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5/14/07 Seventy years ago this month, NY Yankee Hall-of-Famer Lou Gehrig was asked to visit a young boy in a Chicago hospital. His name was Tim and he was suffering from polio. The family asked Gehrig to intervene because the young man refused to even try walking, even though doctors believed he could do it if properly motivated. Because of the immense respect and admiration young Timmy had for this larger-than-life hero, he agreed to begin a workout regimen designed to help him walk. This was 1937, there was no cure for polio; there was only treatment for those that were willing to pay a steep price. Two-years later on July 4, 1939, at a packed Yankee Stadium, Gehrig delivered his famous, “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man in the world,” speech. What historians never seem to mention was that just before he uttered those timeless words, young Timmy walked out to greet Gehrig, under his own power, with the aid of special leg braces, and a high degree of determination supplied by the great Hall-of-Famer himself. Timmy’s regimen had worked, and Gehrig knew that even his immense contributions to the NY Yankees, which included 493 Home Runs, would pale in comparison to the incredible impact on the lives he touched of many people he might never even meet. I can only imagine the internal pain and hurt the Novi Wildcat Girls Soccer team must have felt on the protracted long mile home on that uncomfortable three-hour bus ride after Saturday’s game. No true warrior ever takes defeat gracefully. But, other than Rocky Marciano and the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who really goes undefeated in this lifetime? It’s moments like those that wake you up to the good times. This team has accomplished so much nothing can ever take that away, and they’re not done yet, believe me. But, forget the final scores and victorious outcomes for just a minute. Wildcat Girls Soccer has touched a lot of lives, even for scores of people they’ve never met. They’ve been part of a national conversation, and recognized as a special group that will be talked about for many years. And most importantly, they’ve made their families and communities very proud. Take heart ladies, in addition to our respect and admiration, you have our affection. Today, we realize, we may be the luckiest fans in the world… (c) 2007 Novi
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