Even with Kenny Rogers on the mound, the Texas Rangers faced the daunting task of catching the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.
Now they might be without their ace left-hander for a quarter of their remaining games.
Rogers was suspended Friday for 20 games and fined $50,000 by Major League Baseball for throwing an angry fit that sent a television cameraman to the hospital and prompted a police investigation…
…In a statement, commissioner Bud Selig said: “Mr. Rogers’ behavior was unprofessional, unwarranted and completely unacceptable. Major League Baseball is a social institution and all of us in the game have an important responsibility to act with reason and good judgment.”
The suspension was among the most severe imposed by the commissioner’s office for on-field conduct in decades. Only the 30-day penalty given Cincinnati manager Pete Rose in 1988 for pushing umpire Dave Pallone was longer.
Jim Cour
AP Sportswriter
Analysis:
The story has become old, as again and again professional athletes and entertainers engage in self-destructive and impulsive behavior. Rogers deserves the 20 game ban, (though it will be appealed, and while under appeal, he may be allowed to pitch in the upcoming all-star game). In fact, it could be argued that he deserves to be fired, forfeiting his present contract.
One wonders why someone would do such a thing. Surely he recognized that what he would do would lead to a suspension, and fine? But, in reality, this may not be so.
Some individuals (be careful parents, you could be guilty of doing this to your kids) have such a feeling of entitlement, such a self-centered outlook on life, that they believe such actions to be warranted. It has been reported that while Rogers has “apologized” through his attorney, in private he is defensive, and unapologetic.
Everyone needs to understand, it is not about all THEM! When children, we are ego-centric, but as we grow older, we are supposed to mature and outgrow such selfishness. In reality, kids need to be taught, it is not all about THEM! If they are not taught this important lesson, the risk is such selfish and destructive behavior as that referenced in the above article.
Paul wrote the Philippians, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
