughable as he undoubtedly is the worst postseason manager ever sporting a 1-14 record in the last game of his 14 opportunities with the Braves and one with the Blue Jays. And remember, it took a lifetime, aberration performance by Tom Glavine (Usually terrible in the postseason) who pitched a one hitter to give keep Cox from being a perfect 0-15!
Cox is truly an average field manager whose success over the 162 game regular season is clearly attributable to the Braves’ GM and player development. Talent will win the majority of 162 games to beat out the Marlins, Mets, Phillies and Nationals; talent and MANAGING are both necessary to win a Championship over equally talented competition and to this end Bobby has failed miserably.
Good guy - average manager!
By Rox
November 14, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this
It would be nice to somehow see what kind of manager Larry would be who says Bobby Cox is an average manager. He probably never even played much less managed anything.
By steve
November 14, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
I grew up a stone’s throw from Dr. Good and his Town and Country Clinic. Dr. Good treated all of my dogs and cats. It is great to know he is still at work.
Isn’t funny how often people’s private persona is so different from their public one? I certainly appreciate Bobby’s love of animals. But I also think that the loyalty that players have for him speak to what kind of person he is as well. The vast majority of players who have played for Bobby Cox would walk through fire for him. It takes someone special to get that kind of commitment from a bunch of grown men who are accustomed to getting their own ways.
Way to go Bobby!
By mark
November 14, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
If only people wouls learn from Dogs, we would have a loving world
By Marc
November 14, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
UGA 75,
Believe it or not, there are actually animal lovers outside of the South and even decent people outside of the South. This is typical southern chauvinism about southern “values.” Bobby Cox isn’t even a southerner unless you consider California in the South. And we know all about those southern “values”—racism, homophobia, etc.
And, Larry, as for Bobby being an “average” manager, what garbage. Luck is what wins in the playoffs—not strategy or anything else, but luck. I’m sure it was Bobby Cox’s fault that Lonnie Smith failed to score from first against the Twins or that Mark Wohlers hung a slider to Jim Leyritz.
By Larry
November 14, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Marc,
Assuming you’re male, no one should be surprised at a guy who spells Mark with a “c” that is sensitive to real southern men who are repulsed at the perverse act of being aroused at the thought of shoving their member up the fecal lined rectum of another male. This is not homophobia, girly man; this is unabashed disdain for perversion.
And, I guess the Red Sox were just simply “lucky” again easily and convincingly winning the World Series for the second time in four years, huh? Whew!
Do us all a favor and do not reproduce. This country needs some real men to lead our families right now and we’re tired of shouldering the burden of supporting both our families and your boyfriends or children in case you like to bat from both sides of the plate!
By Rocco Baldelli
November 14, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Looking forward to playing for you Bobby. I also love dogs and run a farm for old race horses. See you in the Spring.
By Larry's BF
November 14, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
But it’s not equally gross to stick your member—or even your tongue—up some fungai-lined, bacteria-infested vaginal tract?
By Robert
November 14, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Larry its alright calm down, save it for DOB blog.
By Joe
November 14, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Indeed, Larry! We need more of the good, straight christian conservative men of this country like Senator larry Craig, Rev Tedd Haggard, Scott peterson, all those crazy b*** that keep drowning their kids and shooting their husbands and having sex with teenage boys, good preachers flying around in their private jets while members of their congregagtion can barely afford to eat, and so on and so on. You guys sure do a great job of setting the moral standard in this country.
By TheSouthernJackAss
November 14, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
The 11:06 A.M. and the 11:07 A.M. posters need to find their way back to the David O’Brien blog…where they belong…
By big bravo fan
November 14, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
Larry
To call Bobby Cox and average field manager instead of calling him great like he truly is compares to calling Dan Marino an average quarterback because he did not do so well in the playoffs. You are entitled to your idiotic opinion but recognize that virutally all baseball experts disagree with you (see Peter Gammons, Dave Campbell etc)and your opinion is just that idiotic.
