Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Lastings Effect
Let me get this straight: The Mets have decided to stop negotiating with first round pick, Lastings Milledge.
Why, you might ask?
Well, the official line is that there have been allegations that Milledge, while a 16-year-old, had sexual relations with girls as young as 12 years old. These allegations were fairly well documented before this year’s draft and he dropped from a sure fire first three pick to number 12. Milledge was not charged with a crime, mind you. But there was an investigation when he was 16.
Now it's come out that he apparently had sex with his girlfriend, who was 15 at the time. The Mets clearly are shocked, just shocked, by this amazing revelation and now are vigorously investigating the case. After all Fred Wilpon has stated that Met players must be of the highest character.
By the way, the Mets just so happen to be the organization of Steve Phillips, the former general manager who admitted he was a "sex addict." He allegedly diddled his secretary then later fired her for unspecified, but very suspicious reasons. Yet Philips wasn't fired for this offense. He was fired for trading for Mo Vaughn and Robbie Alomar.
Look, having sex with a minor is a nasty crime and if Milledge was guilty of an offense, then yes, he should have been punished to the fullest extent of the law. Yet the law took a pass. The Mets stance smells more like a public relations ploy (and maybe even a negotiation point) than a plea for justice.
Let me get this straight: The Mets have decided to stop negotiating with first round pick, Lastings Milledge.
Why, you might ask?
Well, the official line is that there have been allegations that Milledge, while a 16-year-old, had sexual relations with girls as young as 12 years old. These allegations were fairly well documented before this year’s draft and he dropped from a sure fire first three pick to number 12. Milledge was not charged with a crime, mind you. But there was an investigation when he was 16.
Now it's come out that he apparently had sex with his girlfriend, who was 15 at the time. The Mets clearly are shocked, just shocked, by this amazing revelation and now are vigorously investigating the case. After all Fred Wilpon has stated that Met players must be of the highest character.
By the way, the Mets just so happen to be the organization of Steve Phillips, the former general manager who admitted he was a "sex addict." He allegedly diddled his secretary then later fired her for unspecified, but very suspicious reasons. Yet Philips wasn't fired for this offense. He was fired for trading for Mo Vaughn and Robbie Alomar.
Look, having sex with a minor is a nasty crime and if Milledge was guilty of an offense, then yes, he should have been punished to the fullest extent of the law. Yet the law took a pass. The Mets stance smells more like a public relations ploy (and maybe even a negotiation point) than a plea for justice.
