'This is the way life works'
Good columns by Steve and Dan about Jon Lester's cancer. The news is humbling on so many levels. It really does make you think about life's priorities. ... Quickie comments on Jenny's post: There is no right call on reporting on someone's health. One day we're applauding a blogger for breaking the news of Ortiz's heart palpitations, with minimal other information. The next the same reasonable people debate the ethics of reporting on Jon's enlarged lymph nodes, with minimal other information. Where do you draw the line? I know there is one. But I sure don't know where it lies on a day-to-day basis. Let's agree on this: Sports injuries are part of sports coverage. There's a reason why we call it the 'Injury List' and not the 'HIPAA Violation List.' But heart problems and cancer are different. A fine line was definitely approached here. But expecting and demanding total medical privacy for professional athletes is just not realistic. ... I do know this: I'm sure glad I didn't have to make the call about writing or running the original Lester story. I honestly don't know how I would have handled it, personally or professionally. Disclosure: I work for that newspaper. ...  ¶ 7:16 AM