If you could remove one uncomfortable detail, there was a heartwarming scene after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim clinched their division title on Monday night.They broke out the beer and champagne, sprayed it all over each other and then remembered Nick Adenhart. They got his jersey and poured the booze all over it, as if he were there with them.
But Adenhart was there only in spirit. A drunk driver killed the 22-year-old pitcher in April.
Not to be a party pooper, but yikes. Give the Angels points for irony, but a beer shower wasn't the best way to honor this particular teammate's memory.
"He's our teammate," third baseman Chone Figgins said. "We're allowed to do what we want."
Not quite. Adenhart was also someone's son and a lot of people's friend. He's become a fallen hero to a lot of fans.
It's safe to say some of them looked at the celebration and cringed. It's also safe to say the Angels didn't mean to upset anyone.
They were just trying to honor Adenhart as they have all season. They have kept his locker open and have taken his jersey on road trips.
He's still a part of their team, and they wanted Adenhart to enjoy their 11-0 win over the Texas Rangers Monday night as much as they did.
"It had nothing to do with the drunk-driving accident," reliever Kevin Jepsen said. "If he were still here with us, we'd be pouring beer on him just like everybody else."
There's that detail again. Like it or not, the accident is now part of everything Adenhart.
Accident?
An accident is when your brakes give out. A murder is when you get bombed, crank up a mini-van, run a red light and T-bone a small Mitsubishi with four people.
That's what Andrew Gallo allegedly did that night. His family is calling it an accident, but prosecutors have charged the 22-year-old with three murder counts.
He was driving with a suspended license from a previous DUI arrest. It seems the only thing he learned from that was how to survive a crash.
He ran from the scene that night, leaving an injured friend in the van. He also left a smoldering pile of Mitsubishi.
The driver was 20 years old. Courtney Stewart died immediately. It turned out she also had alcohol in her system, though the coroner could not determine how much. Prosecutors say it was minimal and did not contribute to the accident.
There is no debate she was merely driving through a green light and probably never knew what hit her. Neither did 25-year-old Henry Pearson, who died at the scene. Or Adenhart, who died in surgery. Or Jon Wilhite, a 24-year-old who had to have his skull reattached to his spine.
About the time doctors were doing that, police caught Gallo. His blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit.
Adenhart was just out with his friends, doubtlessly savoring his night's work. He'd overcome elbow surgery and pitched six scoreless innings in his season debut.
You could dwell forever on what he might have accomplished. Not just Adenhart, but everybody in the car that night. Such is the tragedy of drunk driving, which is one of the leading causes of death for young Americans.
On an average day, 36 people die and 700 are injured by alcohol impaired drivers. The carnage touches millions of lives, including quite a few who buy tickets to baseball games and watch it on TV.
When they see Adenhart's jersey being drenched in beer, they don't see a bunch of well-meaning teammates trying to remember a friend. They see that "accident," or whatever you want to call it.
Shouldn't their feelings count for something?
The worry is they might be seeing it again and again. Next up is the playoffs and the Angels could conceivably win three series.
Will every one be a replay of Monday night, right up until they win the World Series?
"We wanted to celebrate with him like he was still here," Jepsen said.
But he wasn't there. And the reason why was in the palms of their hands.
Nick Adenhart Tragedy
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim players douse the jersey of teammate pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 in beer and champagne as they celebrate after winning the American League West title in the baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Adenhart was killed in a accident by an alleged drunk driver during the beginning of the season. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim players douse the jersey of teammate pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 in beer and champagne as they celebrate after winning the American League West title in the baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Adenhart was killed in a accident by an alleged drunk driver during the beginning of the season. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Getty Images
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim players douse the jersey of teammate pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 in beer and champagne as they celebrate after winning the American League West title in the baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Adenhart was killed in a accident by an alleged drunk driver during the beginning of the season. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Teammates of the late pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pose in front of his banner as they celebrate after winning the American League West title in their game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Adenhart was killed in a accident by an alleged drunk driver during the beginning of the season. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Teammates of the late pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pose in front of his banner as they celebrate after winning the American League West title in their game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Adenhart was killed in a accident by an alleged drunk driver during the beginning of the season. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar, right, and teammates celebrate with the jersey of deceased teammate Nick Adenhart after the Angels clinched the AL West title with an 11-0 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. Adenhart was killed in a car crash in Fullerton, Calif., in April. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
AP
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: A bat boy holds up the jersey of late teammate pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as they celebrate after winning the American League West title in their game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Adenhart was killed in a accident by a drunk driver during the begining of the season. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: The jersey of deceased pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hangs in the dugout during a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Adenhart was killed in a car accident early in the season. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Adenhart
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Los Angeles Angels pitcher Kevin Jepsen carries a jersey bearing the number of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed along with two others in an automobile accident last April, from the visitor's dugout and into the clubhouse, Monday , Aug. 31, 2009, following a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle. The Angels beat the Mariners 10-0, and Adenhart's jersey is usually on display in the dugout during home and away games. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
AP
ANAHEIM - JULY 26: Fans gather to view a memorial in honor of pitcher Nick Adenhart #34 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (who was killed in a traffic accident on April 9) prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Angels Stadium on July 26, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
9-30-2009 @ 2:06PM
shagrotn77 said...
