SPANISH HARLEM, NY — With our own Buddy Diaz “very questionable” after an alleged dental excursion, I got to thinking about the Buddys in sports – specifically in the NFL, NBA, NHL & MLB. Here’s a few that were in my failing brain/empty head – as Angry Ward pointed out yesterday.
Buddy Bell
Six-time Gold Glover who made playing third base look like a blue-collar construction job. No flair, no nonsense—just vacuuming up grounders and firting to first. Bell wasn’t flashy, but he was the kind of guy that got the job done. His teeth were good, too.
Buddy Groom
A lefty reliever who bounced around the league. Groom carved out a 13-year career doing the dirty work—LOOGY before LOOGY was even a thing. You didn’t notice him unless he failed… which, to his credit, wasn’t often enough to get him run out of town. Ironically, he never married… [Ba Doom Cha]. Not good enough? How about a For Whom The Bell Tolls reference?
Buddy Ryan
The defensive mad scientist behind the 46 Defense and the 1985 Bears. Ryan didn’t just coach defense—he weaponized it. Quarterbacks and running backs ran for their lives. Opposing coaches saw their game plans combust. And how about those twin sons of his?! Yeah, Buddy’s boys were as entertaining as he was. Drinking Buddys…
Buddy Hield
Okay, I looked this one up. The rare modern Buddy who actually gets buckets. And get this, his full name is Chavano Rainer “Buddy” Hield – AND – he is a Bahamian. Moreover, despite me not having a clue who he is/was, he’s been one of the NBA’s most consistent shooters. Go figure.
No Buddy Zone
In the NHL there is no Buddy… nobody!
Which brings us back to Buddy Diaz.
Let’s hope his getting drilled in the face isn’t like Dickie Thon getting drilled in the choppers by Mike Torrez. Nah… our Buddy is tough! Wait, what’s that? He only had a cavity filled and it was two days ago? Humph.
Maybe you can keep a Buddy down.
