A Hero Returns Home

I've spent the past three days brainstorming ways to write about something other than Ken Griffey Jr's return to the Mariners, only to come to the conclusion that it's unavoidable. The reason being, in modern day professional sports, this just doesn't happen. In modern day sports, Brett Favre throws a tantrum, and ends up playing for the Jets. In modern day sports, Michael Jordan ends his career playing for the Washington Wizards. In modern day sports, Roger Clemens ends his career by attempting to invent the word "misremember" in a court of law.

In an arena so filled with cynicism, so filled with contempt for the over paid athlete, sports fans simply do not get the chance to experience something like this. The one-time savior of a city, who was led away by circumstance, making the sentimental decision to end his career where it all began. And the city of Seattle might just owe it all to a teenage girl.

According to Griffey's agent Brian Goldberg, it was Griffey's daughter Taryn, who played quite possibly the largest role in her father's decision. Griffey's biggest hold up with his return to Seattle was the distance that would be between him and his family during the season. His daughter attends school in Atlanta(insert snicker here), and Griffey was concerned with missing - amongst other events - her basketball games. It was Wednesday afternoon, the day that Griffey was due to announce his decision, that Taryn returned home from school to find her father still agonizing over the choice at hand. Taryn told her father that it was her events he would be missing the most of, and that she thought he should return to Seattle. And now, I would like to propose that this year, the Marniers replace Franklin Gutierrez bobblehead day with one of Taryn Griffey. Seattle city officials had better be FedEx-ing this girl a key to the city, like now-style.

Griffey's return has brought a joy to the city that hasn't been seen since the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl. Local sports radio has been filled with grown men calling in to confess how the news brought them to tears. Fathers recalling memories of when they were a child and went to the ballpark to see a 19 year-old Griffey begin his career, and how they're sons and daughters now have the chance to share in the memories of Griffey's return. Perhaps the ultimate irony of this situation might be that a sacrifice by Taryn Griffey, that will cause her family to be farther apart, will now provide so many Mariners fans' families the chance to create memories that will bring them a little closer.