Mariano Rivera Awarded 2013 All-Star MVP

New York Yankees star-relief pitcher, Mariano Rivera, was chosen as the MVP of this year's All-Star game classic played in Citi Field (home of the New York Mets) on Tuesday night.

Rivera was selected by A.L. Manager, Jim Leylend, to pitch the 8th inning for the American League squad. As Rivera made his way to the mound from the bullpen area, where he had been warming up, there was a thunderous applause from the stadium crowd. People stood to their feet and cheered loudly as the Hall of Fame-bound Yankee pitcher stood on the mound and humbly received their generous applause. Both benches left their dugout areas and stood in applause to baseball's winningest and most celebrated relief pitcher of all-time. What a tribute from his peers! They even played his famous walk-in music, "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. 

In perfect fashion, like so many times before, Rivera threw to only 3 batters retiring all of them with no hits. It was a magical moment in baseball All-Star history. Commentators reporting on the game afterwards all felt that this was one of the most memorable moments in baseball All-Star history that they could remember.

With Mariano Rivera planning to retire from baseball at the end of this season, after 18 illustrious seasons with the New York Yankees, this award was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest pitchers to ever step on a baseball mound. Even though Rivera has played on a number of World Series championship teams, this award must be extremely gratifying to him coming at the end of his career. It is important to point out that all throughout his career as a major league player, Marino Rivera has conducted himself with integrity and class. He has been a great ambassador for baseball both on and off the field. 

We applaud MLB for awarding Mariano Rivera the 2013 All-Star game MVP. It was well deserved, especially since no other player had more than one hit. So there was no grumblings about Rivera leaving what appears to be his last All-Star Game with the MVP trophy. 

We need more people like Mariano Rivera in professional sports.