Adam LaRoche

[lifesavacation]

I find this fascinating. Can't imagine walking away from that kind of money over a child not being allowed everyday access to the clubhouse.

I can respect his desire to have a close relationship with his son, but it seems like he's having a bit of a tantrum. The White Sox want to limit distractions. They said his son was welcome, just not everyday. It doesn't seem worthy of a 13 million dollar walkout.

 

[Jdbsfw]

From what I read, only some of the players wanted to boycott. Others were pleased that management had acted.

Certainly could be true, at some point the son could be a distraction

 

[handinpocket]

Go to work and keep the brat at home

Wow that was rude. Too bad we don't hear more about parents like this in the news rather than the ones that kill their kids. Sure, maybe it was a bit much....but it doesn't make the kid a BRAT

 

[DisneyOma]

Wow that was rude. Too bad we don't hear more about parents like this in the news rather than the ones that kill their kids. Sure, maybe it was a bit much....but it doesn't make the kid a BRAT

The kid might not be a brat (sounds like he gets all his desires met so doesn't even have the need to be a brat) but he is on his way to awesome entitlement issues. Dad quits job because son can't be with him 24/7. Kid doesn't go to school (and it doesn't sound like home-schooling is really happening either). He's been living in some fake baseball bubble, like he's going to be a big league player himself one day? What else is he going to be able to do, besides follow daddy around all day? I guess he'll just live off of daddy's money if he can't play ball? How can he even expect to play if he doesn't go to school? He won't have any real experience playing in a league, will he?

 

[Jennasis]

Wow that was rude. Too bad we don't hear more about parents like this in the news rather than the ones that kill their kids. Sure, maybe it was a bit much....but it doesn't make the kid a BRAT

I think it makes the DAD a brat.

 

[handinpocket]

I think it makes the DAD a brat.

I agree with that. I just don't agree with attacking the child due to his father's choices.

 

[morgan98]

Maybe I am stereotyping but....I have a vision of men hanging around in their underwear and various states of undress, working with trainers, looking at Playboys, swearing, talking about women, etc. I know that sounds bad, but that is what I imagine. I am not saying athletes do not train hard. I just cannot imagine it being good for the kid to be immersed in that all day everyday. Let alone what sometimes goes on while on the road.

I can imagine not all of the teammates were appreciative of having a 14 year old around ALL THE TIME. It probably cramped someone's style.

ETA: I am not prudish in the least, actually, I just really cannot wrap my ahead around how the kid being around it all the time was really good for the kid. At the age of 14, I wanted to be around my friends, not hanging with my parents.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Sounds like his employer didn't have a consistent policy and should have dealt with this earlier.

 

[NewRVLady]

Maybe I am stereotyping but....I have a vision of men hanging around in their underwear and various states of undress, working with trainers, looking at Playboys, swearing, talking about women, etc. I know that sounds bad, but that is what I imagine. I am not saying athletes do not train hard. I just cannot imagine it being good for the kid to be immersed in that all day everyday. Let alone what sometimes goes on while on the road.

I can imagine not all of the teammates were appreciative of having a 14 year old around ALL THE TIME. It probably cramped someone's style.

LOL -that's how I picture it also-I wonder if the kid gets ANY education at all?
I felt like that in the woman's shower area in my gym. we have a "no one under 14" rule and sometimes a mom would show up with a 5 year old-and half the women are walking around half naked

 

[mom2rtk]

The kid might not be a brat (sounds like he gets all his desires met so doesn't even have the need to be a brat) but he is on his way to awesome entitlement issues. Dad quits job because son can't be with him 24/7. Kid doesn't go to school (and it doesn't sound like home-schooling is really happening either). He's been living in some fake baseball bubble, like he's going to be a big league player himself one day? What else is he going to be able to do, besides follow daddy around all day? I guess he'll just live off of daddy's money if he can't play ball? How can he even expect to play if he doesn't go to school? He won't have any real experience playing in a league, will he?

Except how is he going to live off dad's money when dad just walked away from his contract?

 

[cabanafrau]

Except how is he going to live off dad's money when dad just walked away from his contract?

Exactly. If I wasn't going to do everything in my power to educate my kids well and make sure they are very prepared and capable to earn their own living, I'd be scrambling to put together each and every million I could to provide for them for the rest of their lives.

Not very forward thinking parents truly concerned about their kid's welfare IMO.

 

[sk!mom]

I bet the schools in his neighborhood are glad they are home schooling. This kid and family would be a nightmare. They don't sound like the sharpest tools in the shed.

According to what I read, they don't fully homeschool. A school is working with them. As a teacher, I bet that it is a hassle.
"Both Drake and his sister Montana have had an arrangement that enables them to go to a regular school in Kansas when they’re at home, but do homeschooling on the road."

"Long ago, LaRoche prioritized bringing Drake with him over traditional schooling. He goes to class in winter. In Viera, he brings schoolwork with him and sees a private tutor at
a Sylvan Learning Center. They live in a small Kansas town, and LaRoche arranged Drake’s education with the public school. LaRoche said Drake’s school is fine so long as Drake
passes standardized tests."

The kid might not be a brat (sounds like he gets all his desires met so doesn't even have the need to be a brat) but he is on his way to awesome entitlement issues. Dad quits job because son can't be with him 24/7. Kid doesn't go to school (and it doesn't sound like home-schooling is really happening either). He's been living in some fake baseball bubble, like he's going to be a big league player himself one day? What else is he going to be able to do, besides follow daddy around all day? I guess he'll just live off of daddy's money if he can't play ball? How can he even expect to play if he doesn't go to school? He won't have any real experience playing in a league, will he?

