It's Not All About The Game

Dave has been in relief twice this week and done well. Really well. Of course last night with a 12-1 lead there was no reason to NOT do well, but it has been good experience for him. He is learning to adjust his routine, and understanding what it takes to come into the game under all situations (which he is doing) as a relief pitcher.

The Sunday before we left, it was Pink at the Park Night. The players wore pink jerseys which were auctioned off and signed after the game, lots of stuff going on, silent auctions, giveaways, all in honor for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks(bcfo.org), the local organization that gives support for breast cancer patients. The fans in red were now in pink, lots of stories we heard that night, it's amazing how many people's lives are touched by breast cancer.

My son was sent pink cleats this year by one of his sponsers, reebok. He finally got a chance to wear them. We had no idea what he intended to do with them after the game.

Let me jump on to something first.

That night was also about being Cardinal fans. You probably couldn't meet a nicer bunch of fans, and I am not saying that because my son is a redbird. It's part of being from the midwest, part of being a fan of a team that has a rich history. Part of being "America's Team" before there was one, part of Musial, Whiteyball, Hornsby, Busch, Clysdales and the Gashouse Gang, Albert, Yadi and "That's a Winner". And about a whole lot more.

Last year Dave introduced us to the huggy sisters, two elderly woman who have attended almost every game for 7 years since Cardinal baseball came to Springfield. They stand in line at every game to meet and hug the players who are at the entrance where they enter, everyone knows the huggy sisters, who sit way down in the front row close to the field, rain or shine, hot or cold. Great examples of diehard Cardinal fans.

About 2 months ago, one of the huggy sisters died from breast cancer. I heard that it touched everyone at the park, including the players. Of course my son has been there pretty long compared to most. After the game, he quietly sought out the surviving sister and gave up his pink cleats, in honor os her sister. We had no idea, we saw her leaving the stadium, she opened the box under her arm, there were the pink cleats, and she told us that this would become one of her great Cardinal treasures and thanked us for sending Dave to Springfield to play (we actually didn't send him but you get the idea). She cried, we cried, people standing by us cried, it was just more than baseball that night for sure.

A few days ago a fan we met alerted me to an article written on Tuesday in the local paper, I usually read the online addition of teh game teh night before but I some how missed this one. The press hasn't been all that kind to him this year, but this made up for some of the tough articles written.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107180350

I knew after reading this that he was ok (he doesn't say much these days about his game), we didn't have to worry about him, no matter what he decided to do, he would be fine.

We are proud of DK, after all that the game has taken from him lately, he still found a way to give back. That's what life should be about, giving back.

Thanks all for dropping by, I am going to put this aside for now, I will let you know when something out of the ordinary night happen, between now and end of season.