By big bravo fan
November 14, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
Larry
To call Bobby Cox an average field manager instead of calling him great like he truly is compares to calling Dan Marino an average quarterback because he did not do so well in the playoffs. You are entitled to your idiotic opinion but recognize that virutally all baseball experts disagree with you (see Peter Gammons, Dave Campbell etc)and your opinion is just that idiotic.
By big bravo fan
November 14, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
Larry
To call Bobby Cox an average field manager instead of calling him great like he truly is compares to calling Dan Marino an average quarterback because he did not do so well in the playoffs. You are entitled to your idiotic opinion but recognize that virutally all baseball experts disagree with you (see Peter Gammons, Dave Campbell etc)and your opinion is just that idiotic.
By Gary
November 14, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
Didn’t take long for some bloggers to stray way off topic. C’mon Larry, no manager accomplishes what Cox has without knowing what they are doing. Even with the largest payroll in baseball, Joe Torre couldn’t get the Yankees to the playoffs this year. No other manager in baseball has come close to the success of Cox, even with the post-season dissappointments. Year in and year out, Atlanta gets to watch one of the elite teams in baseball. Sure it helps to have a great GM too, but that doesn’t make Bobby any less of a manager. The fact he has a soft spot for strays just makes him a little more human to the rest of us, which I thing was Furman’s point to the piece.
By genuinebravesfan
November 14, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
Kudos to Bobby Cox and all involved with his “save the animals” campaign. Besides being a great baseball manager Bobby has a soft heart for those furbabies that depend on us for their care. If you don’t have a pet but you do have room for one or two and the means to properly care for them, get yourself a dog or cat today!! By the way, can’t wait for the 2008 baseball season.
By christian orton
November 14, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
i think bobby cox has two kinds of hearts the one caring for animals and loyalty and another one is the toughness he has provided for the braves.
By christian orton
November 14, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
i think bobby cox has two kinds of hearts the one caring for animals and loyalty and another one is the toughness he has provided for the braves.
By Rik Elliott
November 14, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
In addition to Bobby, Tony La Russa, Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals is founder of a very large animal rescue orgainization in the San Francisco Basy area (where he lives). It’s the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) - check it out at www.arf.net. Maybe Bobby and Tony ought to consider joining forces.
By TheMatador
November 14, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox is a good Man, but he hit the Brewsky one too many times a few years ago.
By Robert Valentine
November 14, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Bobby is a great guy. But if you want to win a World Series or two, you should sign me after the 2008 season or even before that. I know how to win, and I think the Bobby Cox era is over, should have been over a long time ago. His decisions has costed the Braves victories at the least in postseasons. One example was the 1996 Series against the Yankees in Game 3 where the Braves had a 6-0 lead before they blew it thanks to his bullpen decisions. In Game 1 of the 1999 series he should have put any other guy instead of John Rocker after they had a 1-0 lead and Greg Maddux showed signs of being tired. In 2004 his stupid decision of starting Jared Wright not once, but twice cost the Braves the series. Game five of the Divisional series I should have started Horacio Ramirez who was hot during the time and would have shut down Oswalt’s Astros for 6 or 7 innings. Instead we saw how Wright was used as a punchingbag for the opposing team, and we saw how Beltran hit two home runs against him with identical pitches. In 2005 down 2-1 in the divisional series against the same team, in game 4 I would NEVER have pulled Hudson out, having a 6-1 lead, even with his signs of being tired, even so, I would never have pulled him out, knowing that the Braves had a shaky and disastrous bullpen. I would have left him for two more innings then maybe have would used John Thompson as closer.
It was sad to see the Braves not reach the playoffs in 2006 and 2007 and so I thought maybe they could be interested in me. I really like this organization and hope that we can have some sort of agreement for 2009 if not next year.
I know this could be the beginning of a wonderful relationship and I would be thrilled if the Braves considered me.
Seeing the late push the Braves tried to pull during the final month of the 2007 season inspired me to want to manage this team. I can see it in them; they want a championship real bad, and I want to give it to them. I know this sounds weird, but I love the fighting spirit in them, and how they believe in themselves. Frank give me a call when you can, and Bobby, nothing personal, but I just know you are leaving soon, and I want to be the next manager and give them a championship year.
Cheers,
Robert Valentine