The Feel-Good Sports Story of the Year

Creative Minority Report reports on the story of Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton:

During the All Star Home Run Derby this week, Josh Hamilton exploded in the first round with a derby record 28 home runs, making him the most inspirational sports story in years.

The former Sports Illustrated writer and current ESPN announcer Rick Reilly shocked millions by declaring, "It's a lousy night to be an atheist."

To take in the full scope of that statement, you should know a little about Josh Hamilton. Just a few years ago, he'd hit bottom...

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My Comments:
Growing up in East Texas, I was (and still am) a big fan of the Texas Rangers (or the StRangers, as I often refer to them).

Having only been to the post season 3 times in their nearly 40-year history, the StRangers have given us fans very little to cheer about over the years. Oh sure, there were major stars and major achievements such as Nolan Ryan pitching his record 6th and 7th no-hitters, reaching 300 wins, and reaching his record 5000th strikeout (not to mention the 40-plus-year-old Ryan giving the younger Robin Ventura a good-old-fashioned Texas ass-whoopin') in a Rangers uniform, and Juan Gonzales, Ivan Rodriguez, and Alex Rodriguez receiving American League MVP awards while they were on the team. But the team's failure to put a winning product on the field, coupled with the steroid scandal that, apparently, was a major part of the Rangers clubhouse, has given Rangers fans a major league dose of bad feelings throughout the team's run in Arlington.

Josh Hamilton, however, gives the team and its fans a story about which we can be proud and someone for whom we can pull. A wonderful story of redemption and grace.