Courage, thy name is Jon

On August 23rd of 2006, Boston Red Sox rookie pitcher Jon Lester won his seventh game against two losses since being brought up from the minor leagues in early June. He had an outside chance at Rookie of the Year, and life was good. Except for the pain he had in his back.

July 23rd, 2007. He stood there last night on the back of the mound, ball gripped tightly in his left hand. He lowered his head and took two deep breaths to beat down the butterfly's that were no doubt flying in synchronized formation in his stomach. He stepped up onto the top of the mound, contorted himself into his throwing motion, and fired a perfect strike onto the inside corner of the plate. No big deal, right? From April until late October, this goes on every night all over America.

Nine days after watching Lester pitch his 7th win in 2006, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona received some shocking news. His 22 year old star-to-be pitcher was officially diagnosed with Lymphoma, treatable according to the physicians, but his prospects of once again standing on the mound at Fenway Park in Boston a dim reality. To everyone but Jon that is. Apparently, many had discounted the competitive spirit that resided in this kid, and after 6 chemo treatments, and several anxious months of waiting, Jon was declared cancer-free. Now as for baseball...well, let's just say everyone was thrilled that Jon was alive and doing well.

He was a sympathetic invitee to spring training in Ft. Meyers FL, and surprised everyone with his strength and resolve. In the four months of the regular MLB season, Jon labored in Greenville SC, and Pawtuckett MA, trying desperately to impress the Red Sox organization into giving him another chance at the big league level.

Like everyone who knew or knew of him wasn't impressed already.

Last night Jon Lester came back in a big way. His line was immaterial, 5 hits and 2 runs surrendered in 6 full innings, and he even got the win for the first place Sox. Indeed the better line was this:

Good guys 1 Cancer 0