by John Cusick
This past Sunday, the world lost two wonderful sports stars. One was an all-time great in his sport. The one and only, Arnold Palmer. The other an upcoming superstar for the Miami Marlins. The Cuban-American pitcher Jose Fernandez.
Fernandez falls under the category of an athlete with untapped potential taken from the world far too early. Len Bias and Sean Taylor are the two that highlight the list.
The 24-year-old was killed early Sunday morning after a boating accident. The coast guard discovered the boat turned upside down sometime around 3:15 a.m..
Fernandez defected from Cuba when he was 15-years-old and tried four times to find his way into the United States. When Fernandez reached the Majors in 2013, he immediately showed his electricity and love for the game of baseball. On the brightest stage, in New York City, the kid who was living the actual American dream for Cubans, struck out eight over five strong innings of scoreless baseball.
The intensity that came with Fernandez was nothing less of spectacular. As a huge fan, I found any way possible to get in front of a television in order to see him pitch. After a huge strikeout you could catch him screaming into his glove. When he came to the batter’s box, he was looking to hit a home run every single time.
Most recently he got into a scuffle with almost the entire Atlanta Braves team after a ball was thrown over his head. Fernandez was not afraid of anything or anyone that was out on the baseball diamond. Well, except for two things: roller coasters and snakes.
The death of Fernandez has rocked the entire baseball world. There was a league wide moment of silence before every game on Sunday morning. The Marlins even went as far as cancelling their game against the Braves. Most stars were stunned as they learned the news of the accident. Marlins Manager Don Mattingly cried during his press conference. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton posted to Instagram stating: “I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare.”
It is clear that the legacy left behind by Fernandez is something that we will never forget. Coming with that includes the questions of what could have been. Fernandez was well on his way to landing himself among some of the all-time greats by the time it was said and done. If there is any indication of what the rest of his career may have looked like, Fernandez pitched one final time: he went eight shutout innings, and struck out 12 against the Washington Nationals.
Fernandez leaves behind his girlfriend Carla Mendoza, who is pregnant with his child.
Then there is Palmer. Palmer was nicknamed “The King” for obvious reasons.
Palmer was the main reason golf became a popular sport and being accessible to the general public. While winning more than 90 tournaments with seven of those being majors, Palmer was the first golfer to eclipse the one-million-dollar mark.
He played during the 1960s and was included in the three-man rivalry between Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. While playing, Palmer made sure he was never out of style. Or without a drink.
His beloved Arnold Palmer iced tea, was concocted himself and was carried around in a thermos while he played on tour. The drink is half lemonade and half tea and is sold worldwide in stores. Palmer insisted on having a strict dress code while he played. “I liked a sharp crease in my slacks, my shoes polished to shine, while my shirts were conservative with a straight collar,” Palmer told CNN in 2012.
Palmer died Sunday evening while awaiting cardiac surgery. Palmer leaves behind his wife Kit, and their two daughters.
