David Montgomery: Amaro deserves respect

David Montgomery was among those in attendance at the news conference Thursday when incoming Phillies president Andy MacPhail and part-owner John Middleton addressed the dismissal of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

For the Phillies' former longtime president and current chairman, the news came attached with "all of the emotions you can imagine." Montgomery, 69, has known Amaro since the former player was a teenager and worked closely with him for 17 years, the first 10 when Amaro was an assistant GM and the last seven after Montgomery appointed him GM.

"On a personal note, I want to see him do well. I think he will do well. . . . One of the reasons Pat [Gillick] stepped aside [after the 2008…