Last week I received a phone call from Shawn Clark in our Community Relations Department, who had received a phone call from a very upset Kevin Kasper. Someone told Kevin about the ongoing link on him not signing autographs and he was rightly disturbed.
I'm posting some comments below from Shawn who works first-hand with Kasper at several community events. I was suprised when I saw the post to begin with, because I know how great Kevin usually is with kids and rolling his eyes at a little boy is not his style. He has a son of his own and I just don't see that in his character.
From interviewing players after practice, I know that sometimes guys have had a bad day and they might not feel like talking, they might have something else on their mind, they might be re-living a play in their head. For the most part, guys are always pretty good but there are definitely times where every player on this team has had a bad day. And I can assure you that when they do, I almost always get an apology or an explanation later on down the line.
I have seen Kevin sign autographs all the time, and I've seen how great he works with kids. I sincerely doubt that he would have ever intentionally rolled his eyes at a fan who wanted his autograph, especiallly a child and I know from speaking with him, he does not even recall this incident. Probably, knowing Kasper, his mind was completely on something else.
Thanks!
"Kevin Kasper is a huge community guy. He is always the first one to volunteer for the various community events that we have going on in the Valley and throughout Arizona, and I have seen firsthand how he is with children. Kevin is one of the favorites at our Junior Gatorade Training Camps. He makes all of the children feel like they are special and that it is his pleasure to be able to be invited to their school. He also volunteers to work with high school students who are invited to attend our annual Educational Football Skills Camp. This year, he worked with a group of wide receivers from various high schools across Arizona. Kevin is also active in our Cookies and Milk Program which gives elementary age children the opportunity to listen to a Cardinals player read a book to a group of students.
All of these interactive programs are geared towards players that enjoy being around and sharing their experiences with our youth. Kevin is clearly an athlete that cares about all people, and most importantly, he cares about the importance that his small role might play within the life of a child."
He should have the right to defend himself even if he actually did do this.
