Monday, September 23, 2002
Oester-Bowden feud still alive
By John Erardi jerardi@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Former Reds coach Ron Oester shook everybody's hand during postgame introductions Sunday at Cinergy Field, except that of general manager Jim Bowden.
“What? What? Did I miss a hand?” Oester asked.
Oester has never wavered in saying Bowden offered him the Reds' managerial job in 2000 and gave him time to think about it. But before Oester could get back to Bowden to accept the job, Bowden had offered the job to Bob Boone, who took it. Oester has never forgiven Bowden.
When a reporter asked Oester about it Sunday, Oester said, “No comment,” then went on to answer questions about the final weekend at Cinergy Field.
Bowden couldn't be reached for comment later Sunday.
As non-handshakes go in the local sports world, this one ranks second behind the Bob Huggins-Pete Gillen snub after a Crosstown Shootout game Jan. 19, 1994.
Huggins, the University of Cincinnati basketball coach, refused to shake the hand of then-Xavier coach Gillen after the Musketeers defeated UC 82-76. That drew an angry response from Gillen, adding more fuel to the two schools' bitter rivalry.
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Oester-Bowden feud still alive
