Gil Meche just doesn't get it
Gil Meche is quite the anomaly in 21st-century America. His contract said the Kansas City Royals had to pay him $12 million even if he was on the DL this year, which he might have been, or if he had done a lousy job. The contract said so! But Meche is basically giving back the $12 million because he didn't feel he would be earning it. What kind of example will this set for the rest of the country? A pretty good one.
“This isn’t about being a hero — that’s not even close to what it’s about,” Meche said this week. “It’s just me getting back to a point in my life where I’m comfortable. Making that amount of money from a team that’s already given me over $40 million for my life and for my kids, it just wasn’t the right thing to do.”
Comments
Honorable? Maybe. Charitable? No. Gil, who do you think could use the money. The Royals or "put a charity here?"
Dont you think you could have taken any part of your dole and donated it?
Posted by: nycla3 | January 26, 2011 10:27 PM
If he felt like he hadn't earned it, nycla3, why would he feel he could give other people's money away?
Posted by: jjjackson | January 27, 2011 6:47 PM
I think this was very honorable and in no way should he have continued to take the money from the Royals even if he donated it to charity. The Royals don't just print that money (they aren't the Fed, after all); it comes from their fans in the form of ticket, food, and merchandise sales and from the organizations that pay for broadcast rights. Why should they have to contribute to this salary so that some charity, which may or may not use the money wisely, can benefit?
Posted by: Mar | January 28, 2011 9:21 AM
I keep hearing about "The Royals" money. If I learned anything from Albert Bell, it's that MLB teams have insurance that pays these guys when they are hurt. So did he really save The Royals any money or did he save an insurance company money?
Posted by: chap branamen | February 3, 2011 1:09 PM