Like most first-year teams the Rapidz have struggled to win. In fact, the first half was pretty bad (13-34), and the team is still in the league's basement. But one of the great public assets they've had has been their manager, Ed Nottle (photo at left from the Ottawa Citizen). From the time he was hired, lifetime baseball guy Nottle showed himself to be a folksy, straightforward, and candid guy in interviews. I heard him as a "house guest" (meaning he co-hosted the whole show) on CBC Radio's "All in a Day" and elsewhere on TV and radio. And the guy knows how to work with the media.
But yesterday, the Rapidz let Nottle go. You can see why, and it's hard to argue with the statement from team owner Rob Hall:
"The decision to part company with Ed came only after long and careful deliberation. Ed has helped the Rapidz take root in Ottawa but a manager is ultimately judged by his team's performance on the field and we felt it necessary to make a change at this time.""
However, perception-wise, it was pretty bad, because the 68-year-old Nottle was home in Indiana visiting his wife, who has cancer.
So what did Nottle do? Lash out at the ownership? Hold a nasty press conference? Nope. He flew back here to Ottawa to fulfil a commitment for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and he did interviews in which he was gracious, understanding, and as upbeat as you can be after being turfed.
Listen to this interview from CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning (Real Audio, sorry, not my fault) and tell me if you don't think he could charm the socks off anyone. He explains his feelings without being maudlin, he says wonderful things about the city, he doesn't trash anyone, and even when he admits he was wrong he does it with class. He told the Ottawa Citizen:
"I made a statement that Ottawa would be the last place I ever managed. I guess I lied. I wanted it to be that way, but I will manage again. But some day, this can be the jewel of independent baseball. This city and this facility and these fans can make it that."
At one point, he mentions the old cliché about sports managers being "hired to be fired." But I'll tell you, maybe he should give up baseball and teach interview training.
Ciao,
Bob.
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