- Photo by Karin McKenna
Rumors started trickling out after this post by ClevelandSports360 and all along Twitter this morning: Lou “The Dog Man” Rodgers, revered saint of the dog at The Jake, was let go by the Tribe’s concession service. (It’s unclear whether the Tribe knew, but they certainly know now.)
We got in touch with Lou this morning and it’s true: he got shit-canned. Can the Tribe really be more of a horse’s ass when it comes to public relations? No, probably not. Not when you get rid of a mainstay beloved by the fans, a man just doing his job for six years. Here’s what happened in Lou’s own words:
Yes it is true, I was let go about 2 months ago. Looks like the word is starting to get out. What happened I went down an isle and hit a pocket four rows up and four rows behind me. Another hot dog guy saw it and ran down and started selling. The rule is if you have the same product you can’t come down the same isle. He stole my sales. Believe me it was minimal. I worked an extra half hour and sold out. When I checked out, the kid came up to me. I told him I was hot and don’t talk to me. He then made some comment and I yelled at him. I did not handle it well, I ripped him a new one. Bottom line I was fired because I yelled at this kid. He was wrong, but I handled the situation very poorly. I have been their 6 years with no complaints.
I still feel sick about this, one indiscretion and it’s all over. I really do feel bad and yes I love to come back. Any help would be appreciated.
Tribe fans: Get in touch with the Tribe. Immediately and often. Help get Lou his job back.
We’ve reached out to the Tribe and will let you know if they have any comment.
In the meantime, we’ll take two with everything.
This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2013.
I go to 20-25 games a season and don’t recognize this guy at all, and his story does not earn him any sympathy from me. “Singing Pepsi Man” all the way.
This guy was obnoxious. He would constantly ridicule anyone who was eating anything else other than hot dogs. I go to a lot of games and the routine got really old quickly.
He is no BEEER GUUUY!!! Cleveland Legend!!!
Aren’t all these guys vendors? People don’t pay admission to see their loud and obnoxious banter about what their selling, they come to see what’s on the field. I agree with what was stated, that the routine gets old quickly.
No “Hot Nuts” guy update?
I think Lou is funny and is very passionate. Let’s face it, he’s not vending to get rich. Over the last 6 years he’s provided some great entertain for me even when the Indians couldn’t.
Did Lou email you that response? because if not you used the wrong for of the word “there” in his recant of what happened…”their” is possessive and not used for the sentence “I was their for 6 years” so I’m hoping as a publication that was a direct written quote from Lou and you did not write the incorrect version of the word from a verbal statement…
sounds like he got a raw deal and should have been given a warning
This guy is hilarious, went to a game a few weeks back ant saw this guy in action, what a sight. Now that he’s gone the game will be aliitle less fun and the teams need all the fans coming to the games as they can get.
Don’t the baseball players yell at each other and swear at each other? Don’t they threaten each other and the umpires? Don’t they even get in physical altercations? and didn’t an Indians player (Roberto Alomar) spit on an umpire? Why are these actions by the players and umpires tolerated but not other employees ? Do you have to make a lot of money in order to not get fired? Why is there a double standard? what is the salary cut off , how much do you have to earn in order to not have the same rules apply to you?
Not surprising — the place is about as much fun as sitting in a dentist’s office.
Whether you like him or not, getting fired after a yelling match with a coworker (in a private place, not in front of fans) is really kind of sketchy after 6 years of no-issues employment. Fans don’t come to see the vendors, so anytime you get a vendor that is very familiar or notable to the fans (think the BEEEER GUUUUUY), it’s a plus.