I just read something about the Baseball Hall of Fame offering a Character & Courage statue at the Hall depicting Lou Gehrig, Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson. I don't think you'll find anyone who will argue with the selections for such a statue with that title.

In a time when it would be very easy for the general public to sour on professional athletes, it's amazing the reverence athletes of the past have. And that's a good thing. Many of today's athletes can thank their lucky stars the people before them paved the way to the money, fame and fortune they accumulate.

Gehrig had to retire because of an incurable disease. Robinson had unimaginable battles in breaking the color barrier, and Clemente died in a plane crash on his way to help earthquake victims.

The racism question is behind us (mostly), athletes can still contract inoperable diseases (though this gets far less attention these days) and athletes raise plenty of money for relief efforts. Yet in a day and age of here today, gone tomorrow, none of these instances stand out as much today - hence the reverence for players of the past.

Just an observation on this lovely snowy morning in Wisconsin.