When the singer Prince decided to change his name to a funky little drawing, he became a symbol.
Cal Ripken Jr. never had to resort to a gimmick like that. He became a symbol just by being himself.
There aren?t many athletes who get known for their work ethic.
Athleticism is a matter of excellence ? the Johnny Unitas pass to Raymond Berry, the Ruthian home run and the Michael Jordan 3-pointer.
Each captures a moment in time. Each shows that, for a particular point in time, that player is the best. Do it often enough, like those listed above, and you are thought of in legendary terms.
Then there is Cal Ripken Jr. He wasn?t just excellent at times; he was the essence of consistency. When Ripken arrived in Baltimore, he had mighty shoes to fill. He wasn?t our first Ripken, and sports history is filled with sons who couldn?t live up to their fathers.
Historians tell us that you seldom realize you are witness to true history while it is happening.
When Unitas first suited up, no one really knew he would become a legend. The same goes for other giants in all walks of life.
Ripken is a reminder that not all athletes get arrested. Not all athletes get in trouble. And not all athletes get the big contract, the big name and the big head that go along with them.
This Sunday, baseball gets to spend a day celebrating Ripken?s career. It?s hardly enough for a man who spent 2,632 straight work days honoring baseball and shattering the previous record of 2,130.
But then again, Cal never really sought the spotlight, so maybe one day is enough to reflect on No. 8?s 21-year career.
It?s easy to dwell on the stats ? 431 home runs, 3,189 hits and exceptional fielding. But his story isn?t looking back on numbers. Numbers didn?t define his greatness.
It wasn?t long after his arrival before we realized we had someone different. Someone special. Once brother Billy joined the team, the Ripken name became a household word.
I remember a magazine cover so long ago even Google couldn?t find it, but it showed father and sons and was headlined “Send More Ripkens.”
If only someone would.
We should count ourselves lucky someone sent us Cal. He played hurt. He played tired. He played through slumps. Every day. Every game ? 2,632 straight times.
Sometimes an athlete can be famous for doing something everyone can relate to ? in this case, working. Ripken took a working-class attitude to baseball. And he reminded each of us that you achieve greatness through hard work, through reliability.
Ripken stood out because of what he stood for. In a nation that embraces the Protestant work ethic, Ripken showed how celebrities could sometimes live lives we can respect.
Cal Ripken Jr. earned his formal place in Cooperstown by reminding each of us how to be great.
We just have to be willing to work.
Dan Gainor is The Boone Pickens Free Market Fellow at the Media Research Center?s Business & Media Institute, a career journalist and media commentator. He can be reached at [email protected].
