TERRY MOSHER
The death’s recently of so many people – John Quisenberry, Ron Ness and others – got me down and got me to thinking again of my dark years when I felt alone against the world, and mainly was.
What really struck me just now is that one of my first girlfriends died 30 years ago. She had MS and had been confined for many of her last years in a state institution. She was 43 when she died (she had married when she was 21) and it was a sad ending to a life that was full of sadness. In her very last years she was strapped in bed at night and strapped in a wheel chair in the day, and was blind and could not speak. To say it was terrible would be an understatement.
I don’t question God much, but in this case I really don’t understand why she had to suffer so much. Why God, why?
This girl was unbelievable in that she accepted her fate and grew closer to God as the terrible years went on. I don’t know if I could have done the same. It’s just too much to comprehend.
To put things in perspective, I present the case of Alex Rodriguez, who was formally released from the New York Yankees on Friday. I have now read two stories on A-Rod that paint him in a very positive image, and I’m thinking yeah, right.
As I have written many times, I thought A-Rod would break all of Ken Griffey Jr.’s records because he was, well, a very gifted athlete who was just a shade bigger than Griffey with large hands and reflexes that were unbelievable.
But A-Rod, to me, and to others, ruined it all by taking PEDs when he didn’t have to. He could have been one of the all-time greats without them. Then he hedged and fudged on when he took them.
Griffey and A-Rod were the best talented players to play for the Seattle Mariners (Edgar Martinez didn’t have the same level of talent, but he had a work ethic and determination like no one else and was the best right-handed hitter I ever saw), but Griffey is all light and A-Rod wound up all-darkness.
Will A-Rod get in the Hall of Fame? He has the numbers to, but how do you measure them against the fact he used PEDs? And what penalty should he be issued because he did?
I personally would not vote for him. In addition to the PED use, he was as phony as a three-dollar bill. He projected an image of an All-American boy, yet off the field he was anything but that.
So do you punish him for that, too?
I don’t know. But I do know we (and I) have lost some good people recently and that takes a front seat to everything else. People will always say that is life, but often that life hurts. I have lost a lot of good friends along the journey of my life, some of them way too soon, and the hurt I feel will never go away.
Having said all of that, I got to get out of here and soak up this last hot blast of summer before it all goes away, and maybe chase away the darkness and bring me some light. So, we’ll see you later.
Be well pal.
Be careful out there.
Have a great day.
You are loved.