A term we use when someone does something that would have offened the dead person because they would have objected to the behavior if they were alive. There are many former players doing just that I'm sure, given the recent behavior of this team. 

We recently lost one of baseball finest people, Johnny Pesky. He was an ambassador for the Red Sox and I always enjoyed seeing his smile when they showed him on TV. I would go so far as to label him, "The grandfather of Red Sox Nation". I never met Mr. Pesky, but that would be one thing that would have made my list of top ten things to do in my life. 

If you are raising a child as a Red Sox fan, you have to also tell them about the rich history of this team and what the players from "back in the day" were like. I am finding less and less role models for kids or players to truly admire in this modern day of baseball. We could use a few like Johnny, Bobby or Dom to show these young guys how to be a professional and what it is to be a ball player and a man. Not just the money you make, but the legacy you leave behind and the memories you instill in the youth that watch the game. Something they will tell their kids about and so on and so on.....

I was glad and saddened at the same time to see Johnny brought out onto the field for the 100th celebration. To see him in the wheelchair, you knew that this might be one of the last times we would see him. I was glad to see that Jason Varitek was the one wheeling him out onto the field as he is a player I have admired for many years. Wake, another class act, bringing Bobby out was just as cool.

The evening that the Sox paid tribute to Johnny was nice, but everyone wearing number 6 was a sham. Most of the guys wearing that number aren't even fit to hold his jock strap, and I find it hypocritcal to wear the man's number in tribute, but you can't make the time to attend his funeral. Sorry, just my opinion.

4, yes, 4 players attended his funeral. Vincente Padilla, David Ortiz, Salty and Clay Buchholz.. Nomar flew from California to pay his respects. That is to be admired, because actually for the Red Sox, in my opinion, nothing is more important that day unless you have a family emergency.  Padilla probably didn't even know him, but he recognized the loss and went.  Reportedly, ( Dale Arnold on WEEI stated) Dustin Pedroia's wife is pregnant and perhaps something was scheduled this day for them related to that. Sorry, unless she's in labor, her mom, his mom could perhaps go to the doctor with her so Dustin could attend. If indeed that was actually the case. He lives acrosss the street and could have easily hopped on the bus provided by the team. Am I being judgemental here? Perhaps. Do we really know what goes on in the lives of the players and what other things they had to do that day?  No, we don't. If I was fortunate enough to be a player that got to know Johnny, there would be nothing to stand in my way from attending with the exception of a family emergency. I am disappointed in the turnout and this just contrubutes to a really unlikeable team this year.

So, in closing I hope Johnny stops rolling in his grave over this teams behavior and play so he can go sit, with the other men of integrity that we have lost, in the big dugout in the sky.

Rest in peace, Mr. Pesky. That big symbol out in right field will always bring your name to some conversation and I hope that dads will tell their kids about the man the pole was named after.