June 26, 2008
McLane on Chacon
Jose de Jesus Ortiz interviews Drayton McLane about the altercation between Shawn Chacon and Ed Wade.
"We can't have anarchy," McLane said that he told the players. "You can't have rebellion. If (Chacon) disagreed with what Cecil wanted him to do, he should have had the courage to sit down and talk to him. He wouldn't come in Cecil's office."
McLane was adamant that Chacon will never return to the Astros.
"Absolutely not," McLane said. "If you shoved a policeman down or any other public servant, can you imagine shoving a principal in a school? It was in full view of several players. Players pulled Chacon and restrained him. There's absolutely no way. You can't defy authority. Even if he disagreed with what they wanted him to do, he should have had the courage to sit down and talk to him."
There's audio of the interview at the link as well. Ortiz reported last week that the Astros clubhouse was toxic. Cooper certainly didn't have the respect of Chacon.
Chacon should have just said "I was only doing what every Astros fan wishes they could do -- punch the worst GM in baseball right in his stupid fat face."
Or Cecil could have told him what he wanted to tell him right there in front of everybody, like Chacon wanted him to. I'm not sure where the "courage" comes in here.