Bordow: Do we truly appreciate Randy Johnson?

A confession: A few weeks ago I thought Randy Johnson was finished. He had lost six straight starts and his ERA was an unsightly 5.46. Finally, it seemed, age and three back surgeries had caught up to the Big Unit. But look at Johnson now. He’s won three straight games and he pitched a gem against the Chicago Cubs Monday, limiting them to two hits through seven innings. His ERA has fallen to 4.89, and he’s given up just five earned runs in his last 19 innings. Amazing. I’m convinced now that Johnson is the left-handed Freddy Krueger. You can’t kill him. I also wonder if we truly appreciate what we are witnessing: One of the greatest athletes of our generation. How many 44-year-olds with a back that makes more noise than Rice Krispies could do what Johnson is doing? Remember, too, that Johnson is unlike Greg Maddux and Tom... [read full story]