The Football Fan Spot

            It would have been hard for me, as a Red Sox fan, to pick the Angels to win the World Series as long as the Red Sox were still in contention and playing the Angels. Now that is no longer the case as the Angels completed their 3 game sweep of the Red Sox in comeback fashion today. I am officially throwing my support behind the 2009 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to win the World Series this year. This is not because they are likely going to play the Yankees next round, assuming the Yankees win one of the next three games, though I would hate nothing more than to see the Yankees get #27. I am supporting the Angels for the same reason they were able to beat the Red Sox. They are playing for something more than a trophy.

            On April 8th, Nick Adenhart threw 6 shutout innings against the Oakland A’s in a no decision in his first major league start. Shortly after the game, Nick got in a car as a passenger with some friends and drove out to celebrate. A red Toyota minivan, whose driver was later confirmed to be drunk, ran a red light and hit the gray Mitsubishi Eclipse in which Adenhart was a passenger. A passenger and the driver of the Mitsubishi Eclipse died on impact, while Adenhart and his friend Jon Wilhite were in critical condition. The drunk driver of the Toyota Minivan would walk away from the accident. 6 hours later Adenhart, a 22-year-old rookie with amazing potential, died.

            The Angels got off to a slow start, but finished with a record of 97-65 and won the AL West. Even though Nick was not physically there, he certainly was present. Every single game they played, they played in Adenhart’s memory, with a giant picture of him in mid throw on the outfield wall. Pitcher Jered Weaver, who was supposed to room with Adenhart this season, spends time before every one of his home starts out in the outfield with the poster of Nick. Before each one of the Angels’ home playoff games the entire team did and will do the same. Each and every member of this Angels team wears a patch of Nick’s number #34 on their jerseys every game. They left his locker the same as it was before he died. Heck, if they win a World Series they’d probably give him a ring. And what an emotional ring ceremony that would be.

Angels’ outfielder Torii Hunter had this to say about their turnaround, “I think we realized that Nick was looking down on us saying, ‘Fellas, come on, let's get it together. I want to win.’” This is why they won the Red Sox series and why I think they will win every other series this postseason. They have more fight in them than any other team because they are playing for more than simply a trophy. They are playing and winning in memory of their friend and their teammate #34 Nick Adenhart.

The Angels play every game as hard as they can to honor Nick Adenhart's memory. What can you do to honor Nick's memory? It's simple. Don't drink and drive.