Ya Gotta Know When to Fold 'em

Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers was reinstated Tuesday from a 20-game suspension levied against him for a assaulting a television cameraman twice.

As you may recall, on June 29th he had shoved the cameraman and knocked him down in the team clubhouse when he objected to having the camera pointing in his general direction. Then, after he started to walk away, he stopped, turned around, came back, and proceeded to kick the man, who was still on the ground. That's two assaults. The victim went to the hospital. The camera went back to Tex's Electronic Repairs.

Mr. Rogers apparently has some anger management issues.

So Major League Baseball, in the form of Commissioner Bud Selig, put the hammer on Mr. Rogers to the extent that he was able to, according to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. 20 game suspension and a $50,000 fine.

Sounds tough, right? Nearly three whole weeks of not being able to work, and forking over $50k. Well, thanks to the aformentioned Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension was only a suspension from playing, and not from getting paid. He got a three week paid vacation. One that included his participating in the All-Star game, which coincidentally, pays $50,000. I should have that luck. I just wouldn't want ot have to beat someone up to get it.

It is true that Mr. Rogers apologized publicly, turned himself into police and was freed on bail. I have not seen evidence that the cameraman has pressed charges. Perhaps the victim doesn't want to be the bad guy and have the local team's star pitcher sent up the river. What a shame.

I'm not impressed, Mr. Rogers. What are you going to do to assure those around you that you do not intend for this to happen again?

But, the story gets happier. After serving only 13 days of the suspension, yesterday arbitrator Shyam Das ruled that the commissioner went too far, and ended the suspension. He also ruled that the $50,000 fine will be converted to a charitable contribution. This is great! Now Rogers is ahead on the deal, since he'll have a nice little tax deduction that he wouldn't have otherwise had. Oh, and if there were any incentives in his CONTRACT that are jeopardized by him missing games, the games he missed cannot be held against him. Isn't there a morals clause in that contract? Or did the union successfully get that "must adhere to the same laws as everyone else" loophole successfully expunged from the CBA.

Excuse my French, but Mr Shyam Das is an ASS. I don't pretend to know how an arbitrator got involved after the discipline was handed out, and I rarely agree with anything that Bud Selig does in the interest of the game, but I think the penalty he handed down was at least a good start. And now, even the wrist slap is going to be massaged with hand lotion and kissed.

Said Selig: "I strongly disagree with arbitrator Das' decision today. It sends the wrong message to every one of our constituents: the fans, the media, and our players."

"There is a standard of behavior that is expected of our players, which was breached in this case. The arbitrator's decision diminishes that standard and is contrary to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. In my opinion, the decision is seriously ill-conceived," he said in a statement. (Source: Associated Press)

If good ol' Tad got sufficiently annoyed and went medieval on another human being like that, sure as hell I'd lose my job, be arrested, and my family will be left homeless after not being able to come up with the money to pay such a fine. But Mr Rogers is a pseudo-celebrity, so we use a different standard for him, as we do with all other professional athletes/amateur primadonnas.

Here is Tad's idea of justice for Mr. Rogers:

1. You're fired. This behavior should not be acceptable by any employer.
2. You're under arrest.
3. If the victim wishes not to press charges, it doesn't mean you don't have a problem. You're on probation. Get yourself into an angry-man rehabilitation. Do public-service announcements to raise public awareness about emotionally healthy ways to vent anger, such as knitting or blog-writing.
4. Provide any and all restitution to the victim and his employer.

That is what I regard as taking responsibility for your actions.

Mr. Roger's behavior gave not only the cameraman, but Baseball another black eye.

When I was a kid growing up, I wanted to be a big league player. I learned eventually that I was not cut out for it. Now as my kids grow up and are learning to play, less and less do I want them to pursue a career as an athlete. I would be happy if they did anything, as long as they did not beat people up.