The news sounds good concerning Tug McGraw. The reports were that he has an excellent chance of recovery.

I have mixed feelings about the amount of press sports tragedy receives which is the same for all "fame" inducing venues. There are personal tragedies played out all across America and the world. Why should we care about the rich and famous when they at least can afford the best medical care money can buy? I think part of the reason it matters is that stories such as McGraw's personalize a game played by the gods.

These are human beings blessed with a particular talent and granted a measure of luck that made them more fortunate materially than the rest of us. But they are still humans. And at times, their struggles inspire those of us mere mortals. Lou Gehrig's speech immortalized near the end of his illness and during a day in his honor at Yankee Stadium is still one of the most stirring and inspiring series of sentences of the 20th Century. It is a statement of courage, of humility and of humanity. Only two speeches I have watched moved me that much and the other was King's "I Have A Dream" speech.

Lance Armstrong has certainly inspired another generation of victims to fight cancer and to have hope. When a champion triumphs over such a devastating illness, can you measure how many lives are won over by hope as his story is played out? Mike Lowell of the Marlins is another such story.

Yes, it can be sad when a well-known baseball player has a stunning illness or even when a lesser known pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles seemingly dies for no reason. The cynic will state that thousands die every day and nobody writes their stories. That's true. But let me present the other side of that argument. Was Ben Franklin the only genius of his time who was good at settling an argument, writing brilliantly or tinkering with inventions? Surely there were others of his time as talented that didn't ever get even a line of praise for their lifetime of achievement. But that does not minimize Franklin's accomplishments and how his life inspired countless lives through the ages. That's the way "fame" bounces but if you are one of the lucky immortals, your humanity can and does still inspire us and we still root for you and cry with you. All the best to you, Tug.



I was certainly relieved that the trip to Japan was cancelled in light of recent events. Those players and their families did not need to have their lives at risk for the sake of this diplomatic series. Sure it is disappointing to those who put it together and for the officials in Japan and MLB. But you have to protect and not risk our precious commodities especially at this frightening time in our history.

Whenever momentus events in our history occur, the debate always rages of whether the games of sports should go on. On a very personal and honest level, I am frightened to the core of my being by events taking place in the world. In light of these events, are sports important? No, of course not. But boy do I need them to help control and contain my fear. Our spirits need lifting on a continual basis and baseball was healing after September 11 and it's a balm now. Just protect those fans coming to the ballparks. Please.