Josh Hamilton to Take on 71-Year Old Man

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton may have taken the former #1 pick with all the potential in the world but got involved with drugs before dropping out of baseball and re-emerging with the Reds before being traded to the Rangers and becoming a Triple Crown and MVP candidate road that we've all seen a million times before (holy run-on sentences, Batman), but that doesn't mean he doesn't do anything out of the ordinary from time to time.

Hamilton made it official yesterday when he announced that he would be participating in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium over the All-Star break, but in a touching twist, he'll be bringing along an old friend with him.

Hamilton said he's asked Clay Council, a 71-year-old longtime American Legion and high school coach from North Carolina, to pitch to him.

"He's hit me hard over the years, but he's done that with most people," Council said. "He told me he'd bring me years ago if he was in the derby. I'm excited to do this."

Council said he's been to Yankee Stadium one other time, to see Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

You know, the more I read about Hamilton, the more I root for him. How Hallmark hasn't made a movie of the week about his life yet, I have no idea.