By Jean-Paul Salamanca | First Posted: Feb 18, 2013 11:12 PM EST
(Photo : Reuters) Ex-Texas Ranger and new Angels star Josh Hamilton drew the wrath of Dallas-Fort Worth fans when he said that his ex-city was not a baseball town.
Parting may be sweet sorrow to some, but former Texas Rangers star Josh Hamilton wasn't shy about taking a few parting shots towards his ex-team now that he wears a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim uniform.
The 2010 American League MVP didn't mince his words Sunday when he told a Dallas TV station that Dallas-Fort Worth wasn't "a true baseball town"-a statement that drew surprise and ire.
"Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town," Hamilton told Dallas' CBS 11, as reported by the L.A. Times. "They're supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly. There are true baseball fans in Texas, but it's not a true baseball town."
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That statement drew the ire of some folks as Hamilton, originally a Cincinnati Red, flourished as a Ranger, becoming a five-time MLB All-Star with the club when he joined them in 2008, as well as winning the RBI title in 2008, the AL batting title in 2010, three Silver Slugger Awards and leading the Rangers to two back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
However, he bitterly parted ways in December with Texas in free agency, when he signed with the Angels for a five-year, $125 million deal.?During his last game as a Ranger, when he went 0-for-4 in a season-ending Wild Card playoff loss to Baltimore in October, the fans showered him with boos.
Hamilton didn't back down from his comments afterwards, either.
"I told them on camera - I said there are true baseball fans and then there are others who are not," Hamilton told the Times after Monday's workout. "The true baseball fans won't boo when I come back; the ones who are not true fans will."
Rangers manager Ron Washington refused to get into it with Hamilton in the headlines. "I'm not answering anything that Josh said. That's Josh. Josh is an Angel. That's Josh's opinion. My opinion is there were 3.5 million fans that came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there," he said.
However, fans on Twitter were more than happy to issue a reply.
Pro golfer Angela Stanford, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, wrote, "I hate to be immature and stoop to the lows of social media but I have to stop following?@thejoshhamilton?Don't bash my town.?#personal."
"wow way to continue to show your true colors?@thejoshhamilton. you are a piece of work you know? after all the rangers and the fans did 4 u," tweeted Twitter user Free All The Info.
"See Josh, moths are attracted to light. You may not know that, due to you're being a dullard and all," tweeted Michael Gruber of Denton, Texas.
Texas native Alyssa Childress was also not impressed with Hamilton. "I apologize to?@TaterHasBigTots?for ever sticking up for?josh hamilton. WHY WAS I SO NAIVE??," she wrote
"Josh Hamilton?thinks Dallas isn't a "baseball town",but I'm totally sure LA is right? Lol" mocked Dallas resident Carlos Godinez in his tweet.
Tim Sullivan of the Courier-Journal wrote, "Wonder if?Josh Hamilton?reflected on how his critique of?#Rangersfans might be received by survivors of Shannon Stone. Guessing no"
Twitter user Dave Stewart wrote, "Come on,?@thejoshhamilton. Just go play baseball. No need to be critical of fans. Deposit your checks and enjoy LA."
"Josh Hamilton?thinks Dallas aint a baseball city but LA is!?
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Source: http://www.latinospost.com/articles/12434/20130218/josh-hamilton-takes-shots-texas-rangers-fans.htm
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