Florida Addresses the McNeill Situation
January 30th, 2013
It’s been about a month since Kevin McNeill‘s run-in with the law. Featherheads.com broke the news earlier this month that McNeill was stopped and cited for reckless driving on New Year’s Day. The Illinois native reportedly was clocked at speeds above 120 MPH right outside of Miami while driving northbound on I-95. There were also rumors of McNeill allegedly participating in some form of street racing.
The two-time All-Star recently appeared in court and pleaded no contest. As a first time offender, the judge ruled that McNeill will have to pay a $500 fine and partake in 250 hours worth of community service. In addition, McNeill’s license has been suspended for one month.
Upon hearing of the ruling, the organization made a ruling of their own. For the duration of the season, McNeill will have a midnight curfew and his keys will be confiscated by team officials. McNeill will be left to find other ways of transportation such as public transit or ride sharing. It also has been reported that housemate Brock Brett has been asked by team officials to watch over McNeill. Along with their judgment, the organization released comments to the public:
We, the Featherheads, take player responsibility and accountability very seriously. As an organization, we believe in individuality and expressionism. We refuse to impose clubhouse rules or implement a “no facial hair” policy. It is personal freedom and individuality that makes people unique and special. Promoting individuality and personal growth is extremely important to us. We want our players to grow as ballplayers but also as men.
As such, we feel some clear lines need to be drawn. As much as we promote individuality, we understand that our players have a responsibility to themselves and the community. Whether they choose to be or not, ballplayers are role models. They not only have to carry responsibility for themselves but that of the community. They are an extension and reflection of the community. With that in mind, our organization needs to remind our players of their roles in the community. We will hold seminars with our ballplayers during spring training to address this fact.
Connecting with the local Florida community is of paramount importance to us. Our players are not just ballplayers; they are someone’s husband, father, son, brother and neighbor. Though they wear a multitude of hats in life, they all share a common thread of responsibility and accountability. We will continue to stress this fact in our organization.
Thank you, Florida, for allowing us to be part of your community with wide open arms. It is an honor and shall not be taken for granted.
McNeill’s growing notoriety of being a party animal is certainly a concern in the wake of the team’s official comments. One can only hope this is an isolated incident. For now, McNeill will have to find a way to party with his curfew and without his car.
Unsuccessful attempts were made to reach McNeill for comment.