All For Nothing: The Josh Hamilton Home Run Show

I got home from work just in time to grab a seat on the couch and watch one of the most amazing home run derby rounds in event history. Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton (who in case you don't know, already has 95 RBI's at the break) went absolutely bonkers at the dish, knocking out 28 Homers, setting a first round record.

But, as the first round ended and the second round went through, I started to feel like we were going to see an upset. See, Josh Hamilton had so many home runs that he didn't even need to take a swing in the second round. He had already clinched his spot in the final round. Yet, he went up, looked alright as he knocked four dingers out of the park, but wasn't as crisp.

The final round pitted Hamilton against Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau, and while both didn't look as solid as they did in the opening rounds, it was Hamilton who had nothing left in the tank. He couldn't belt out another 500+ Foot Home Run. He ran out of gas. And even though Justin Morneau hit 13 less Home Runs in the entire derby, he still won it all when it mattered.

Let's go back to Hamilton for a second and forget the Homers, the Runs Batted In, and the Yankee crowd falling in love with him. His comeback story is one to write home about. Just a few years ago, he was immersed in the wrong crowd, drugs, alcohol, the wrong life. This former #1 overall pick was bound to be the biggest disappointment in draft history.

But, he cleaned it up. During his interviews on ESPNHD, he repeatedly thanked his friend, God, upstairs, for giving him a second chance and giving him a chance to utilize his talents. He still has his tattoos from his bad days. He said he's tried to take them off, and some have come off, but because they hurt so much to take off, he's decided to just live with them.

These are the kinds of stories we should be embracing as sports fans.