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Sawin' Wood

Sawin' Wood: A bobblehead gone wrong

By Ryan Wood
April 29, 2008 | 16 comments

Sometimes, the stories write themselves.

I've got to share this one with you, regarding Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher and former Jayhawk Tom Gorzelanny.

The Pirates, quite possibly the worst-run franchise in baseball at the moment, had a bobblehead giveaway last week featuring Gorzelanny, who pitched for KU in 2002. The controversy? Many think the doll, believe it or not, appears to be flashing an obscene gesture.

You can't make this up. A small picture is on your left, and a better shot can be seen here and even examined in high resolution. WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh is running a poll asking if viewers think Gorzo is indeed giving the one-finger salute, and more than 1,100 voters have weighed in as of Monday night ("No" is leading by, uhh, a finger).

Examining the picture closely, it looks to me like Gorzo, a good man I interviewed for a story last year, indeed is telling someone they're number one. Of course, he has nothing to do with the construction of his doll, so I'm not really accusing him of being a jerk. He's actually a pleasant person who I can't imagine would give anyone the New York Hello.

Gorzelanny does pitch with a finger sticking out of the glove. Many baseball players play with their pointer finger outside of the mitt because their strange fathers raised them that way. Or for some other reason.

If you want your own vulgar toy, Ebay has several on sale at reasonable prices. It'd be the most offensive KU collectible you could possibly own, unless someone has a very good story they'd like to share.

Comments

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Posted by speedy (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

why print this stupid story??? why make something out of nothing. are you espn and god???

Posted by rolo2383 (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't see anything wrong with this story. It's not a big deal. It's actually kind of funny.

Posted by okjhok (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Unless you print it, speedy, it won't see much ink. It's a blog, dude.

Posted by wcormode (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is news is it not speedy? I didnt know this, now I know and it is interesting.

Plus this isnt a story it is a BLOG. If you want stories and not ramblings do not read any BLOGS.

http://goallineblitz...

Posted by hometownhawk (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's a blog, and it's a funny story about one of the few KU alums in the majors, so settle down, scrooge.

Posted by rwood (Ryan Wood) on April 29, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Speedy,

I am not ESPN. I also am not God.

Posted by plasticJHawk (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I watched the video and it definitely didn't look like the index finger to me. In the picture it looks like the index finger, but in the video it looks like the bird...

Posted by actorman (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the whole thing is quite amusing, and I see no problem with Ryan blogging about it. Two words come to mind: Lighten up.

Posted by rgreene (Ryan Greene) on April 29, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cheers, actorman

Posted by rgreene (Ryan Greene) on April 29, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way, just bought my gorzo bobblehead on ebay for 7 bucks. maybe in some weird voo-doo way, it'll snap him out of his funk and keep him from further dragging down my fantasy pitching staff ...

Posted by chuckberry32 (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hard to hear a royals fan call my beloved bucs the worst run franchise in baseball...

Posted by eastTXjayhawk (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i need one of these...one question, Tom's not technically a KU alum is he?

Posted by eastTXjayhawk (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i'm heading to the Rangers/Royals tomorrow night, I'll look to see if anyone else is "saluting"

Pirates...Royals....Matt Morris...Juan Gonzales...you stay classy San Diego...

Posted by rgreene (Ryan Greene) on April 29, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nah, eastTX, he's not. He pitched here just at the start of his career, but finished at Triton JC just outside of Chicago. When he was taken in the second round two years later, I think just about everyone who remembered him pitching at KU did a double-take. He's turned out nicely in the majors, though. Then again, if he hadn't, I guess he wouldn't have his own bobblehead day, right?

Posted by kjhkcapn (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is pretty d*mn funny (thought I had better keep this comment in good taste, given the circumstances). Maybe that company will make a Randy Moss mooning bobblehead.

Wood, your skin in that pic looks like you've been taking too much colloidal silver. Google video search it. Seriously.

Capn

Posted by rwood (Ryan Wood) on April 30, 2008 at 12:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Collodial silver? Awesome, but I've never swigged it in my life. I think it's just a weird tint on the photo.

And chuck, any youth-laden team who trades for Matt Morris, then releases him six months later and eats $10 million is staring at the Royals' rear in this race.