MLB champion attends State of the Union and speaks his mind, immediately gets attacked
While most MLB free agents are waiting around in hopes of a lucrative deal, Jayson Werth was spending his time just a little differently.
The 38-year-old outfielder seems painfully aware that his major league career is much closer to the end than the beginning.
That’s why it’s not much of a surprise that Werth has found other avenues of income.
What is surprising is the choice of alternative income Werth has become invested in:
Organic farming.
Perhaps it’s a bit of a stereotype to assume that Werth isn’t a farmer, but nobody can deny that he’s passionate about the subject. It’s a fairly recent passion at that.
“This is really not my forte,” Jayson Werth told the Organic Trade Association’s Policy Conference in 2017. “I’d actually feel more comfortable facing Mariano Rivera in the World Series than standing up here right now. And I haven’t got any hits off that guy, ever.”
Since that conference, however, Werth has thrown himself into the profession. He’s rooted enough in organic farming that he was invited by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois to President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday.
Werth’s organic farm is in Davis’ district.
Attending the State of the Union address has always interested Werth.
“I always watched it from afar. I always wondered, how do you get into one of those?” he said via the Chicago Tribune. “How do you even get a ticket?”
After attending the event, Werth didn’t seem like he was disappointed.
When interviewed by C-SPAN after the interview, he had nothing but positive things to say.
“I was really inspired,” Werth said. “I felt like it was a great time to be an American. I thought President Trump did a great job. He hit all the points and he spoke really well.”
“I was inspired,” he repeated.
It was a seemingly innocuous phrase from Werth, who just seemed excited to be there and excited for the direction of his organic farm.
That didn’t stop people from immediately jumping on Werth with outrage and condemnation.
https://twitter.com/ScaredofTrump10/status/958758053637246976
who gets inspired by half – truths and lies?
That is kinda sick.— Mr. Security (@rhoer7) January 31, 2018
A former ball player and farmer without a clue! A Trumpster's delight!
— Ray Sternot (@RaymondSternot) January 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/EddWright_/status/958790497832759298
Well that just confirms that Werth is an idiot.
— Patrick Anderson (@CommonnamePA) January 31, 2018
That’s just a small sampling of some the vitriol directed toward Werth for his comments. The condemnation was widespread on the internet.
There’s great irony in those who accuse the president of being a narrow-minded bully being narrow-minded online bullies.
Werth, for his part, has not responded to the hatred directed toward him.
Werth won a World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and was an All-Star with them in 2009. He’s currently a free agent after spending the last seven seasons with the Washington Nationals.
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