d.: (If someone with a bad memory loses what little memory s/he has, how will anyone know? Now, what was I about to do? It was something very important… Oh, yes, write my blog.)
Cal.E. is on the campaign trail on POTTC, her home planet. That gives me a chance to talk about a few things in life, namely the end of it- death.
Two well-known athletes died Monday. One was in his sport’s hall of fame, and the other should have been. However, only one of these two was a hall-of-fame person.
The better known of the two men was Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader. Rose is not in the most hallowed hall because he accepted a permanent ban for betting on baseball, which is forbidden if one is affiliated with MLB. The reason is that a bookie may put pressure on someone who’s behind in payments and ask that person to throw games or to shave points. Rose admitted to betting on baseball, but assures us he never bet on his own team. This isn’t a believable story, because Rose was a notorious liar. However, as competitive as Pete was, I doubt he ever shaved points or bet on his team to lose. Anyone who would run over a catcher to get to home plate in an exhibition game (the All Star Game) is too competitive to do that. So, Rob, if you’re listening, be a Man,Fred for once, an do the right thing. Put the all-time hits leader in the hall of fame before you retire. Five years after his death should be sufficient time for people to forget Rose’s shortcomings.
Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame on the merit of what he did as a baseball player and manager, not because he was a good person. The Hall, though, is filled with people of low or no character. Ty Cobb comes immediately to mind. A notorious racist, Cobb would sharpen his metal cleats to punish middle infielders who tried to tag him out.
Mickey Mantle, an alcoholic and Hall-of Famer, ran a gambling casino after he retired from baseball. And, of course, the most recognized name in baseball, Babe Ruth. The big man (6’2’’ and 215 pounds would be considered ideal for an athlete in this century) was seen at night clubs and photographed numerous times with a cigar in one hand and a beer in the other. However, the Babe was a good person, just not a good role model. He gave money to orphanages (including the one he spent his formative years in despite the fact that both of his parents were still alive) and visited sick children in the hospital. However, The person I want to talk about is an ex-NBA player, not a baseball player.
Dikembe Mutombo was a player I never liked until he joined the Houston Rockets and I learned his story. He came to the U.S. to become a doctor and then go back to his homeland and treat people in The Congo. However, Mutombo was 7’2” tall and had a 7’6’’ wingspan, and he could move his feet. He started playing basketball for Georgetown one year after he enrolled in this prestigious university and was a high first round draft choice in the NBA draft. Mutombo is one of three players to earn four defensive player of the year awards. He also stepped in admirably for the Rockets when the focus of the team, 7’5” Yao Ming went down with an injury. He is in the Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Fame and belongs there.
Mutombo used his NBA earnings to build a hospital in The Congo. He was a noted philanthropist who spent his spare time meeting with world leaders to champion for the underprivileged. He spent his millions and spare time helping others, not stuffing his pockets. Reportedly, he was an ideal teammate as well. That must have been a welcome relief to the Rocket’s organization after dealing with Sir Charles Barkley and Clyde “The Glide” Drexler playing (theoretically, anyway) together. I believe that the world is a worse place today than it was yesterday because it lost a Hall-of Fame person and teammate, Dikembe Mutombo..
This has been d.c. scot with one man’s (correct) opinion.
Comments