Reggie: An Appreciation

For a player who has been such a conspicuous, even self-dramatizing, presence in the game for so long, Reggie is bowing out with what, for him, amounts to quiet dignity. The Athletics, the team with which he started and, now, is ending his playing days, gave him a "day" last Saturday in Oakland Coliseum, but he had asked other American League teams to kindly refrain from "embarrassing" demonstrations as he passed through en route to retirement.

"Naw," he said to speculation that he might play another year. "I'm going to do a lot of whatever I want and a lot of nothing."

Sounds good to me. Reggie, I wish you well. Your place in history is assured. Let's just hope your successors in 20 years have the good sense to look you up.