Allen: Too Manny times

I'm pretty sure the obsession that some media folk have with all things Manny Ramirez officially jumped the shark this week.

In addition to the regularly scheduled wall-to-wall Manny talk on WEEI this week, we also had Dennis Eckersley going off on Manny during a NESN broadcast, and then a throw-away item in a Seattle newspaper blog about Manny jaywalking and getting warned by a police officer, which was immediately picked up here and made yet another talking point about Manny.

I've had it. I really, really just cannot take it anymore.

Like no athlete since Ted Williams, Manny Ramirez has become a lightning rod for the media in this city. Whenever things get a little slow around here, you can always count on Ramirez becoming a topic of discussion.

It divides the region into two camps - the Manny Bashers and the Manny Apologists. Of course, neither side believes that they fit those labels. The Manny Bashers use any opportunity to go off at great length about the latest perceived transgression and failing of the future Hall of Famer, while at the same time believing that they're simple being objective, and not being a hero worshipper. The Manny Apologists label might actually be a misnomer, since most in that group freely admit Manny's shortcomings, however they simply care about what he does on the field, and not so much off it. They acknowledge his quirks, his misadventures in the field and on the basepaths, and occasional head scratching behaviour and would rather just watch him hit.

To be sure, it's been a bit of a different Manny this season. The altercation with Kevin Youkilis in the dugout, the shove of the traveling secretary in a dispute over tickets and his comments about ownership regarding his contract status have all been well out of character for the easy-going Ramirez we've come to know for much of this decade. These incidents were all disturbing, and left us wondering just what Manny's mindset is this season.

One thing we do know, since it's Manny, we're going to get non-stop discussion about it. Other players might scuffle with teammates, or complain about their contract, or do much worse things. This is where I might actually want to get off the "Manny Apologist" bandwagon. No, I don't get any less enjoyment from watching Manny hit, but I've been beaten and worn down by the nonstop sessions of Manny talk.

I'm to the point that a part of me actually hopes this is his last season with the Red Sox, simply because I'm sick of the media package that comes with him. I dread the next time that the radio airwaves are going to be hijacked with nonstop talk about how Manny is too much trouble, that he doesn't hustle on the basepaths or that he is a bad teammate (not a foxhole guy) or that he is lazy and just doesn't care.

You simply can't avoid the talk when it happens. Any time you turn on the radio or TV or pick up the paper, or surf to your favorite Red Sox site you're going to be exposed to the latest Manny soap opera.

I'm done with it. Let another market have him. Just get me a Hall of Fame player to replace him in left field, and I'll be happy.

Bruce Allen is the creator of Boston Sports Media Watch, which has recently been recognized by SI.com as one of the best non-corporate sports web site's on the Internet.