Sobriquet 24.2
From the Associated Press, via ESPN.COM:
It seems that the some members of the psychiatric community are trying to use Adam LaRoche's recent on-field blunder (the first baseman's slow trot to first base allowed Nick Johnson to reach base safely on what should have been a routine putout) as a way to draw attention to ADD. Now, despite Laroche's insistence that his ADD "had nothing to do with" the error, "a leading expert on ADD believes that LaRoche should take this opportunity to address an issue that is surely having an impact on his life -- and perhaps serve as an inspiration to others with the disorder."
Indeed, Dr. Patricia Quinn, "a Washington, D.C., pediatrician who has studied the condition for more than 30 years," but has never met LaRoche, has concluded that "he wants to be able to function like everybody else sitting in the dugout...He wants to know what's going on, when he's coming up to bat, what the score is -- those type of things. I'm sure this is something that is more than just this one play."
Ahhh, yes, the old "let's use a celebrity's misfortune to push an agenda" approach.
You know what would be nice, Dr. Quinn? If, perhaps, you were to highlight the careers of some of the other athletes with ADD to serve as inspiration for us all. The last time I checked, Terry Bradshaw, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, Michael Jordon, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Pete Rose, Babe Ruth, Nolan Ryan and the scores of other famous folks with the disorder were pretty good at inspiring others. Plus, I'd venture that the MLB's greatest home run hitter, all-time hits leader, and all-time strikeouts leader; an Olympic sprinter; the single most successful NBA player of the last decade; and the rest of the aforementioned ADD All-Stars probably experienced an awful lot of instances during their respective careers when their concentration was superhuman. They probably made a few mistakes, too, but where was Dr. Quinn then?
Okay, so there's nothing wrong about drawing attention to ADD (though it's pretty hard to imagine there are many people who aren't aware of it). In fact, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is right: we should be aware of this disorder and we should support research into its causes and potential treatment (without forgetting that an incredibly large portion of ADD sufferers tend to grow up to become world leaders, artistic geniuses, and inventors, not to mention Superbowl quarterbacks). But to use LaRoche's unfortunate mistake--in spite of the first baseman's insistence upon his own, non-ADD tainted culpability in the matter--to serve her agenda is frankly annoying. There are plenty of public examples of ADD to point out to an inquiring American public and there are many, many celebrities with ADD who are quite happy to speak about the condition. There's really no reason to bring up LaRoche's problems with ADD unless, of course, we consider Dr. Quinn's compulsive--if not plain petty--opportunism a valid reason to drag a person's personal medical history into the spotlight for all to see.
Yes, ADD can cause problems and yes, ADD sufferers often try to hide their symptoms as Dr. Quinn points out, but God, leave Adam LaRoche alone. To err is human; it isn't always a sign of ADD.
It seems that the some members of the psychiatric community are trying to use Adam LaRoche's recent on-field blunder (the first baseman's slow trot to first base allowed Nick Johnson to reach base safely on what should have been a routine putout) as a way to draw attention to ADD. Now, despite Laroche's insistence that his ADD "had nothing to do with" the error, "a leading expert on ADD believes that LaRoche should take this opportunity to address an issue that is surely having an impact on his life -- and perhaps serve as an inspiration to others with the disorder."
Indeed, Dr. Patricia Quinn, "a Washington, D.C., pediatrician who has studied the condition for more than 30 years," but has never met LaRoche, has concluded that "he wants to be able to function like everybody else sitting in the dugout...He wants to know what's going on, when he's coming up to bat, what the score is -- those type of things. I'm sure this is something that is more than just this one play."
Ahhh, yes, the old "let's use a celebrity's misfortune to push an agenda" approach.
You know what would be nice, Dr. Quinn? If, perhaps, you were to highlight the careers of some of the other athletes with ADD to serve as inspiration for us all. The last time I checked, Terry Bradshaw, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, Michael Jordon, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Pete Rose, Babe Ruth, Nolan Ryan and the scores of other famous folks with the disorder were pretty good at inspiring others. Plus, I'd venture that the MLB's greatest home run hitter, all-time hits leader, and all-time strikeouts leader; an Olympic sprinter; the single most successful NBA player of the last decade; and the rest of the aforementioned ADD All-Stars probably experienced an awful lot of instances during their respective careers when their concentration was superhuman. They probably made a few mistakes, too, but where was Dr. Quinn then?
Okay, so there's nothing wrong about drawing attention to ADD (though it's pretty hard to imagine there are many people who aren't aware of it). In fact, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is right: we should be aware of this disorder and we should support research into its causes and potential treatment (without forgetting that an incredibly large portion of ADD sufferers tend to grow up to become world leaders, artistic geniuses, and inventors, not to mention Superbowl quarterbacks). But to use LaRoche's unfortunate mistake--in spite of the first baseman's insistence upon his own, non-ADD tainted culpability in the matter--to serve her agenda is frankly annoying. There are plenty of public examples of ADD to point out to an inquiring American public and there are many, many celebrities with ADD who are quite happy to speak about the condition. There's really no reason to bring up LaRoche's problems with ADD unless, of course, we consider Dr. Quinn's compulsive--if not plain petty--opportunism a valid reason to drag a person's personal medical history into the spotlight for all to see.
Yes, ADD can cause problems and yes, ADD sufferers often try to hide their symptoms as Dr. Quinn points out, but God, leave Adam LaRoche alone. To err is human; it isn't always a sign of ADD.
Comments
Post a Comment