Baseball Heroes: Of Fathers & Sons

Associated Press writer Mike Fitzpatrick wrote what is probably the off-the-field baseball story of the summer. It's a about a rookie outfielder for the Florida Marlins who is playing in a MLB game in front of his father for the first time. Unfortunately, the father has inoperable lung cancer.

The emotion of the story between the player, Logan Morrison, and his father, Tom, is what makes this a special read. It reminds us how inconsequential and important sports can be at the same time. It reminds us who the real sports heroes are for many of us -- our fathers.

According to a Google search, the Associated Press story was picked up by over 150 news outlet. Stories like this will never lead SportsCenter, but are just as important to follow as Brett Favre's yearly retirement saga.

If reading a short synopsis of this story doesn't reach on an emotional level, the quotes from Morrison's surely will.

"Anytime he's in the stands I kick it up a little bit. He's the reason I'm here. And with him being sick, there might not be too many more opportunities where he can see me play."

It's stories like this that make us remember why sports really matter. Not the big money contracts or glorified stats, but the emotional connections it allows us to make with those who are closest to us.

Here's to a miracle for Tom Morrison and his family.