A Sport, and a Tradition, Missouri Misses

I've been lucky enough to get the chance, and the experience, over the last five years to participate in some of America's most amazing whitewater boating. I've been privileged to travel across state lines on rivers, in canyons, that very few people knew even existed. I've been given the chance, time and time again, to sleep in an ancient mining town that is only accessible by water. And I've been honored to get the chance to work among, and learn from, some of the country's greatest whitewater guides.

One of which, sadly, is no longer with us. Last weekend was the two year anniversary of Darrel Bogenrief's tragic death on a whitewater trip between Durango and Silverton, Colorado. Darrel passed while trying to save a customer from drowning in a class five rapid. His courage transcended all expectations of boatmen. He went above and beyond rescue protocol in an attempt to save the life of a man he knew for only three hours. And if he wouldn't have gone as far as he did, nobody would've blamed him. But that was Darrel, a guide who put everybody in his boat far above himself. And it cost him his life. And I doubt he'd have it any other way.

Despite hardly knowing Darrel, I'd no doubt consider him a companion, a fellow boatman, and a friend. I've heard his stories, heard his jokes, and read his words in notebooks buried deep in mountain rock in places only a select few know about.

So this past weekend, on a memorial trip honoring Darrel on the day of his death, I was privileged to get the experience of a lifetime. For the first time in two years, the guides who were with Darrel the day of his death resurfaced on the boating ring. Guides who'd long lost the motivation to travel back to Silverton, Colorado to run the same rapid that took their best friends life were on the mountain again. The same guys, all four of them, who grew up together, went to high school and college in Denver together, lived together, and eventually moved to Durango together in order to pursue a sport all of them loved. These guys, the same who were in boats helping Darrel with a fatal rescue, gained the courage to get back in the boat and face the emotional nemesis of Ten Mile Rapid on the Upper Animas river.

For one reason. It was Father's Day. And Darrel's dad, "Bogey" decided it was time to conquer that rapid. He decided it was time to pay respects to his son, his love for boating, and to the river that took his life. And he was bringing the good old boys back with him. It was Father's Day. And Bogey wanted to be with his son. And there was only one way to do it. Get on the river and get through Ten Mile Rapid, the last rapid his son ever ran.

Can you imagine the emotion?

There's a touching memorial to Darrel high above Ten Mile, deep in the woods, buried underground. His life jacket, his helmet, a picture, and a bottle of his favorite. For the first time since Darrel was taken, the old friends and the dad gathered around the memorial. All alone, as somewhere Darrel watched, and they poured one out for him, as per tradition.

I couldn't imagine the emotion in the boats behind us, the emotion in our own was touching enough. Later on in the day, I got the honor and privilege to speak with Bogey. Obviously, you're not sure what to say in a situation like that. A good friend put it bluntly, "walk up there, introduce yourself and say 'it's good to see you up here, Bogey.'"

So I walked up there. "Bogey. My name's Dave. I didn't really know Darrel but I just wanted to let you know that I'm glad to see you up here. It means something to all of us."

"You ever been up to his memorial, Dave?"

"No I haven't sir. I figured I'd leave that to his close buds."

"Do me a favor. Next time you're up here, take a hike over there and tell him I said hi. Don't be afraid. He was just like the rest of you guys. He's a boatmen and just like all the other boatmen he's part of your heritage."

That's when it hit me. Two guys I hardly knew, Bogey and Darrel, somehow made it so simple. Honor your past. And live on.

It was possibly the most touching words ever said to me. Maybe the coolest thing ever said to me. There I was, standing in the middle of mountains, in a place I knew so little about, on a river that could have its way with me at any time. And an old, wise man telling me how to stay on top: respect the sport, Dave.

It's a lesson that relates to all sports, all across the world. Whether it's hustling out a groundball or sliding a little harder in the half court defense. Or paying your respects to a lost friend who paved the way for so many of us lucky boatmen.

