Baseball Hero

by Mrs. Lori Palatnik

'"I was young and stupid." Were you really?

Published: March 21, 2009

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Visitor Comments: 12

(12) paul solon, March 28, 2009 1:19 PM

both are worrisome

Of course the drug taking is wrong, as is the drug excuses of youthful stupidity. so is contempt.

(11) Rochel, March 25, 2009 6:45 AM

Lying at 2 or 25 is still Lying!

When my little kids say something that is clearly not true, they are told that's not "Emes" and its not tolerated. A 25 yr old knows the difference between a lie and the truth and that's got nothing to do with being young. Stupid is another story - I'm not sure who that title belongs to -him or the people that believe him!

(10) Dave, March 25, 2009 1:55 AM

We should not be surprised

No one should be surprised by the behavior of this baseball player. As SusanE aptly said, professional sports do not provide good role models, especially for children. Most professional athletes are hyperagressive, immature personalities who will do anything they can to win a game played by 7-year-olds. To treat them as heroes is beyond irresponsible. To do so tells our children that such behavior is all right, as long as the "right people" do it. And then we wonder why we have a drug problem. Why do we permit this sort of behavior? Is it because these people are attractive and entertaining? In part, perhaps. But, the lesser known and less attractive athletes take drugs also. They get away with it because it's expected of them. The bar has been set very low for these people, and it's time we as a society raised it. We owe it to our children to hold all responsible for their actions and show that is, in fact, an admirable thing to grow up and set a good example. Until we do, we are no better than our heroes.

(9) Berry, March 24, 2009 2:41 PM

I love the line about the blender!

Lori, you cracked me up with that one. Great video -- you're right on the money!

(8) Anonymous, March 24, 2009 11:56 AM

not stupid enough....

I'm sure he was not so stupid when it came to negotiating him multimillion dollar contracts.....

(7) Anonymous, March 22, 2009 9:55 PM

Reaction

Well I think it might be possible that he wasn't quite mature at the time and wasn't thinking. We all mature at different ages. However, to use his age as an excuse is just silly. He did have control over his impulses, no matter what he claims and how old he was. I don't know if I'd agree with him that he was so young, but I'd definitely agree that he was stupid...and still is. For once I'd like to see people give a real reason for their crimes. He should tell the truth, that he didn't think he was going to get caught and just wanted to win the game. As a result, he realizes he was wrong (at this point in the speech he would state why he realizes that). That's the speech I'd like to hear, not that he was young and stupid. It's too bad people can't be honest and truly admit when they're wrong.

(6) Anonymous, March 22, 2009 6:32 PM

My husband still hasn't grown up

I agree with you-we need to take responsibility and be mature. Most 25-year-olds are married with kids. We cannot accept excuses of "I was young and foolish." This baseball player knew what he was doing. He is a poor role model for children. My husband was immature when he married at 37 and still behaves like an adolescent at 41. He refused and still refuses to grow up and be a father to our two-year-old.

(5) Yisroel Pollack, March 22, 2009 10:49 AM

Maturation

Indeed, he was young and stupid. And now he is old(er)....and remains stupid. Stupidity does not vanish with age. It grows with it. And the same is true of wisdom.

(4) SusanE, March 22, 2009 9:18 AM

Idols - Always Have - Always Will Be

Lori, Sports figures in United States have taken drugs forever. My Dad told me back in the 1950's, that they are sleasy people made to look good to kids. They are also gamblers best friends. Billions of hard earned dollars have been paid to the organized franchises over the years in the form of betting. And the players are also grossly overpaid for doing no productive work. Is that really who you want your children to look up to? Organized sports are not innocent fun. In Judaism we aren't supposed to worship idols. But the Jews follow the teams and call them by names of animals and birds and Pirates and all other types and we give them 'star' status and throw money to them at "$50.00 a seat". We wave Terrible towels and tokens to them and tell them they're #1. We give them jewelry and trophys when they win a game or win a race. We pour wine over their bodies and celebrate with pretty women in the winners circle. We collect their signatures like it's some kind of honor. With the games and with the races come young pretty women with little clothes on who display themselves before the throngs and crowds. Cheering on their teams with the promise of a treat if they win. All in all a pretty dismal display for children or adults to see. Can't imagine a good Jewish man going to a game, when he won't sit in shul to pray with his wife.

(3) Anonymous, March 22, 2009 9:11 AM

obtaining maturity and growing wiser

I tend to think that people obtain maturity more in their 30's much more than in their 20's and earlier. Although I am in my mid/late 20's and still living at home with my folks due to economic reasons as well as fairly good placement, I understand how to do things fairly and ethically by keeping my responsibilities of the household up to par. In a way, I'd probably be a lot more ethical than the baseball legends who are found out using performance enhancing drugs, as well as corrupt corporate CEOs who take money from the gov't and spend it on their own indulgences as opposed to propping back up their business for the employees who work under them (so much for trickle-down economics!). As for sports, I may be just another Jew who isn't very good at them, especially organized team sports (pardon if that sounds like I am stereotyping my own)...Anyway, Lori, I will see you this afternoon at my alma mater so I can see you in person discussing your Jewish wisdom.

(2) Anonymous, March 22, 2009 7:57 AM

maybe this shows us that baseball players are not the best heroes for our children.

(1) Anonymous, March 22, 2009 4:30 AM

ownership of ones behavoir

It is very important to teach our children ownership of there behavoir! They have to know that they can not blame everyone and everthing for their behavior!

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

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Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

Follow Lori on Twitter, @LoriAlmostLive

Baseball Hero

'"I was young and stupid." Were you really?

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