Pujols: Always a Class Act!

By Rich Kozlovich

Normally I don't do sports, especially since I stopped watching all sports, even my beloved Browns.  But every once in a while, some athlete does something that simply merits recognition by everyone. 

On Saturday, August 7, 2010 I published this article: "Let Me Tell You About José Alberto Pujols Alcántara" showing just how classy Pujols really is.  This article outlined his commitment to his wife, his children and his sense of community, and his perception of what's important.  Well, nothing has changed.

Yesterday Aleanna Siacon published an article entitled, "Tigers fan on Pujols ball drama: 'I just couldn't take being treated like a garbage bag'" saying:

The Detroit Tigers fan who corralled the home run baseball that cemented Albert Pujols' 2,000th career RBI on Thursday made headlines when he refused to hand the historic ball over to Major League Baseball. On Friday, he took to Facebook to detail his experiences with Comerica Park and Tigers staff.  Ely Hydes chose to keep the ball despite generous offers from the Tigers and Angels, even though MLB would not authenticate the ball once he left the park. 

The article goes on to show how arrogant and threatening the management acted telling him ""when you walk out of the park, the ball's worth nothing, so think about that "treating Hydes as an opportunist, which if that was true - so what?   Isn't that how they were acting?

He went on to say he turned down thousands for that ball and if they'd treated him better, he'd have given it to them.  Whether he would have or not is immaterial.  What's great about this story, is how Pujols acted. 

The author goes on to say:

"For his part, Pujols said he thinks Hydes has the right to keep the ball as a piece of history." I think he was given a little hard time and I told the guys, just you know, just leave it. Just let him have it, I think he can have a great piece of history with him, you know. When he look at the ball he can remember ... this game, and I don't fight about it. 

"You know, I think we play this game for the fans, too, and if they want to keep it, I think they have a right to. I just hope, you know, that he can enjoy it," Pujols said.  Pujols added that he wouldn't "pay a penny" for the ball.  In his post, Hydes offered a "big thank you" to Pujols and called him a class act........

Hyde said he wouldn't take a penny for it and would probably turn it over with beers.  Maybe, maybe not, but this story is about Pujols, and class will always tell.  Pujols is now and has always been a class act.  He is what all professional athletes should strive to be.    Actually, this kind of class is exemplary for everyone. 

He's the only athlete I've written about more than once, but he's the kind of person who's a pleasure to write about. 

Congratualtions José Alberto Pujols Alcántara!