What’s next? Charles Manson Night at Dodger Stadium? Or maybe Jeffrey Dahmer Night at Milwaukee’s Miller Park?
OK, so those are ridiculous and inappropriate suggestions. It’s not as if Ken Caminiti was a mass murderer. But he was a steroids cheat, an alcoholic and a cocaine abuser, presumably right up until the day he died in October at the way-too-young age of 41.
What in the world were the San Diego Padres doing by honoring Caminiti on Thursday night at Petco Park?
It’s hard to say what was more offensive–the timing of Ken Caminiti Night or the words Padres officials used to describe him before, during and after the ceremony. “Warrior” seemed to be the popular choice, as if playing a baseball game with a pulled hamstring makes for a true American hero. Sorry, Pat Tillman was a warrior, not Caminiti. You have to wonder what the war veterans in attendance thought during the Caminiti tribute, which included his number 21 etched in the grass behind home plate, a video presentation and gifts to his ex-wife and three daughters.
But the timing of Caminiti Night, on what would have been his 42nd birthday, was worse. At a time when just about everyone is trying to spread the word about the dangers of steroids use, especially to young people, the Padres made the decision to honor a man who admitted that steroids helped him win the 1996 National League MVP award.
That’s unconscionable.
Caminiti was the first high-profile baseball player to go public with details about his steroid use. And he wasn’t remorseful about it.
“I’ve made a ton of mistakes,” he told Sports Illustrated. “I don’t think using steroids is one of them.”
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Caminiti was arrested for cocaine possession in 2001. He violated his parole in 2004, testing positive for cocaine. His death in New York on Oct. 10 was attributed to a drug overdose, coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart.
“It’s a tragedy he’s not with us,” Padres manager Bruce Bochy told the San Diego Union-Tribune this week.
A tragedy, sure. But the cold, hard truth? Caminiti’s death was a self-imposed tragedy.
That didn’t make Caminiti a bad person, just a sick one. By all accounts, he was a wonderful teammate, beloved by those he played with. And he was a crowd favorite in San Diego. Padres fans reacted warmly to the tribute Thursday night and had given Caminiti an enormous ovation in 2003 even after his steroids and cocaine use were common knowledge.
But the place to eulogize Caminiti was at his funeral.
Doing it at Petco Park sent the wrong message at the wrong time.