Everyone remembers the dead in their own way. Some people write songs, some people get tattoos, and some people build a simple monument.
(Not coming to a fan near you.)
Absent from the memorial process, though is merchandising; they don’t sell t-shirts at funerals, after all. To that end, when you try to order a Nick Adenhart jersey at MLB.com, the site rejects the order. It’s not out of reverence for the Adenhart family, though; it’s apparently a strange roster-based idiosyncrasy:
“Your current entry cannot be processed. Some entries are prohibited due to guidelines for past and present player names. Please create a new entry.”
You’re probably reading that and thinking, “huh?” So was DEADSPIN, who got a response from the league:
“The reason, according to MLB reps, is that the system won’t allow use of real players that aren’t on a current roster. So, if you wanted to have a ‘Sheets, 15′ shirt or some other actual player that might be on a current team, you’re not going to get the jersey you want. Even if your name is ‘Miranda Sheets’, your favorite number is ‘15′ and your favorite team is the Brewers, you’re out of luck. That’s just how the system works.”
Poor Miranda.
The problem is this: Adenhart’s death is going to be a source of grief for the organization and its fans for, undoubtedly, the rest of the season, even as it fades out of the news cycle and peoples’ immediate consciousness. To buy a jersey like that brings back the pain for any Angels fan who sees it, perpetuating a somber mood when, at some point, the fans will need to start associating happiness with the team again.
Furthermore, once the years start piling up, what happens to the jerseys? Do you really want to be the first person to put yours on eBay to try to get $30 out of it? We’re not sure if the Angels have an acrimonious rivalry with anyone, but suppose an especially devious Oakland fan starts wearing one. Would anything be so guaranteed to get a reaction out of people than wearing one of these, or giving it to someone?
The inimitable ‘Duk over at BIG LEAGUE STEW says this:
Why MLB can’t — or won’t? — pay an Internet engineer to fix up a workaround on that ordering system is beyond me, but if it’s really a problem, why not make a special t-shirt with all the proceeds going to benefit the Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund or Angels charities? Hopefully a plan like that it is in the works, because there’s definitely a better way.
We’re inclined to agree. Instead of selling normal Adenhart memorabilia, it’s up to the league to create a shirt that A) acknowledges the tragedy, removing any “shock” value therein, and B) funnels all proceeds to the family of the one survivor of the crash, who was just upgraded to serious condition. The sooner, the better.
9:12 pm on April 18th, 2009
Arizona State sells Pat Tillman jerseys, with proceeds going to his foundation. And I recall here in LA, the Los Angeles Avengers' best-selling jersey a few seasons ago was that of Al Lucas, the player who died in a 2005 game.
10:54 pm on April 18th, 2009
My order got accepted…and then rejected.
Total B.S.
5:09 am on April 19th, 2009
Thanks for reading, Alex.
ASU and the Cardinals deserve credit for how well they handled and honored Tillman when everything went down. Pat Tillman jerseys are different for the simple reason that he lived and died as a hero, one whose memory will live on in the soul of America for decades to come. Frankly, it's unfair to the memory of Adenhart to compare him to Tillman.
For a more accurate historical perspective for Adenhart, and these analogies aren't perfect, but think about what would happen today if you showed up to a Carolina Panthers game in a Fred Lane jersey. Or a Nets game in a Drazen Petrovic jersey. Or a T-Wolves game in a Malik Sealy jersey. These men died innocently, like Adenhart, and their memories are more reverently observed without total strangers wearing their uniforms.
The point is this–no matter how pure your intentions are, there are so many better ways to honor athletes whose lives are taken away too soon than by buying replicas of their jerseys. Spend the money–all of it–on their memorial funds instead, and take solace in the fact that your money is going to something a little more worthwhile than some weird mesh shirt that you can never wear in normal company.
9:28 pm on April 19th, 2009
The Redskins continue to sell Sean Taylor jerseys, donating the money to a fund that was set up. I bought one.
12:21 pm on April 20th, 2009
It's unfair to his memory to not compare him to Tillman, death is death regardless of how it comes, and nobody's demise should be placed above another's.
6:18 pm on April 20th, 2009
One thing to remember is that MLB players make $$ off of the jerseys. My guess is that if they are not on a current roster they are not eligible for this so they cannot sell the jerseys through mlb.com. This is not a matter of just reprogramming it, this is most likely part of every players contract. What they should do is create another special item for him that goes to a fund setup for him.
I understand that the NFL does it different, but most likely their contract is different