We interrupt your usual programming...

 I had just finished setting the M10 in stone.  A quick perusal of X before I began the research for the post.  But then...

Kirk Herbstreit

@KirkHerbstreit

This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Bens organs and there was nothing left we could do-we had to let him go. I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag. He and I could communicate..he and I understood each other and had each others backs. He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easy going companion. Hard day-but he will live within all of us forever. God please bless his majestic soul and thank you for putting him in my life for the last 10 years-a true blessing. 

Love you Ben. 🙏🏼

Ben had been going with Kirk to the games he covered for over a year... it was sometime during that year that he let us know that Ben was undergoing these treatments for lymphoma.  Everywhere they went, the teams made the neatest "credentials" for Ben...

One week, Texas, Notre Dame, and I believe South Carolina all announced Ben had 'committed' to their teams!  As one guy put it, Ben "became the mascot of an entire sport."

Reading Kirk's words are exactly the way I felt with Scrappy.  I started scrolling the tributes on X...

...minutes later, Misty was giving moochies to stop tears.

So forgive me, but I can't tonight.  Maybe I'll do the show tomorrow morning, maybe not.   Right now, I have a heart to put back together....