Congratulations Cal!

Though I am a few days late, I just wanted to take a moment and offer a congratulations to Cal Ripken Jr. on his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cal's amazing streak and career numbers are even more impressive now considering the revelations of the past few years regarding the widespread use of steroids during his playing career. It is fitting that he will enter the Hall with Tony Gwynn. Ripken and Gwynn are two players whose actions, both on and off the field, indicate they are eligible for induction into the Integrity and Character Hall of Fame as well.

I am still convinced, with all due respect to Brett Favre, that Cal's streak is the most impressive consecutive games streak in sports' history. It is true that the quarterback position takes lots of punishment in a high-contact sport. However, Cal often had about 20 hours to be ready for his next game, played at baseball's 2nd most physically demanding position. To put it in perspective, just think about how you feel the day after a pickup game as compared to how you feel a week later. Then think about how you'd feel after 160 games over 180 days.