Belle behind bars

Albert Belle has always cast an intimidating shadow dating to his days as an Indians slugger. But now, he's just being creepy.
Belle's horrible temper has gotten him into trouble yet again, this time for allegedly stalking an ex-girlfriend using a GPS system. He also allegedly threatened her over the phone, telling her she'd need a bodyguard for protection.
Belle was arrested and charged with stalking on Thursday. He likely had little trouble posting his $100,000 bond and has a court appearance set for Feb. 24, The Associated Press reported.
Belle might be the most frustrating sports figure I have ever seen. His ability to hit was matched by few. Inside the batter's box, he was everything any manager could ever want in a hitter: steel-trap concentration, power to all fields, a glare that could melt the glove right off a pitcher's hand.
Outside those four chalk lines, however, he was a liability in every facet. He excelled in no other part of the game, and his personality made him a walking organizational black eye away from baseball.
You wanted to like the guy. You wanted to admire him. But you knew he'd probably hate your guts if you ever came in contact with him. He just hated most people before he even met them. The proof's in the pudding. He had a positive relationship with so few people in his life, and as this week's incident shows, those relationships could sour quickly, too.
We've heard the stories. He beaned a photographer. He screamed at NBC reporter Hannah Storm in the dugout before Game 3 of the 1995 World Series. He smashed a clubhouse thermostat with his bat when a teammate turned up the temperature. He took out who knows how many clubhouse buffets in the same manner. He almost beat up Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw, whom he accused of rooting through his locker.
He chased down house-egging trick-or-treaters in his car. He beaned a fan in his Municipal Stadium days. He went through a bout with alcoholism. He probably corked his bat.
Is it any surprise that when his production started to wane, the White Sox couldn't wait to get rid of him? When a chronic hip injury forced him to retire from the Orioles in 2000, many said he was getting his comeuppance.
The baseball player made have ceased to be, but the man lives on. One of these days, I fear, Belle is going to do something that will get him jailed for the rest of his life, or worse. Stalking an ex-girlfriend is indication Belle is taking a turn down a dangerous path.
Albert Belle has an irrepressible internal beast. In the batter's box, it served him well. In society, it could be his downfall.