When corporate coldness meets the world of sports tragedy, some executives just can’t help but say the quiet part out loud. As one former MLB president flexed his PR muscles on live radio, he reminded everyone that liability, not humanity, tops the priority list in the boardroom. The Pittsburgh Pirates may be in the background, but the real spectacle came from a microphone, not a ballpark railing.

When David Samson talks, it usually makes sense, and most of the time, he is right. But this time, he has messed it up. His reaction to a 20-year-old boy falling off the wall has not sat well with fans. This is where some people are drawing the line.

During a recent Pirates game, a 20-year-old fan named Kavan Markwood fell off the outfield wall and was seriously injured. While many blame the MLB for this, Samson thinks very differently. In the latest edition of the Dan LeBatard Show, he said, “This is when you’ve got to bring out the checkbook, and you got to try and see what is going on with him and his family.”

‘His family,’ that’s something the viewers couldn’t ignore. Maybe it would have been a good idea for him to check the facts before speaking this time. The fact that Markwood is an orphan does not reflect well on Samson. Yes, the rules are set, and it might be the fault of the young boy, but talking about money now sounds very insensitive of him.

Samson went on to further say that if he were in the place of the MLB front office, he would not pay any of the medical bills and force the fan into a settlement. What made things worse for Samson is that he said that the money he would settle for would not be more than five figures.

In a world where optics matter almost as much as outcomes, Samson’s comments landed with the grace of a lead balloon. His calculator may be sharp, but his conscience seems to be in airplane mode. When a young man’s spine is on the line, maybe keep the settlement math off-air. After all, empathy costs nothing—but apparently, for some execs, even that’s a budget line item.

Injured MLB fan details pain, progress after stadium fall

You don’t expect to flirt with gravity at an MLB game—especially not from the cheap seats. But in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates finally gave fans something to cheer for, one man’s celebration turned into a full-body physics experiment gone wrong. What followed wasn’t just a fall from the stands, but a descent into the hard reality of cracked ribs, sleepless nights, and a painfully public comeback story.

Cheering on his team turned into a life-altering moment for Kavan Markwood at PNC Park. The 20-year-old fan pitched forward over a 21-foot wall while celebrating a Pirates double. “I can’t really sleep,” he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, describing ongoing pain. “I felt like I had broken everything,” he added.

Though his injuries were severe, impacting his skull, brain, spine, ribs, and lungs, his recovery has amazed doctors. “Seeing him recover so quickly has really been gratifying,” said Dr. Al Philp. Now off the breathing machine and out of the ICU, Markwood is preparing for rehab. “It’s a slow, slow process,” said Jennifer Phillips, his girlfriend’s mother.

Still hospitalized, Markwood recently took his first steps, lifting everyone’s spirits. “He’s showing real strength,” Phillips said. Despite the trauma, he remains hopeful and focused on healing. The GoFundMe supporting him has raised over $51,000. Phillips noted, “Plenty of obstacles ahead, but we’re staying hopeful for a smooth recovery.”

Markwood’s journey from the outfield wall to the hospital hallway is nothing short of staggering. His fall may have defied logic, but his recovery is now defying expectations. Let this be a reminder: baseball is a game of inches—just don’t test them vertically. Helmets for fans, anyone? Gravity, after all, remains undefeated.