By Paul Sullivan
MESA, Ariz. -- Moving on from the Milton Bradley nightmare has been more difficult than anyone in the Cubs' organization imagined, because Bradley continues to level charges at the team and manager Lou Piniella.
Bradley told ESPN it's difficult for a black player to play at Wrigley Field unless you're a Hall of Fame-type player.
Ryan Dempster disputed that notion, mentioning Derrek Lee as an example.
"D-Lee seems to really like it there," Dempster said. "I know that he's really enjoyed Chicago and loves playing there. And some other guys that I've played with have just really had a good time playing there. I know Marlon (Byrd) is going to have a blast playing there. I think anytime you struggle it can be tough, no matter what the color of your skin is."
Lee was unavailable for comment. Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams declined to comment.
Photo: Milton Bradley told ESPN that he felt like a prisoner in Chicago. (AP)
Bradley also told ESPN he wanted Piniella to apologize to him in front of the team for calling him a "piece of (expletive)" during a confrontation in the tunnel at U.S. Cellular Field last June, but that Piniella refused to do so.
Should Piniella have apologized to Bradley in front of the club?
"I didn't really hear what even happened that day," Ryan Theriot said. "But no, I don't think he needed to. I think that's for Lou to talk about. From my standpoint, I'll tell you what, it's pretty unfair to Lou because he did apologize, I do know that. It would've been different if it was something that happened in front of the whole team. We didn't even know about it until the following day."
Alfonso Soriano agreed with Theriot.
"If Lou apologized to him, then that's enough," he said. "If the manager apologizes to you, that's because the manager loves you. I don't know whether Lou did that or not, but if he did, then he showed a lot of respect for him."
"We don't have to think about that," Soriano said. "It's 2010. He played one year here. Now he's in Seattle, so he has to be happy and focus about Seattle, and we have to focus about our season. We can't win anything if we're paying attention to Milton and what he says. Everybody's happy now, and there's no pressure. It's nice."
Bradley brought Soriano's name into his complaints about Chicago, repeating the story that a Chicago waiter was badmouthing him, and adding that the waiter was badmouthing Soriano as well. Soriano said Bradley never mentioned the story to him and he doesn't get upset when he's criticized by Cubs fans.
"It's part of the game," Soriano said, "When I hit a homer, everybody's happy. When I strike out, the people boo. So it's 50-50. It's not hard to play there. I love it."
Dempster said he hadn't heard Bradley's comments.
"I didn't see what was said," he said. "What was it? Bad coffee in Seattle or something?"
Should Piniella have apologized in front of the team?
Dempster said he couldn't "remember" what happened between Piniella and Bradley at the Cell.
"It was so long ago, I just forget," he said. "I have a tough enough time remembering what happened yesterday."
Dempster said the secret to handling angry Cubs fans is "to play as hard as (you) can" every day.
" I think if you give 100 percent and you prepare as hard as you can and take pride in what you do, that seems to work for no matter where you are playing or who you are," he said. "I care a lot about winning and doing things the right way. I don't always do things the right way, and I'm not perfect.
"But they're fans, and they have every right to boo if they feel you're not giving 100 percent or not giving you best effort. But at the same time, I've always said about Chicago, they love their Cubs and they're very forgiving people and just want you to do well."
As for the hate mail Bradley said he received without postage, Dempster joked that Kevin Millar was sending him hate mail.
"He usually puts a postage stamp on it and then hands it to me," he said. "But he's going to get some bad stuff back."
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At this point, Hendry could win executive of the year for somehow getting rid of Bradley. (I'm a Sox fan)
Why is this still being reported on? He's not a story anymore, even if he does answer questions that reporters ask him about the Cubs.
He's gone. It's over. Why does anyone still care about this?
It really says something when none of your former teammates will even stick up for you. I hope Milton tears both ACLs in Seattle, that seems just from a karma standpoint.
Paul I think you are having a hard time getting over Milton Bradley
Why are we giving this troubled individual so much attention still. He is shooting off his mouth because the media is stupid enough to give him a venue to spew his garbage. Ignore him and his stupid comments and help to make him go away. The Cubs finally moved him out of here after last season and now it is the media's turn to tune Bradley out.
I completely agree with Navi.
Please stop even reporting on what that piece of EXPLETIVE Bradley is saying now.
One day he'll look back and realize that it couldn't possibly have been the 430 teams he played for during his career and that maybe just maybe the problem was himself.
Who the hell am I kidding. That jerkwad will go to his grave blaming everyone else for his being an EXPLETIVE.
I guess Kevin Gregg and Aaron Miles are black too Milton or did you not hear the boos they received last year for playing like crap? I guess not since that didn't involve you and you are a self centered cancer that just needs to retire because there is only about 2 or 3 teams that you haven't already burnt bridges with in the last decade.
also breaking news: milton bradley is insane and has issues... i guess i'm racist against whites as well because i booed kevin gregg and jeff blauser mercilessly while they were here
Hey Milton! You are a piece of "Expletive". No apology will be made by me. This is one time Lou Piniela is 100% correct. Why don't you just save all your trouble making for Seattle, and see, if there is a team that will pick up your contract next year when the Mariners try to dump you.
An immature classless act like this individual will always play the race card if he has nothing else to claim. I'm sure he might have heard a few racial slurs from the drunks but to generalize the whole city as being racist, I think not.
*yawn* I'm so tired of hearing about Milton Bradley. Please stop "reporting' this crap.
Moving on is made more difficult by people like you who keep giving that whiny complainer press. MOVE ON and start being the beat writer and ask about the shambles (continuing now for the FIFTH season) in the bullpen.
Take the hint from the players who keep saying it's last year.
His comments are ludicrous as plenty of black players beyond Hall of Famers have played here and never reported the levels of abuse that Milton is claiming.
The fact that D.Lee and Williams declined commenting speaks volumes. Even a busted clock is right twice a day, there should be NO racial slurs allowed and if he had to deal with it even once that's too much.
That being said Bradley needs to stop moaning and start playing the game he is paid to play.