04/18/24
April 05, 2011
Kid Gives Super Bowl Ring to Refrigerator Perry: Cliff Forrest Jr., a 10-year-old sports fan from Pittsburgh, has spent $8,500 of his college savings to buy William "Refrigerator" Perry's Super Bowl ring and give it back to him. "My son said he knew he had problems," his mother Tracy explained. "He said Perry lost the ring through hard times, and that he only had one ring. He said, 'I want him to have the ring back.'"
That's an awfully kind gesture by the kid, but the Fridge is an adult man beset by many problems of his own making. I would never allow my child to squander so much of his savings like that.
posted by rcade at 05:21 PM on April 05, 2011
I like that story. It is a rare quality in kids to be selfless like that. I'm most impressed and would like to discuss childrearing techniques with that family.
As to the squandering, I would definitely allow that since most kids have the opposite problem of believing that the world revolves around them. If my child could both show selflessness and be rewarded for that show of selflessness, well, that would be priceless.
Oh, and Atheist, refusing gifts is just poor manners. Perry did the right thing.
posted by bperk at 05:31 PM on April 05, 2011
I don't find selflessness to be a rare quality in kids. I find it to be a rare quality amongst adults.
Sort of along the general sentiments so far, I think it's a wonderful gesture, but will give 3-1 to anyone who says the Fridge doesn't sell this again.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:33 PM on April 05, 2011
I'm most impressed and would like to discuss childrearing techniques with that family.
You mean like when the Dad's out of town the Mom let's her kid blow his "college fund," without consulting her husband?
Or teaching a 10 year old kid that $8,500.00 is a lot of money?
Apparently, money is far from an issue for the Forrests. Good for them and good for Junior having a kind heart but I still see this as a rather irresponsible random of act of kindness.
posted by tselson at 06:55 PM on April 05, 2011
I respect the kid...but in reality... I am sure in Ten to Fifteen years, The kid is going to realize he flushed nearly 9k down the drain... thats alot of money and barely the cost of one semester. The kid got 2 signed jerseys and a few trading cards???? The fridge put no effort into that...at least he could have used his celeb status to get some current bears to sign some stuff...perhaps even some league wide autographs... the kid deserves a room full of collectibles!!
posted by MJgigs at 07:27 PM on April 05, 2011
Good for them and good for Junior having a kind heart but I still see this as a rather irresponsible random of act of kindness.
What's irresponsible about it? Unless their house is being foreclosed upon, they are in bankruptcy, or something catastrophic, what's irresponsible about giving money or a gift you aren't using to someone else? I don't believe this was really his college fund. No one keeps their child's college fund in accessible account for Junior to spend (the tax consequences would be severe). Unless you thing Perry isn't worthy of such a gift because of his problems? Some people think like that, but I don't want to raise my children to think that only some human beings are worthy of their kindness.
I don't find selflessness to be a rare quality in kids. I find it to be a rare quality amongst adults.
In our smallish community, many of us parents continually fret about how our children are disconnected from the harsh realities that many people face. Why shouldn't they be? But, how do you teach them to be compassionate of other people's struggles and realize that they are the fortunate ones? That's why I admire what happened here. I'm pretty sure that a large amount of money in my child's hand would be blown at the toy store.
posted by bperk at 07:41 PM on April 05, 2011
Oh, and Atheist, refusing gifts is just poor manners.
Refusing a gift because you consider it too extravagant would not be poor manners.
A 2001 St. Petersburg Times story shows how little Perry valued his Super Bowl ring:
Last year, 39 bids were made on the Internet for former Bears defensive lineman William "Refrigerator" Perry's ring -- one of them, anyway. It sold for $27,472.72. (Perry wore No. 72.) "I lost that back in '87, '88," Perry said. "There's maybe four or five duplicates of it. ... I don't get attached to things like that. If I had it, someone else is going to sell it or someone's going to fight over it."
posted by rcade at 08:18 PM on April 05, 2011
Unless you thing Perry isn't worthy of such a gift because of his problems? Some people think like that, but I don't want to raise my children to think that only some human beings are worthy of their kindness.