The Angels honored Adenhart by showering his jersey with beer and champagne as if he were there with them. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. THOSE WHO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT NEED TO GET A GRIP ON REALITY.
Reply
9-30-2009 @ 3:04PM
PETEROXMYWORLD said...
I completely agree. He was their brother, and they wanted to celebrate like brothers. We all miss Nick. He was a young up-and-comer. He could have done great things.
9-30-2009 @ 3:33PM
pinkthenred said...
I think if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all applies to this story. His team honored him in the way they saw fit. Why people think that it's up for debate I don't quite understand. It's over and done with and I hope that the nasty people that judged never have to deal with the death of a good friend. Up yours!
9-30-2009 @ 4:05PM
KARIN said...
I agree with you completely. Are you freaking kidding me? The person who wrote this article is fishing for a problem that isn't even there. He is upset over something that Nick's OWN MOTHER wasn't upset about. She appeared to love the tribute to her son. The team even went out on the field and poured beer on his picture. Okay. So if Nick had survived the crash, came back and was there for the clinch, nobody would be able to pour beer or champagne on him, because he was in an alcohol-related accident? Is that what the writer of this article is saying?
9-30-2009 @ 4:27PM
bikinginor said...
Probably this story has done more harm to family and friends then the actual celebration.
9-30-2009 @ 4:59PM
mack2379 said...
My thoughts exactly shagrotn77. They simply poured champagne on the jersey. It's not like they went out drunk driving as well. This article was a waste of space. I expected something far worse.
9-30-2009 @ 5:02PM
rann948 said...
You and others like you are the ones who need to get a grip on REALITY. Reality is booze kills. The fact that they apparently have all forgotten WHY he was not there with them is a tribute to the mindset that leads to drunk driving. Out of sight, out of mind.
9-30-2009 @ 5:25PM
bikinginor said...
rann948 Yes, alcohol can kill but that is not what this story is really all about. It is about a group of guys who celebrated a buddy as though he were there with them. If you read on in the comments you will read a comment written by a woman who's husband was a police officer shot in the line of duty. At his service he was saluted with a 21 gun salute, she did not find that offensive even though it was a gun shot that killed him. I would say it is that kind of experience, that many of us thankfully will never have to deal with, that we should pay attention to. Get off your high horse and see a little reality of your own!
10-01-2009 @ 8:17AM
buckeyej6 said...
I agree ....I think its great they remembered to include him. He is part of the team and this "author" has it all wrong. Good Job Angels!
10-01-2009 @ 11:20AM
fhazen56 said...
I agree. People need to get the facts straight. The alcohol didn't kill anyone. The person that drank it did.
9-30-2009 @ 2:07PM
gggiv said...
Tell the critics to Shut The F**k Up! I'm not an Angels fan (Go Yankees!) but they did what they felt was right, 'nuff said.
Reply
9-30-2009 @ 2:56PM
charlyeverett said...
Amen to that...nobody cares about your opinion..they can do what they want. Just take your cue from Obama and the Legislature...they're not listening to anyone!
9-30-2009 @ 2:12PM
Gabe said...
This is making a whole of something over nothing. Report on real stories or issues.
Reply
9-30-2009 @ 2:13PM
timbnews said...
old people find controversy in anything. its not like they set his jersey on fire. change the channel back to golden girls
Reply
10-01-2009 @ 10:44AM
Robert said...
i am 67 & I take offence on the comment about old people causing controversy because i think also that what they did was an honor for him(adenhart)so does my friends,so keep your comments about people in general.
9-30-2009 @ 2:15PM
avmotox said...
One question....how is he a "hero"???? What did he do to become such a hero? Don't get me wrong its sad what happened, but I think this reporter needs to remember who real hero's are. Like Police, Firefighters and our soldiers!!!
Reply
9-30-2009 @ 5:28PM
Cindy Stauffer said...
I agree that firefighters etc are heroes, but this young man may have been a hero to some child, there are degrees to almost everything.
9-30-2009 @ 2:18PM
execsmom said...
This was a team celebration of a championship in the Angel's locker room that included a fallen member. They were not out driving and drinking. Our household thought it was a wonderful tribute to Nick.
Reply
9-30-2009 @ 6:59PM
inkitpaul said...
Why is this guy even writting this article??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME.
The Angels are celebrating as any team would and have been doing for...I don't know,maybe since major league baseball started and wanted their teamate to be in that celebration along with them.
There are other stories to write...FIND THEM AND LEAVE THIS ONE ALONE.
9-30-2009 @ 2:21PM
corterboy said...
"And the reason why was in the palms of their hands."
This is a moronic statement. Alcohol didn't kill this young man. A person who was irresponsible did. When consumed responsibly, there is nothing wrong with having a drink.
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