Wanna buy Lenny Dykstra's World Series ring?

Lenny Dykstra’s post-playing days have been nothing if not colorful. He ran a chain of car washes, then built himself into some sort of financial guru, becoming a columnist for TheStreet.com, starting a magazine that counseled athletes about how to invest their money, bought Wayne Gretzky’s mansion, had people make all kinds of steroids allegations against him, was accused of being a racist and a homophobe and the worst boss in the history of bosses, and finally — and not surprisingly — filed for bankruptcy.

That’s a lot to fit into a single decade, but Lenny Dykstra always did give 110%. But for all of his triumphs and troubles, and for as big of a jackass Dykstra is reported to be, this has me feeling sorry for the guy this morning:

The bankrupt ex-ballplayer is auctioning off memorabilia from across his storied 12-year career – including his diamond and gold 1986 World Series championship ring. The bidders are unlikely to include the nearly two dozen businesses and individuals who charge the hardnosed player known as Nails bilked them of millions of dollars. The most amazin’ item available is Dykstra’s 10-karat World Series ring, symbolic of the Mets’ stunning defeat of the Boston Red Sox. The sparkler – valued at $20,000 – bears the Mets logo, Dykstra’s name and familiar No. 4, and the words “New York Mets, 1986 World Champions, 116 Wins.”

Sympathy for any man facing such tribulations aside, given how Dykstra’s post-baseball business dealings have gone, I’d (a) demand a certificate of authenticity for that ring; and (b) demand that it be sanitized to remove all traces of skeeze.