Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Here are Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips' words before Monday night's game against the rival Cardinals:
I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they're little bitches, all of 'em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear - I hate the Cardinals.
Leaving aside Phillips' misogynist choice of words for a moment, his comments may be inspired by the Cardinals' assertions that the baseballs used at Great American Ball Park are too slick, or that Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo was guilty of doctoring. (Red Reporter used the more appropriate and cutting insult, "whiny butts.")
Regardless, let's break down Phillips' comments to separate fact from fiction.
"I hate the Cardinals."
VERDICT: true.
SOURCE: Brandon Phillips.
"All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, [...]"
VERDICT: false.
SOURCE: Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Cardinals also play baseball, but in the interest of empirical evidence, here is video of Albert Pujols eating a dish of chicken and beans.
"[...] they're little bitches, all of them."
VERDICT: case thrown out.
SOURCE: the idea that we should refrain from using language that reinforces a patriarchal culture.
"I really hate the Cardinals."
VERDICT: See prior verdict.
"Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs."
VERDICT: true.
SOURCE: Brandon Phillips.
ADDENDUM: it could be argued that "love" is an objective state and cannot be expressed relative to external variables.
"Let me make this clear - I hate the Cardinals."
VERDICT: See prior verdict.
For good measure, though, let's give Phillips the benefit of the doubt and assume that he is under the incorrect assumption that the Cardinals are actually little bitches. Phillips should be careful, as little bitches are dangerous creatures to pick fights with. Source:
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