Even in death, hope can be found

April 22, 2009 | Written by Cameron Fletcher

Normally I like to stay within the realm of the college with my column, but I could not allow a recent death in the sports world to go by without acknowledging it.

Nick Adenhart, 22, died on April 9, mere hours after pitching six shutout innings for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim against the Oakland Athletics. Adenhart’s cause of death? He and two others were killed when Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, ran a red light while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Two men, both 22; one life ended by the carelessness of another, the other life ruined by a choice. That choice was to drink and get behind the wheel. Adenhart was just coming into his own after struggling with arm issues out of high school and struggling in a brief stint with the Angels last season.

Adenhart called his father, Jim, who lives in Baltimore, before his first start this season and told him to come see him pitch. "I think you better come out here,” Adenhart said to his father. “Something special is going to happen." Jim came and saw his son pitch the game of his life. Little did Jim, or Nick, or anybody know that his life would be taken in the early hours of the following morning.

For me personally, I don’t drink. It doesn’t appeal to me. I don’t understand the pleasure in downing alcohol until I puke my guts out and waking up with a massive headache the next day, but that’s just me. But if you do drink, please do not get behind the wheel. Either call a cab or have a sober friend drive you home. Doing so could prevent another tragic death, like Nick Adenhart’s, from ever happening again.

As for Andrew Thomas Gallo, the young man who didn’t call a cab, or have a friend drive him home, I mourn for him as well. I mourn, not a death, but what could have been. I’m a man that believes in second chances. One mistake should not mean the end of the road. But, Gallo is a repeat offender.

In fact, on the night of the accident he was driving on a suspended license due to violation of his probation, a probation which came as the result of a previous DUI conviction. So I mourn for Gallo, and his blown second chance, and hope that some good can come out of such a tragic situation.

If Gallo’s mistake and Adenhart’s death causes even one person to realize the dangers of driving intoxicated and rethink their decision, then something good will have happened. It’s just disappointing that it takes death to inspire change.