Nomaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Sure, he likely did roids, yes, he never quite lived up to his billing as one of the game's best shortstops, indeed, he was often injured, and there's certainly an argument to be made that the Sawx wouldn't have ended The Curse had Mia Hamm's hubby still been on the team in 2004.

Nonetheless, the man who I can fondly remember learning about from my late grandfather while taking in a afternoon Pawtucket Paw Sox game in the early 90's remains one of my favorite Red Sox players of all-time. In fact, he was an extended family favorite...cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents loved the man who's name is synonymous with the famous Beantown accent.

Now he's off to a well-deserved commentator gig at ESPN, I expect the former Georgia Tech superstar (teammate of Jason Varitek on that team by the way) to be excellent in the role.

Unlike walking trainwrecks such as Allen Iverson, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, Nomar gets it in much the same way that Howie Long, Mark Jackson, Dan Marino and Magic Johnson continue to get it. We crush these athletes for their inflated salaries, but folks at the end of the day after paying agents, immense taxes, their "entourage," ridiculous house/car payments, etc. they have many of the same financial problems that we encounter.

Only a select few athletes understand that their earning potential is limited to 5, 6, maybe 7 years if they're lucky!

Guys like Nomar understand that they must have a life after they finally hang up the cleats.

So Nomaaaaaaaaaaaa I wish you best, just wish you could have been with the rest of the The Idiots when they won that ring in 2004...I'd argue there's no one more deserving!