Ever heard of Wally Pipp? Probably not. Pipp was a baseball player for the New York Yankees in the 20’s.
“On June 2, 1925, Pipp was removed from the Yankees’ starting lineup and replaced with Gehrig. The story has become baseball legend:
In the most popular version, one supported in later accounts by Pipp himself (although he wasn’t always consistent on the subject, either), Pipp arrived at Yankee Stadium one day in 1925 with a terrific headache. He asked the Yankee trainer for a couple of aspirin. Manager Miller Huggins noted the scene and said, “Wally, take the day off. We’ll try that kid Gehrig at first today and get you back in there tomorrow.”
Lou Gehrig went on to play 2,130 consecutive games and is known as one of the best baseball players in history. Pipp? He never played for the Yankees again.
Alex Smith can relate to Wally Pipp.
Alex Smith was the starting QB of the San Francisco 49ers:
Alex Smith seemed headed to his first Pro Bowl three months ago. That was before a concussion derailed his season and, in all likelihood, put his NFL career on a different track.
[…]
Smith, the top pick of the 2005 draft, had not accomplished much in the league until new coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh joined the team in 2011. A rejuvenated Smith nearly led the Niners to Super Bowl XLVI — they lost in overtime of the 2011 NFC Championship Game through no fault of his — then began 2012 by winning six of his first eight starts before suffering a head injury against the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 11. In the six quarters before he was sidelined (and ultimately replaced by younger, more athletic Colin Kaepernick), Smith completed 25 of 27 passes (92.6%) for 304 yards and four TDs, earning NFC offensive player of the week honors after his final full game.
Though Smith admitted losing the starting reins was “bittersweet” — especially after he followed the league’s concussion protocol, something other players have sidestepped — he refused to bring bile into the San Francisco locker room.
Imagine you’re Alex Smith. You led your team within a couple plays of the Super Bowl last year. This year, the team is doing great and you’re having your best year yet. You’re at the peak of your game…and then you get hurt. You could lie and tell the team physicians that you’re ok and that you don’t have any concussion systems. You tell the truth though. And the result is, you don’t see the field again. Instead, the young kid who is your backup gets your job and becomes a star. Your future is in doubt. You’ll most likely will not stay in San Francisco–with the team that drafted you and the team that you love. You wonder to yourself, “will I ever be a starting quarterback again?”
So, how would you react in the midst of this turmoil? Would you show grace, humility, and service? Most people wouldn’t. Alex Smith did:
“It’s not easy, a tough pill to swallow,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports. “But at the same time, this is a team game, and selflessness is a part of it.”
Read that quote again. Take it in, enjoy it because you don’t see a statement like that in professional sports often.
I feel sorry for Alex Smith but I applaud him for his grace and perspective in the midst of a challenging situation. For that, he earns a “redeemed sports” nod.
