Larry Bowa
From Wiki Gonzalez
Larry Bowa is a former firebrand player, firebrand manager, and former firebrand whiskey-sodden poster to Baseball Think Factory. Was the Bowa persona on BBTF the real Larry Bowa?
On October 5, 2005, Larry Bowa departed from the BBTF community, leaving the following message (http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/33126/P200/#1664342) in that day's Primer Lounge:
- Fellas,
- The jig is up. Apparently, I have gone too far in my claims of being Larry Bowa, and the goodly Mr. Furtado--who I am guessing has been quite patient with my rants over the past 18 months or so--has asked me to cease and desist, or to change my screen name, or to provide proof that I am Larry Bowa. Rather than do any of these--because what is the fun in that, I say--I have decided to stop posting altogether.
- I have enjoyed my time here at BTF, and will continue to lurk, and possibly post under another screen name that is not Larry Bowa, but I feel that ol' Larry should not fade away with cheesy alternate screen names, but die with his boots on and a tumbler of Bushmills in his hand. I still prefer to remain anonymous, but I will tell you I am not an alter ego to one of the other main posters here (something I suspect Jim has known all along; I thank him for maintaining my anonymity).
- I am a baseball fan, a disgruntled Phillies fan, and a fairly big Red Sox fan. I like Frank Thomas, and hope he gets into the HOF. I hate Ed Wade. I hate Phillies ownership. I now live in NJ, but I used to live smack dab in downtown Center City, Philadelphia. I have a great affinity for the St. Joseph's Hawks. I have a wife and a son who's 3 months old, and I have high hopes of turning him into a left-handed submarining knuckleball pitcher. If I succeed, I think he'll be able to pitch in the big leagues until he's 68.
- Oddly, I kind of disliked Larry Bowa's managerial style, but I very much enjoyed the persona that is Larry, and had a lot of fun "being Larry." It is now, though, time for Larry to retire. I don't want the ESPN lawyers or Larry's actual lawyers suing BTF (which is why, I'm guessing, Jim sent me an email today regarding my posting as Larry), as they are good people and don't deserve to be sued over the high jinks (or low jinks) of a guy like me.
- I'll miss Larry. I hope you've enjoyed him as much as I have.
- Your pal,
- Larry
He will be missed.
Later that day, Jim Furtado left the following explanation (http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/33126/P500/) in the same Lounge:
- Just for the record, I haven't been contacted by any lawyers about Larry Bowa. I'm trying to avoid that problem.
- This morning I noticed a post from Larry emphatically stating that he is the real Larry Bowa. When I checked out his profile it led me to a blog which further makes the case that he is the real Larry Bowa. It's one thing to post on a site using someone else's name as an alias. It's something completely different to claim you are that person.
- I asked Larry to prove his identity if he wanted to continue to post as the real Larry Bowa. In lieu of that, I suggested Larry modify his handle to something like "Larry Bowa's Alter Ego."
- I hope, rather than leaving, he chooses to modify his handle.
On October 11, Sam M clarified what those legal issues (http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/33222/#1676486) could be
- Don't know enough about the law in this area to say, but if I were Jim, I think I would have been at least a little concerned over places where "Larry Bowa" affirmatively claimed to be the one, the only, the real Larry Bowa. The two risks I can perceive are (a) this guy actually holding himself out as Larry Bowa in some way that defrauds someone, and that victim then suing not only BTF Larry, but also BTF for helping him create the impression, and (b) the real Larry Bowa claiming this guy is appropriating his identity and/or harming his reputation. I have no idea how likely either of those things were, but it surely was a reasonable idea for Jim to want to protect himself from any risk.
Before the above exchanges took place, many Primates offered their take on the question whether BBTF's Larry Bowa was the "real" Bowa. A sampling:
Yes, yes it is.
Or maybe it isn't.
But this raises the larger question: what is it about human nature that prompts us to ask questions about things to which we do not necessarily want answers? Would knowing it is the real Larry Bowa make one sleep better at night? Would knowing it has all been a ruse, a cunning attempt to trick Primates into believing a firebrand manager would spend his sleepless, Bushmills-fueled nights in front of his Mac typing missives against Ed Wade and the Universe make you a better person, a better friend, a better baseball fan?
I don't think so. I think some things are better left unstated. I think some things should remain mysteries.
I don't doubt that one day all will be revealed, but really, on that day, won't we all be a left a little poorer for knowing the truth?
- Larry Bowa
Real or fake, the Larry Bowa who posts on BTF has significantly improved the image of Larry Bowa the manager. To Primates, at least.
- rLr
Whoever answered this question first is not the real Larry Bowa. The real Larry Bowa always signed off 'your pal, Larry Bowa'.
your pal,
Larry Bowa
The previous Larry Bowa is a ****ing cheap imitation of the original. For one thing, I never signed off:
your pal,
Larry Bowa
I always did it as:
Your pal,
Larry
So first of all, you ****ing faker, get the signoff right. Second of all, what, like I can't do a god**** thing unless I sign as "Your pal, Larry"? I mean, ****, I have a ****ing life, you know--I'm a ****ing man, not a Primer Posting Machine who does everything the same all the ****ing time. And another thing--a lot of Primates complained when I signed off "Your pal, Larry," so I have tried to limit its usage to situations that really called for it. And this **** did not, I think, require me to me so god**** formal.
First I have to suffer the indignity of Ed ****ing Wade firing me, and now I have to put up with random fakers pretending to be me. Mother****er.
And for those who may be more literate than the above "fake Larry", the origin of "Your pal, Larry" is from the best ****ing baseball book ever, "You Know Me Al" by Ring Lardner. In it, the main protagonist signs most of his letters "Your pal, Jack".
References:
- The Love Songs of Larry Bowa (http://thelovesongsoflarrybowa.blogspot.com) - Larry's blog
- Larry Bowa on baseball-reference.com: player (http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bowala01.shtml), manager (http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/bowala01.shtml)
- Bushmills (http://www.bushmills.com). One Primate has admitted sampling this whiskey thanks to the constant references by BBTF's Larry Bowa. Another Primate has a particular appreciation for the reference because he got really badly drunk on Bushmills when he was in his early twenties, and now can add this unpleasant memory to that of the 1985 Cubs when he thinks of Larry Bowa. Coincidentally, Bushmills happens to be a favorite of another Cubs fan, deJesusFreak.
- At the only Primate meetup he ever attended, Cabbage was treated to a complimentary round of Bushmills by deJesusFreak. For this, he is eternally grateful.
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