Nick Adenhart 1986-2009

The biggest story to hit the news this week was the tragic, unexpected death of Angel's rookie, Nick Adenhart. The 22-year-old from Silver Spring, Maryland was in a deadly car accident in Fullerton, California only 3 hours after he made his Major League Debut on the mound.

Adenhart and two other friends went out late Wednesday night to celebrate the most impressive game of his short career. The three were victims of an alleged drunk driver as their Mitsubishi Eclipse was slammed into at 50mph while sitting at a red light. The cowardly driver in the Toyota minivan thought he could flee the scence on foot, but was eventually caught and charged with three counts of murder. Adenhart's dad was waiting for Nick and his friends at the nightclub where they were to celebrate, but Nick never made it.

When I heard the news, my heart sank. I had literally just watched Nick play that same evening when he pitched 6 scoreless innings, gave up 7 hits, and struck out 5. I thought it was some sort of sick joke. Untimely deaths occur in Major League Sports every so often, but none of them had a bigger effect on me than Nick Adenhart. The young age made his death more heart-breaking...and after he just pitched his greatest game of his life makes everything seem unfathomable.

It's disgusting that a drunk driver is always able to walk away from an accident without a scratch. It just puts things into perspective. Some of these big time baseball players take for granted the money they make. They should just be happy for the blessed opportunity to even play in the Majors. They should thank God every single day to be lucky enough to step foot onto a baseball field, that they are fortunate enough even to be alive. Players like Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez wait until their chump-change offers get turned into $180 million, and quite frankly, I have to pop a few TUMS in my stomach because it makes me want to puke. Nick Adenhart was just a kid who had a simple dream to play in the Majors. He didn't have to make millions. He was happy enough to get the chance to do what he loved, play baseball.

Nick Adenhart was able to fulfill his dream of one day playing in the majors. His career was shortlived, but his legacy will last forever. Maybe it was a coincidence that he played for the Angels......