Mad Genius Maddux

Greg Maddux in Cubbie blue during the 2006 season.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

I lived in Chicago during the era of Greg Maddux. No World Series, but if you're not gonna win a Series you might as well get to watch arguably the best (and smartest) pitcher in the game. If you don't follow baseball, this story by Tim Keown over at ESPN.com is the only introduction you'll need to Maddux. And if you know pro ball already, you'll only appreciate lines like this all the more:

DISCLAIMER: Greg Maddux is quoted in this story saying exceedingly humble things. You are under no obligation to believe them. You are encouraged to believe in the spirit of the words-Maddux is almost obsessively self-deprecating-but that does not make them true. And when he says, "Whenever you've had a little success in this game, people think you know more than you do," don't believe that one at all.

Keown puts in several disclaimers in the piece, all of them warnings to not believe the anti-hype Maddux spews. Besides, he quotes enough coaches and athletes with opposing views to make a convincing case that Maddux is deserving of the myth:

How many times had he heard someone say it? How many times over the past 22 years had some catcher or coach or broadcaster said, "Greg Maddux? I bet you could catch him with your eyes closed"? Sounded plausible enough, maybe coaxed a chuckle or two from the pitcher, but mostly it was just something to say. Nobody realized it was just a matter of time before somebody decided to prove it.

And they did. Still, in case the cult of Greg grows too large after reading his article, Keown did a little follow-up research proving that, yes, Greg Maddux is only human.

Scott Cameron

Tags: Greg Maddux | Tim Keown