Manager Touches 'em all in Epic Tirade

Neil Teixeira, of the USC Softball MAPP Marauders, stages a Piniella-style tantrum that results in a well-earned ejection, and 15 minutes of worldwide fame on YouTube.
From the Associated Press
June 5, 2007

LOS ANGELES, CA. — A major league meltdown by a softball manager earned him a three-game suspension and worldwide fame on the Internet.

Combining bits of Earl Weaver, Billy Martin and Lou Piniella, the tantrum by USC Softball manager Neil Teixeira prompted the team owners to take immediate action.

The MAPP Marauders manager went wild during his team's 8-4 loss at McAllister field on Monday. His tirade took him on a tour of the diamond as he covered home plate with dirt, threw a base and crawled to the mound.

Teixeira and the club declined to comment, co-owner Binh Tran said.

A USC Softball League executive declined to talk about a possible suspension or fine from the league.

"The league president is working on that right now," said Don Ludwig, president of operations. "Obviously appropriate action will be taken, but nothing will be released to the public about that."

Teixeira came storming from the sidelines after the team apparently lost the game while playing against some of their own players.

Teixeira threw his hat, and then began shouting and framing the face of the umpire with his hands about six inches apart.

After a questionable call on what seemed to be a foul-tip out caught by Marauders catcher Shawn Matsumoto, Teixeira got down on one knee, piled dirt on home plate and used a finger to outline the shape of the plate. He stalked to third base, pulled up the bag, walked toward second and tossed third base into the outfield.

Then he dropped on his belly and pantomimed a military crawl to the edge of the pitcher's mound, where he picked up the rosin bag. He pretended it was a grenade, pulled an imaginary pin with his teeth and launched it toward the plate umpire, hitting his left foot.

Teixeira pantomimed that he was ejecting the umpire, picked up second base, walked into the outfield and picked up the bag he'd tossed. He walked toward the outfield gate with both bases.

Before leaving the field, he turned, blew kisses to the wildly cheering crowd, waved his fist in salute and left.

ESPN played extensive segments of the tirade through the week and the video has been viewed more than 61,000 times on YouTube.

Tran talks to Trinidad

Marauders co-owner is going on vacation, but he says he will keep his star player 'apprised of our progress.'
By Bob Loblaw, Voice Staff Writer
June 5, 2007

LOS ANGELES, CA. — Before Marauders co-owner Binh Tran stepped onto a plane for a vacation in China, he spent some time in the office with his star player.

"I talked with Patty this morning and assured her that I share her frustration and, more importantly, I assured her that we will continue to pursue every avenue possible to improve our team with her as the backstop."

Trinidad has shown resentment towards management ever since she was asked to play catcher for the Keck School "XXY's", which forced her to take part in handing the Marauders their first loss of the season. Trade rumors have swirled at MAPP headquarters, but Tran seems confident that his prized signal-caller won't be leaving the team.

"I told her that we will keep her apprised of our progress and we agreed that we will talk again in the very near future."

In other words, Trinidad's not going anywhere, even if things are still unsteady when Tran returns from a three-week vacation that begins in Shanghai.