POOR Larry Baer.Not really.
Those of you that read me regularly know that I've been on the Larry Baer watch quite some time and not just about his Giants' influence.
Oh, there's so much.
Which is fine, I guess. Power is elusive and special and those that hold it usually abuse it.
So when the infamous Baer video showing him physically rip a cell phone out of his wife's hand and causing her to fall, became public, I wasn't shocked at all. I'm not suggesting that Baer is a domestic violence perp; whatever happened here is between he and his wife. But the video did one thing: it showed a side of this man that has existed quite some time but virtually ignored by the Bay Area media, sporting and news press too.
Baer has a dark side. Trust me, I know.
And again, I'm not alluding to his altercation with Pam. Sure, we all saw Baer in a light he's unaccustomed to: not the usual happy, chirpy, confident man who loves to mingle with the elite and rich and famous down near the Giants' dugout and at cocktail parties in the city. Truly, Baer was out of his element this time and there was no massaging from the lame SF media.
Baer loves Baer. Baer loves power. Baer is an advocate for Baer. He's also one of the most cunning, egotistical, outrageous jerks in the Bay Area if not the universe. The happy-face persona is a ruse. Baer is mean-spirited and petty too; how petty and mean-spirited? Just ask Dusty Baker, the onetime Giants' manager whose tax issues with the IRS were leaked by Larry Baer. It's known in the industry, especially locally yet Baer was given a pass.
Dusty never forgot.
Baer has every right to enjoy his social and political clout in this city but when he goes overboard he should also be called out. The incident involving his wife should have provided an opening to the local press to gauge deep into the Baer history but the pansies looked the other way. Am I surprised? Hell no.
Phil Matier, barely a word.
Ann Killion tried her best but swung and missed. Probably on purpose as Killion likes to pick and choose her fights but wasn't about to rock the boat especially when the editor-in-chief of her Chronicle newspaper is a dedicated Giants' fan.
Scott Ostler, who should know better and chews out villains on Sunday, had the perfect opportunity to nail Baer but even Scotty fouled out.
Hank Schulman? Are you kidding; gimme a break.
This is a new era in this city because in the old days even below-average reporters would have taken the time and do some honest research and examine Baer and his grip on San Francisco political and social circles. There's a lot to chew on, believe me. Baer owns this city. At one point years ago he considered running for mayor and he'd have probably won because his fingerprints are on pretty much every known particle, human and otherwise. And that extends from the ballyard to City Hall to the Hall of Justice.
Fear.
I suppose Baer is feared by the local media because they enjoy their Giants' privileges . The team has been sucking lately but doing business at the park remains on the to-do list and Baer, when he eventually comes back to China Basin (and he probably will sooner or later) still keeps tabs on those who continue to goose him and those who don't. Loyalty is a Trumpian virtue with Mr. Baer, who knew?
I do.
Coming soon: The Jeff Adachi story disgrace.
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