Johnny Oates (1946-2004)
I know I wrote yesterday that I was going to take today off, but sometimes news has a way of forcing one's hand. This news, albeit sad, is one of those hand-forcers. Former Orioles and Rangers manager Johnny Oates passed away early this morning, losing his three-year long battle with a brain tumor.
There are times when a person who didn't lead such a good life passes away, and people heap praises upon him or her anyway just because it's the politically correct thing to do. Oates is going to receive some of the kindest words of his life today, but by all accounts, they're well-deserved. I've been pretty well acquainted with one Rangers fan for three years, and he's always spoken highly of Oates as a man of great baseball knowledge (797-746 career managerial record) and as a man of even greater character. I know I've never read anything but good stories about the guy, too. Also, the guy had a will of steel to fight a brain tumor for three years.
So the baseball world's loss is Heaven's gain. Johnny -- from a person who's never met you -- thanks for being an example of everything that's good about the game, and everything that's good about the way a person can live his or her life. Well done.
1946-2004
There are times when a person who didn't lead such a good life passes away, and people heap praises upon him or her anyway just because it's the politically correct thing to do. Oates is going to receive some of the kindest words of his life today, but by all accounts, they're well-deserved. I've been pretty well acquainted with one Rangers fan for three years, and he's always spoken highly of Oates as a man of great baseball knowledge (797-746 career managerial record) and as a man of even greater character. I know I've never read anything but good stories about the guy, too. Also, the guy had a will of steel to fight a brain tumor for three years.
So the baseball world's loss is Heaven's gain. Johnny -- from a person who's never met you -- thanks for being an example of everything that's good about the game, and everything that's good about the way a person can live his or her life. Well done.
1946-2004