HUNTER, MLB EXPLOITING ADENHART

Is it hard to rest in peace when everyone is trying to take advantage of your death? Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart’s tragic death at the hands of a drunk driver earlier this season is getting turned into everything from a championship cause to a commercial this October. And it only figures to grow more distasteful.

The Angels’ resident chatterbox Torii Hunter, who admits he didn’t even know Adenhart that well, talks about the rookie watching over the team at every opportunity. Hunter promises to bring a  championship ring to Adenhart’s parents if the Halos win it all.

Hunter really seems convinced this would make for a great happy ending. Someone needs to remind him Jim and Janet Adenhart’s son will still be dead.

Gaudy jewelry won’t change that.

Hunter would also probably dedicate this playoff run to Michael Jackson if he thought it might bring more TV time. Still, as ghoulish as Hunter’s ever-eager interviews come across, they’re nothing compared to the Adenhart playoff ad put out by TBS and Fox.

It’s part of the “Beyond Baseball” campaign, and it uses Adenhart to argue the Angels are playing for a higher cause. But really, it reads likes this:

“Sure, a 22-year-old, a 25-year-old and a 20-year-old were all wiped out by a drunk driver, but ... hey, it could lead to a championship! Stay tuned!”

The Angels, MLB and its broadcast partners aren’t kicking around a lifeless head like the Alcor freaks allegedly did with Ted Williams’ decapitated dome, but they’re nevertheless using Adenhart’s death for marketing.

That’s sick in its own way. Everyone with no use for sports already raps sports fans for blowing games completely out of proportion. Now, some L.A. columnists actually speculate that the wind-caused opening of a Fenway outfield door late in the comeback clincher over the Red Sox could be a sign from Nick.

After all, the Fenway door is close to the spot on the fence where the Adenhart tribute patch is at the Angels’ home park. Or something like that.

What happens, though, if the Yankees blow away the Angels? Did Adenhart suddenly stop paying attention up there? Did Hunter stop swinging for him?

Some of the Angels’ tributes are touching, but there’s a fine line when death becomes a convenient clubhouse cause. It’s all too easy to make a mockery of the lives lost. 

– Chris Baldwin covers the sports media for Metro.

Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages. Opposing viewpoints are welcome. Send 400-word submissions to letters@metro.us.