A Chicagoland mom tweeted out this Florida vacation photo of her son and my favorite-most Cub ballplayer, and Top 5 Human, Anthony Rizzo. She reports that while her family was at the beach, her son kept insisting that man looked an awful lot like Rizz, and she encouraged the boy to approach him.
While I am always happy to see Rizz' smile, and am impressed by the pastel trunks (his fashion game has improved with marriage; in his bachelor days, he was known as the only All-Star to shop at JC Penney), I know my own mother would NOT have approved of this encounter.
I clearly recall that day, decades and decades ago, when we found ourselves Christmas shopping at the toy store alongside Blackhawks great Stan Mikita. He was pushing a cart and trying to decide between Barbie items. My mother sternly warned me to, "Leave that poor man alone!"
She was teaching me that everyone -- even celebrities -- deserves privacy and space. After all, Anthony Rizzo was not at an event. He was enjoying a beach day after a long and emotional season. Isn't he entitled to be off the clock, at least once in a while? (Let's not forget, after the Yankees last game, his current contract was up and he's now technically just an unemployed Florida man.)
But look at the little boy's face. This clearly meant a great deal to him. I can see why a mother would want this moment for her son.
So who was right? My mom, who warned me to, "Leave that poor man alone!" or this mom, who told her son to go for it? I'm not sure.
I probably would not approach a celeb. I'm with your mom. But how gracious of Rizz.
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