I just caught up with Howard Bryant’s recent ESPN story on Jackie Robinson Day, and this grabbed my attention:
Only one major league player — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter — reinforces his words of praise for Robinson with the financial support the foundation seeks.
The foundation asks for real money — to sponsor a four-year scholarship for a select number of students at $15,000 per year, or $60,000 total — to reach its goal of creating leaders for today and tomorrow instead of reflecting only on the accomplishments of yesterday.
Jeter doesn’t just sponsor a Robinson scholar. He endows a scholarship in his name, in perpetuity, at the $250,000 level. Every four years, when steroids and police rap sheets overwhelm sports, Jeter, silently, has put another kid through college.
Silent hero, eh?
That's pretty impressive. I may rag on his defense and range, but Jeter is a solid guy by all accounts. Good for him.
[1] A lot fo guys are...I saw a list of Swisher's charities and it was very impressive.
[2] fo?
Yeah, agreed William. I'm sure a bunch of these guys put their money to good causes. Really struck me about Jeter and Jackie...though on second thought, not so much I guess.
"fo, fo, fo." Moses Malone. Speaking of Hoops, that Bulls-Celts game last night was dynamite fun.
[3] of
[4] Among celebrities, athletes seem to take charity work most seriously (and do it with the most anonymity).
[5] It was...I think because the end of the game was filled with a lot of made jump shots, as opposed to low post jockeying and an endless parade of free throws. It was definitely a throw back game.
The Bulls just had such live bodies, and damn if Ben Gordon didn't make some impossible shots. Nevermind, that fluid jump shot of Ray Allens--that was onions to ice it.
I received a call from my aunt just as the game was ending... When Allen hit that shot, I screamed "you f-ing kidding me?" and she thought I was talking to her.
Gordon was money in that game, too bad the Bulls couldn't pull it off. It woulda been nice to see them up 2-0 going to Chicago.
that game was good --- til the f'n celtics won.
though i am finding my hatred for all things boston lessend now that i am not there.
ray allen has one of the most beautiful, just effortless shots i have ever seen.
yeah there are a lot of athletes who do really great things and it is not that publicized.
Ray's jumper reminds me of Del Curry's jump shot...cept Ray is prettier!
I find Jeter's financial commitment even more impressive when you consider that he himself hasn't completed college.
I wonder if that's a factor for some athletes that don't pony up? "I didn't go to college, why should I pay for somebody else to go?" Especially when there are other worthy causes out there.
[12] I suspect that Jeter's father, holding a doctoral degree, has instilled the importance of higher education in his son.
We need to have a discussion of this foundation thing, in addition to the word perpetuity. Tax policy that rewards this kind of manipulation affects the meaning of disinterested generosity which is the kind of charity worthy of mizvahs.
Not to say that I don't respect the giving, but he does make a salary of $18 million and has for a number of years. If he didn't invest with Madoff, he has a lot of money. If, for example, he gave 10% of his earnings, not an amount out of wack for people who support charitable endeavors, how much would that be.
Remember, these big earners use their donations to extend their power by not really paying taxes, which if they did would be used by the State to provide services and education to a much wider swatch of the population. So, in a way, even though he honors a great American, who by the way was not a supporter of the civil rights movement, the giving is quite elitist.