The Booze Brothers

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A day or two ago I was watching one of my favorite shows on TV—“Pardon The Interruption.” Before you click that back button or move on to the next webpage, this is not a post discussing the finer points of PTI, the apparent love between the two stars or the all too frequent appearances of the of guest hosts…that will be later.

They were discussing the baseball playoffs. One of the teams the LA Angels has actually clinched a spot in this year’s playoffs. Many felt they would have a difficult time doing so. However, just like so many other sports stories the team prevailed to so many heartbreaks, disappointments and a long, difficult season.

Once again this is not a baseball story. One of the difficulties the team had to overcome was the death of one of their young teammates. Their young teammate, Nick Adenhart, was a promising pitcher from the Silver Springs, MD area. For anyone who follows baseball you know how extremely difficult it is to make it to the big leagues. There are SO many minor league stops that one can make that you could actually be a paid baseball player for 20 years or more and NEVER make it to the big leagues. With the talent that Nick had he was able to make it at the ripe old age of 22. At 24 years old his life was quickly and tragically snuffed out.

Just like any well scripted Hollywood screenplay the team dedicates their season to their fallen teammate. His memory is inextricably stitched to their uniforms for the season. His likeness is placed on an outfield wall. This team then goes on to earn a playoff spot. All is right with the world…

Cameras follow the team into the clubhouse to capture their celebration on film (or at least the equivalent of film—high capacity Hard Disc Drive). The guys are wildly celebrating like young boys pouring beer and champagne on each other. They then grab the jersey of their slain teammate doing the same; dousing it with beer and champagne. More beer and champagne is taken to his picture on the outfield wall and it is sprayed with beer and champagne.

This is the Hollywood ending any producer would be proud of. For me, there is but one problem…young Nick Adenhart was killed by an alleged drunk driver. How ironic is it that the very elixir that took the life of Nick is the name thing that is being used to celebrate a successful season AND to honor the memory of a deceased teammate?

I don’t drink and I don’t knock anyone who does—it is your body who am I to tell you what to do and how to maintain it? I do have a problem with people that drink and drive because now your decisions DIRECTLY affect any other drivers that are on the road with you. Death at the hands of a drunk driver is SO completely avoidable if the person drinking was even the slightest bit concerned about the welfare of others. Drink at home. Get a designated driver. Sleep it off before climbing behind the wheel. Call a cab.

Unfortunately, many cases that involve a drunk driver end in the death of the person NOT drinking. Someone maybe on their way home from work; a child riding their bike near their home; a pedestrian crossing the street; numerous episodes where a person’s life was ended because of the negligence of someone who decided it was better to drink and drive than to have someone drive them home.