Boomer Esiason’s Paternity Leave, C-Section Comments Create Controversy
Did former Pro football player Boomer Esiason really slam New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy for taking paternity leave and suggest his wife should have scheduled a C-Section so he could be free to play on opening day? Seriously?
The comments that have enraged many, were made during a chat on Esiason’s daily morning radio show, Boomer and Carton Wednesday when he said:
“Quite frankly I would’ve said ‘C-section before the season starts. I need to be at opening day. I’m sorry, this is what makes our money, this is how we’re going to live our life, this is going to give our child every opportunity to be a success in life. I’ll be able to afford any college I want to send my kid to because I’m a baseball player.'”
When Murphy’s wife went into labor on Monday — opening day for baseball — he flew to Florida, as any good husband would, to be by her side for the birth of their son Noah and then took three days of paternity leave — allowed by MLB — but this gained him Esiason’s disapproval.
But guess who is getting flack on social media now. Let’s just say it’s not Murphy.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about Boomer Esiason’s seemingly insensitive and intrusive comments. After all, what business is it of his to add his opinion in such a personal moment for the Murphys?
Here is a sample of what Twitter users have to say about Mr. Esiason’s statements:
This story blows my mind. THREE days of paternity leave is the complaint? 3?! Dad's deserve bonding time too! http://t.co/FB41vtMxQe
— PE Baby Planning (@PetitEnfantBos) April 3, 2014
We all have our opinions on sports but I think this may be a tad much #SollyonSports… http://t.co/hglrMmnybk
— Solly on Sports (@SollyonSports) April 3, 2014
RT @TheBethPhoenix: Boomer Esiason's comments about Paternity leave a/k/a "just have a C Section" make me cringe for his family. #ignorance
— The Masked Lutefisk (@MaskedLutefisk) April 3, 2014
I question @7BOOMERESIASON's public perception of a charitable philanthropist & father; deplorable.
#DanielMurphy http://t.co/lLqIifqKEi
— Dave Zita (@DaveZita) April 3, 2014
When this writer checked Boomer Esiason’s Twitter account there was no comment (yet) on the controversial paternity leave comments, however, one could almost certainly expect some kind of retraction in the coming hours or days.
Tweets about “boomer esiason paternity”
Meanwhile, Murphy — who sounds like a man that has his heart in the right place — said in response to the controversy his paternity leave caused, “It felt, for us, like the right decision to make.” Not that he really needed to respond to Boomer Esiason’s butting into his personal life, but there you have it.
[Image via lev radin / Shutterstock.com]
