Comments on: A’s DiNardo Allegedly Buys Sea Turtle Shell Guitar

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:35:58 +0000

Oh get off it you freaks. Contact the Atheltics..do this and that and the other thing. Oh get off it! He didn’t kill anyone. Leave him alone

By: SoxAddict

SoxAddict — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:31:36 +0000

Nevermind, I was mistaken as to the specifics regarding CITES. My fault, I should have read more into that before opening my mouth.

I think you should link the article where he says “I don’t know if I can get it back in the (United States), but we’ll see if we can.” That kind of changed my opinion on the whole issue. He went from being remorseful and ignorant of the laws to showing intent to sneak the item into the US.

For shame DiNardo. For shame.

By: TheUmpire

TheUmpire — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:28:23 +0000

Never called for the guy’s head. Just asking that he go beyond saying that he feels bad by relinquishing the allegedly illegal product, reporting it to the authorities, and publicly acknowledging that what he allegedly did was illegal. Not asking that he be fined or suspended or killed. Just that he use his position as a public figure to explain what happened.

The making of the item may or may not have been illegal at the time. The trading of it today _is_ illegal as per the CITES convention. It is CITES, not the US ESA that makes international trading of sea turtle products illegal.

I do not follow the logic about the US ESA being older than the sea turtle product.

In another article, DiNardo is reported as saying “I don’t know if I can get it back in the (United States), but we’ll see if we can.” This appears to show intent of international trade.

Rather than these quotes, I would prefer to see “I did not realize it was illegal. As soon as it was brought to my attention, I did X, Y, and Z.” Something like that. DiNardo gets shown trying to rectify the situation, and the law is given some publicity so the next guy might not try it.

Not sure why this seems excessive…?

By: SoxAddict

SoxAddict — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:11:57 +0000

Sure, but you requested he make a public statement about it which he already did in that article. The guy feels bad about it and calling for his head on a platter won’t make much of a difference.

Also, I’m not so sure it was illegal to make in Japan 20 years ago. In fact I think the Endangered Species Act is only about 30 years old. I may be wrong though.

By: TheUmpire

TheUmpire — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:58:07 +0000

Yep, read the whole thing. My point is not that DiNardo “feels bad,” but rather that this alleged transaction is illegal.

What I would like to see is a follow-up story where DiNardo acted on his “buyer’s remorse” by contacting the proper authorities and then stating publicly that he did his best to correct the situation.

Would that not be the (next best) right thing to do?