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As we enter the holiday season, the last thing we'd ever hope would be for someone to pass away, but in the early hours of this morning America lost someone they will never forget. Bob Feller, a baseball great and American hero, lost a long battle with leukemia at the age of 92.
The year was 1936 and Robert William Andrew Feller was only 16 years old. Born in Van Meter, Iowa, Feller was a small-town boy with a wicked fastball. Shortly after his graduation from high school was nationally broadcast, he signed with the Cleveland Indians...and the signing bonus was nothing (quite literally) compared to some of the bonuses athletes receive today. Wanna guess what Feller signed for? Go ahead, take a shot. One hundred dollars? Nope-lower. Not even fifty, my friend. Bob Fellers signed on to play with the Indians for ONE DOLLAR and an autographed baseball.

That bonus was certainly not a reflection of the hurler's numbers. Some of his most well-known stats were his 104 mph fastball (which was measured by throwing against a motorcyle), his 3 no-hitters and 12 single-hit games. Feller was known for throwing alongside some of the greatest pitchers to ever be a part of baseball; Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia. Forget the "Big Three"...this big four of the Cleveland starting rotation combined for a total of 93 wins in the 1954 season. That's more impressive than the celebutante show that the Miami Heat three attempt to put on.But Feller is known for much more than his baseball career, a career that was halted in 1941 when the United States entered World War 2 after being attacked at Pearl Harbor. One day following the attack, Feller enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a chief gunner's mate in the Pacific Theatre. In place of living the dream playing American baseball, Feller risked his life to protect our country...something more men should have done. He doesn't consider himself a hero, he felt it was his responsibility to serve America in a greater way than his 104 mph fastball.

Sure, Feller was a legendary baseball player from a small town in Iowa who shocked America...but I think after his passing, fans everywhere (especially Cleveland fans) are finding themselves thinking of him as a hero who risked it all as a part of the greatest generation.

"a perfect heart's length away"

Ever had a song that just reaches out and grabs you for some reason? Duh...we all have. Because it's finals week for me (as well as most other college students across the nation), I've been listening to A LOT of music. The kind of stuff that puts you in the zone...John Legend, Iron & Wine, etc.

I recently was introduced to a song by Imogen Heap called "Half Life". It brought me to tears. I know that those of you familiar with my rarely seen emotional side are aware that I'm a crier, but a song...really?! Slightly embarrassing.

Anyways, the song transported me to a place I'd been to before...in a half-life relationship, knowing "the odds were I'd never win". It was the perfect description; not abusive or unhealthy per say, but just half.

Looking back on who I've become since that place is what moved me--I realize I deserve whole life from someone. And even though I may not want to invest in something like that at this point...I know what to look for.

Have a listen and let me know what you think.

Digitally Dying for World AIDS Day

Alright, so this might be a little creepy to some people, but I think it's AWESOME! In honor of World AIDS Day yesterday, some of the most well-known celebrities digitally "died" in order to raise money to increase awareness and fund research for one of the most deadly viruses in the world.

The use of social media for charitable causes has been absolutely astounding to me lately...creative campaigns we never would have imagined are now readily available to use at the click of a button. The celebrities participating in the fundraiser have agreed to abandon their Facebooks and Twitters until those who donate "bring them back to life" with whatever amounts they choose to give. The money raised will provide a year’s supply of medicine, food, care and support to the 1500 children in South Africa orphaned by the AIDS virus. This will empower first class doctors, nutrition, transportation, testing and to help the orphans and abandoned children who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

To donate, you can text the name of the celebrity you'd like to resurrect to 90999 to donate just $10. Below are a list of celebrities participating:
Alicia Keys
Lady Gaga
Daphne Guinness
Janelle Monáe
David LaChapelle
Elijah Wood
Kim Kardashian
Justin Timberlake
Khloe Kardashian
The Buried Life Cast
Jay Sean
Swiss Beatz
Serena Williams
Jennifer Hudson
Kimberly Cole
Ryan Seacres
Bronson Pelletier
Usher

Jimmy V Week Spotlight

This afternoon, as I took a quick break from the piles of books and papers that surrounded me, I flipped on ESPN. The piece I saw on SportsCenter was a feature for Jimmy V Week, one week out of the year honoring NCSU basketball coach, Jimmy Valvano. Valvano was diagnosed with cancer and battled the disease for an entire year before passing away. Known as a spirited and passionate coach, Jimmy V has become an icon in not only the world of college basketball, but the world. His well-known speech at the 1993 ESPY awards was the kick off to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Jimmy died 2 months later.

Back to the feature story I was initially writing about...sorry, took a little background information to get there. Anyways, ESPN's piece this afternoon was something that touched my emotions and brought tears to my eyes. For those of you who know me, this isn't unusual; I cry at every movie I watch or book I read. But this story was different-it focused on the cancer battle of a 14 year old boy named Matthew Costello, a young quarterback and avid Baltimore Ravens fan.

Does anyone remember the first score for the Ravens in the AFC playoffs last year? If you don't, Ray Rice rushed the football for 83 yards to strike first against the New England Patriots. But after realizing who called the play, it wasn't the 7 points that mattered...it was who orchestrated the play to kickoff the Raven's 33-14 playoff win. It was Costello, who was a classmate of the Cam Cameron, the offensive coordinator in Baltimore.

Today, Costello continues to build a relationship with the Raven's franchise...hanging out with Rice and texting Cameron suggestions of play-calls in sticky situations. And the Ravens listen. They listen to the 15 year-old kid who has fought the hardest fight of his life...they listen to the avid young fan who couldn't see straight a year ago because of a massive tumor is his brain.

Who woulda thought that the Baltimore Ravens (a team loathed in Cleveland) could have brought tears to my eyes at 2:00 on a Wednesday afternoon? Not me, that's for sure...but they did with the story of their secret weapon, Matthew Costello.