Heading safely into home

That question (explored on page 3 this week) should interest more than baseball fans in general and Yankee fans in particular; it should intrigue anyone who tries to juggle ethical issues involving family and work.

The arguments against Williams' choice are many and almost persuasive. He is being paid millions of dollars and should fulfill his contractual obligations. As an essential component of his team, his absence harmed 24 other players, not to mention his manager and coaches. Since he is wealthy, alternatives were available to him which most people could not even consider; for example, he could have brought his ailing father to a hospital in New York City and visited him while still playing.

There are more anti-Bernie positions: Everyone has a relative who is sick or dying, but they recognize that there is a time limit for being away from work and other obligations....He cannot be easily replaced, the way other employees can be by temps, so his responsibilities are different....What he did was self-indulgent and ignored the needs of others.

But the pro-Bernie arguments are far stronger -- and far more Christian:

* Family should come before work;

* He gave an admirable example of a son's selfless love;

* The need to be with someone you love as they suffer outweighs everything else;

* If he were forced to play, his attention to the team would not be 100 percent and his bitterness for making him leave his father would result in poor play in the future;

* What he did was a wonderful example of putting conflicting priorities in their proper order; and

* He chose something unpleasant (watching his father in pain) over something pleasant (adulation, achievement) because he knew which was more important.

In terms of justice (and we don't mean David Justice), Bernie Williams probably owes team owner George Steinbrenner some of his pay. Since he makes $12 million a year for playing in 162 games, Bernie should write a check to the Yankees for $740,000 to cover his ten-game absence. But George, with Bernie's support, should immediately endorse the check to hospice and respite programs so that needy people could have the freedom the ballplayer enjoys. By doing so, Bernie and George would hit the first joint home run.

As for practicing the virtues of charity, patience and understanding, the outfielder and his team, ensconced in third place, currently lead the major leagues.

(04-26-01)