The legendary closer who recently became baseball's first unanimous Hall of Fame selection called the demands 'unfounded. Rivera's comments came as he is being asked to appear before Panamanian judicial authorities to answer accusations that he has failed to fulfill his obligations to support the boy and girl, ages 11 and Just weeks after becoming baseball's first unanimous Hall of Fame selection, Rivera is defending himself from accusations in his native Panama that he has failed to provide support for two sons he had outside his marriage.
Rivera called the demands filed against him 'unfounded'. Speaking to The Associated Press, Ortega alleged that Rivera and the children had 'always shared' but that the former player stopped seeing them and 'abandoned' them two years ago.
Rivera is baseball's career saves leader with in regular season play, and he had 42 more in postseason games. The lawyer said Rivera faces five suits filed several months ago. She said that if he does not appear before judicial authorities, she will ask that he be prevented from leaving the country.
Little was known of the accusations against him until February 11, when reports that a hearing called by Rivera's attorneys did not take place began appearing in local media. Rivera lives in New York but was back in Panama on Tuesday. He gave an unexpected radio interview, then appeared before local media with his lawyers and offered a brief written statement.
Rivera has three sons with his wife, Clara, whom he married in The two have known each other since elementary school. In late January, Panamanians celebrated when Rivera became baseball's first unanimous Hall of Fame selection and only the second Panamanian selected to the hall.
