nor are they otherwise...
Posted on 04/27/2012 7:02:21 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Couple wants to put incident behind them
The couple slammed by a Yankees announcer for not giving a foul ball to a crying child next to them are seeking an apology from the announcer.
A picture snapped by Sean Leonard's brother paints a different picture of the foul ball incident at Wednesday night's Rangers game.
"If this picture was the only picture that was shown online and on the Internet, people would say, 'Oh, he's got a ball,'" Leonard said.
Instead, a viral video from YES Network spread across social media sites, talk radio and news stations drew all of the attention. The video of the incident with commentary by Yankees announcer Michael Kay shows a small child crying after not getting a ball that was thrown into the stands by Ranger Mitch Moreland.
Leonard and his fiancee, Shannon Moore, said the video is only half the story.
"I never saw the little boy crying," said Moore. "I'm looking at him [Sean], he's taking my picture, and it lasted maybe 10 seconds."
After watching the video, the couple admitted they looked bad.
"I wasn't even aware that he was crying until we see the video and then it looked bad," Leonard said. "It was horrific-looking."
But Kay's remarks made her and Leonard look even worse, Moore said.
"He just kept fueling it," Moore said. "In this society with social networking, you know, you put one thing out there, and people attack. And they were. They were vicious, and they didn't stop."
Moore said she wants an apology from Kay.
"I'm not asking for anything much, but I think if he has a good heart and he's a faithful person, he would own up and apologize -- because he did start it," she said.
The mother of the 3-year-old boy told NBC 5 on Thursday that she felt bad the Leonard and Moore were drawing fire over the incident.
Crystal Shore said Leonard and Moore were friendly and had even offered the ball to her son toward the end of the game.
"I felt sorry for Cameron and for the other couple because they were made out to be such horrible, cold-hearted people, and I just ... didn't get that impression from them at all. They were sweet. They talked to Cameron a lot," she said.
Leonard even offered the ball to her son, but his parents turned it down, they told "The Today Show" on Friday.
"He's 3, and we're kind of at that stage where he thinks he gets everything and anything," his mother said.
"I never once thought that they should have given him the ball," Crystal Shore said. "We're trying to teach him he doesn't get everything every time."
For now, Leonard and Moore have other things to worry about. The two are busy with preparations for their May 5 nuptials.
What started as a small wedding with family and close friends has turned into a much larger event. The couple's foul ball moment has spread to the United Kingdom, and Leonard and Moore say family members living there have started calling asking about the wedding.
"So, of course, everyone who didn't know we were getting married now knows," Leonard said.
The couple hopes that the events from Wednesday's game can be turned into something positive.
They've considered hosting a fundraising event for Pro Player Foundation, a group that Leonard already works with, that would teach underprivileged kids from across the Metroplex how to be better in life through sports.
"If we have to take that ball and sell it and raise funds for that foundation that can go towards hundreds of needy kids, then absolutely," Leonard said. "Why not?"
In the meantime, the couple is focusing on their wedding.
"The beautiful thing is we have a strong love between us that is going to carry us," Leonard said. "We have a strong faith in God and the truth."
I'll file this under my..."Who Gives a F@@@" list.
Things are not always as they seem
This couple was so absorbed in what they were going to do when they got home (wink wink) that they could not have cared less about the toddler.
I saw this live on the YES network. These two people are full of crap. The guy was sitting right next to the little boy who was crying. The only reason he wouldn’t have notice him is that he was too busy pawing and making out with the woman in public. For petes sake you’re at a ball game, have some awareness of the people around you and show a little class. Keep your hands off each other, give the little kid the ball (obviously everyone else around him noticed him because they they got someone in the Texas dugout to give him a ball) and go get a room. I don’t condone giving every crying little kid what he wants, but I think you should make an exception in this case being that they were at the ballgame. Michael Kay is annoying, but in this case he was right!
Wow. Now there is a rare set of parents in this day of entitlement.
Filed under the same list!
I have seen the video many a few times and the couple look like they don’t even realize the kid is there. The couple are involved with themselves and having a good time.
A pox on the MSM for making a big deal out of a crying little boy who did not get what he wanted! It happens every day!
Oh darlin', as absolutely commendable as that is, y'all better homeschool that child or all your good values are likely to be erased, post haste.
How could he catch the ball if he was PDAing with his wife?
They were sitting only a few rows in from the field. The ball was flipped into the stands by the Texas first baseman, or first base coach. I don’t remember which. Cassanova managed to pry his hands free for a second to get the ball.
Who says the kid should get the ball?
The folks who got the ball bought tickets and caught the ball, it’s their ball!
I bet that kid didn’t buy a ticket, I bet that kid has never paid for anything.
I bet he’s never worked a day in his whiny life.
Crying because no one gave him a ball that wasn’t his in the first place?
Typical liberal, looking for a handout, thinks he’s entitled.
He probably voted for Obama.
Mom has her head on right. Admirable.
I know of no rule that requires those catching the ball to hand it to the nearest child.
It’s on page 39 of the rule book.
Reading dark motives into people you don’t even know is just because a TV personality told you to, is one of the social problems we have in this country. People need to get out of the National TV git ‘em mob.
Kids are not entitled to foul balls coming into their area of the park. Especially if they then proceed to make a screaming, crying deal about it.
nor are they otherwise...
National TeeVee coverage like this gets immediate viewer response.
At the house it would get a *3*, cause it's hard to dance to.
I kind'a liked that movie 'Moneyball'.
Ditto!
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