Miller High Life Will Save Yankee Fan From the Vicious Clutches of the IRS

America is great, indeed! Remember how terrible we all felt when Christian Lopez, the lucky guy who caught the ball knocked out of the park in Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, was maybe going to have to pay a bunch of money -- $5,000 to $14,000 -- to the IRS, just because he was coordinated enough to catch said ball, and kind enough to return it? (And was then, in return, given memorabilia, luxury box tickets, and other Yankee goodness by the team?) Taxes ruin everything! Except that Miller High Life has seen fit to "do the right thing" in this instance and will pay Lopez's taxes for him.

Via ESPN,

"Miller High Life believes you should be rewarded for doing the right thing, not penalized," Miller High Life brand manager Brendan Noonan said in a statement. "We want to recognize Christian Lopez, and in turn everyone like him, for doing the common sense thing and help him continue to live the High Life."

Beer companies are the best! And isn't this a match made in heaven? The only possible twist, asked by tax experts over at the Consumerist:

If the fan does get hit with the tax bill and Miller decides to pay, could the IRS still consider the Miller money as additional income?

There is no such thing as a free beer, and the IRS always has the last word. Except when you've caught Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, in which case Modell's will donate five percent of Yankees merch sales to you to help pay any possible taxes and also your student loans. Really.

Beer Company Says It Will Come To Rescue Of Man Who Caught Derek Jeter's 3,000th Hit [The Consumerist]
Christian Lopez will have tax help [ESPN]