And in Related News: Cecil Fielder Spokesman for Atkins

Amazing story this morning in the JSO [Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Online] about Prince Fielder. Since this guy came up in '05, he has exceeded my expectations, both on the field and off. The last time the Brewer's had a draft pick so highly touted, he was the rectal cancer known as Gary Sheffield, so I'll admit, I've come to expect very little from any Brewer marked as "the next big thing". However, reading Anthony Witrado's article this morning made me feel guilty for having any skepticism about Prince-- there are very few flaws in this 23 year old. He has the talent where if he played his whole career in Milwaukee (and I doubt he will) he would supplant Robin Yount as the greatest Brewer, he has the character at a young age to be a team leader, he has shown desire to improve his game and to top it all off, I find out he has chosen to become a vegetarian! Apparently his wife gave him book which detailed the mistreatment of animals by the meat industry (no mention of the book's title, but hell the video from that slaughterhouse in SoCal where they used fork lifts to move live cows would be enough for me) and he found it so disgusting that he chose to change his diet. Add to that the way he's focusing on D this spring and he's already shown more dedication in his 3 seasons than his dad probably did in his whole career. I bet the only self sacrifice Cecil ever tried was limiting himself to 2 trips to the MGM/Grand's Buffet, and that was probably just because he had to hustle and get some action down at the sports book.

Now I'm not saying Prince Fielder has gained any more respect from me because he chooses not to eat meat. While I myself dabbled in vegetarianism once, (not in 'Nam of course), I do currently eat meat. To borrow and modify a phrase from Ben Franklin, "I think bratwurst is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." However, it's pretty interesting to read that a player who's frame more closely resembles the beer barrel logo guy than John Jaha and who plays in a state where having a meal without pork, beef, poultry or fish is about as worthwhile as NA beer, is choosing to subsist on soy, lentils and Boca burgers. My advice Prince, try the Boca bratwurst, they aren't as good as the real thing, but if it's your only option, might as well go with it... kind of like the Devil Rays.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=720531