Gary Sheffield came out today against participating in the World Baseball Classic because he doesn’t want to take a chance on an injury during an offseason exhibition game.

He might have a point, but the guy is so combative that it’s hard to feel any sort of sympathy for him. It’s like reading articles defending how Barry Bonds is really a nice guy deep down inside his otherwise childlike and troubled soul. Whatever. He’s still on my all-pity team, the guys that look at themselves as martyrs or victims of some media or league or fan conspiracy. Inaugural members of this group across all sports include: Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Carl Everett, Terrell Owens, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone, and Alexei Yashin (had to throw in a hockey guy). Can’t forget John McEnroe or Ted Williams.

I’m putting the following players on the honorable mention list. They either weren’t “woe is me” enough or perhaps have a few more years of martyrdom to go before they qualify. Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez (if his teams never win the big one), Randy Moss, Ron Artest, Vince Carter, Mike Tyson, Warren Sapp, Dominic Hasek make that list.

Can you guys think of any others?

I think to make the All-Pity team, you have to not only have a career of constant defensiveness with the media or fans or the league but also a marquee incident. Think, “Practice? Practice?!” or perhaps Bonds’ whining that the press is trying to make him retire. Folks that can’t meet that high standard end up on the honorable mention list. Any professional sport is fair game, from football to figure skating.

Curious to see who I’ve missed.