Keeping heroes close to your heart

	[Photo: AP]
	Though he may no longer play for the Buccaneers, John Lynch’s many accomplishments on and off the field cannot be diminished.

The news, by now, is old.

So when does the sadness go away?

When will the game seem the same? When do you stop wondering why fairness always seems to lose? And when is it okay to wear a No. 47 jersey again?

Some of you might have been wondering about this for days. Ever since the Buccaneers told John Lynch he was no longer needed in Tampa Bay.

Maybe you admired Lynch. Maybe he was your favorite player. Maybe his poster is still on the wall above your bed.

So what do you do now that Lynch has left?

You keep right on admiring him.

Just because an athlete moves on does not mean he is forever gone. If you choose, you may cheer for him in a new uniform. Or, you may wish to honor him with every recollection.

That is what is so great about sports and athletes. Every day is another chance for something wonderful to happen. And if it doesn't? Well, then yesterday is only a memory away.

At this point, you should understand athletes come and go. It is the nature of the games. Bubba Trammell had his own cheering section at Tropicana Field, but the Devil Rays still traded him to the New York Mets. Warrick Dunn did admirable deeds for the Tampa Bay community, but still decided to play for the Atlanta Falcons.

The point is they were here for some wonderful times. And you were here to see them. To see Bubba win a game with an extra-inning home run. To see Warrick break loose for a 70-yard touchdown against the Cowboys.

And, yes, to see John Lynch knock a ball carrier backward.

Athletes never play forever. Their time on a field or a court or the ice is limited, whether they are traded or not.

So we learn to appreciate them when they are here.

Ask somebody about Joe Namath and they'll tell you about the day he guaranteed the Jets would beat the Colts in Super Bowl III. They won't mention his time in New York went quickly and he finished playing in Los Angeles.

Ask somebody about Reggie Jackson and they might talk about the home run he hit over the roof in Tiger Stadium or the three home runs he hit in the final game of a World Series. No one mentions he played in five different cities.

Of course, this doesn't mean you're not allowed to be sad when they go.

Lynch is not only a great football player, but he is a terrific role model on the field and in the community. There aren't a lot of players like him and it could be a while before you find another (although you might want to take a closer look at Derrick Brooks).

Through the years, you may have spent a good deal of time reading about Lynch, buying his football cards, arguing in his defense.

So it's all right if you feel a little sad. It's normal if you're not as excited about football today. It's even okay to be a bit mad at the Bucs.

For someone who cares deeply about their players and their teams, those feelings are perfectly understandable. Maybe even expected. Just know that eventually those feelings will pass and the games will be just as fun.

In the meantime, you may run across some friends who do not understand. They may even say you're acting silly.

After all, he's just a football player. Not your parent, not your brother, not your best friend. He's never been to your home and he won't be at your graduation. He doesn't know your name and you may never meet him.

But he was your favorite player.

And, if you choose, he always will be.

- John Romano can be reached at 727 893-8811 or romano@sptimes.com

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