Hall of Famer Puckett dies at 45.

No offense meant by seemingly tongue-in-cheek title for this entry - it's a text approximation of the way the Metrodome announcer (damn, and why can't I remember his name?) would introduce Puckett's at-bats,

I was privileged to be able to watch him lead the Twins to two World Championships and I realize now that I got the same sort of joy out of watching someone play - very well - a game that he loved that I ded out watching Jordan with the Bulls or Favre with the Packers.

It's hard not to smile when you see someone like that, in this age of self-important superstars who forget that they're getting paid to play a game.

Kirby, you'll be missed.