Today holds two important anniversaries for Baltimore Orioles fans.
First, twenty-one years ago Cal Ripken Jr. broke the unbreakable, surpassing Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak and establishing a new record of 2131 consecutive games played. His detractors claim it is this streak that got Ripken into the Hall of Fame, but an important discussion should take place about his position as a baseball player and as an employee.Now and then there are stories of high school kids who attend every day of school for all four years of their academic career. They are congratulated and it is usually noted they are good students. Similarly, employees are congratulated and sometimes awarded when they do not call in sick. I know of at least one employer in my home town that provides extra vacation days the following year if no sick time is used during the preceding twelve months.
This is important because he didn't show up for every game in a single season, but he did it for thirteen seasons to earn the record and ultimately showed up for work, ready to go, for more than sixteen seasons. When you consider the grind that baseball is, day in and day out, two or three or four seasons would be a big deal, but he quadrupled that is The Streak.
For me, this is an amazing accomplishment and we should honor his commitment to both his craft and the game. For those who complain when someone else calls out sick to work you should keep today in your mind and consider the kind of team mate Ripken was and his accomplishment as the ultimate every day player.
The second accomplishment deserves its own post and is coming shortly.
Sir, and I use that term loosely, if you wish to live up to your oath, then step aside and allow someone else to vote the will of the people of Texas. If you don't, you will be remembered by all as a heinous villain.
ReplyDeleteI wont even honor you with a "sir". Your refusal to follow through on what you swore to do identifies your character as lower than the dirt you walk upon.
ReplyDeleteMr Suprun? you will soon slip into obscurity along with the even more foolish Glenn Beck... You must have quite an ego regarding who you think you are. You must be so proud to stand on your values and principles. Unfortunately, you will only have your 15 minutes of fame and then it will get quiet, very quiet. Sure follow though on this childish act in the name of intellectual integrity. I'm taking note of who you are just so I can remember a name of someone who was so stubborn, he couldn't even get out of his own way. This is my only public comment on this subject. Goodnight and may you find some success as a highly, reviled personality. Maybe CNN will use you? They have many people like yourself working there. Now, go get your 15 minutes of infamy...
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