Monday, March 06, 2006

Thanks Puck, thanks for loving the game


I can’t remember a time I’ve been so sad while trying to write something I feel needs to be written. Today, the great state of Minnesota lost its most beloved sports figure ever. No, he was not born here; he came to us from the windy city of Chicago. He came here as a small, skinny man that had everyone scratching their heads thinking “this is the guy we brought in to play center field?”

At only 5’8, Puckett was small in stature, but his heart for the game and people in general was larger than life itself. Whether it was the never ending smile, or the signature leg kick that helped power baseballs over the fence, anyone that was privileged enough to witness his great career was touched.

I know I’m nobody in the sports journalism world; I’m just a man, a Minnesota man that will forever cherish the moments watching Kirby Puckett. I was fortunate enough to meet him in person a couple of times at the Metrodome when I was a kid in the mid and late 80’s, and each time he acknowledged me, as he did anyone that was in his line of site. I’ll never forget the time he signed my baseball glove and thanked me for coming to the game. He thanked me! Tell me that’s not a rare professional athlete.

Puckett was the most humble superstar I’ve ever seen, and his actions spread throughout the Twins organization and helped to lead a small market team to two World Championships.

Over the years, I’ve come to despise the Metrodome. I’ve watched many beautiful outdoor parks on TV and been to a few in person, and I’ve done so with an envious glare. Now that Puck is gone, I can’t help but feel guilt for ever thinking that way. The Metrodome is and always will be Kirby Puckett’s home. One of the streets outside the dome is named after him, it’s his home. It is home to the most memorable sports memories in my life, memories laced with Kirby Puckett and the Minnesota Twins. Kirby was once offered more money to play in the heralded Fenway Park of Boston, but he turned it down, turned it down to keep playing in the Dome, to play for us here in Minnesota.

Bob Casey’s famous Kirby announcement will forever resonate in the Dome, and should it ever tumble, I’m sure it will echo in Downtown Minneapolis forever.

10 All-Star games in 12 seasons, six gold gloves, a career .318 hitter, two time World Champion, and a first ballot Hall of Famer. That’s one hell of a career from one hell of a guy.

Puckett was not a hero, which is a word I feel better reserved for the men and women that defend our country, men and women that serve and protect us as members of the police, fire fighters, and military. Or the man or woman that goes out of their way to bless the life of someone less fortunate (though Kirby did fit in here with charities in the Twin Cities).

Kirby Puckett was a baseball player, one of the best to ever play the game. He brought joy to this man, when I was a boy, and as I watch video highlights of his illustrious career and see that smile, he’ll bring joy to me and millions of others forever.

When I’m old and my grand kids ask me what it was like to watch Kirby Puckett (and I know they will), I hope I can emulate his smile and grace them with the same feeling he gave me as I tell them about his legendary home run in game six of the 1991 World Series, his game saving leaping catch from the same game, or the four hits he amassed in his first game as a pro.

Kirby Puckett will forever be remembered and is an icon Minnesota will always be proud to hang its hat on. Thank you Kirby Puckett, thank you for playing the game because you loved it, not because it made you bigger than life, your heart did that just fine on its own.