A blurb in John Fay’s “Reds Insider” column today bothers me. Tremendously
It reads:
HOLDEN PATTERN: It looks as though Josh Holden, the Reds’ minor-leaguer/Army officer, could join the farm system shortly.
“The Army adopted a new program that allows athletes to play if they have a pro contract,” said Grant Griesser, the Reds’ assistant director of player development. “We hope he’ll join the Reds by the end of May.”
Holden, 24, was signed out of tryout camp last July. He hit .348 in 26 games with the Gulf Coast Reds. If he’s cleared, he’ll go to extended spring training. The Reds then will decide where to send him.
Holden, a West Point graduate, spent 10 days with the Reds during spring training while he was on leave from Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
This guy, after spending 4 years at West Point and received a world class education. He made a commitment to serve his country for 6 years, then decides that rather than keep his word and keep a commitment that he made, he’s going to opt out to play professional baseball.
I blame the military for offering these types of programs which give these individuals the way to get out early, rather than expecting them to keep their word.
But even more, I blame the individuals who do so. These people whose word means nothing, who have no sense of honor, who only seem care about themselves.
I served 4 years for my country. I’m damn proud of every day of it. I believe there is no higher calling or more important duty than to be willing to defend your country and our way of life.
It saddens me to see people that have no sense of honor or duty, that make a commitment, then break it. It makes me even sadder that it doesn’t seem to bother anyone but me.
I think your criticism of Josh is quite unfair. It was the army’s decision to enact this policy, presumably because they think these athletes are more valuable as recruiters. Josh isn’t opting out of his commitment — he’s just choosing one of the ways the army is letting him fulfill it. If that’s what the army wants, how is Josh betraying anyone by doing this?
It kind of weakens the recruiting message if the athlete is seen as not carrying the load. Even Elvis and Ted Williams served completely. I wonder though. Hasn’t there always been a division between the front line and the rear echelon? Some will be fighting in Fallujah, while others will be in Japan, others in the Army band, and others in Washington.
Holden is the anti-Pat Tillman.
fuller story here.. sounds like his father has similar feelings to bill & the reds might have to pay for his education.
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/04/29/armystory.html
Bill, I respect your view, but I don’t think you really addressed my point. I certainly wasn’t saying that as long as Josh did nothing illegal, everything’s fine.
My point was that Josh hasn’t broken his word, contrary to what you keep saying, and thus hasn’t done anything unethical. Presumably he gave his word to fulfill his duty to the army, and he’s now doing so in a manner approved of by the army. As you obviously know, not everyone ends up fighting on the frontlines. Why is working as a recruiter worse than, say, working on a training base? The army gets a great recruiter, and Josh’s education expenses get paid by the Reds. Josh fulfills his military duties in a way that allows him to pursue a baseball career. Where’s the harm?
Obviously, Pat Tillman was a remarkable person, but what he did was above and beyond the call of duty. That’s precisely why it’s so admirable. It’s surely unfair to demand that everyone live up to his example.
Honestly, I can’t see where Holden went wrong here. If he had demanded that this rule had been made, so he could go play baseball, then I would understand why someone would be upset with him.
However, Holden is able to do this because the Army is allowing him to, and it’s not like he’s ditching the Army either. He still has six years of commitment to fulfill.
Pat Tillman was a special person, and I would say that 99.999% of people would not have made that same decision.
I say good luck to Holden in following his dream.