FanHouse Cal Ripken Jr

I don't know if you know this or not, but since he's commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig seems to think this gives him special privileges that nobody else in America is entitled to. Why, as commissioner of baseball he's not bound by the ex post facto laws of our society, which means he's allowed to suspend Alex Rodriguez for breaking rules that weren't yet in place.

Dewey Corn is my new hero. Previously, I had aspirations toward Ernest Hemingway, or even just Shane Bacon, but finding out about Corn, a North Carolina State fan and High Point, N.C. native, has changed all that.

You see, Dewey has been an N.C. State fan for a very long time. This is awesome, because he's seen the good times. But man, oh, man has he seen some bad times. But, hey, that's just what happens when you're 85 years old and closing in on 400 consecutive football games attended.

In November of 1975, he went to an N.C. State football contest and just happened to attend the next 60 consecutive games. He then decided to see how long he could keep it up.

Thirty-three years later, Corn has attended 389 consecutive games of his alma mater -- a statistic that includes away contests and bowls.

"It just worked out that I was able to attend the games," Corn said.

And it's even crazier than just a Cal Ripken-like Iron Man style; Corn has had some pretty "fortunate" timing even with respect to family deaths. Both his late brother and mother-in-law, upon their unfortunate passing, had funerals that were scheduled on bye weeks or open dates for the Wolfpack.

Add in the fact that he makes a weekly drive from High Point to Raleigh (it may be close on a map, but trust me, it's a pretty trying hour and a half) and his age, and I think it's pretty obvious that Sports Illustrated has dropped the ball two years in a row with their Sportsman of the Year Award.

So, in lieu of official recognition, I salute you, Dewey, with a hearty (albeit unnecessary at work) two-handed wolf motion thingie for making High Point and the Wolfpack proud all these years.

We know Bud Selig has said he will try to be there when Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's home run record. At the time that he made the statement, Selig specifically said that he would not skip his commitment to be present for Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown when Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. get inducted. The weekend has come, and Selig has made a call to the bullpen, asking Bob DuPuy, MLB's President and COO, to come in for relief.

The good news is on Selig's end that he has sent a high ranking official to attend Barry's games in his place. However, dispatching DuPuy to San Francisco does not entirely mean that Selig is in the clear. It's been over a week and Barry is still stuck on 753. At this rate, it appears unlikely that Bonds will break the record over the weekend, which is probably what Selig was secretly hoping for. Bud has said he plans to be there in Los Angeles on Tuesday if Bonds has yet to break the record by then, which is what I'm guessing will be the case.

Previously at FanHouse:
Bud Selig Will Try to Be There for 756

This could almost be a moot point based on the medical reports out of Baltimore, but it's still worth noting what happened on Thursday. Miguel Tejada has played in 1,152 consecutive games which according to baseball-almanac.com, places him fifth on the all-time list. Tejada's streak was in jeopardy after he was hit by a pitch on the wrist during Wednesday's game. Tejada received X-rays that turned up negative, and decided to play in Thursday's game despite the injury -- sort of.

Batting second with the Orioles as the visiting team in San Diego, Tejada laid down a bunt, reaching on a fielder's choice in his lone at-bat. He was subsequently pulled for a pinch-runner, departing the game in the top of the first. The O's won 6-3, and Miggy's consecutive games streak was kept intact.

I think it's admirable what Tejada has done -- shown up for work for and performed at a high level for six and a half seasons. I wish more players had his attitude and determination. But one thing that needs to be pointed out is how he cheapened the streak with that move on Thursday. When you're only taking one at-bat -- laying down a bunt at that -- and then being removed from a game, then you're only in the lineup for one reason -- yourself, not your team. I think that was a selfish move that serves as a black eye for Tejada's streak.