Want to be a Major Sport Commissioner? Really? Who would have thought on Opening Day that baseball's boss had the best job? Somehow, steroid-taking baseball players don't seem the worst when grouped with dog-fighting football players and game-throwing basketball referees.
Need a shower? A little sweetness and light? I got you covered!
Jon Lester won tonight. Oh, sure, he had a "W" by his name when the game was done, but he got the win just by taking the mound in the bottom of the first in Cleveland.
Eleven months ago tonight, Lester won the seventh game of his rookie season for the Boston Red Sox, against only two losses. After the next day's game against the Angels, the Sox flew to Lester's hometown, Seattle, for a series with the Mariners. His dad met him at the airport, took a look at him, and wanted to know what was wrong. His back was hurting. Probably just strained something. The next morning, it was worse. And, thank God, John Lester decided that his son was going to the doctor. The doctor was Mr. Lester's brother, an MRI was quickly ordered, and the problem was identified: Jon Lester, 22 year old Rookie of the Year candidate, had anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
How does a 22 year old kid deal with that news? How do parents deal with hearing that news about their kid? Very, very well, it turns out.
Jon began a treatment regimen that meant six rounds of chemotherapy. And more prayers than can be counted by anyone who wasn't the recipient of those pleas. And a committed determination that he would be ready for Opening Day.
Cancer-free by December, he reported to Fort Myers in February. Theo Epstein and Tito Francona showed their integrity by telling Lester that they would not put him on the major league roster until everyone was sure that he was ready. He didn't need the extra pressure. He just needed to be well.
Tonight, he was.
The fine, attentive fans of the Cleveland Indians applauded the opposing pitcher when he came out for the bottom of the first. They knew he won just by walking out between the white lines.
His parents, John and Kathie, were on ESPN 2 almost as much as Jon was tonight. Dad's adam's apple was shaky all night, while mom's face spent a lot of time in her hands. They knew, better than anyone, that he won before he ever threw a pitch.
At the end of the evening, the linescore was great, but almost meaningless. The transforming journey from Jon Lester, cancer victim, to Jon Lester, cancer survivor was complete. And that of Jon Lester, disabled lister, to Jon Lester, starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
He was Jon Lester, Winner, before the final score was ever posted.
Thanks, Jon, from all the sports fans in America! We needed you tonight. In the middle of a dark time, your story is a beacon of light that is everything that's good about sport and life. Keep going, kid!
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