Chances

Steve Howe was a pitcher for a whole bunch of baseball teams.

He was a tremendous talent, but he had a whole bunch of problems. Howe was busted for drugs a number of times. The Dodgers fired him. MLB suspended him for a long while.

And he kept getting chances.

Because he was so talented.

Howe was definitely down to his final chance when the Yankees signed him. For all his bluster George Steinbrenner had a huge heart, and he tried so hard to get the most out of people. Ask Strawberry or Gooden about who saved their lives.

Howe was on the team just as they started to get really good. I remember going down to Baltimore around then and standing behind the Yankee bullpen. We were drinking a whole bunch of beers, and as Howe sat there one night a Baltimore fan started in on him about his drug suspensions. The drunken asshole was really hammering Howe, calling him every name in the book. Howe heard every word. I recall the way Howe's leg shook as he sat there, pretending not to hear the guy, who was leaning in and attacking.

Finally, Howe got up off his seat. He leaned down and picked up a baseball, and signed it. Then he turned and tossed it up to the guy.

The guy started cheering him, apologizing and telling his buddies that he loved Steve Howe.

From then on, I had a soft spot in my heart for Howe. Even if he gave up a bomb, I'd wish him luck.

But the talent ran out.

And baseball was done.

Howe died a young man. It was a traffic accident, but I remember reading that perhaps...he'd fallen again.

I think of all this because a guy I have crossed paths with in the construction industry has been picked up a whole bunch of times for driving under the influence.

And if you read the story in the paper you think:

"Throw the asshole in jail."

And that's where he most deservedly belongs.

But a mutual acquaintance had also written a simple sentence under the news story.

"Damn! He's actually a really good guy."

And to a certain extent, I agree.

But how many chances do you get?

Eventually it's gonna' get you.

Or someone who is innocent and in your path of self-destruction.

It will get you.

It really will.

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