Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

The stuff yesterday in which folks reacted negatively to Mets’ second baseman Daniel Murphy going on paternity leave has hit the sports yakkers. Today Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason took on the subject. Their take: in Esiason’s words, Murphy should “get his ass back to work.” Boomer also says that Murphy’s wife should’ve had a C-section before the season started so Murphy didn’t miss any time:

For his part, Mike Francesa called paternity leave “a scam-and-a-half” and started ranting about the very concept of paternity leave, saying that Murphy is rich enough to where he should hire a nurse to look after his wife and child.

For their part, the Mets have been nothing but supportive of Murphy. Here’s Terry Collins:

“He missed two games,” the manager said. “It’s not like he has missed ten. When you start attacking Dan Murphy‘s credibility, you need to look in the mirror a little bit . . . The man had his first child. He is allowed to be there. The rules state that he can be there, so he went. There is nothing against it. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

Murphy himself took a more diplomatic approach, but made it clear where his priorities stand:

“I can only speak for my experience,” Murphy said. “She was completely finished. She was done. She had had surgery, and she was wiped. So having me there, I think, helped a lot, and vice versa.”

Not that he should have to defend himself. Paternity leave has been shown to have a number of huge benefits, including but not limited to helping forge stronger family bonds and benefiting women who desire to go back into the workforce following the birth of their children. At least one study has shown that the lack of paternal involvement in infant care is significantly associated with the intensity of maternal postpartum depression.

Maybe a rich professional athlete’s partner has financial and personal resources great enough to where the father’s absence can be made up for in part, thereby limiting the necessity of paternity leave compared to that of normal people. But mocking an athlete for taking paternity leave like this is to mock the very concept of paternity leave altogether and to make it seem that much more unacceptable for men to do the right thing and be there for their child and its mother at the most critical of times.

While it’s ridiculous that anyone listens to these yakkers and takes anything approaching an example from them, the fact is that many do. Shame on these neanderthals for mocking paternity leave in general and Daniel Murphy specifically.


Boomer Esiason & others criticize Mets player for attending the birth of his child

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

and criticized his wife for not having an elective c-section so that the birth wouldn't interfere with a baseball game!!!!!

What is wrong with these people?!?!?!

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

what AZZhats.

War on women. Don't kid yourself...

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

wow..............

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

What really annoys me is that they each have kids!!!! And Boomer has a son who was sick most of his life. Please they are such hypocrites!!!!

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

I expect this from franscesa but not Boomer...

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Good for him for taking paternity leave and being with his family during this special time. And Kudos to the Mets for supporting him. Boomer's comments were disgusting. He missed TWO GAMES! Aren't there like 180 games in a season or something? And it's the beginning of the season! It's not like they were crucial games or anything.

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

I am glad that he was able to be there for the birth of his child. Perhaps Boomer and Francessia should be fired so they can experience quality parenting time now. Did they take off for the birth of their kids? It is a game, it is not rocket science, and even if it was rocket science I would expect a new parent to want to be there when their spouse delivers their child. The ball player did not miss and extraordinary amount of time either.

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Their wives/children must be completely insulted by their words. Cleary their families are not a priority to them and that's sad.

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

un-***** believable! Yeah just let them put her & the baby in unnecessary danger by scheduling a C-Section so he can be back at work It's not a dental cleaning FFS!!

I'm really shocked at Boomer since he lives & breathes for his son

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

This story has enraged me. Fck those men who are trying to shame him. I was screaming at the tv this morning.

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

I'm not a sports fan but heard about this on GMA.

I'm getting disgusted with the entire sports machine in this country.

F those critics. Fire em.

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

People blow minds

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

He missed 2 games at the BEGINNING of the season... I wouldn't even call it a paternity leave KWIM? I am pretty sure that other athletes have missed games when their children were being born. He missed 2. They play an insane amount of games - 2 in the long run is nothing.

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Murphy also said that he will be a ball player for 5-10 years but a husband and a father forever (or something along those lines).

Boomer was really out of character and needs to eat his words. I was pissed beyond belief when I read this and shared Boomer's C-section idea on the VBAC/ICAN group on FB. he needs to catch high holy hell.

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

These guys are SOOOOOOOO done. I hope they get eaten alive by fans, the media, and social media alike.
Gooooooo PapaMurph!

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

I've intimated my own personal twitter war against them lol

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

Re: Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

I heard about this, its unreal…...

Mets player criticized for attending the birth of his child

It doesn't bother me. I think everyone is entitled to their opinion. Doesn't bother me. I don't agree with then but I probably wouldn't agree with 99% of their opinions on other things.