Parents Know Best

Armando Diana

The names Rhon and Lisa will not be easily recognizable to most Mets fans. Add the surname Wright and now you will realize they are related to David Wright. Rhon and Lisa Wright are David’s parents.

Andy McCullough, who covers the Mets for the Newark Star Ledger, wrote a wonderful article on Wright in the Sunday paper. It gives readers a good understanding of why Wright is a person any employer would love to have as an employee.

Wright said he wished Fred Wilpon didn’t make disparaging comments about him in the New Yorker but then said:

“That family has done a tremendous amount — I’m able to do things like this because of that family. So no matter what has been said, no matter what will be said, I’ll always have a certain love for that family. For drafting me. For developing me. And for obviously (giving me) the chance to not (need) to get a real job after baseball is done.”

He went on to say: “Fred said one thing. You can either get your feelings hurt and react a certain way. Or you can kind of realize that it’s a tough time for them. It was a tough time for us as a team. He said it. It’s in the past. You get over it, and just kind of forgive and forget.”

Chalk one up for great parenting. Anyone who is that well grounded, who can look beyond his eyes and see the complete picture of life is a winner.  And it starts with the parents. Rhon and Lisa obviously knew preparing David for life was far important than having a superstar baseball player.

In the article, Wright spoke of Cliff Floyd who took Wright under his wing when he was just starting out.  Floyd helped Wright as a young player.  As the Mets stockpile the farm system with “can’t miss” prospects perhaps it makes sense to have a veteran ballplayer who can be a role model.

Wright’s work ethic, his grasp of what is truly important in life will be invaluable. I am a huge Wright fan and the Mets fan in me wants him to be a Met for life.  The person in me hopes Wright receives the rewards he deserves as far as appreciation and respect. Unfortunately, I am so down on the Wilpons, I do not think they are capable of giving him that reward.  If the Wilpons still own the team when the decision on Wright is due, I hope he leaves for greener pastures.