A little major-league drama has hit the small market Minnesota Twins. Information was recently released about an attempted extortion plot against Twins pitcher Carl Pavano.
The Connecticut home of 36-year-old Christian Bedard was searched on March 28 after law enforcement was tipped off on an alleged plot Bedard put together to get money and a luxury vehicle from Pavano, the Twins' ace.
The criminal complaint that was made public on March 29 explains that Bedard is accused of threatening Pavano with revealing an alleged three-year physical relationship the two high school classmates had years ago.
It's times like these as a baseball fan I would hate to be a famous athlete. Not only do you live in a fishbowl that magnifies every bad move you make, people like Mr. Bedard are lurking in the shadows to make a buck on your fame.
Ever wonder why fans like us sometimes get jilted when seeking an autograph? These players are in danger of being hurt, extorted or tricked into trouble by so-called fans that want to gain from the sacrifices and effort these athletes have made to get where they are.
Yes, professional athletes like Pavano are overpaid for what they do. In the grand scheme of things, a teacher should be paid what a ballplayer gets and vice versa. But that ship of inequality has sailed. Just because a grown man gets paid millions to play a game, doesn't give anyone, friend, fan or otherwise, the right to mess with these people.
Think about how annoyed you get when a telemarketer calls your house every night at dinner time. Now multiply that by 1,000. Then and only then will you understand that famous athletes have to always have their guard up, because it isn't just strangers who can hurt them. Many people spend years cuddling up to and befriending athletes, only to turn on them just when the athlete feels comfort in the relationship.
As fans, we need to respect pro athletes and let them live their lives the way they want to. They owe us nothing more than a solid effort on the field of play.
Blair Reynolds is a lifelong Minnesota Twins fan who once sold tickets at the Metrodome to pay his college tuition.
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