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 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.
Ditto, especially on voting for Obama. The RATS say voter fraud is non existent but if this kid was interrogated I'd bet he'd cop out to it. :-)
Exactly! First it was the dead voting, now it's the barely born! That little Leftist has no shame, I bet he demanded a ride to the polls at taxpayer expense!
Well then he deserved it. After all, he caught it without any blood in his brain. That's what I call a good catch!
No doubt you're correct. He probably even demanded Mommy come with him to make sure he checked the right boxes, there's more taxpayer money down the drain.
This has to stopped in it's tracks before it gets out of control. If only toddlers vote, only toddlers will be elected!
well said
During the second period, a guy made a slapshot that came right at us. Hit two seats behind me than landed under the seat of the teenage girl a seat over and behind me.
It took about 0.005seconds for me to grab it before she did.
Did I feel bad? Hell no. I promised my wife. Plus it didn't have the girls name on it.
Ed
As someone who has been going to baseball games for 40 years, the first rule is YOU GIVE THE BALL TO THE KID. I have had season tickets for nearly 20 of those years and I look for the kids around me for the rare case I get a ball.
As an adult, if I want a baseball, I can buy a damn baseball.
Player on the field tossed it into the stands - looked like he may have meant it for the kid, but can't tell.
Absolutely! About 15 years or so ago my son (who was a young teen at the time) was standing along the RF wall during batting practice and scrambling with folks for the foul balls hit there. He came up with one at one point and he promptly gave it to a 4-5 year old kid that was next to him. My wife and I were watching from our seats, I turned to her and said “We're doing alright with that boy!”
Really? The Today Show? Slow Obama day, was it?
LOL!
Vote for this kid, he's definitely the next Rush Limbaugh! HA!
If that were the case, best thing is to toss it to the kids’ parents rather than the kid himself. If he’s just tossing it, it’s not like catching a foul ball.
LOL! He's got my vote!
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