Paul O'Neill

Photo by the Associated Press

Do you know what I love about Paul O'Neill?

Watch a tape of any home run that he has ever hit and you'll see the same thing - as soon as the ball leaves his bat, his head goes down and he starts running hard towards first base.

What a huge contrast to so many of today's players who just can't resist pausing at home plate to watch the flight of the ball.

Think about Manny Ramirez. Barry Bonds. Albert Pujols. Even A-Rod. These guys are so in love with themselves that they have to pause to watch that ball to feel mighty and powerful in front of the cameras and the world.

The only other players who I can think of who run hard after hitting a ball that is certain to be a home run are Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui. But even Derek and Hideki watch the flight of the ball when they really crush it.

Watch an old tape of Paul O'Neill hitting a home run. His head goes down immediately, every single time.

Talk about respecting the opposing pitcher, the opposing team, your own team, yourself, and the game.

No one has played the game of baseball quite the way that Paul O'Neill did.

The youngest of six children, Paul O'Neill grew up in Ohio under the watchful eyes of four older brothers and an older sister.

Much like many other younger or youngest brothers, it was Paul O'Neill's intense desire to show his older siblings that he could play that fueled him to become the player he was.

Throughout his career, Paul O'Neill proved himself to be an exceptional contact hitter with power, a strong defensive right fielder with an excellent throwing arm, and an incredibly fierce competitor.

As a Yankees fan, you just loved and still love the way that Paul O'Neill doesn't crave the spotlight. You love how he's a decent family man who is more than content with the 51 million dollars he made over his long career with the Cincinnati Reds and the Yanks. As Paul O'Neill has said, after a certain amount, what's the point? He was responding to a question about whether he was or wasn't jealous of today's players who are making 10-20 million dollars per year.

You also have to love that he has three children, a loyal wife who he has known since he was 5 years old, and all the time in the world to spend with them. May God bless Paul O'Neill and his family with many decades of good health and good times.