Last Tuesday, after twenty years in the game, Houston Astros second baseman, Craig Biggio announced his retirement at the end of this season.
His speech was filled with uncharacteristic emotion, even tears. He thanked everyone on his long list, but the heart of his statement was all about his family and about getting to be more involved with them.
The articles that filled the Houston Chronicle last Wednesday morning are all worth reading (http://www.chron.com/), actually whether you love the game or not.
"B-G-O," as the Houston fans shout to him during home games, has been a special player--a cornerstone talent with a giant work ethic and a heart to more than match. In a day when the NBA is in turmoil thanks to a basketball official shaves points to cover bets, a professional football star gets caught up in a cruel dog fighting enterprise, and lots of other baseball stars "jack up" their game with the help of steroids, Biggio represents the best of professional sports--a very different sort of player. No wonder the fans love him.
Tuesday night was incredible--that's how it turned out--just incredible.
Coming to back in the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs, the bases loaded and tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-3, Biggio ripped the first pitch from right-hander Rudy Seanez six rows up into the left field seats, known as Crawford Boxes.
Grand slam!
Talk about a magic moment.
From now on when people ask why I love baseball so much, I will tell them this story. It's what the game is all about--moments like last Tuesday evening. . .and the twenty years leading up to it.
His speech was filled with uncharacteristic emotion, even tears. He thanked everyone on his long list, but the heart of his statement was all about his family and about getting to be more involved with them.
The articles that filled the Houston Chronicle last Wednesday morning are all worth reading (http://www.chron.com/), actually whether you love the game or not.
"B-G-O," as the Houston fans shout to him during home games, has been a special player--a cornerstone talent with a giant work ethic and a heart to more than match. In a day when the NBA is in turmoil thanks to a basketball official shaves points to cover bets, a professional football star gets caught up in a cruel dog fighting enterprise, and lots of other baseball stars "jack up" their game with the help of steroids, Biggio represents the best of professional sports--a very different sort of player. No wonder the fans love him.
Tuesday night was incredible--that's how it turned out--just incredible.
Coming to back in the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs, the bases loaded and tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-3, Biggio ripped the first pitch from right-hander Rudy Seanez six rows up into the left field seats, known as Crawford Boxes.
Grand slam!
Talk about a magic moment.
From now on when people ask why I love baseball so much, I will tell them this story. It's what the game is all about--moments like last Tuesday evening. . .and the twenty years leading up to it.
1 comment:
Like you, I've always been impressed with Biggio as a player and a person. What a great career and fine example.
I had gotten busy and missed the story about the grand slam. That IS a great one.
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