Suck It Up And Get Back In The Lineup, Nancy Boy...
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 4:39 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/0 ... 83509.htmlRadio Host Rips Mets Player Who Missed Games For Paternity Leave
Someone isn't going to win Father of the Year.
A prominent sports radio host told listeners that Mets player Daniel Murphy, who missed the first two games of the season, should have played ball instead of being with his wife and newborn son.
WFAN host Mike Francesa said he could understand one day of paternity leave for the birth, but he scolded the second baseman for skipping the second game.
"Go see the baby be born and come back," he said in the audio clip below. "You’re a Major League Baseball player. You can hire a nurse to take care of the baby if your wife needs help."
Francesa, who has three children (two of them twins), remarked that he attended their births and worked the same day.
When you have unique employment, "you have a job to do," Francesa said.
And he wasn't alone among WFAN hosts in criticizing Murphy for not lacing up his spikes. Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason told morning listeners, "I would have said C-section before the season starts. I need to be at Opening Day, I’m sorry."
Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson told the New York Daily News he was happy Murphy could be with his wife.
USA Today pointed out, besides the obvious that Murphy has his union-won right to the leave, that he has been one of the Mets' most regular employees, playing in 317 games over the previous two seasons.
With far less fanfare, Minnesota Twins pitcher Brian Duensing was placed on the MLB's three-day paternity list before Opening Day for the birth of his son. But Duensing doesn't play in New York.
Last November, Memphies Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph left during a game to help his fiancee deliver their baby.
In September, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco learned that his wife had given birth to their second child during warmups for a game, but he proceeded to play.
Boomer at least has had the sense to realize what a boneheaded thing he said , apologize profusely (I expect he got an earful from Cheryl):
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/04/04/ ... ity-leave/NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – WFAN co-host Boomer Esiason says he’s reached out to the New York Mets and is “truly sorry” for “insensitive comments” made earlier this week regarding second baseman Daniel Murphy’s paternity leave.
Esiason issued the apology at the start of Friday’s “Boomer & Carton” show:
“I want to say again on this radio show that in no way, shape or form was I advocating anything for anybody to do. I was not telling women what to do with their bodies. I would never do that. That’s their decision, that’s their life and they know their bodies better than I do. And the other thing, too, that I really felt bad about is that Daniel Murphy and Tori Murphy were dragged into a conversation, and their whole life was exposed. And it shouldn’t have been.
“And that is my fault. That is my fault for uttering the word ‘C-section’ on this radio station. And it all of a sudden put their lives under a spotlight, and for that I truly apologize. I tried to reach out to Daniel yesterday through intermediaries over there at the New York Mets, and to his credit, he answered all of his questions yesterday. I’m sorry that he had to go through that. No man should have to go through that. And certainly Daniel Murphy, who we both admire much as a baseball player as anybody else — and all I can say is that I truly, truly, feel terrible about what I put them through. So for that I certainly apologize.
“I spoke with (Mets public relations chief) Jay Horwitz yesterday and was texting back and forth with (COO/co-owner) Jeff Wilpon, and I think Daniel — I can’t speak for Daniel — I think he wants to put everything behind him, he wants to try to play baseball, he wants to try to become a dad, he wants to try to do all the right things in life, and he has every right to do that. And again, like I said, I apologize for putting him and his wife in the midst of a public discussion that I basically started by uttering insensitive comments that came off very insensitive. And for that I apologize, and that’s really all I can do.
“The other thing I do want to say is that my friends — our friends — over at the March of Dimes also reached out to me yesterday. And I immediately called them back and talked to them, and they kind of re-educated me on their mission statement. And you and I (co-host Craig Carton) have been a part of the March of Dimes luncheon for many years, and I go back all the way to 1994 with them, and they were very gracious in re-educating me and making me understand what their mission statement was. And I agree wholeheartedly in their mission statement.
“I can only hope that people understand that my comment — my flippant comment — wasn’t made in any way, shape or form to insult anybody. But obviously it did. And for that I am truly sorry.”
He added: “Again, I just want to reiterate one more time that if I in any way, shape or form insulted anybody, that was not my intention. My flippant remark was insensitive. I’ll leave it at that. And again, I feel terrible for the Murphy family, because what should be the greatest time in their life turned out to be somewhat of a firestorm that I personally put them into. And for that hopefully they can find forgiveness in their heart.”
Now that's the way to apologize...
I was particularly surprised by Boomer's callous comments, since by all accounts he is a superb father, who has raised two kids, including a son who has suffered since birth with cystic fibrosis. He and Cheryl also have a foundation that has raised 100 million dollars to combat the condition, providing assistance to thousands of children afflicted with it.
What he said seemed really out of character to me.
