I remember as a young teenager getting into the 1995 baseball season, and particularly keeping up with the Cleveland Indians. I was fascinated by that team that year. I had wanted them to win the world series, and they came close. One of the things that I remember most vividly about that team was watching them on the television, and just marveling at the group of men sitting together in that dugout. I remember seeing future hall-of-famers Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield sitting side-by-side talking, both in the final years of their amazing careers, trying to win it one more time. There was the platoon between four-time gold glove catcher Tony Pena, also in the twilight of his playing career, and his young protege Sandy Alomar Jr. My personal favorite was Kenny Lofton, the lead-off hitter and center fielder. I'm sure that there are managers who opposed the Indians that year who still wake up sweating at night from nightmares of Lofton on the base paths. I think that most men are like me in that we are fascinated by the dynamics of teams of all kinds. It's an awesome thing to watch old teammates who have spent most of their lives playing together. We love to see a shortstop go deep into the hole behind second, and give a blind glove flip to the guy who has played second next to him for a decade, who bare-hands the ball, while stepping on second, twisting, and throwing the runner out at first.
Who are the brothers in your life? Does the extent of your relationship go deeper than just making spectacular plays (not that there's anything wrong with that)? Is the trust that you have for each other the kind that answers the phone in the middle of the night? Is it the kind that knows everything about you that you hope nobody else ever finds out about, and it somehow makes you feel safer? I'm grateful for those brothers in my life. They are gifts from the Lord, and they should be able to say the same about me.