As word spread about a small plane crashing into an apartment building in New York today, I found myself rather uninterested once it seemed obvious it was an isolated incident. Not that I am uncaring about the people involved or that I didn't find the loss of life a little sad; just that it is, in the long run, a thing that has zero effect on my life...
Until I found out who was piloting the plane. Why does someone who outrightly rejects the "Cult of Celebrity" like myself still buy into it enough subconsciously that I am suddenly fascinated just because it was a MLB pitcher at the controls?
I don't want to belittle Cory Lidle or those who will be affected by this accident. It is, of course, a tragic thing for the families of those involved. Because fans do get emotionally involved with the people that play for the team they love, this does now affect thousands or even millions more than it would have otherwise. I recognize this and understand it. I felt the same thing when San Diego Padres outfielder Mike Darr was killed in a car accident during Spring Training a few years ago. I shared experiences with him...Even if I did it at the same time as 30,000 others. It was enough of a connection to make the accident "personal" to me...and Yankee fans are bound to feel the same way now.
There are obviously a lot of unanswered questions about this particular incident. I hope it was an accident, not deliberate. There are so many things that can go wrong in a small plane. Because of who it was, I'll be paying more attention then I would have otherwise. Whether because I've seen him pitch (I have) or because we share a nebulous bond as ballplayers, who knows?
Regardless, I hope that whatever does come out publicly is not something that makes the families feel worse...
...but I'll still be looking for The Onion to post a story about the Terrorist connections of George Steinbrenner and Joe Torre in the next few days.
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