A Gentleman

Anyone who has listened to a close Red Sox game and heard that Tony Clark was coming up to bat in a clutch situation knows the meaning of the word "groan". He has been mired in an awful slump, and if he wasn't so good defensively (at 6'7" he's like a vacuum cleaner at first) he'd be spending a lot more time on the bench watching Brian Daubach. Actually, most managers would platoon Dauber and Tony; the former can't hit lefties, the latter can't hit righties. But Tony Clark, as my favorite sportswriter, Michael Holley, points out in the Globe today, has shown himself to be quite a gentlemen, and brought a good name to Christians after two years of Carl Everett's odd beliefs. I won't write anymore, but read Holley's column - it's worth it. Thanks to Ed Cossette for the link. Here are a few gems from Holley's article:

• ''It's the first time that's ever happened to me in my life,'' he says softly. ''When something like that happens, you have a decision to make. Are you going to let pride get in the way and govern your response? Or are you going to support the decision and the individual who made it?''
• When you talk with Clark, you are transported to another era. You expect to see adults reading the Saturday Evening Post and kids following baseball via transistor radios. Clark is everything we no longer expect baseball players to be: humble, polite, and conscious that fan support allows him to have one of the best jobs in the world.
• After praying, [Clark] concluded that his struggle is actually a blessing. ''This is a time when everyone is watching, and it's a good opportunity to minister for Christ,'' he says. ''I'm a Christian. For many players, baseball is a religion. And for many years, baseball ruled my life. Don't get me wrong: It's my job and I love it. But the order in my life has changed, and it is God, family, and baseball.
• There are times on the road when Clark's wife leaves him voice mail and tells him to refer to certain Bible verses. Lately, he has been relying on a passage from the Book of James: ''Consider it pure joy whenever you have trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ''Think about that for a second. The verse begins, `Consider it pure joy when you have trials of many kinds.' That in itself is hard to do.''
• ''I'm just thankful for the opportunity to be on a winning team,'' he says as he puts on his uniform. ''Pride needs to be swallowed sometimes. I'll do whatever it takes to win a championship. Whatever it takes. I'll just keep fighting the fight.''

What an incredible witness! You know how many people read that Globe story this morning? Clark understands that God has given him a chance to be a real light, and shine in comparison to a lot of very self-centered contemporaries. Sure, people aren't going to be dropping to their knees after reading that, but they might just say, "Hey, if following the Bible makes Tony Clark a better clubhouse presence, then it must be saying something worthwhile."