Celebrities Agree: Lidle Crash Was Tragic, Sad

Last night on The Insider — that’s Pat O’Brien’s celebrity newsmagazine show that’s on CBS 3 here — the crew covered the Cory Lidle plane crash. (Uh, okay.) And who did they go to? That’s right, Joey Lawrence and Jerry Springer! Who were at the Dancing with the Stars results show!

The best comment, though, comes from Juliana Marguiles — who was at the Skin Care Foundation’s annual Skin Sense Award Gala, of course — who spends about a half-second expressing sympathy before launching into a rant about how she hopes this doesn’t bring more laws. What laws? Are they going to ban planes from crashing into buildings? Ban baseball players from flying planes?

Thanks, Insider!

Cory Lidle Roundup

I, obviously, didn’t know Cory Lidle aside from a couple of time I snuck in a question in the locker room while on various assignments covering the Phillies. From all accounts, he was a smart guy, a good guy, etc., etc. No one deserves to die, but when it’s someone who is a sort of more of an untouchable idea than a peson you know — as pretty much any baseball player is — it hits you in a weird way. Cory will be missed, and my thoughts go out to his wife and children, his family and friends.

Here’s a little recap of a few of the better (and worse) news stories:

• The man in the photo with Lidle is Randy Miller, the Phillies beat writer for the Bucks County Courier Times, who went up with Lidle in his airplane before spring training. [BCCT]

• Lidle also took Comcast SportsNet on an aerial tour of Philadelphia (.wmv link). [CSN.com]

• Kudos to Nancy Grace, who decided that Cory Lidle was actually trying to commit suicide even though she had no evidence whatsoever. There is no justice in this world, as Nancy Grace actually has a lot of money and a job. [Gawker]

• But she’s not the only one! The New York Observer’s Philip Weiss also says Cory (although he spells it “Corey,” since he’s an idiot) probably committed suicide because he was upset after giving up three runs in an 8-3 loss. He also references Donnie Moore, although he doesn’t know his name. Don’t these people have fucking Google? [NYO]

• Okay, enough of that. Comcast SportsNet’s John Finger and the Daily News‘ Marcus Hayes have very nice, thoughful articles about Lidle.

• And, finally, The Dugout with one of the better, cuter pieces on Cory.

• Update, 2:23 p.m.: Oh, yeah, we probably should link to some blogs. Let’s go with The 700 Level and Beerleaguer.

Breaking: Cory Lidle Dies In Plane Crash

Via CNN and about 700 instant messages, the plane that crashed in New York City was registered to Cory Lidle. Several sources say Lidle was on board.

Update: NYPD conforims Lidle died in the crash. He was 34. And if you want to see Miles O’Brien lecture everyone about how Cory Lidle was stupid for flying there, turn on CNN and you can shout things at the TV with me.

Update 2: Okay, Miles has stopped. Thank God.

Update 3: Mayor Bloomberg has confirmed that Cory Lidle was not a terrorist. Thanks, Sherlock Holmes.

After the jump, a look how kids in college are taking advantage of the situation to get more popular on their social networking sites.

Small Aircraft Hits Building in Manhattan [NYT]

More »

OMG, Cory Lidle Chat Logs

You’ll notice he’s already on the Internet while the game is still going on.

Yankees-Blue Jays [Yahoo!]
Previously: Cory Lidle Chat Log Theatre

The Further Online Adventures Of Cory Lidle

Earlier today: Cory Lidle: Pitcher, Pilot, Eater, Gambler

Cory Lidle: Pitcher, Pilot, Eater, Gambler

There’s been a war of words between an ex-Phillie and several members of the Fightin’ Phils for the past few days. After he left, Lidle said, “On the days I’m pitching, it’s almost a coin flip as to know if the guys behind me are going to be there to play 100 percent,” regarding his time with the Phillies.

Well, ho ho, some current members of the Phillies didn’t like it, including Arthur Rhodes, who called Lidle a scab — he was a replacement player in ‘94, which is why he’s not in the players’ union or in video games (except as “Felix Berger”) — and also revealed his sweet tooth:

“The only thing Cory Lidle wants to do is fly around in his airplane and gamble…. He doesn’t have a work ethic. After every start, he didn’t run or lift weights. He would sit in the clubhouse and eat ice cream.”

Lidle realized that, well, gee, I sound like an asshole, and went back on his comments. He said he meant the team was distracted because of all the trade rumors and it was hard to focus. Okay, sure, Cory. But, whatever, he did the right thing and apologized (kind of) and changed his story. He didn’t want to continue to be an asshole (unlike a certain cheesesteak seller who shall remain nameless).

But Arthur Rhodes wasn’t done, firing this salvo:

Rhodes amplified those sentiments last night. “If you look at it, he only pitched two good games,” he said. “Before that, he wasn’t pitching too good.”

According to the 36-year-old veteran, the defining incident came before a game against the Mets at Shea Stadium in late May.

“He was on the Internet during a game,” Rhodes said. “I told him he’s got to be out there [in the dugout] for the first pitch and he got mad at me. I didn’t have anything to say to him after that. He didn’t want to win. He didn’t want to go out there and root the team on.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Arthur Rhodes is trying and wants the team to win?

Shit. Coulda fooled me.

Rhodes fires back at ’scab’ Lidle [Daily News]
Rhodes Fires Back At Lidle [Phillyville]