Hanley Throws Fit Over Marlins' Hairy Rules
Ramirez demands trade, calms down after cutting cornrows
By BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 11:59 AM EST, Fri, Mar 27, 2009
It was a hairy situation in the Marlins' dressing room yesterday after Hanley Ramirez threw a fit, scrawled a vulgar message on his chest and requested a trade over the team's new dress code.
After the star shortstop was forced to shear his long locks, he strolled through the clubhouse sharing his opinion of the new fashion rules across his chest, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
"I'm sick of this s---," the message read, in thick Sharpie letters.
"I'm angry," Ramirez said. "I want to be traded."
Ramirez was not only forced to cut off his cornrows under the new policy, he also won't be allowed to wear jewelry while playing.
"It's incredible," he said later. "We're big-leaguers."
The Fish, perhaps taking a cue from the Yankees, who inflict rigorous rules against facial hair on their players, want to give the team a clean-cut image.
"We want to look professional," manager Fredie Gonzalez said. "Nice and neat."
Other players were forced to follow suit. Josh Johnson, Cameron Maybin and Leo Nunez cut their hair, too.
But with Ramirez currently the face of the franchise, hopefully for years to come, the team may want to keep its star happy.
So when all was said and done, Ramirez, after playing six innings in an 11-6 spring game win over Baltimore, and having a chat with team President David Samson, GM Larry Beinfest and assistant GM Mike Hill, seemed to have relaxed.
Ramirez had little to say when he emerged from the locker room with a new attitude.
"Everything's great, I'm fine," he said. "My mind calmed down."
So is he off the trading block?
"Everything's going to be fine," Ramirez said with a smile.
First Published: Mar 27, 2009 8:10 AM EST
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