Take a look at the Dodgers discussing their loss to the Phils. The rest of the team looks like their collective dogs just died, while Nomar is grinning like he made it to the Showcase Showdown and finished with $1.20. Sure, he didn't make it to the final round, but he got to spin the Big Wheel, hang out with Drew Carey, and win a new dining room set.
One of my favorite things about the Phils this year is how cool and gracious they've been -- talking one another up in interviews, praising the fans, and being all-around nice, decent guys. Of course, it's easy to be nice and decent when you win. (And when the Phils weren't winning, Jimmy Rollins started up with the "frontrunner" talk, which bothered me less than most due to it's trueness). It's harder when you lose, but Nomar pulls it off here.
I'd been casually following Nomar for the past three or four years, since he trained with a Men's Health guy and the mag had done a few piece on him. This summer, I met him in person for this, and he impressed me with his thoughtful answer and his willingness to discuss the team's physical therapist (other players just looked at me like I was crazy; one flat-out lied to me about being injured). My notes were mostly crampy and illegible, so the published quote doesn't do justice to his eloquence.
While it may have been his pop-up that ended the game, he took the loss with class and dignity. He's a professional. When you make millions of dollars to play a game, I'd hope more men could be as collected and adult. But sometimes being gracious - or having the wherewithall to fake grace when you've just suffered a huge dissapointment - can be harder than turning a double play. Nomar Garciaparra is at the top of that game.
(title: Mr. Congeniality)
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