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Is Controversial First Baseman Secretly a Softie? Thursday, May 22nd , 2053 File this story under "whoda' thunk it?" Dublin Porters's first baseman William Melnick is seen by some as being aloof and a bit of a loner. "I'd call him 'intense,'" teammate Kwan-wuk Tae put it judiciously. Melnick's reputation isn't helped by his sometimes contentious relationship with the media, and most reporters would agree that he's not the easiest player to interview, let alone get to know. If he'd agree to talk with you, Melnick would probably explain that he puts all of his effort into his peformance on the field, and that he's focused on winning a championship, not a popularity contest. So everybody agrees that Melnick is, as the old-timers would say, a "tough egg." But maybe he isn't as hard-boiled as most folks might think. An inside source recently reported that Melnick has been volunteering his time at the Youth Baseball Foundation in Dublin. When initially confronted with the story, Melnick angrily denied it, but his teammates were unanimous in support of his generous and, frankly, unexpected gesture. "It shows what we always suspected, that his heart is in the right place," said Tae. "He really cares about kids, and that's what counts in the end." Does this signal the emergence of a kinder, gentler Melnick? Maybe, maybe not. But don't be surprised if you see him a get a few more high-fives from his fellow Dublin players and perhaps a few more autograph requests from some of the kids who benefitted from his previously secret generosity. |
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