Fan who caught Jeter's 3000th may face big tax bill

Ahhh, gotta love that guvinment.

No good deed is left unpunished with these guys.

Jeter might do good to pay the tax bill for him if this does come about.

On our local radio talk show today, a fan texted in that he heard on ESPN last night that the Yankees plan to cover his taxes.

Even if the Yankees cover his taxes, it still don't disqualify him from winning the Darwin award. Those box seats they gave him only for the rest of this season. After that, then what. He could've paid down his student loan with that ball or afford any seat in Yankee Stadium when he wanted to go to a game.

Idiot? Darwin Award?

Come on. The guy did the right thing. And without asking, he was rewarded handsomely. Why does he deserve anything for accidentally sitting in that seat?

This post might be a Darwin Award candidate.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
Idiot? Darwin Award?

Come on. The guy did the right thing. And without asking, he was rewarded handsomely. Why does he deserve anything for accidentally sitting in that seat?

This post might be a Darwin Award candidate.

Catching that ball was like winning the lottery. A bigger reward would've been to sell the ball. Baseball is big business and that ball was like a winning lottery ticket. Holding on to the ball to sell it to the highest bidder is no less doing the right thing than handing the ball back over for some games. Only smarter. If this fan believed he did the right thing, I suppose good for him but we'll agree to disagree here that the fan wasn't thinking straight.

I'll retract my Darwin Award comment about your post. That wasn't very polite.

However, I worry about a world where the first thought in a person's head is "how can I make a fortune out of this," or "who can I sue because this didn't go my way."

I understand what you're saying...I just think Mr. Lopez did the right thing.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I'll retract my Darwin Award comment about your post. That wasn't very polite.



However, I worry about a world where the first thought in a person's head is "how can I make a fortune out of this," or "who can I sue because this didn't go my way."

I understand what you're saying...I just think Mr. Lopez did the right thing.

That's alright, I don't take it personally

If Mr. Lopez thought he did the right thing, then that's all that matters since he caught the ball. While I get the nostalgia and all, baseball today is big business and the players and owners get everything they can from the fan so they can pay these big salaries. I would expect many fans, even those that have baseball nostalgia realize the value of certain items that can bring in a pretty penny so if the fan has a chance to make something off the game on a rare occasion, then he should seize the moment if that's the way to go. These ballplayers sell their signatures and any other merchandise that brings them money, so why not the fan?. I'm a huge baseball fan and all but if I caught that ball, I'd be more than glad to give it back to the player if the price was right. If not, then it goes to the highest bidder including the player.

I worry about a world where giving a ball to a multi-millionaire is "the right thing"

I'd be more worried about a world where determining "the right thing" is based upon a sliding scale dependent upon one's apparent wealth

You give the ball back to the millionaire ball player. He then realizes that you didn't have to do it and he appreciates the fact you did. So he then compensates you for giving it to him. And everyone comes away looking like good guys. Hows that?

As a die-hard Yankee fan from New York, I am astounded that the guy gave the ball up. I think he was taken advantage of in the heat of the moment. Derek Jeter has made close to $300 million in salary, endorsements, etc, He has built a mega-house in Tampa, and has dated a list of starlets a mile long. He does not need a $300,000 gift from a 23 year-old kid. I did not see Derek Jeter signing the first Yankee offer in the fall.

I firmly believe that the kid should have given the Yankees the ball to secure it, but retained ownership. He should have taken a week to figure out what to do about it.

Just because a person can afford to pay for something doesn't instantly mean that person is obligated to do so.

The young man that caught the ball has been a Yankee fan his entire life. Being 23 years old, I'm sure most of his childhood was spent looking up to Derek Jeter as the captain of the Yankees. As the lucky recipient of the 3,000th ball, perhaps he felt an obligation to give the ball back to Jeter on morals. Jeter has done so much for New York and for the young man in particular that perhaps he felt that asking for money for the ball would be foolish and selfish of him.

I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. But I'm a college student that'll come out with loans too. If I caught the ball, I'd give it right back to Jeter and hope that maybe I could get a handshake and a thank you. And hopefully he'd decide to take that ball and donate right to Cooperstown so that the people that visit the museum can enjoy the presence of the milestone in the display case. I'd assume Jeter would agree that the ball would be better for the game in Cooperstown than in his living room. And perhaps the game will be better with Christian Lopez giving the ball back to Jeter and not asking for money. It's a pure game that is played for fun and passion, and money causes that perspective to be hindered. I, for one, am glad that this young man realized that in his actions and did what he did. It's better for the game.

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JH and Others,

I recognize and respect your opinion, but I don't share it. Pretty much everybody loves Derek Jeter, myself included. However, he is selling just about everything associated with this event through Steiner Sports and he is being compensated handsomely. One of his autographed baseballs sells for hundreds of dollars. I think you are trying to attach purity to an impure situation. If he is profiting greatly from this event and maximizing his personal revenue, I think young Mr. Lopez should do so as well.

He was fortunate enough to have the ball land in his lap. For all I know, Jeter or the Yankees are giving him more than has been reported. If so, great. But I really do think the young man made a mistake that he will regret in time.

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I guess we can agree to disagree. Jeter does what he thinks is right and much continued success to him. He's earned it!

Conversely Christian Lopez is doing what he feels is right and I wish him much continued success as well.




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I think we can all agree on this:

Screw the IRS!!!!!

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Is the screw deductible?




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I say sell the ball. Don't for a min forget baseball BIG business.
I think Jeter should have done the right thing.... Thanked the guy,signed the ball and give it back to him.

I would have held out for the Yankees letting me play a whole game at first base in spring training next year. I mean the Padres let Garth Brooks get an at bat or something so surely they could let this guy play first for a game.

quote:

Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
I worry about a world where giving a ball to a multi-millionaire is "the right thing"

Don't worry about Jeter. He's got plenty of room in his new Davis Island trophy case. If Jeter wanted the ball he should gladly pay market value, imo.

St. Jetersburg, FL