Professional athletes have two things in abundance that
most of us do not – money and time. Inevitably, inertia must draw them to causes
and foundations, and Mariano Rivera is no different. “I believe in youth. We
created this foundation to help kids who are less fortunate and get their focus
on school rather than the streets,” he said at Bedford Hills Acura on Saturday.
But it was the infectious energy and illumination around young fans that made
him a man of his words.
Signing autographs for little Reid and Riley Bakuzonis,
Rivera made sure to get a hands-on demonstration of the younger boy’s Spiderman
ring. “I think my son thinks Mariano Rivera is Spiderman,” said his mom
Genienne.
Later on as he took questions from the audience, a shy
voice ecked out a – “Do you like playing for the Yankees.”
Staying on the child’s level without talking down, Rivera
exhibited a boyishness in response that delighted everyone. “I love to be on the
Yankees,” his eyes smiled as wide as his grin.
A spokesperson with that much spunk, the Mariano Rivera
Foundation will always get its due. But the future Hall of Famer has no
intentions of ever being greedy when it comes to goodwill, according Thomas
Conklin, president of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation,
who was on Hand with representatives from Ronald McDonald House… “Whenever he
makes appearances he reaches out to local charities like us to join him,” said
Conklin. “How cool is that.”
Conklin wasn’t hesitant either to share some second hand
accounts to help gauge the true warmth of Rivera. “We know when kids come back
they consistently single out guys like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter as going
out of their way to grant a wish. They are the class of the Yankee
organization,” he says.
Eventually, though, the grownups did get a chance to have
their say. Referring to the cause of the season ending ACL injury, Rivera was
succinct in response to whether he will stick to his pregame outfield warm up.
“If they don’t want me in the outfield,” he said, “they better tie me
up.”
Rivera stuck to the sentiment in offering advice to young
fan with major league aspirations.
“Don’t pay attention to what people tell you that you can’t do. Just
believe and follow your dream,” said Rivera. Of course, he tempered that with
the need to study and put faith in God’s plan – no matter where it leads.
Given the manner in which he described his playing
relationship with long time battery mate Jorge Posada, faith and mystery must
take precedence in Rivera’s said plan. Always knowing what the other is
thinking, he joked in response to Yorktown Middle School Softball player Taylor
Ricardo, “It’s almost like a marriage.”
Dissolved, on a day to day basis with Posada’s
retirement, the greatest closer in the history of baseball will not simply tail
off as someone else assumes his role. “I’m going to stay involved in my church.
I’m going to serve the lord and I’m going to continue trying to be a role model
for kids,” he concluded.
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