Politicans Take Note

Where did he come from?

Seriously.

In an age where baseball batters charge the mound on a inside strike ... where NFL players celebrate after every tackle ... where NBA stars 'high-five' each other after making a free throw in an exhibition game ...

From this generation of self promotion and ego - comes someone so different that he is getting the attention of people everywhere.

After getting knocked down on Saturday night in an obvious attempt by the Pirates to send a message to the Brewers - Prince responded with yet another 'career' day blasting two homers and just missing a third.

What was different was that Prince didn't charge the mound after getting plunked. The rest of the team was ready - all at the top of the dugout waiting for Fielder to take even one step toward the mound.

But he didn't.

Instead, he single-handedly beat the Pirates on Sunday in one of the most exciting games I have ever seen at the yard.

There's just something about this guy that is different. Yesterday after sliding home with a big run for the crew, he jumped up and finlly showed some emothion - looking toward the Pirates dugout and at the pitcher that had plunked him last night. The home-plate UMP thought there might be trouble and stood in front of him.

But there was no trouble. Even Jim Tracy the opposing manager saw it Prince's way:

"Obviously, he wasn't very pleased with getting hit last night, but can you blame him?"

To use an old cliche, Prince walks softly and carries a big stick ... and his team-mates are noticing. Here is Bill Hall:

"There is no better way to pay somebody back than to get some game-winning hits. We retaliated in the right way."

If you hang around baseball, you'll hear that what the Pirates did to Prince was necessary to send a message that they will not be pushed around.

But rather than charge the mound or engage in smak-talk through the media: Prince got the job done and sent an even bigger message.

Now - show me someone - ANYONE - running for office - ANYWHERE - with that kind of leadership quality.

I'm waiting ...