Tex is a real stand-up guy,
even when he struggles, so it’s easy to root for him. But my admiration grew
after I read an interview he gave to the Wall Street Journal where he freely
admitted that he is overpaid and not the same player he was when he was
younger. The article is a must read, if only because it is so unusual for a
baseball player to be so blunt about his own shortcomings. But Tex shouldn’t be
too hard on himself. He makes many valuable contributions to the New York
Yankees, including driving in a lot of runs and making plays that few other
first basemen can.
Unlike Alex Rodriguez, his colleague
on the other side of the baseball diamond, Tex recognizes the absurdity of the
mega-deal that pays him $20 million a year to play baseball while a superstar
kid like Mike Trout earns considerably less. The fact that Tex is so honest
about that and so willing to share his wealth deserves praise. In fact, he put $1
million of his own money toward a $10 million campaign on behalf of Harlem RBI
and I was inspired to kick in a donation to the organization myself (well short
of $1 million, but I’m sure it was appreciated).
Tex has heard his share of
boos at Yankee Stadium, but he’s never been treated with an ARod-level of
disdain despite being similarly wealthy and also struggling at times in the
Bronx. But that’s because he’s a lot more likable and honest than ARod. And at
a time when ARod finds himself yet again in the middle of a scandal, that
honesty is refreshing.
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