Because This Story Can't Die #Poolgate

Bill Shaikin did a great job capturing the Dodger player reactions to the ongoing Poolgate (no relation to the Dodgers' equipment manager Mitch Poole), and succeeded in capturing the class guys we have on the team, despite what Senator McCain may think.

Ethier said it was one thing to criticize the act of jumping in the pool — "Maybe some of his constituents were complaining to him, wondering if he could do something," Ethier said — quite another to label the players as overpaid, immature, arrogant and spoiled.

"That's over the line," said Ethier, who lives in Arizona.

"It is absolutely absurd that he would even comment on that," said Mark Ellis, who also lives in Arizona. "I would have thought he would know better than that. He doesn't know any of us. The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous.

"To call us overpaid? Come on. Coming from a politician?"

Young said he would welcome the chance to meet with McCain, to explain how players are heavily involved in charities in the cities in which they play, and in their hometowns.

"I'd like to change his tune that we're spoiled," Young said. "I've never had the pleasure of meeting him. I'd love to."

As I was hammering the Senator on Twitter yesterday, that's the theme I hit. Our players are incredibly dedicated to giving back to their communities, and to call them overpaid and spoiled is just ignorant and ill-informed. Give Clayton a call and ask him about his charity work. Ask Matt Kemp about the terminal kid he flew down for a Dodger game. Meet Ethier over at the Union Rescue Mission. And the fact that McCain has now offended two constituents...well, I guess he's likely to retire after this term so it doesn't matter. Stick to calls for carpet bombing at the drop of a hat, Senator.

ps- Sorry to cross the line and bring politics in, but this is a rare nexus of Dodger baseball and criticism from an elected official.