Tribe's chastened Jason now hastens to serve - His legal obligations met, Michaels happily keeps giving to kids

Sep/12/06 10:05 AM Filed in: Jason Michaels
When outfielder Jason Michaels received the Roberto Clemente Award from the Indians last week, it showed that good can come from bad.

Michaels, while he played for the Phillies, was arrested for assaulting a Philadelphia policeman outside a nightclub at 3 a.m. on July 3, 2005. Michaels, already in an anger management program, was sentenced last January to six months probation and 100 hours of community service through the Police Athletic League.

A week later, Michaels was traded to the Indians to replace left fielder Coco Crisp. The obligation followed him.

"I wasn't sure what I'd have to do," Michaels said.

When Michaels found out he could work with children, he told John Carter, the Indians' director of community affairs, to put him on his speed dial.

"Jason turned out to be my go-to guy," said Carter, responsible for keeping track of Michaels' hours.

Michaels, 30, never became too involved in the Philadelphia community in his four seasons there. He had no choice with the Indians, and started working with the Boys and Girls Club in Winter Haven, Fla., in spring training.

"The kids came from some pretty tough family lives," Michaels said. "I talked to kids from 10 to their early 20s. They didn't have a whole lot.
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