Maybe you saw this?: Armando Galarraga's Not So Perfect Game. Jim Joyce, an umpire of 23 years, missed what should have been the last call of a perfect game. And now an umpire who participated in two all star games, and called two world series, will be linked to that one call, probably beyond the rest of his career. Go ahead and google 'Jim Joyce' and see what comes up. go ahead and youtube 'Jim Joyce' and see what comes up. Jim Joyce and the un-perfect call, will go down in history. But lets not wait so long to look back when it is history, but investigate now.

In a sport that prides itself on unwritten rules, it is stunning to me that there is not an imaginary rule that prohibits surrounding an umpire after the game to scream in his face. Lets not forget, it was the winning team! The Detroit Tigers, all but formed a lynch mob around Joyce yelling lord knows what in his direction. Though we will talk about the classiness of both parties later, it is a shame when "Professionals" are allowed to surround an umpire and that go completely un-noticed to most of everybody. How is an adult parent suppose to explain to his/her kid why their hero's (the 's' is bold for a reason) are going hay wire on an official, and why it is OK. Just Say'n.

After the game was over, and the insane, untamed Tigers went back to the club house, Joyce reviewed the replay, and followed the tigs in. after he apologized to the club and Galarraga for his mishap, Galarraga went onto ESPN's Baseball tonight and said that he was OK with the situation, and kept repeating "nobody's perfect" (does no one else see the irony in that?). Joyce went to the media after word and spoke. here is a youtube vid of the occurrence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EmEiFgDf5I

obviously, it goes without saying that the man is completely shocked and disappointed with himself. And I use the word MAN for a reason. The top commit on the youtube page is right, how many other umpires would go and explain himself, to profess that he was wrong and take his lumps for it. That defines character.

Of course I am sure you all know what happened early today, the touching greeting at home plate with Galarraga and Joyce, exchanging pats and a salute. In fact, the Detroit fans gave Joyce a standing ovation for two reasons, Joyce standing up and saying that he was wrong and Galarraga acceptance of the apology and shacking it off so well.

there are two hero's in this epic story. Galarraga...and Joyce. the Villain: The Play at First Base. though the Villain got his shots at the heroes, remember superman always wins.

PARKER PERRY