April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.

Fielder's choice wins plaudits


By KATE BLAIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

When New York Yankee Bernie Williams recently went to bat for his father, Catholics in the Albany Diocese should have cheered this fielder's choice.

Four diocesan officials called it a home run when the center fielder decided to leave his team at the beginning of a shaky season and fly to Puerto Rico, where his father was gravely ill with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition.

Yankee manager Joe Torre decided not to dictate what Williams should do, and Williams stayed away for ten games, causing some fans to cry foul at his choice.

Making a choice

"He's saying that his family is important to him. Where are our priorities?" argued Sister Anne Bryan Smollin, head of the diocesan Counseling for Laity Office. "I applaud him for caring enough about his father. I'm not saying we just drop work, but we don't know what people hold in their heart. We don't know why he needed to go and be with his father. I love the fact that somebody is saying, `A person in my life is so important to me, I have to prioritize this right now.'"

"I understand the need to be with his father," agreed Meg Bergh, head of the diocesan Family Life office. "I don't think we can make judgment calls."

Ms. Bergh said Williams' decision was between him and his manager, not the ticket-holders in the stands: "We're not his boss. The fans don't have control over who's playing and who's not playing."

Fans' role

Rev. John Malecki, staff psychologist for the diocesan Consultation Center and a diehard fan of the Bronx Bombers, pitched the thought that the public doesn't know the gravity of Williams' father's illness -- and doesn't need to know.

"The Williams family has the total right to privacy," Father Malecki declared. "I don't believe they're obliged to bend to the hunger of the newspapers and have to justify" Williams' absence from his team.

If his father is dying, Father Malecki added, "the markers would be very clear: Being with him in that moment in life is worth more than $12 million."

Money vs. family

That monetary figure is Williams' annual salary -- a salary some say he shouldn't have received while he was not there to play.

"You only have one father, and there's going to be other baseball games -- but he should take a cut in pay," stated Sister Marilyn Murray, RSM, head of the diocesan Human Resources Office.

Having fielded many personnel issues, she said, "I've had people that offered not to be paid while they're taking care of family obligations, which I think is reasonable." On the other hand, she also remarked that an organization with a lot of funding may well be able to pay someone during a leave of absence.

Father Malecki recalled the case of another athlete who left his team for a similar reason. When his manager threatened him with a pay cut, the athlete responded: "Then I'll lose that amount of money."

"It was a classic example illustrating the value" of family, said Father Malecki. Being with a loved one on their deathbed "is an unrepeatable moment."

Coming back

The officials noted that Williams might contribute more to his team once this crisis is over.

"If your mental stability isn't good, you probably won't play as well," said Ms. Bergh.

"When he comes back, he may be giving a better quality of work than if he stayed," Sister Anne added.

Ms. Bergh noted that there must be a balance between work and family responsibilities. As Williams' detractors have complained, most workers don't have the luxury of leaving their jobs for a month.

"You have to be there when you're needed for certain things," Ms. Bergh said. "Someone that's a responsible human being checks all the avenues."

What next?

Bernie Williams, as a Yankees star, doesn't have to worry about being cut from the team for his decision.

"If it costs him his position, he'll be sure to get another one," said Sister Marilyn, adding: "I'm the wrong person to ask, because I don't care if the Yankees lose!"

Sister Anne's conclusion countered that argument: "His team probably feels he's letting them down. But let's be honest: The Yankees are probably going to win anyway!"

(04-26-01) [[In-content Ad]]


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