For the love of the game

It has been two weeks since I last posted, and I apologize for the week off. Last week was an especially taxing week, both emotionally and physically, and I took a week away from writing.

Now, though, I wanted to talk about something that I saw on television yesterday. I was, in fact, one of hundreds of thousands of people who saw it. I am referring to a baseball game, a game between the Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This game started like any other. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown, both teams took batting practice, both pitchers warmed up in the bullpen. It was, however, in the top of the first that something changed.

After Astros first baseman Lance Berkman stepped into the plate, Pirates pitcher Chris Jakubauskas threw a 1-0 pitch. As Berkman took a mighty swing, the ball went flying straight into the head of Jakubauskas. The pitcher hit the deck while the ball flew back in the direction of home plate, over the head of the catcher.

As the play came to an end, the attention shifted from the game to the people playing. Trainers and doctors rushed the field to aid the young pitcher. It was one individual's actions, however, that was the most significant.

Lance Berkman reached first base to conclude the play, and instantly turned, approaching the mound. He was there the entire time the trainers were examining Jakubauskas. He was there when Jakubauskas took his first steps. And he was there when Jakubauskas arrived at the medical cart, patting the man on the shoulder and sharing some words.

Lance Berkman is paid to play a game. He is payed to go about his business and perform at a high level of skill and efficiency. Nowhere in his contract does it say you have to be compassionate to your fellow man. Nowhere does it require him to care about the other players. Yet, he, this baseball player, has shown in one moment more kindness and consideration for human life than most people do on a given day.

I found this to be especially moving because of the time at which it occurred. So many professional athletes play with a chip on their shoulder, a nasty attitude, and a selfish personality. It was especially refreshing and moving to see a man playing a game, but being able to put that game aside when more important things are at stake.
It is for that reason that Berkman is one of the best players in the game. Not because of his home run totals, or his batting average, but rather because of the size of his heart.