One Kid's Baseball Fantasy

Being that this is my first blog entry ever (yes, welcome to the new millenium CLauff), I thought I'd start it off with something a bit unexpected. You see, I often travel for work and am driving home late from the airport. With nothing much to do to help me stay awake, I often wander over to ESPN radio to catch Jim Rome or some other talking head. Last night, however, began as a whole different kind of talk show, hosted by ESPN Sportscenter anchor Scott Van Pelt.

As all of us toil away at our computers battling to become the next UPL fantasy baseball champion, Scott Van Pelt shared this story about a high school senior near Pittsburgh, PA who is in the battle of his life with cancer. One of his fantasies? To have one final at-bat in a high school baseball game before he dies. 5'5", 93 pound John Challis from Freedom High School got his opportunity as a pinch-hitter in a game in late April.

"He hasn't played in a few years, but he's called on to pinch-hit. His eyes light up at the first pitch and he puts all of his 5-foot-5, 93-pound frame into one mighty swing, making contact and sending a line drive into right field for a single -- if he can reach first base. The cancer he's been battling for almost two years has spread to his pelvis, making running nearly impossible."

Based on the state of his disease, standing up at the plate and swinging a bat was living a fantasy in and of itself. But the story continues.

"The kid worries about falling as he hustles down the first-base line. When he gets to the base, he lets out with a yell. "I did it! I did it!"

Safe at first with a hit and an RBI, the kid is hugged by a crying first-base coach. The opposing pitcher takes off his glove, starts applauding and his teammates follow suit. The kid's teammates run onto the field to celebrate."

In an age where we're always glued to our TV waiting for the next PacMan Jones story to unfold, John reminds us of the simple joys of life through the lens of sport. He'll never play college basketball, heck, will probably not live long enough to enter a fantasy baseball league and win a championship. But what he's leaving behind is much more valuable than winning a Roland Slam or hitting a Grand Slam or delivering a Body Slam.

"But listen to his mature views on life and his philosophies ... and you might cry.

I used to be afraid, but I'm not afraid of dying now, if that's what you want to know," he said. "Because life ain't about how many breaths you take. It's what you do with those breaths."

John shows us that although we'll (well, most of us) never win a Roland Slam or hit a Grand Slam, there's work to be done with what we've been given. Hopefully, the legacy that John leaves behind is a case of life imitating sport. Definitely a good reminder for all of us.