Sunday, March 22, 2009

Our Real Heroes

I can remember being ten years old when Mike Piazza was traded from the Florida Marlins to the New York Mets. His second at bat was an RBI double, and I'll never forget the image of Jerry Seinfeld going crazy in his seat when Piazza recorded his first of many RBI's with the Mets. Soon after, whenever I would be asked who my hero was, I had one response: Mike Piazza. It's amazing how things have changed...

Yesterday afternoon, in Oakland, California, four policemen were fired upon by a parolee wanted on charges of parole violation. Upon the confrontation with police, the parolee, Lovelle Mixon, opened fire, killing three officers, and rendering a fourth braindead.

The fourth policeman, officer John Hege, is only alive right now because his family is still deciding whether to donate his organs or not.

Eleven years after Mike Piazza's first RBI as a Met, I have a somewhat different view of what a hero is. A hero isn't somebody who goes to work for six months of the year and plays a game for a living, it's the guy who works a double shift in the worst part of Brooklyn to make ends meet. A hero isn't somebody who gets drafted into the NFL, a hero is someone who is drafted into the armed forces. A hero doesn't wear his name and number on the back of his jersey, he wears it on his badge. Regardless of how humble, popular, and charismatic a player is, he is not a hero.

Here's to all the heroes who put everything on the line to serve and protect us. You don't get put on the cover of a video game, and you only get your name in the newspaper when something bad happens, but you are the ones who should be honored every day.

Those four police officers in Oakland gave the ultimate sacrifice for their city, and while much of the country is focusing on playoff races and March Madness, one fan salutes you.

Thank you.

1 comment:

islanderprde55 said...

Your words are heart-felt and appreciated but your idea is one not shared by the masses. Police Officers all over the nation live each day to protect and serve the great people of their community, but in most cases the community doesn't always take too kindly to the presence of authority placed in their community. In my opinion Police Officers are viewed more as an adversary to the masses and only a hero to those who have been fortunate enough to receive help. In contrast the other civil service ranks and armed forces candidates that lend their lives every day for the betterment of the community, the nation, and the world are greeted with open arms and cheers of joy. And that is how it should be.
Yet with the current economic times even these individuals have seen better days. In the end I would have to say that all sports figures armatures and professionals alike are heroes. They give the American people a release from the hardships of everyday life. In my opinion American sports are the reason that this great nation hasn't fallen apart yet. Some players taint the sport for the other athletes. But under the contracts, off-field conduct, and relocation of your favorite sports team is a game played by men and women who love it. For every T.O there is a Brett Favre and for every Darcey Tucker there is an Alexander Ovechkin. Players that love the game and play every minute like it's their last. SO as a fellow hero I salute the athletes of America and all the heroes of our great nation that have given the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the oath they took to protect and serve the people.