Six decades ago, Boston was the home of a genuine hero; both in the batter's box at Fenway Park and as a pilot in World War II.
The Boston sports scene may already have a Teddy Ballgame, but there's a new Tedy in town who is equally heroic.
This past Sunday night, Tedy Bruschi returned to his position as linebacker for the New England Patriots just over eight months after suffering a stroke.
In an inspiring feat of determination, Bruschi showed the sell-out crowd at Gillette Stadium what it means to overcome the odds by completing the long road back from hospital bed to the gridiron.
Bruschi didn't just show up, either. He started, made the first tackle of the game, participated in 64 of the defense's 77 plays and resumed his menial role on special teams, covering punts and kick returns.
Bruschi's saga began in February, just three days after his first Pro Bowl and weeks after he helped lead the Patriots to their third Super Bowl victory in four years.
After the stroke, Bruschi couldn't walk and his vision was damaged. As he regained movement, he knew he would be able to exit the hospital on his own accord, but what about resuming his career?
I can remember watching footage of him leaving the hospital. He was walking awkwardly and there was a look of concern on his face. My first thought was that he was done, and so was our dynasty.
Now, Bruschi is not the best or most talented player on the Patriots, but he is my favorite. He is an emotional leader and a hard-worker. He doesn't put up overwhelming statistics, but he does the intangible things that help his team win. Last year, for example, his 120 tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions showed he can do a little bit of everything.
Also, if he can't make a tackle, Bruschi will simply use his body to clog up a rusher's gap, and he rarely is out of position. Contrast this to his early season replacement, Monty Beisel: a speedy linebacker who hits holes hard trying to go for the big tackle but frequently overruns his target or picks the wrong gap completely.
And, of course, Bruschi has a knack for the big plays. One of his signature moves is to fake a pass rush and then to drop back into coverage, staying low behind his linemen so the opposing quarterback can't see him. In this manner, he lays in hiding, baiting the passer, before pouncing on a pass over the middle. Peyton Manning knows what I'm talking about.
Bruschi was also the architect of my favorite play of all time. Last year against the Colts, Indy halfback Edgerrin James caught a ball over the middle, where he was met by the Patriots' Number 54. Instead of simply going for the tackle, Bruschi ripped the ball out of Edge's hands while taking him down, turning an ordinary play into a big turnover. To me, it epitomized football, showing that toughness, desire, and smarts are keys to being successful.
But back in February, Patriots fans thought there would be no more plays like this. Bruschi had surgery to repair a small hole in his heart, began rehabilitating, and announced he would sit out this season.
Over time, however, rumors of an early return surfaced, as Bruschi could be seen on the sidelines of home games, and it was reported that he was keeping in shape. He visited more than ten doctors, and their consensus opinion was that he could return and that sitting out a year would not help or ensure his health. So exactly two weeks ago, on Oct. 19, Tedy Bruschi returned to Patriots' practice.
Sunday night, I was pumped. There was electricity in the stadium that could be felt through the television. My favorite player from a dynasty was returning to the field. He may not be the MVP, but he's an important piece. It's like the NBA's Chicago Bulls of the 1990's suddenly getting back Horace Grant, a one-time All-Star and, at the time, one of the league's best defensive players. The first few plays, I couldn't help but watch him; he deserved to be out there.
Still, although I knew he would help the Patriots' many current defensive problems, I also had realistic expectations. Bruschi is just one player out of eleven, and he can't make up for the many injuries that have depleted the unit, especially in the secondary.
His return did not affect the defensive performance against the Bills, as Buffalo gained nearly 400 total yards - 147 on the ground - but remember, he had only ten days, not months, of practice.
Even so, by simply being out there, Bruschi's story is one of triumph, and it was fitting that the Patriots should also come back to win.
After the game, Bruschi spoke about the importance of not feeling sorry for yourself and getting back to living your life when adversity strikes. He spoke about mental toughness, an area he has tremendous pride in.
Sure, he may lead champions and make great plays on the field, but it's his return to the game that makes Bruschi truly heroic.
