I'm going to try to open your eyes, Joe T.
First, what Reardon did was WRONG, plain and simple. Last time I checked The Bible it didn't say "Thou shalt not steal...unless thine son has OD'd, in which case it's perfectlyacceptable". Last time I checked the lawbooks they didn't say "It's a crime to steal...unless you're a washed-up 50 year old who is depressed."
Laws exist for the protection of a society and its citizens and they are meant to be followed ALL the time, not just when you're in a good mood. Not that it matters to the discussion, Joe, but I HAVE lost loved ones (some to crime!). Since you offered me a wish, I could reciprocate and say I hope it happens to you, but of course I won't. But, Joe, if it DID happen, I wonder if your bleeding heart would still beat for the PERPETRATOR instead of the VICTIM? I wonder if Jane Creba's family will be quick to forgive the shooter who murdered the innocent 15 year old - after all, he's probably had a tough life. I wonder if Valerie Gignac's family and colleagues will be quick to forgive Francois Pepin, who shot her to death for no reason. After all, the poor man had problems. I wonder if they will forgive the bleeding heart judge who barred Pepin from owning a gun but thought a rifle was fine in hunting seaon.
So Poor Jeff Reardon lost a son, did he? Well, Joe, guess what? Everybody loses somebody sometime (gee, that's almost a song title), but that doesn't excuse criminal behavior - and make no mistake Reardon IS a criminal. Of course, since he's a rich white criminal, he'll probably get off with a suspended sentence, because he has money...oh, and don't you know: the poor man was depressed. Who cares that he victimized innocent hardworking people? Why have sympathy for them? He's a hero - he earned 12 million dollars for throwing a ball, so he should not have to follow the laws of civilized society.
Joe, people can deal with tragedy in many ways. Classy individuals like Tony Dungy or Wayne Gretzky - to name two very recent examples also from the sports world - can turn a profound tragedy into a positive. Some - like actor Charles Boyer - are not able to do so. When Boyer's wife of forty plus years died, he could not imagine life without her and committed suicide. I could have respected Reardon - and maybe even have felt some sympathy for him - if he took this route or any others which did not involve HARMING INNOCENT VICTIMS. Reardon's solution, however, was to commit a crime against innocent people who had ZERO responsibility for his problem. Perhaps, Joe, THEY might have lasting emotional damage (dare I say "depression") thanks to Reardon's thoughtless and inhuman act. While Reardon...and ONLY Reardon himself is the architect of his own current problems, he has potentially brought harm to INNOCENT people.
And THAT, Joe, is why your hero is nothing but trash. But, then again, maybe I'm just heartless and psychotic for stating the obvious. (Although, Joe, you may want to check your dictionary: Pepin's behavior - or Reardon's - might be classified as psychotic, but last time I checked, the mere act of having a different opinion from yours didn't merit the description.)
Peace out.
