Joe Mikulik

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Joe Mikulik is the current manager of the Asheville Tourists class A minor league baseball team. During 2007, his eighth season with the Tourists, Mikulik—who already holds the team record for most games managed—is expected to become the team's all-time leader in managerial wins.^[1]

Mikulik is well known for embarking on a lengthy tirade after being ejected from a game against the Lexington Legends on June 25, 2006. In the bottom of the 5^th inning, Mikulik got into an argument over a Legends player, third baseman Koby Clemens, called safe after a close call at second base. Having had enough, the umpire proceeded to eject Mikulik from the game. Mikulik then went on an extended tirade, pulling up the second base and throwing it into the field, throwing bats from the dugout on to the field, then finally pouring water on home plate before eventually leaving for the clubhouse, where he continued his tantrum unseen, toppling water coolers and a chair in front of the unmpire's locker room. ^[2] The Legends went on to win the game. Afterward, Mikulik made several unapologetic comments, including the claim that "I could get two mannequins at Sears and umpire better than what I saw this whole series." ^[2]. As a result of his actions, Mikulik was given a seven-day suspension and $1,000 fine; Mikulik's antics were shown on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, SportsCenter, and MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann.