July 4th has special meaning for me.
Having my brother Gary murdered, along with my best friend Doug and 656 friends and colleagues at Cantor Fitzgerald on September 11th, 2001, simply because they were American, cannot make the point more clear.
America is the defender of peace and the protector of freedom.
Many who are fortunate and blessed to live in America want to destroy freedom and seek our undoing.
They are able to attack us with words, signs, and protests only because they live in a country that allows them the freedom to speak.
All those who live in America and yell “death to America” should leave this country and live where they think it’s better.
This, of course, will never happen because there is no place better to live than the U.S.
We live in the only country that protects the world, fights for peace and freedom, loves life and liberty, and allows us, the citizens of America, to collectively choose our leader.
And I cannot be prouder that we, as a nation, have chosen Donald J. Trump as our President.
Today, let us give thanks for the freedom we enjoy every day and remember all those who gave their lives because they were Americans.
We really may never see another player like Clayton Kershaw in Major League Baseball again.
As a fan of the game, you hope you will. But Kershaw needs to be appreciated for his greatness and his career.
- National League MVP: 2014
- Cy Young Awards: 2011, 2013, 2014
- Triple Crown: 2011 (led the NL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts)
- Gold Glove Award: 2011
- Roberto Clemente Award: 2012
- 10x All-Star
- NL ERA Leader: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017
- NL Wins Leader: 2011, 2014, 2017
- NL Strikeouts Leader: 2011, 2013, 2015
- 3,000 career strikeouts
- World Series Champion: 2020, 2024
The most special parts?
He did it all for one team.
He did it all for a greater purpose.
A key element of Kershaw's Challenge involves the Kershaw family pledging money for every strikeout Clayton records. The work he and his wife, Ellen, have done in Africa is bigger than baseball.
What a legend. What a family. What a moment.
Thank You, #22.
I caught myself back in the summer days of the late 1990s on Friday.
Sammy Sosa returned to an ovation. There wasn't much else said about why he was gone for 21 years.
My column from a Friday that continues a trend of forgiveness in baseball: https://t.co/8SikpAdVAE