He's worthy of whatever gift anyone wants to bestow on him. I just can't understand how you think the parents are some sort of child rearing geniuses who you would like to consult with. They blew thousands of dollars to buy a ring to give to someone who already sold it. Just because a 10 year old thought he should have it back.
I put "college fund," in parenthesis because I don't believe it's his college fund either. The dad said it pretty much tongue and cheek. My point is that it seems that Jr. can pretty much do or get what he wants.
what's irresponsible about giving money or a gift you aren't using to someone else?
I'm not using the bottle of Tequila in my liquor cabinet but it would be irresponsible of me to give it to an alcoholic. And it would be selfish of me to give Glenlevit to someone here so that I could read another crossbow post.
posted by tselson at 11:06 PM on April 05, 2011
But, how do you teach them to be compassionate of other people's struggles and realize that they are the fortunate ones?
If you took them to the VA hospital or local children's hospital that would probably do the trick. My hunch is they would rather have given money to the wounded warrior project or make a wish foundation than to buy the biggest super bowl ring ever and return it to the guy who sold it. It just seems like it could have been a teachable moment to Jr. on perspective. That's what I meant by irresponsible.
posted by tselson at 11:36 PM on April 05, 2011
I think the kid first bought the ring because he collects sports memorabilia. Later, he googled Perry and saw his struggles and decided to give the ring to him. He didn't buy the ring to give it away; they were separate decisions. I guess his parents could have prevented him from buying the ring, but his mom let him. Then, when he said he wanted to give the ring away because he saw how much Perry was struggling, what are the arguments as a parent? What's the teachable lesson? It just seems that you have to make an argument that he isn't worthy of such a gift, and I wouldn't pass that lesson on to my kid. People donate money to the arts when there are people dying of treatable diseases. Is that a good use of their money? Yes. Do we really want to teach kids to judge worthiness of donation. Giving is kind regardless, and it appears that it made Junior feel good about it. He feels that this has been an experience of a lifetime. If Perry keeps the ring, then the kid is rewarded even more. If he doesn't, then the kid learns his own lesson.
posted by bperk at 08:30 AM on April 06, 2011
Probably would have made a nice bracelet for the kid to wear around.
posted by dyams at 10:20 AM on April 06, 2011
The kid seems like his heart was in the right place but also displayed what might be considered a lack of awareness as to the value of money. How many homeless could have been fed for that money, or sick people helped? Instead he felt Perry needed the money? A guy who made millions playing football and squandered it on alcohol, binge eating and what ever. A guy who was in business selling his autograph.
Perry should have never accepted a ring he did not care about and had already sold, from a kid who spent a lot money earmarked for college education. It just shows where Perry's head is at, and that is up his ass.
posted by Atheist at 02:32 PM on April 06, 2011
How many homeless could have been fed for that money, or sick people helped? Instead he felt Perry needed the money? A guy who made millions playing football and squandered it on alcohol, binge eating and what ever.
Whoa man, what is this bullshit? Who are you to judge? "A guy who made millions playing football and squandered it on alcohol"?? That's your take on the Fridge? That's all you got? Summed the man up in a sentence, let's move on?
While the innocent homeless angels await in their cardboard boxes for their rightful inheritance? Come on bro.
posted by phaedon at 12:40 PM on April 08, 2011
Well what a great kid. His heart is in the right place. I was shocked to learn that Perry accepted the kids gift. To me it shows what a jerk Perry has become. He said thanks but to me he should have never accepted this ring at the expense of a kids college money. My guess is Perry just sells it again. He is proving himself to be the looser he has shown in the past. There is a reason why this guy has lost everything.
Since he is out there selling autographs to kids, maybe he should have bought the ring back. Do you think Perry would have given the kid a free autograph?