Florida Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez and two companions were tragically killed in a boating accident over the weekend, leaving fans and players in a state of shock. As Faithwire covered yesterday, Fernandez defected from Cuba when he was a teenager and actually jumped in rough waters to save the life of his mother during the harrowing trip.
He was literally the living embodiment of the American dream. He was also very, very close with his family – especially his grandmother. She was stuck in Cuba, unauthorized to travel to the United States – when the Marlins decided to do something about it. Without telling Jose, the organization arranged for grandma to travel to Miami, and they caught the surprise on tape.
The result was emotion you couldn’t script any better. In a day and age when so many self absorbed celebrities, sports stars, and billionaires are held up as idols – it restores a little faith to see such a grounded young man. Hopefully others will learn from his life.