Sobering Pill for any proud Vet to swallow

I've always liked ball players, politicians, actors and musical artists with edgy personalities. Now while I know that most pop star aren't edgy, but I think Pink is the exception. Her music is at its very best when it is provocative, edgy and introspective. Only my sick mind could connect the lyrics from two of her more deeper songs:

#1 Sober - about substance abuse

I don't wanna be the one that has to fill the silence
The quiet scares me 'cause it screams the truth
Please don't tell me that we had that conversation
'Cause I won't remember, save your breath
'Cause what's the use?

Ah, the night is callin'
And it whispers to me softly, "Come and play"
But I, I am fallin'
And if I let myself go I'm the only one to blame

I'm safe up high, nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain inside, you're like perfection
But how do I feel this good sober?

#2 Like a Pill - about frustration and dependence

Run just as fast as I can
To the middle of nowhere
To the middle of my frustrated fears
And I swear you're just like a pill
Instead of makin' me better, you keep makin' me
ill You keep makin' me ill

to the Jorge Posada - Yankee controversy.

By now most of you know that a struggling Posada was pissed off & offended when he was slotted in the 9th (last) hole in the batting order so he asked out of the lineup last Saturday . He was wrong to react this way and later apologized. As a loyal championship player and possible Hall of Fame candidate he deserved and got a mulligan from his teammates and fans for his mistake.

Now the real issue here isn't why he's batting so low b/c we know only small minds think that way, http://softballinsider.blogspot.com/2010/05/most-obnoxiousselfish-sb-question.html . Rather the deeper, edgier, more sensitive issue is how to treat a great player who is winding down his career. In MLB & softball this is tricky because of loyalty and sentiment. In a word, Legacy.

The frenemy called Time cannot be denied and an athelte can only intoxicate himself on a pill full of pride and ego for only so long before the sobering reality of change hits. They have to find a way to feel good sober without baseball/softball even though the harsh reality pill is tough to swallow. There is something said for leaving the game while you can still play b/c it not only makes you look good but also eases the pressure placed on friends, fans, and management. No one wants to be the one to tell you to hang em up.

Sober