Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland is awesome because he’s a grizzled, old badass who plays by his own rules and is one of the last remaining icons of baseball’s old school. He’s like the Robert Duvall of managing. But just writing that makes it feel like the guy is 105-years old, when he’s only 68. That didn’t stop people from trying to push him from the dugout to the retirement home, though, after his Tigers failed to win the World Series.

So when asked about possible retirement last week, Leyland reminded us why so many people just adore the guy.

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“Yao Ming being adorable” is up near the top of the things With Leather loves most, somewhere between Phillie Phanatic human interest stories and Kate Upton outtakes. And while nothing could ever replace Yao Ming holding a panda in our hearts, the Yao Ming golf swing is coming awfully close.

Everything about it is beautiful. The swing itself. The way he just stares at the ball after he misses it, then holds his hand out like he can’t believe what the ball just did. The plainly-stated YouTube description, with an explanation for what’s happening:

Yao starts a new career in golf in his retirement. He is so tall and it is a little hard for him to play well in golf.

The helpful advice from the 30,000 people in his on-course entourage. His sad little blooper shot when he finally makes contact. It’s the first golf video I’ve ever wanted to hug.

I hope his friend’s advice was, “try playing a sport where the ball isn’t so close to the ground”.

[h/t to Shane Bacon at CBS Sports]

Manny Ramirez is retiring. I guess that’s what six losing games with Kyle Farnsworth will do to you. Major League Baseball announced the move in a statement on Friday.

“Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the statement said. “Rather than continue with the process under the Program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player. If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the Drug Program will be completed. MLB will not have any further comment on this matter.”

Manny leaves behind a legacy of being one of the best hitters and most insane, illogical human beings of his generation. Two World Series championships in Boston are matched by how he used to disappear into the Green Monster to pee. Twelve All-Star selections, and that time he caught a ball, ran up the outfield wall and high-fived a guy. 555 home runs and over 1,800 runs batted in. Dreadlocks wigs, shifty motivation and pronouncing “Boston Red Sox” as “boson red sogs” in his intro video to MVP Baseball.

Ramirez has been one of the most memorable characters in The Dugout since its inception, running around and making airplang noises and playing spies, and if my inability to let go of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds is any indication, Manny will be being Manny well into the future. We at With Leather wish him the best in his future endeavors, which I guess are sitting around in his underwear and watching cartoons.