September 2, 2009 marked the eighth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially recognize the 30 Club nominees who are finalists for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by tax payer bailout Chevy (GM). For New York teams, All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter is the Yankees’ nominee and for the New York Mets, LatinoMVP and 2009 All-Star Johan Santana. They are among 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2009 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who devotes work in the community combined with exceptional performance on the baseball field. What about GM? Read on.

New York Yankees 2009 nominee, Derek Jeter (LS/Bill Menzel)

The award is named for 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, who died on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award perpetuates Clemente’s legacy and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

New York Mets 2009 nominee, Johan Santana (LS/Bill Menzel)

If Chevy (GM) were to be honored for the same virtues embodied in this award, it would not be in the running. In a recent article published in the Inter Press Service by Adrianne Appel, the writer points that after U.S. taxpayers have given 50 billion to rescue General Motors (Chevy being part of it); the corporation says it should not have to pay a penny to people harmed by known defects in its vehicles.

In the wake of this year’s Labor Day, GM will lay off 21,000 workers as part of its restructuring. GM is purported to be negotiating bankruptcy in a New York court. “The company is arguing that it should be absolved from paying out money to people who are hurt as a result of known problems in its cars already on the road,” Appel writes.

Joanne Doroshow, executive director of the Center for Justice and Democracy, pointed to Appel that GM is sued by the hundreds each year for known defects that result in people being killed, burned and disabled – and that the company has one of the very worst safety records among car makers with 30 million vehicles on the road. According to the Center for Auto Safety, between 500 and 1,000 people are harmed or killed in GM and Chrysler vehicles each year (Chrysler has 10 million vehicles on the road). GM vehicles have been plagued repeatedly by notorious safety problems such as roofs that collapse during rollover accidents, gas tanks that ignite upon impact and weak seats that give way. Defects have included seatbelts that have not worked in accidents.

One can imagine Roberto Clemente’s spirit being upset by a sponsor of the award named after him; he certainly would have voiced concern and with an activist inclination, would have him put some action behind his words. That leaves the rest of us to pounder while being expected to just write about sports.

2006 Roberto Clement Award winner Carlos Delgado, here before going to the DL (LS/Bill Menzel)

Returning to the award, meaning no más on GM, this writer wants to point out the following: the first Latino to win this award was Sammy Sosa (Dominican Republic) in 1998. In 2004 it was Edgar Martinez (Puerto Rico); in 2006, Carlos Delgado (Puerto Rico) and the last one in 2008, by LatinoMVP that same year and 6 time LatinoMVP, Albert Pujols (Dominican Republic). The following relates to the two NY nominees.

2008 LatinoMVP (6-time LatinoMVP), Albert Pujols (LS/Bill Menzel)

DEREK JETER: (From Yankees Media Relations)

Jeter established the “Turn 2 Foundation” in 1996 as a mechanism for giving back to the various communities that are a part of his life including West Michigan, Tampa, Fla. and New York City. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $10 million in grants to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and “TURN 2” healthy lifestyles. Through these ventures, the foundation strives to create outlets that promote academic excellence, leadership development and positive behavior.

In addition to his commitment to his own foundation efforts, Jeter also lends his time in support of several public service announcement campaigns and various other non-profit organizations that support youth nationwide and abroad. The Yankees’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 1998, Jeter has received several awards in recognition of his outstanding community service, including the Joan Payson Award (1997), Los Niños Image Award (2001), the Sporting News Good Guy in Sports Award (2002), the Michigan Association of School Administrators Champion for Children Award (2005) and several awards for his philanthropic focus on the prevention and treatment of adolescent substance abuse. Over the past 13 years, Derek Jeter has been recognized by Presidents, Governors, and Mayors for his philanthropic efforts.

 JOHAN SANTANA (http://theropolitans.com)

Santana created the Johan Santana Foundation, which provides funding for programs that focus on education and healthcare domestically and abroad. The Foundation supports youth baseball and other children's charities in Venezuela and Tovar Merida, where he has helped build schools, hospitals and sports facilities.

Santana personally delivered a fire truck he donated to his hometown to replace a beaten up pick-up truck that was ill-equipped to do the job, and sent several firefighters to train the town's fire department. He will return home again this December to hand out Christmas gifts to youngsters at his fourth annual Holiday Party.

Through October 4, 2009, fans can log on to www.chevy.com/clemente and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. Don’t think you can register a complaint on the other issues, though.