Punishing Bumgarner for being stupid seems even more stupid.
Many star professional athletes have clauses in their contracts that prohibit them from activities off the field and court that might be dangerous. That doesn’t seem to stop pro jocks from riding motorcycles, tearing down double black diamond slopes or jumping off mountains into the waters below.
When Hickory’s Madison Bumgarner slid off a dirt bike during a day off in Denver, what can the Giants do? Fine him or suspend him? Bum will already miss at least two starts while his left shoulder heals from the accident, so suspending him only hurts the team more. Fining a multi-million-dollar pitcher is like a mosquito bite. An athlete’s value is in his arms and legs, but also between his ears.
Jason Williams, the former Duke All-American, has made a nice broadcasting career for himself. But he threw away tens of millions of dollars more when he crashed his motorcycle into a telephone pole after his rookie season with the Bulls. You might think Ben Roethlisberger is one of the most durable players in the NFL, but has had more seasons when he’s missed games than played all the way through. Yet, Big Ben still went flying over the handle bars of his bike without a helmet a few years ago.
Tom Brady, who turns 40 this August, may have the healthiest diet and workout regimen in the history of sports, but it doesn’t keep TB12 from downhill skiing and cliff diving. Fifty years ago, Cy Young Award winner Jim Lonborg threw away his pitching career by tearing up his knee on the slopes in the off-season. Countless other athletes have hurt themselves and their teams by taking chances.
Activity clauses don’t make much sense when the damage is already done. Bumgarner said there are all kinds of things he’s not supposed to do while on contract with the Giants, who can’t do much now but hope he recovers fully from what the big lefty called “not the most responsible” act and sounded a little naive when he said wiping out on a dirt bike was not his intention. Duh. His only real penalty will be if his injuries are lasting.
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