Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Athletes Being Stupid: Mike Leake

By Jeff

This could die in a week, but I'd like to start a series titled Athletes Being Stupid in which we'll look at some of the boneheaded things professional, both active and retired, athletes do.

Rather than turn back the clock and look at past offenses, like Lawrence Taylor paying an underaged girl for sex and not thinking he did anything wrong, the posts will try to call attention to recent events.

The first athlete on the list is Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake, who was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing six shirts from Macy's. The shirts' combined value was about $60. Leake could get 180 days in jail, but that is unlikely.
Macy's Most Wanted.

Leake, 23, received a $2 million signing bonus from the Reds when he was drafted in 2009, and makes more than $400,000 a year. What the hell was he thinking if he did indeed rip the tags off of six shirts and try to steal them? The price of the shirts is around one-one thousandth of a percent of his annual income. I get that the recession is hitting people pretty hard, but this is a bit dramatic on Leake's part.

What excuse could Leake possibly have for his actions? Was it his way of celebrating beating the Pittsburgh Pirates two days earlier? Only two other home pitchers have been able to beat the Pirates this season. Was he just doing it to prove he could, like people run marathons to show themselves they are capable? Maybe he was trying out for the Bengals incase of a lockout.

No matter what excuse he chooses, if he chooses one, I congratulate Leake for being the first featured player in Athletes Being Stupid.

The Clash - Police on my Back

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