Wake Up Call (Not the type you should snooze four times)

For those people who, like myself, were glued to news reports this afternoon you already know what transpired. Personally, I am still shocked. I returned from class (like I always do) to a myriad of emails from the Marty's. When I got to the one about a helicopter hitting a building in NYC, I immediatly turned on the TV. Over the course of the next two hours, I sat there through the everchanging plot created by the media; the helicopter changed to a plane; terrorist may have been involved, then they weren't; two people died, then four people, then three people (and so on and so on). Then it came out that the plane was owned by Cory Lidle, a relief pitcher for the Yankees. Things escalated quickly from that point, and before long the "Cory Lidle is dead" reports were everywhere.

The thing that freaked me out the most was that he pitched on Saturday, and had the Yankees beat the Tigers, Cory Lidle might still be alive. I'm not gonna lie, usually I am one of the first five people to make a joke about a dead person, but today I didn't really want to. Thankfully, most of the commentors on Deadspin ignored their conscience today. Deadspin.com is a great site for any sports fan. Besides reporting news, they provide links to tons of great sports entertainment, and most of all you can't leave out the eccentric mix of knowledgeable and inconsiderate fans. Here is a small sampling of some of their comments:

• So I guess Thurmon Munson will be remembered as the 2nd worst pilot in Yankee history.
• The plane should have been carrying A-Rod...That way it wouldn't have hit anything.
• The Yankees will do anything to keep the Mets out of the papers.
• Of course if this was TO, everyone would assume it was a publicity stunt.
• R.I.P Cory Lidle. Your 20.05 Post-season ERA will be missed.

This event is no question a tragedy, but is it fair that the sorrow was amplified because the victim was in the public eye? If Steve Porter (married, with a six year old kid) had been flying that plane, where would the media emphasis be? If that was the case, the terrorist storyline would still be prevelent now. I guess you just have to walk away from this with a better appreciation of life. Over 40,000 people left Tiger Stadium on Saturday not knowing that Cory Lidle would be dead in less than a week. Just goes to show you that no day should be taken for granted.