The Rub

Every so often you come across a story that proves that life just isn't fair.

Take this little nugget regarding opportunity knocking and war Iraqin':

Mitchell Harris, a recent (2008) graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD was selected in the 13th round of the MLB first-year player draft. The 22-year-old was the second highest draftee out of the academy (perennial Toronto Blue Jay all-star Matt "Australian for Scrub" Foster being the highest). His career stats for the Midshipmen include a 20-13 record, 2.51 ERA, and 11.78 K/9. Let's just say he dominated the armed service division.

A week after being drafted, Harris was denied his life long dream. He was ordered to serve the mandatory five-year active duty commitment required by Annapolis graduates. "Of course we're at war, no one can argue we're not," Harris said. "But what I've said from the beginning is that I'm not trying to get out of anything."

Harris's assignment is on the amphibious transport ship Ponce. It's unlikely they have a baseball diamond or mound for him to stay sharp on. I doubt that he'd be able to throw to live batters. You think the ship has a pitching couch to instruct him, or video to monitor his mechanics?

Once he's fulfilled his obligation to the Navy, he'd be 27, which is ancient in terms of learning to pitch in the majors. "If I don't get that chance to play baseball right now, I'll never get it again, Harris said. "And to fulfill a goal of getting to the pros, it's sad that they would take it away from me."

Sad indeed my friend! In the past, young servicemen with pro sport ambitions were allowed to serve 24 months and then apply for a cushy recruiting job, doing PR, or acting as a reserve. This allowed former Naval cadet David "The Admiral" Robinson to fulfill his dreams of NBA stardom. The sports early release program was suspended in 2007 however, thanks to our military branches being over-extended overseas.

I'm all for fulfilling commitments, finishing what you started, and defending this country; however, I doubt one man's about-to-be-realized dreams should be ignored simply because the Navy wants to make a martyr out of him. As recently as last year, benefits were bestowed upon former Army Black Knight and current Detroit Lion Caleb Campbell, who now serves as an Army recruiter while playing in the NFL. Where is such leniency and compassion just a few months later?

Our country has a long-standing tradition of athletes in the military, both honorable and checkered. You look at Yogi Berra, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Ted Williams, who all volunteered and served our country proudly in WWII. For every Silver Star Slugger who fought valiantly though, you get cases like Army Ranger/Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman. Tillman played for four years before joining his brother (who gave up a pro baseball career) to join the Rangers and fight in Iraq. He was killed during duty, the subject of a military cover-up, and finally his death was revealed to be a friendly-fire fatality.

But this blog isn't about those who voluntarily choose to leave the sport; rather, it's focused on the hypocrisy of our armed forces in allowing members to truly "Be all that they can be"--as long as 'be'fits in with the military's needs at the time. Young Harris is on the doorstep of truly realizing what he can accomplish, yet the Navy is going to force their way down his throat. If he attains even a small level of fame, he could be a great ambassador to the Navy's recruiting efforts. Yet they've decided to draw a line in the sand here, creating a resentful and depressed seaman.

I think the Navy, like all our armed forces, needs to pick its battles a bit more carefully. They're crushing his hope of attaining every boy's (and the American) dream, and along with it further deterring their ability to entice future recruits.