One of the worst kinds of person in the world is the backstabber. The backstabber comes in many different forms and varieties, and each backstabber has his own story that leads to the eventual betrayal. Each backstabber’s tale is unique to their backstabbing.
The one thing that’s common about all backstabbers is their path to betrayal. Backstabbing works in stages. Stage one is gaining trust. Stage two is dishonesty, which eventually leads to a buildup of tension. Stage three, the final stage, is the backstabbing. Oh, and what a backstab it is. These stages are factual, and they work in everyday situations.
Let’s say, for instance, there’s an American-Dominican man who went to high school in Independence, Mo. After high school, he attended college in Kansas City. Soon thereafter, he’s drafted into the St. Louis Cardinals minor league team in 1999. In 2001, only two more years after he joined, he was moved up to the major league team because of his outstanding play.
St. Louis became his place. The fans loved him, his teammates loved him and, like wine, he only grew finer with age. He grew close to catcher Yadier Molina as well as general manager Tony La Russa. Of course, the player’s list of awards grew quickly as he played for the Cardinals (National League Rookie of the Year – 2001, All Star – 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, National League Hank Aaron Award – 2003, 2009, World Series Champion – 2006, 2011 to mention a few).  He became a St. Louis icon, and after playing 10 years on the team, stabbed St. Louis in the back so badly that he became most likely never ever, ever, ever, ever to be forgiven by the fans or the people of St. Louis and Missouri. Stage one.
During the 2011 season, this man’s contract came to an end, and he announced his free agency. Why he wasn’t groping to sign a new contract for another 10 years to play baseball in the best city with the “best fans in baseball,” no one knew. But he didn’t, and that made the fans uncomfortable. It was like wrapping up in a wool rug. Extremely warm, but kind of itchy. The problem was masked by an outstanding run for the World Series. There was a walk-off homerun by a man with the best last name known in existence in game six and also a three-homerun game by the Dominican man the St. Louis natives loved. The fact still remained that his contract had expired, and anybody could make him an offer. The fans were nervous. Stage two.
Unfortunately, after his 2011 World Series win, this man turned his back on the people who loved and cared for him most. The Missouri native stabbed his fans and followers right between the shoulder blades. He signed a 254 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Stage three.
“What?” You may say, “The Angels are terrible! They’ve only won one World Series title! They only went 80-82 in the 2010 season! Not even this outstanding Dominican Missouri native can save this failing team!”
My thoughts exactly. For him, this beloved character of St. Louis, it was all about money. They better start tearing down posters and remaking commercials.
This, of course, is all hypothetical.
Today, I hate backstabbers.
By Shannon Freese