By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Before a ceremony to retire his jersey number at Citi Field, Darryl Strawberry, former New York Mets player, was pardoned by President Donald Trump. The pardon came after Strawberry pleaded guilty to tax evasion three decades ago, served time, and paid back taxes. Following his career, Strawberry embraced Christianity and has maintained sobriety for over a decade, becoming active in ministry and starting a recovery center. Strawberry, an eight-time MLB All-Star, helped lead both the New York Mets and Yankees to World Series victories.
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Trump pardons New York baseball star Darryl Strawberry for tax evasion conviction. It’s hard not to immediately think about the sheer audacity of it all, isn’t it? The news of the pardon feels less like a surprise and more like another chapter in a story we’ve been reading for a while now. This isn’t just about baseball; it’s about power, privilege, and the perception of justice.
This whole situation brings up questions about the motives behind these pardons. It’s almost as if the logic behind these decisions is, well, illogical. Is it about rewarding loyalty, political maneuvering, or something else entirely? Many seem to believe Trump has a personal affection for those convicted, particularly those with certain types of convictions. The act itself is a reminder of the power a president wields, the ability to wipe away a conviction with a stroke of a pen.
Tax evasion, after all, is a serious crime, essentially taking from the public, and it’s no different from robbing someone. This isn’t just about Darryl Strawberry; it’s about the message it sends. It’s about who gets a second chance and who doesn’t. And the question remains: does anyone see any logic in this? It is about who supports the president and has the means to obtain a pardon.
One can’t help but wonder if this is just business as usual, a symptom of a system where money and connections talk. It’s hard not to feel a sense of frustration when you consider the concept of justice. The idea that someone can simply bypass the legal system, that their debts to society can be erased because of their connections to the President. It makes you wonder how the rules apply to everyone else. The transparency is there for all to see.
The timing of these pardons, as mentioned, is an interesting point. Is this about using them as leverage? Or is this about a desperate attempt to protect those close to him? This is all happening now, rather than at the end of his term, as if he is worried that he may not finish his term due to health or legal troubles. There is speculation that he is selling as many pardons as he can as quickly as he can because he’s greedy and openly corrupt.
One has to wonder if Trump even knows who he is pardoning or if the pardon is part of a larger, more calculated strategy. Is this an effort to garner support, reward loyalty, or just a simple act of corruption? Does he think tax evasion is ok, or even legal, as long as you support the president? The whole situation feels like a free-for-all for rich crooks.
The idea of Darryl Strawberry getting a pardon brings up a lot of questions. Some people, for the record, don’t think his crimes were that big of a deal. They may even believe he’s done good work since serving his time. Others believe that the pardon is just plain wrong. It’s a question of whether Strawberry is viewed as “one of the good ones” or whether he is just another criminal getting away with a crime.
This brings up broader issues about accountability and who the system favors. The fact that someone can be pardoned doesn’t negate the fact that the person was convicted by a jury of their peers based on evidence.
In the end, this pardon, and others like it, feel like a slap in the face. It feels like a double standard. It sends a message that the system is rigged. It’s a reminder of the chasm between those who have power and those who don’t. It’s a reminder that justice, in the eyes of some, is blind only to those who can’t afford to see.