In any endeavour, one might be able to name the ten most significant people associated with it-from film to forensics, from politics to physics. So too for baseball. Next to soccer, baseball may be the second most-played sport the world over. All you really need is a stick and a ball and a few friends. I have watched kids play it among cherry trees in Tokyo, on empty lots in Mexico, in dusty fields in rural Saskatchewan and parking lots in New York. And so I tip my cap to one of the ten greatest baseball players, ever. Mariano Rivera is retiring. The formidable " Panamanian closer" is a 13 time All Star. He threw the last pitch in 5 World Series victories. He played 18 years for the same team, the NY Yankees. He is quiet, honourable and charitable. But man he could throw a mean "cutter". Still can. He made baseball better, in the Big Show and wherever kids play and dream.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 23:28:06 +0000