A bit late on the Ripken celebratory bandwagon, but there was this really good piece by a Chicago sportswriter about Cal. It emphasizes what's special about Cal, and goes way beyond just his numbers. (Which, by the way, are amazing.)
In an era marked by spoiled, multimillionaire athletes, detachment from the average fan and, now, the scandal of steroid and drug use, Mr. Ripken was different.When baseball needed a role model, when its fans wanted a ballplayer they could look up to, Cal Ripken Jr. stepped up to the plate and accepted the responsibility. And he continues to accept it through his work and his example. Baseball's most resilient player has become one of its greatest ambassadors.
Warms the heart. I'm such a sap.
Posted by Barb at January 23, 2007 07:23 PM | TrackBackI hear that Cal, in addition to healing lepers, smote the ground with his bat and up sprang George Washington, fully grown, and on his horse. Then, the three of them--Cal, Washington, and the horse--singlehandedly won the World Series . . . in 1983.
Posted by: Brent at January 24, 2007 11:09 AM