I find the situation odd to be sure but you seem to be making a few leaps. Every report and comment is that the kid is great so no need to jump to his life being a failure.

 

[mom2rtk]

LaRoche said Drake’s school is fine so long as Drake
passes standardized tests."

Nice to see they're setting the bar high.

 

[JaxDad]

I am assuming Drake would love to actually play MLB someday. After all, his father, grandfather, and uncle have all done so. Although there is probably some benefit to hanging around with a real MLB team, unless Drake has amazing natural ability, he really needs to be PLAYING baseball with his peers. I work with a hard-core "Little League Dad," and these kids play year-round, including regional travel leagues, then target the best baseball high schools for further development. Maybe he is already pretty good, and they plan for him to go to a high school with competitive baseball...I don't know. It is probably time to get working on that...

Or maybe he just wants to hang with Dad and live off his likely generous inheritance some day. If that is the case, he needs to tell Dad to get back to work and earn get that extra $13M...

 

[Hikergirl]

The kid goes to school part time, does the work he misses when he's not there and also goes to a private tutor? I don't see anything wrong with that, isn't that what child actors and children of actor do? You never see any outrage over them. If the kid is meeting the requirements set by the state, who cares if they are sitting in the classroom 8 hours a day 5 days a week. I think that time with his father is priceless and I guess his father does too if he's willing to quit over it. I'm sure the family will be fine.

 

[wilkeliza]

I am assuming Drake would love to actually play MLB someday. After all, his father, grandfather, and uncle have all done so. Although there is probably some benefit to hanging around with a real MLB team, unless Drake has amazing natural ability, he really needs to be PLAYING baseball with his peers. I work with a hard-core "Little League Dad," and these kids play year-round, including regional travel leagues, then target the best baseball high schools for further development. Maybe he is already pretty good, and they plan for him to go to a high school with competitive baseball...I don't know. It is probably time to get working on that...

Or maybe he just wants to hang with Dad and live off his likely generous inheritance some day. If that is the case, he needs to tell Dad to get back to work and earn get that extra $13M...

Chicago Tribune noted that he already plays on 2 little league teams. One at home in Kansas and one in Chicago.

The kid goes to school part time, does the work he misses when he's not there and also goes to a private tutor? I don't see anything wrong with that, isn't that what child actors and children of actor do? You never see any outrage over them. If the kid is meeting the requirements set by the state, who cares if they are sitting in the classroom 8 hours a day 5 days a week. I think that time with his father is priceless and I guess his father does too if he's willing to quit over it. I'm sure the family will be fine.

Child actors are required to have on set school with specific hours they have to complete. There are also set numbers of hours they can be working daily. Even on Broadway where they could attend the school for the performing arts the producers are required to provide instructors for any period they would be out of school (the Billy Elliot kids were not in school during their run) and many of them go to a semi-private school that is only for children in the performing arts profession because the school works very closely with the on set instructors to ensure the kids are not behind and can seamlessly move between the traditional classroom and the set classroom. It is very different then getting several packets of work and paying a tutor. They can teach their kid how ever they want but it seems like a more traditional home school set up would be beneficial if you want your family on the road with you.

 

[Missy1961]

Except how is he going to live off dad's money when dad just walked away from his contract?

Well, he's played in the majors since 2004. I'm sure he's made plenty of money over those years. And it's not impossible to imagine him getting another contract after he decides to unretire.

 

[Hikergirl]

Chicago Tribune noted that he already plays on 2 little league teams. One at home in Kansas and one in Chicago.



Child actors are required to have on set school with specific hours they have to complete. There are also set numbers of hours they can be working daily. Even on Broadway where they could attend the school for the performing arts the producers are required to provide instructors for any period they would be out of school (the Billy Elliot kids were not in school during their run) and many of them go to a semi-private school that is only for children in the performing arts profession because the school works very closely with the on set instructors to ensure the kids are not behind and can seamlessly move between the traditional classroom and the set classroom. It is very different then getting several packets of work and paying a tutor. They can teach their kid how ever they want but it seems like a more traditional home school set up would be beneficial if you want your family on the road with you.

I don't disagree with you that a traditional homeschool set up would be beneficial but they do have an agreement with the school so I am going to assume that the kids are required to do whatever the state says they have to do in order to pass their classes. They are in school during part of the year, they do get the school work to complete and they see a tutor. It doesn't sound like the family is blowing off the schoolwork. Just because they don't feel that sitting in school all day is the most important, only way a child can get an education doesn't mean their kids aren't actually being educated. I'm talking about the school curriculum, we all know that life lessons outside the classroom can be an excellent educational experience, at least that is what we claim when we pull our kids out of school for WDW trips LOL.

I just don't see the big deal as long as their kids are meeting the standards that all the other kids are expected to meet.

 

[lifesavacation]

Well, he's played in the majors since 2004. I'm sure he's made plenty of money over those years. And it's not impossible to imagine him getting another contract after he decides to unretire.

I read somewhere he's made 90+ million in his mlb career. I think he'll be fine as far as money goes

He's retiring at the end of a slump season and a recent back injury. I do believe that's at the heart of his decision. His son just made a convenient, unfortunate, scapegoat.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Lots of players have their kids at the field and clubhouse. David Ortiz's boys have lockers in the clubhouse. Prince Fielder's boys are regularly at the field with him. The difference is there are times when they are allowed and times when they are not. It's not an all of the time deal. LaRouche felt it should be whenever he wanted it to be and the team said No. I guess he took advantage of the situation and they had to put a stop to it.