- November 23, 2024
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There will be many words written about Mariano Rivera over the coming days, weeks and months. Even years. Mine won’t do justice to what he meant to baseball. No words will. But we can try.
The weird thing about being an athlete is it always comes to an end. It happens quickly, and most times, you don’t get to go out on top. At the end of the day, only one team can win any particular season, and it’s rare an athlete finishes on top. (See former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.)
But no matter at what level you leave the game, it comes quickly. And even if you are prepared for it (most aren’t), it’s one of the toughest things to do.
In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me fill you in: Last night, Yankees closer and future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera pitched in his last game ever at Yankee Stadium.
It was a breathtaking and epic send-off: Fellow Yankees Andy Pettite and Derek Jeter came out of the dugout to take Mo out of the game. And then the cheers came. And the tears. And more tears.
I could feel my throat well up as I watched, and I have literally no emotional connection to the New York Yankees. But it was something I’ll never see again in my lifetime. Mo will go down as the greatest closer of all time.
The crazy thing is at age 43, Rivera — who wears No. 42 and will finish with 42 postseason saves for the Yankees — could probably keep pitching. He’s been an unbelievable treat to the game of baseball and sports.
Oh, and if you haven’t seen the video, be sure to go to any popular news website. It’s sure to be on there. And it’s sure to bring you chills.
Thank you, Mariano Rivera, for being you. Genuine, classy, legendary. Thank you for being the greatest of all time.
Exit, Sandman.
