“the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back. That’s respect.”

Sandberg Hall of Fame (photo courtesy of ESPN)   8 years ago, yesterday, my favorite Cub of all time was given the “ultimate call” every major league baseball player could ever dream of.  He was given the call that he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame.  That wasn’t a surprise to me.  The 1984 MVP, owner of 9 consecutive Gold Glove awards, who also led second basemen in many of the baseball stats was a quiet leader on the field, and in the clubhouse.  He was never flashy.  He never came across as having the big ego.  I loved to watch him play.  He brought everything he had to each game.  He played hard.  He played it right. From January of 2005, when he got the call, to the actual induction ceremony, I couldn’t help but wonder what his speech would be like.  He was such a quiet man and always of few words.  He almost came across as somewhat shy.  So, when Mr. Sandberg took the podium on that July day, I was more than surprised, but was incredibly moved, and proud, of what he h...