Reality Bites

Of the many reasons we watch baseball, that it can imitate the cruelty of life is not one.

It's a cliche to say he had it all. Of course he did. He was an average reliever in one of the greatest sports leagues in the world. He got cut from a team that rarely contended, only to land on a team that won it all.

As soon as I heard the news about Josh Hancock, the questions started. Rarely do you hear of a death of a 29 year-old in a car crash, after midnight, that doesn't involve alcohol, speeding, or otherwise imprudent behavior. Josh had it all, all right.

Today the questions were answered. He was drunk, was on his cell phone, was speeding, and wasn't wearing his seatbelt.

How are you supposed to feel about it? I feel genuinely bad for his friends and family. I feel frustrated that the Cards to have to go through this twice in six seasons. It's a tragedy. I don't watch baseball to see tragedy. I watch it to avoid it.

I read the local papers. Everyone is vowing to change their own behavior. No more drinks/cell phones/speeding. No more beer in the Cards clubhouse. Bartenders more aggressive in taking away keys.

But what happens a month from now? What happens the next time your in a bar and have had four drinks? You gonna drive? What about two years from now.

This is not why I watch baseball.