On July 8, I visited the gravesite of Army Sgt. Daniel Tallouzi in Santa Fe’s National Cemetery to pay my respects and to place flowers at his headstone. In September 2006, he sustained a shrapnel wound to his head while serving in Iraq. He never regained consciousness, finally succumbing to his injury in February 2009 in his 24th year. During this interval, Sgt. Tallouzi’s mother led a vigorous and successful campaign to assure that service men and women with severe head injuries would receive proper care in military and Veterans Administration hospitals.
Having devoted a column last year to Sgt. Tallouzi, I owed him this visit.
Later that day, National Basketball Association superstar Lebron James, in his 26th year, announced at a gaudy news conference his move to a new team with a contract guaranteeing $110 million over six years.
Here is a statement that I wish professional athletes would consider on such occasions:
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the media.