Kirby was one of a kind

[TiceMustGo]

When I came home from work and when I checked ESPNews as soon as I came home just to see how he is doing, I read about his death in the ticker. I was floored, sad, and upset. I literally cried just hearing the news. I rarely ever cry literally when an athlete dies, but I cried this time because Kirby was a huge influence in my life as I was following sports. He and Darryl Strawberry were two of my favorite baseball players when I became a baseball fan in 1991 as a 11-year old kid. He was one of my favorite athletes that I ever watch as a sports fan. If you ask me who was my favorite athletes of all-time, it was Kirby and Michael Jordan. I just love the way both guys were able to perform with the pressure on. I just admire Kirby for the way he went with his business and for the class that he showed on and off the field. He was a special player and a special human being. He was a great story. I was very lucky to watch him like most Twins fans that grew up watching him . Most baseball fans that saw him play were very lucky. This death really hit me along with the Twins fans in Minnesota and nationwide. I am just shocked. I thought he would beat this.

To say that Kirby provided lot of great moments is an understatement. He was bigger than life for sure. He did lot of great things for the state on and off the field. When you think of Minnesota and the Twins, you think of Kirby. You think of what he meant to the franchise and to the state. You think of what he did in coming through in big games. He always talk the talk and walk the walk. He got it done. He wasn't scared. He just had the confidence that he could get it done. That's what made him endear himself to the fans, his teammates, his coaches, and to the media locally and nationally. He just knew what to do. He never was scared.

He was not only a great player, but he was a special person. He related well to the fans. He enjoyed being around them. I can't say enough about how he loved being with the kids. He would make them smile. He would sincerely talk to them in a down-to-earth manner. He just love being around them. You can sense that he wanted to be close to the kids. He devoted a lot of his money to charities and for underpriviledge kids. He would buy tickets for kids to go to the games and they had great seats. His actions in the community is why every fan loved him.

Rarely ever you see athletes conduct themselves with class and dignity nowadays no matter what level of sports they are in. Kirby was just different. He won with class. He acted with class. He played with a smile on his face. He was a guy that clearly enjoyed playing a kids game. He was just well-liked. His teammates loved him out there. He was willing to talk to everyone on the team. The opposing players from other teams have nothing but great things to say about him. That says a lot about him. You don't see fans from other teams hating Kirby either. Just reading other message boards like NYYFans.com, Son of Sam Horn (Red Sox board), and such, those fans had nothing but great things. They appreciated what he did in baseball. It was not just Twins fans that appreciated him, but it was baseball fans nationwide that appreciated him for what he did.

Just watching SportsCenter later edition in the overnight, I was just in tears again as ESPN showed montage of Kirby's accomplishments as a player. That is something to remember for sure. It sure brought me memories when I watched him as a kid. I had a smile in my face just looking over em.

He will be missed for sure. It's been tough for the organization and the fans. First, we lost a great friend in Bob Casey last year. Now, Kirby. Kirby's death clearly has shocked the state of Minnesota for sure and with good reason. No one thought he would die this quickly. He died very young. His death should remind us that tommorow or next month or next year is no gurantee. I recalled Kirby's speech to the fans when the Twins honored him years ago about how we should enjoy life and appreciate each day. That speech clearly should be applied more than ever with people dying at a fast rate. Be thankful for your good blessings.

Kirby is definitely going to live an eternal life for sure. God is definitely waiting for him and I know Bob Casey is clearly waiting for him too. He is going to safe place.

I speak for most Twins fans in which I am very thankful for giving the Twins two World Series Championships. I thank him for entertaining Minnesotans for years with his play and his community work. He was not only an icon in Minnesota, but an icon in baseball nationally.

He was clearly one of us.

RIP, Kirby

 

[Rupert]

I always hated Kirby Puckett as a player. I always hate the great players on opposing teams. But, he was a hard player to hate because he played with passion and the seemingly endless joy of a child. The game never seemed to get old for him.

