Not Your Ordinary Joe: Girardi a Champion On and Off The Field

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I'll be candid:  I hate the New York Yankees.  As a baseball fan I respect the franchise's rich history, but I can never envision myself cheering for the Bronx Bombers under any circumstances.  Last night I hated watching every Yankee run, and every Philly out, which led to an unprecedented 27th championship.  My thoughts during the final moments of the 2009 baseball season centered around my effort to find something positive.  This was no easy task given that the team I loathe perhaps more than any other professional or collegiate team was being coronated as the '09 World Series champs...and arguably the best baseball franchise in this decade.  So there I was with the seemingly insurmountable task of trying to find something positive in a subjectively negative ending to the baseball season.  My prospects did not look good.

Enter Joe Girardi, the manager of the newly minted world-champion Yankees.  Girardi, an unproven managerial commodity who at times during the last two seasons was lambasted by the New York fans and media, was driving home from the stadium last night when he encountered a disabled vehicle. 

The driver of the damaged car, Marie Henry, reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into a wall on the Cross County Parkway.  Upon encountering the accident, Girardi stopped his car and crossed the parkway to tend to Henry.  By the time the police arrived, Girardi had assisted Henry out of her vehicle. 

In a world of narcissism and selfishness a story such as this restores a bit of faith in humanity.  That anyone would dare to be so selfless at any moment - let alone just after Girardi's "cloud nine" night to shine - transcends a game.  It's also just the positivity for which I was searching. 

You may be a New York Yankee, but you're alright with me, Joe. 

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