Yanks need relief from Joba being Joba

Yanks need relief from Joba being Joba

Kathy Willens/AP

Joba Chamberlain might find he might want to take up golf wi th after all getting so much experience riding in cart.

TAMPA Joba Chamberlains heart is in the right place.

How can you not sympathize with a million-dollar ballplayer who says his job is important, all right, then defiantly adds, but nothing is more important than being a father.

JOBA DOWNPLAYS INJURY, HOPES TO RETURN IN '12

Yet that doesnt mean Chamberlain was right on Tuesday when he essentially took no responsibility for dislocating his ankle last week, an injury he incurred as he jumped around on a bed of trampolines with his 5-year-old son.

Chamberlain tried to make his injury sound as fluky as being struck by lightning. But lets face it, if youre a 250-pound man, youre putting yourself at some risk the minute you get on a trampoline.

Theres a reason, after all, that Joe Girardi crossed off this same trampoline place when he was considering activities for what has become an annual team event day during spring training. Its not a good idea for pro athletes to throw their bodies around outside of their own sport.

There is a distinction to be made here, absolutely. Chamberlain didnt get on a motorcycle and go for a joyride. He didnt go to the local YMCA and play some pick-up basketball.

Indeed, the Yankee pitcher probably never considered the possibility that he might get hurt messing around on a trampoline with his son, Karter. At his press conference on Tuesday, he made a point of saying he had taken the precaution of making sure he and his son were the only ones using the trampolines at the time.

It was only me and Karter in the whole place, he said. I dont know how much more in control I could get. Its just going back to being a dad and having fun.

Chamberlain became emotional when talking about his son during the press conference, pausing as he gained control, and it was understandable, especially for someone with his back ground.

His story is famous, of course it has been since he became a flame-throwing phenom in 2007. Because his mom was a drug addict, Chamberlain was raised by his wheelchair-bound father, who became rather famous himself, a constant presence at Yankee Stadium during his sons glory days, proudly talking about his son at every opportunity.

In any case, Yankee people say Chamberlain has matured in recent years, toned down the drinking and carousing, and they say its because of how seriously he takes his role of being a father to Karter.

So, again, its hard to say he was irresponsible for wanting to have some fun. But there are plenty of other ways to be a good dad. As such he should have at least acknowledged that maybe he could have been a little smarter.

Instead he was defiant in saying he had no regrets.

I felt like I let my team down, he said, but when I look back, Ill never question being a father. I think thats the biggest thing.< /p>