Jimmy Rollins' wife gave birth to their first child a few nights ago. Per his contract, J-Roll is entitled to take 72 hours off. Which, it appears, he will do. He wasn't in the lineup last night when the Nats beat the Phillies, 2-1. On my drive home tonight, a caller to 97.5 called the Phillies SS a "coward" because he could go to the hospital AND go to work. This expert offered that he had twins, that his wife was in the hospital for weeks, and that he owned his own business and had to go to work and that's what leaders do (the expert owns his own business).
Not having anyone in the car with me, I kept my thoughts to myself, but here's what they were: "Are you bleeping kidding me? Who are you to judge any father regarding how much time he wants to spend with his wife and newborn infant? " I also thought, "Good for J-Roll. He will remember -- forever -- what he did around the time his first child was born. He will forget, quickly, whatever happened in one of the more than a thousand Major League games he will have played in his career."
Cherish your family at every opportunity. That's not to say that work isn't important -- it pays the bills and hopefully provides some fulfillment and sense of belonging and purpose. But it's not your family, especially at such at important time in your family's existence.
The caller called into question Jimmy Rollins' leadership. I would counter by saying that by doing precisely what he's doing, Jimmy Rollins is showing great leadership -- setting a great example for what one's priorities should be.
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2 comments:
There are many types of leadership. Not clear on why leadership on the baseball field should be considered more important that leadership in the family.
Prof:
You have this one exactly right. The caller you heard on the radio is a fool.
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