Honor the sport. Love the sport. Respect the sport. And go hard.

Arguments against Redbirds sound familiar

The famaliar ring of naysayers across Cardinal Nation is back. And to no surprise. I've said many a time that Cardinal Nation can often be seen as a bandwagon tribe, drinking Budweiser and sporting Molina jerseys when we're winning, but also bitching and moaning when the team is down. There's no difference this season. The birds got off to a terrible start, dead bats and sour pitching included. They dropped to nearly ten games back from a lackluster and young Brewers squad, sending many Cardinal "faithful" squaking for LaRussa's badge, crying for the deal of the century from humble Walt Jocketty, and questioning whether all the hype around Reyes, Wainwright, and Duncan was called for.

To no surprise. And truthfully, you can't be expected to always be on the team's back and never question moves or ideas from the coaching staff and front office. This is part of being a fan. It's our job to study the game, and suggest different approaches. It's healthy to talk about deadline deals involving the dishing of young talent. All that's great.

But another thing to remember is that the Cardinals are only 5.5 games out BEFORE the All-Star break. And if you're noticed a recent trend across baseball the last couple of years: pre-All Star break records mean little. The last few years many teams have charged late in the season to either make or seriously take a run at the playoff bubble. Don't expect anything different this season.

There's been mention on the response board that the Cardinals are going to wear down, tire out, and fail to make the run. But don't be so sure. We've had to default to a number of young and inexperienced pitchers to fill the roles of starter and reliever. And it's true...a young bullpen has the tendency to tire down. And pitchers like Looper and Thompson, who've spent the majority of the recent seasons in the bullpen, aren't used to throwing so many innings over the course of the season. But the Brewers are a young team as well and they lack the one thing the Cardinals don't...leadership.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Cubs. Because they're the Cubs. And forget about the Reds, Astros, and Pirates. The Astros are rebuilding and the Reds and Pirates are still at least a year or two off from making a serious run in the central. That leaves the Birds and the Brews. And when it comes to proven clubhouse leaders the Cardinals have the upper hand. And this leadership will come into play as the season drags on. Guys like Pujols, Carpenter, Rolen, Edmonds, Eckstein, and Isringhausen and the experience and leadership they bring will be the difference in the division.

Cards by 3.

Sincerely, World Champions

To Whom it May Concern in Milwaukee,

This is an open letter to inform your professional baseball organization that they're dead meat. By which I mean...a minnow in the mouth of a shark. A mouse in the mouth of a big cat. Dead in the water. Doneski. To put it short: you're the fish and we're the dynamite.

This happens every year. But to your credit you held on a little bit longer this season. In fact, you're still holding on. A measly six game lead that you can see dwindling in your best nightmares. You're not even worried about us, you know we're going to win the division, but what you're really thinking right now is: we have to hold off Piniella's Cubs.

Everybody jumped on your bandwagon right away. ESPN. FOX. MLB. Whatever. Whether you think he is or not, J.J. Hardy isn't Albert Pujols. And did you see So Taguchi tonight? Have you seen So Taguchi period? He's closer to Ichiro than Hardy is to Pujols. Scotty Ballgame's heating up (.319 the last month), Jimmy Edmonds is hot (.292, 3 homers the last week), and Prince Albert is..well...King of Baseball (.313, 5 dingers, 14 rbis the last month). Brad Thompson's got four wins in five decisions since coming over from the 'pen. And did we mention we've closed the gap to six games AND we have Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder coming back. Mulder, traveling with the Cardinals and throwing off the mound is getting scary close. Not to mention BIG Walt Jocketty in the general manager's box. WOW.

And you. Well, you've got a team of youngsters bound to collapse in the second half. Simply put.

Get off your high horse, Milwaukee. It's over. Congrats on the extended run but we're coming for you. And we've got the best player in baseball and the best pitcher in the national league getting ready to hunt.

And our beer is better than yours.

Sincerely,
World Champions