If we all woke up tomorrow a little less offended than today, the world would be a better place.
In the latest batch of "oh please don't stain my sensibilities," St. Louis Cardinals' manager Mike Shildt, went on a wonderfully passionate tirade after the Game 5 clinch in Atlanta on Wednesday. Filmed on an Instagram live video by rookie outfielder Randy Arozarena, Shildt delivered an expletive-stuffed rant (with a certain word starting with F used frequently) to his team about being fearless moving forward in the playoffs.
I saw it first on the STL Sports Central twitter account, but soon enough, the speech went viral. I loved it, soaking up the fiery vengeance of a competitive baseball man. Most people reacted favorably, loving the passion of Shildt and likening it to Blues head coach, Craig Berube. Others found the language to be offensive and didn't react so well. Apparently, those people have never been in a sports team's locker room.
Hint: people curse in locker rooms. They curse a lot. It happens all over in college sports, the NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, or whatever league you think of. It's as common as towels, Gatorade and ping pong tournaments. Every head coach and manager nodded their head in approval at the Shildt speech. I'd lay a bet down on it being quoted or used word-for-word in a future pep talk in a high school locker room right before the state championship.
Thursday, Shildt addressed the media, apologizing for the language, but certainly not the passion. He shared no ill words for Arozarena, who has since deleted the video and issued an apology. Shildt loves the kid, saying "he has a great heart and was just having fun." So were you, Shildt, and it's OK.
Here's the thing. Shildt shouldn't have to apologize for anything. He didn't do anything wrong. The words didn't come out during a visit to a hospital or middle school. They came after a fiery divisional series with an opponent that sparked some words and actions between the two teams. Match-ups with the Braves will never be the same now, especially with the newborn fire and angst between Ronald Acuna Jr. and the entire Cardinals team. It's a thing now.
If you are offended by that language, grow up. Better yet, stay inside your house, so you won't be hit with that awful verbal shrapnel. It's so harmful, just like how that rainfall today can feel like hot lava at times. Some people just want something to complain about. It fuels their days, taking their minds off the fact that their 24/7 process is a little dull.
Rock on, Shildt. Get pumped up. Go ahead and say all the words that are unjust for soft ears. I don't think there's anything wrong with a locker room full of adults hearing those words. I am sure the Cardinals loved hearing them.
There's a funny thing taking place about this 2019 run the Cardinals are on. With every passing month or week, we are learning something different and new about Shildt, who is still relatively new to St. Louis sports fans. They are still working on spelling his name correctly, but are getting to know him. All you saw this week was another side. A dangerously ALIVE side.
It's good for business. I look forward to the NLCS clinching speech. Maybe Shildt will just a play a scene from Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction." Maybe he'll add another edition of "I don't care, here we go" to his budding greatest hits album.
I'm here for the next Shildt rant. Inject it into my veins immediately.
If it offends you, too bad. I heard the badminton players and coaches are much more chill.
