Only In Boston

Boston, it has been said, has two overriding passions: Politics and the Red Sox. Not always in that order. And so perhaps only in Boston could the biggest daily newspaper -- and one of the most respected in the land -- use a quotation from a relief pitcher as an object lesson for politicians. In an editorial titled "Okajima's Civilizing Influence," a Boston Globe uses a quotation from Japanese import Hideki Okajima, who just received the fans' vote for the final American League All Star spot, as a springboard to wish for greater humility from our political leadership.

Upon winning an Internet election for the 32 d and last spot on the American League All-Star team, Red Sox rookie reliever Hideki Okajima, speaking through a translator, said he is "still the hero in the shadow." The pitcher who received 4.4 million online votes insisted that the real hero -- the teammate casting that shadow -- is his younger compatriot, Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Much has been said and written about the lessons these two hurlers from Japan have had to learn about playing ball in the Majors and about American mores. But if Okajima's modesty may be considered as much a cultural quality as a personal trait, then it seems obvious that many Americans in the limelight -- and not merely that special breed, the millionaire athlete -- could stand to learn a thing or two from the gracious Okajima.

The possibilities seem endless. Imagine Hillary Clinton winning an early primary and saying she is still "a hero in the shadow of the greater hero," Bill Clinton. Like Okajima's bow to Matsuzaka, such a Japanese-style gesture from Hillary would derive its virtue from the widespread belief that it is true.

The editorial goes on from there, including speculation that an Okajimesque hunility might benefit Randy Moss as he tried to learn the Patriot Way. Is it a stretch? Absolutely. Does it make me love Boston all that much more? It sure does.