COVID-19 DIDN'T STOP DON BOSCO PHOTO-OPS WITH THE YANKEES

These are Mike Rooney's kids. Mike Rooney is the Don Bosco Head Baseball Coach. This photo is plastered everywhere, days after Rooney set up a private work out with members of the New York Yankees.  You can't be mad at these boys... they think their dad's a hero, finding a way to bring pro players to a little, yet well known prep school in Ramsey, NJ to bring eyes and awareness to their baseball program.  To many, Mike Rooney would be considered a genius. 

There was no baseball program this year because of COVID-19, and so, if anything he's brought interest to his Don Bosco program again, in hopes to be able to have a rush of potential future Ironmen players to their program.

To me? Mike Rooney needs to be questioned by the top tier of Don Bosco... perhaps even reprimanded by the state's Governor.  Because photo-ops during a pandemic are seen as dangerous, for the Yankees players, for Rooney's kids or anyone else that posed for them. It's destructive and sends a signal that life is normal. LIFE IS NOT NORMAL.

NJ.com writes: 

"Don Bosco coach Mike Rooney arranged the session, which also included Aaron Hicks, Dellin Betances, Mike Ford and CC Sabathia."  

And so, he's responsible and I have news for you... heat needs to be put on this guy who doesn't think a pandemic is important when it comes to photo-ops for his kids.  What makes matters worse is he's done this sort of thing before last Wednesday. He just can't get enough.

Rooney is quoted here: "About two weeks earlier, Todd Frazier, Jeurys Familia, Joe Panik and Rick Porcello also worked out at our field."

But here is the quote that says all you need to know about the state of the country and the selfishness of Mr. Rooney:

"It was great, felt like Don Bosco was 'Field of Dreams'. Obviously, it's a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. What was more apparent than their talent was how they are all terrific guys. The way in which all of them treated people showed what great guys they are."

The phrases in red say it all.

"once-in-a-lifetime occurrence", and so you jumped on it with no safety precautions and even put your kids at risk because it was "once in a lifetime".  Got it.

"Field of Dreams", so because the pro players came to Bosco's field, you and many grown men sat their drooling and watching pro players play on a field you coach, but the idea that a new generation of young players will spark new interest in Bosco for baseball, you just created a revenue maker.

"terrific guys". That means there was clearly an interaction. Whether or not they wore masks and practiced social distancing, it would not be fair for me to speculate. But let's assume they didn't based on  this picture of 3 grown men, one with the mask literally under his chin. Really? 

This leads me to believe they lost sight of safety all together just for a photo with Aaron Judge. Are you joking?

And where are the Yankees in this? Where is Jason Zillo? Why has he been silent? These are his players? No doubt he was part of the decision making to set this up? It's sloppy, it really is. He has no problem with them mingling with regular folks during a pandemic? Really? Bad judgement...really bad.

You know what I think? I think that it's a great idea for pro players to have a pro workout at a little high school stadium that's tucked away for a few hours. You Bosco dudes want to bring your families in and sit in the stands, 6 feet away from each other wearing masks and taking pictures and video from a distance makes a lot of sense and is exciting and the press would be good for you.

But no. That didn't happen. Instead you started posing for pictures during a pandemic. I have a HUGE problem with that.  Don't worry, perception is everything Coach Rooney... you doing this just made it cool for anyone else to stand with friends and strangers and have no regard for the big situation surrounding us... a pandemic that's literally killed thousands in NY, NJ and Connecticut along... and it won't go away because of crap like this. 

I find this a selfish act as well as disgusting. Hey Rooney, hope no one got COVID, I guess we'll find out in 14 days. I hope it was worth it. I hope your kids look at you like a hero today. 

All eyes on you, and not in a good light either. We're digging in hard on this one.