Salon has a column about fathers and sons and baseball. The columnist is using the Giants' clear affection for their kids as the jumping off point, and rips into baseball's likely decision to change the rules regarding batboys after 3-year-old Darren Baker wandered into harm's way at home plate during Game 5.
Two thoughts. Yes, it's great that these guys clearly love their sons, and that they're not afraid to show their love on national TV. But come on, have our standards for athletes' public behavior fallen so far that we now have to heap praise on them for well, acting like a responsible, loving parent?
Salon's Joan Walsh says that "All these Giant fathers hug and kiss and hold their boys." For Barry Bonds, she goes even further, glorying that "the media's designated asshole, supposedly focused on nothing but his own game -- grew up to be the sort of father who'll pal around with his son in the clubhouse and celebrate his prodigious home runs by grabbing the little guy's head and kissing him on national television."
What is her point here? Wow, the Giants love their kids? Gosh, Barry Bonds is a jerk to the media, but look he loves his kid, he can't be all bad? Excuse me, but hugging and kissing your son should be a given, not something that needs to be singled out for praise.
And as for Darren Baker, well, I think everyone who watched the game will agree, the kid is adorable. That shot of him bawling after the Giants lost Game 7 tugged many a heartstring, I'm sure. But while I have no problem with players bringing their kids to the game, I don't think it's unreasonable to put some restrictions out there.
The batboys are there for a reason after all, they have jobs to do. And as a parent, I can tell you that a 3-year-old isn't mature enough to do that job. Frankly, I think Walsh's dubbing Snow a "hero" for yanking the kid out of the way is a bit over the top, but to use her words, if the presence of the kids requires heroic acts on the part of the players, then perhaps it's time to get the kids out of there.
Two thoughts. Yes, it's great that these guys clearly love their sons, and that they're not afraid to show their love on national TV. But come on, have our standards for athletes' public behavior fallen so far that we now have to heap praise on them for well, acting like a responsible, loving parent?
Salon's Joan Walsh says that "All these Giant fathers hug and kiss and hold their boys." For Barry Bonds, she goes even further, glorying that "the media's designated asshole, supposedly focused on nothing but his own game -- grew up to be the sort of father who'll pal around with his son in the clubhouse and celebrate his prodigious home runs by grabbing the little guy's head and kissing him on national television."
What is her point here? Wow, the Giants love their kids? Gosh, Barry Bonds is a jerk to the media, but look he loves his kid, he can't be all bad? Excuse me, but hugging and kissing your son should be a given, not something that needs to be singled out for praise.
And as for Darren Baker, well, I think everyone who watched the game will agree, the kid is adorable. That shot of him bawling after the Giants lost Game 7 tugged many a heartstring, I'm sure. But while I have no problem with players bringing their kids to the game, I don't think it's unreasonable to put some restrictions out there.
The batboys are there for a reason after all, they have jobs to do. And as a parent, I can tell you that a 3-year-old isn't mature enough to do that job. Frankly, I think Walsh's dubbing Snow a "hero" for yanking the kid out of the way is a bit over the top, but to use her words, if the presence of the kids requires heroic acts on the part of the players, then perhaps it's time to get the kids out of there.
posted by Magpie @ 10:39 AM
0 comments
