Close But No Cigar (Pun intended)

We here in Philadelphia are used to coming oh so close and then losing. Our Eagles get to the Super Bowl and then lose. Our Phillies make it to the World Series or NL East Playoffs and then lose. Our Flyers almost get to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Our 76ers come close as well. Which may be why I am fairly nonchalant about the "almost" aspect of the Triple Crown that Big Brown didn't win.

In case you couldn't tell, I am no fan of Big Brown's connections, but I have nothing against the horse. He just didn't want to run--and that is something to which a Philadelphia native is almost immune.

But there's something else that does bother me and that is the lack of humility that surrounds this horse. He is always "the greatest," "the $50 million stud," "the presumed winner" before the race was even run. Ironically, at the moment, we here in Philadelphia happen to have a fabulous baseball player named Chase Utley who is currently a leading candidate for the MVP award (what does it tell you about a team that might have three consecutive MVP winners but no World Series titles to go along with them?) and who has made a career out of humility.

"My dad always told me you don't need to tell people how good you are," Utley told the NY Times yesterday. "If that's the case, people will tell you."

Hear that Mr. Dutrow? Ever hear of humble pie?

Utley also has what might be called a "throwback" work ethic. He gets to the park early. He studies videotapes of his opponents. He practices hard. He takes nothing for granted. He shows up for every game, ready to play to win. Davey Lopes, the Phillies first base coach, compares Utley to the players of his era (1972-1987) when, he says the players were prepared, focused and professional.

I'm not saying Big Brown wasn't prepared, focused or professional. He most certainly was and still is. But his connections are not. Baseball is a game for Utley but it is also his profession and he takes that seriously. He is intense, "wants to play hard" and here's the kicker: "will let everyone else talk about it, just as his father once told him."

The sport of Racing needs to pay attention as well. Stop putting yourself on page one with comments from people who do nothing to improve your image. Focus on the basics like working hard, being prepared and looking and sounding professional.

Then maybe someone else will be able to truly tell it like it is.