Take the money
From the New York Daily News comes a story of extreme fan loyalty.
The fiancee of a crane operator killed in last week’s tragic collapse on Wednesday rejected an offer of help from Mets star Ryan Church because her future hubby was a Yankee fan.
A day after burying Donald Leo, Janine Belcastro said she couldn’t accept the offer from the right fielder and his wife.
“Don was a die-hard Yankee fan,” Belcastro said in a statement. “It would not respect his memory if he accepted this.”
Now, I understand when fans throw back home run balls that are hit by the opposing team. You’re not giving up anything of any real value in that situation, just sentimental value. But throwing back money just because it comes from a cross-town rival, well, that takes a fervor that I don’t posess.
You’ve got to admire Ms. Belcastro, who did what she thought her fiance would want. But her actions are further proof that fan loyalty almost always outpaces player loyalty. Ryan Church is currently a Met, but he’s also a free agent at the end of the season and if the Yankees make him the highest offer, is there anyone who thinks he’d turn it down?
Here’s hoping a Yankees player steps in and repeats Church’s generous offer. And for irony’s sake, let it be Mr. Loyalty himself, Johnny Damon.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
interesting moral dilemma posed here. I might have to consult Mike Moye on that one to ask what Jesus’ stance is.
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Church is not a free agent at the end of the season, he’s eligible for arbitration. So unless the Mets let him go, he won’t be a FA until after the 2010 season.
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June 12th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Doug, you’re probably right. Church’s listing on Cot’s Baseball Contracts doesn’t say anything about him being up for arbitration. It just says he has a one-year contract for 2008. But looking at how long he’s been in the league, it makes sense that he’s still got another year before free agency. Still, I don’t think that detracts from my point, which was that players are less loyal than many fans. And, frankly, I’m not sure if fans need to change or if players do, or both, or neither.
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June 12th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I’m not “probably right”…I’m 100% right. You 6 years to become a FA. Church is in his 4th…But anyway I got the point of you post.
Did I do the right thing in making my son a Mets fan!?
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