When glaucoma forced him to retire, I was sorry to see him go. It's usually nice to watch a hated rival pack it in, but I knew baseball was losing a good guy when it lost Puckett. He was one of the true giants of the game. A true role model player.

His early passing is a sad thing, because it means we'll forget him all the more quickly. If he'd have lived longer, he'd have attended more functions and reminded us of who he was on a regular basis. Now, event planners won't even think of him, and the media will focus on living athletes, and Kirby's star will fade from public awareness. That's a sad thing, because he was a good guy. And there are few good guys left in sports that are also great players.

 

[Crossbones]

I loved his game. I loved his attitude.

RIP Kirby.

 

[TiceMustGo]

I loved his attitude.

If I got something out of Kirby, it's that go to work or go outside with a smile in your face and be very friendly to each other. That's something everyone should apply in real life. Not many people do that. Living in NJ, I run into lot of surly people that it's not even funny. It's a sad state of affairs. I think you are seeing a lot of that in this country. Too many people are uptight, paranoid, and just miserable. Kirby never exhibited those. It's really sad that not many people like Kirby are around in sports and in real life.

 

[Crossbones]

If I got something out of Kirby, it's that go to work or go outside with a smile in your face and be very friendly to each other. That's something everyone should apply in real life. Not many people do that. Living in NJ, I run into lot of surly people that it's not even funny. It's a sad state of affairs. I think you are seeing a lot of that in this country. Too many people are uptight, paranoid, and just miserable. Kirby never exhibited those. It's really sad that not many people like Kirby are around in sports and in real life.

Amen to that.

People are more uptight now-a-days than ever before it seems. Everybody is in a hurry...fax it to me; send me an email; send it FedEx Piriorty overnight. It's the way things are. I don't like it.

 

[TiceMustGo]

I also don't like everyone's attitude. Most people are so freaking rude that it's not even funny. I don't see anyone saying Thank You. It's a joke and it's disgusting. People have no interest in talking to one another. I work at my alma mater's library here at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the first thing I do is talk to patrons and get to know them.

We clearly lost that and that's why the world is just not a great place.

You want an example of who made the world a better place. Think Kirby Puckett.

 

[Crossbones]

Don't forget though, TMG that Kirby had a darkside too. That seems to be lost right now but his history of domestic violence is something that's being swept under the table. Myabe it's not something to being up right now but yeah it was real.

Anyway, I agree with you though that Kirby had a love for life and seemed genuine. On the surface at least he just looked like a guy who was friendly and loved life. He'll be missed. I suppose the Twin Cities are really shocked by his passing.

 

[TiceMustGo]

I agree, but it shows you that no one is perfect and that everyone has demons and red flags. The last few years wasn't the greatest of times in Kirby's personal life. I personally think the Twins told him to leave the organization only so he can get his life back together. He was starting to do that and he was about to be hired back from the Twins till this happened. I think he never really became the same as a person when his career was over with. I can't help but think depression and stuff started to take over his life which is unfortuante for him.

I am not going to defend what he did and I am not going to throw stones from my glasshouse because I have made awful mistakes myself that I am not proud of when I was in high school. Let's just say that I was a jerk and I did not treat ladies like human beings back then. I had my issues. Fortunately, I grew up. It happens to everyone. It's hard to maintain a pristine issues. We all have dark stuff in our closets.

I am just glad fans still support Kirby despite all of this. Friends support each other in tough times. I just think Kirby went through tough times that he could not control himself. With that said, he is a big boy and he should know better. Maybe he was too scared to ask for help. Who knows? I just sense something was bothering Kirby and it showed.

It's been a tough week for the people in the Twin Cities, the state, and the organization. Twins are struggling to deal with the death. I haven't watched spring training since this happened and I doubt I will this year. It's tough going.

I am going to watch the funeral tommorow night at TwinsBaseball.com. I thank MLB for doing this. It's a great opportunity to celebrate the great times that Kirby did and pay my respect. I wish I can go to the funeral at the Metrodome, but watching it on MLB.tv is not a bad option.