In December 2005, D.C. youth baseball supporter Harry Thomas Jr. went before the D.C. Council in support of a lease and funding for a new ballpark for the Washington Nationals. “A new major league team playing in D.C. has created an opportunity to further this revitalization effort and to bring important new organizational and financial support to our goals for the growth of baseball/softball at the community level,” Thomas said. “There are benefits and opportunities for our city and its youth that are far more important than dollars, cents and, worst of all, politics.”
On Thursday, disgraced — and former — D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. made another statement about those benefits and opportunities.
“I made some very serious mistakes and exhibited inadequate and flawed judgment,” Thomas said.
The inadequate and flawed judgment Thomas exhibited included stealing more than $300,000 earmarked for youth baseball.
You have to wonder whether Thomas was planning a personal revitalization effort when he stood up to support major league baseball and money for a new ballpark in D.C.
Did the arrival of the Washington Nationals pave the way for Thomas’ misdeeds?
You have to question whether anyone would have given out $365,000 in grants for youth baseball if momentum for the revival of the game in the city hadn’t returned with the major league franchise.
Thomas pleaded guilty Friday to stealing $365,000 in federal grant money meant for youth baseball in the city. Prosecutors recommended that Thomas be sentenced to three or four years in prison for his crimes.
Heck, Stephen Strasburg could be with the Yankees by then.
Who knows what was in Thomas’ heart when he spoke of a “field of dreams” in supporting funding for Nationals Park?
“This past summer, the field of dreams came true at RFK Stadium. With the arrival of the Washington Nationals, a new excitement and energy is helping rejuvenate the youth/adult baseball and softball interest in the city,” Thomas proclaimed six years ago.
On Friday, standing outside the federal courthouse after admitting his crimes in court, Thomas apologized for taking advantage of baseball’s rejuvenation in the city and lining his pockets with it, specifically addressing the District youths he robbed.
“Through athletics, I have tried to teach you the importance of character and integrity. My conduct set a poor example,” Thomas said.
It it hard enough to revive interest in baseball among several generations of black families that have disconnected from the game. When the money meant for that effort gets stolen, it becomes much harder.
Last summer, ground was broken at Fort Dupont Park in Southeast for construction of the $15 million Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, a place that will offer the kind of opportunities that Thomas once spoke of. That was before he became a city council member, playing a crooked game on his own field of nightmares.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
