RICHMOND, Va. —As tragedies in the lore of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club go, none will ever match the enormity and the circumstances of the loss of Roberto Clemente ... but the death of another of the franchise’s most beloved players on the morning of one of its brightest days has to rank second.
The somber opening of PNC Park definitely set the tone for the 2001 season, and maybe the next decade-plus as well.
In happier news, there’s the recognition of one of my personal favorite hockey games of all time, the Pens’ four-overtime playoff victory over the Capitals in 1996.
If you’ll indulge me for a moment, a story: In 1996, I was living in Greensboro, N.C., fresh out of college and living with several roommates. With none of us having the means to afford cable TV, I was only able to watch hockey at the bar where I worked. I finished a shift at 8 p.m. on this particular night, and stayed on to watch the game. And stayed. And stayed. And stayed.
My co-worker finished her shift at midnight, closing time, and hung on until the end of the third overtime, before finally bowing out. I locked up and continued watching until finally, sometime after 2 a.m., sweet release! I ran around the dark, empty building, screaming like a madman. It remains one of the very best memories of watching -- or, if you prefer, enduring -- a sporting event. Even more so after experiencing the opposite feeling four years later, seeing the Penguins lose a playoff game in the fifth overtime to the Flyers.
Also, thought I’d throw that Arnold Palmer guy a bone. He’s from around here, right?
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