SID/Web Editor
kyleg@hawaiiwinterbaseball.com
It's commonplace for baseball fans
alike to get so wrapped up in the sport, that the line between entertainment
value and "real life" is blurred. Sure, we constantly analyze and agonize over the
performance of our favorite teams, or scrutinize the outrageous contracts of
our beloved--and despised--players.
But often lost in this game we enjoy so much is the impact the sport has on the livelihood of the players, coaches and management who make a living by, in essence, putting on a show for us.
This point
was driven home when Mike Coolbaugh was struck in the head and killed by a line
drive yesterday evening as he stood in the first base coaching box for the
Tulsa Drillers, the Colorado Rockies' Double-A affiliate. According to accounts
of the tragic incident, Coolbaugh did not have time to react to a sharp liner
off the bat of Tino Sanchez in the ninth inning of a road game against the
Arkansas Travelers. While Coolbaugh was tended to immediately and rushed to a
hospital, he stopped breathing en route.
In addition
to flying their flags at half staff, all minor league clubs will pause before
today's games and honor Coolbaugh with a moment of silence. And while that
gesture is commendable, nothing can repair the damage done to the 35-year-old
former major leaguer's wife Amanda, his two sons, and baby on the way. Not to
mention the pain of losing a coach and mentor that Coolbaugh's
players--including Duke Sardinha, a member of the Waikiki BeachBoys in the 2006
HWB campaign--must cope with.
So the next time you start getting bent out of shape when one of the players on your fantasy team isn't pulling his weight, relax.
It's just a game.
There are more important things in life--like life itself.
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