Porter's courage earned respect

Baseball fans probably don't need an autopsy or a police investigation to evaluate Darrell Porter's life.

The former Royals catcher and St. Louis Cardinals World Series star will be remembered warmly and with great respect throughout our state. And that's not just because Porter helped both the Cardinals (1982 and 1985) and the Royals (1980) reach the World Series -- although that little bit of trivia should endear him to all Missouri baseball fans.

Porter, 50, died under mysterious circumstances. He left his home to pick up a newspaper and wound up dead at a Sugar Creek park. Police saw no signs of foul play.

The authorities should try to discover what caused Porter to die so young and so unexpectedly. Porter's family deserves that, and so do Porter's fans.

And the facts of Porter's life warrant a thorough investigation into his death. For a time, particularly during his time with the Royals (1977-80), the enigmatic free spirit lived on life's mind-altered edge.

Troubled past

An admitted abuser of cocaine, alcohol and marijuana during a portion of his playing days, Porter blazed a trail that modern-day athletes have worn thin. Porter was one of the first professional athletes to admit his drug dependency, seek help and join what we now refer to as the "God Squad." Although now we don't blink when an athlete checks himself into rehab, when Porter did it more than 20 years ago, it took a significant amount of courage.

It took even more courage for Porter to write his then-shocking, tell-all autobiography "Snap Me Perfect! The Darrell Porter Story." Porter's willingness to share his human frailties is why his fans don't need an autopsy report to know he's worthy of respect in death.

Porter had no idea how sports fans would react to his disturbing admissions. Would he be loved or loathed? Seen as weak or strong?

Of course, now we know the fans continued to love him. Maybe the fans loved the fact that Porter didn't wallow in his weakness. He fought it. And that's what I give Porter the most credit for, fighting his demons. Too many of us never muster the strength and the faith to fight.

From all that we know, Porter put up a good fight. He deserves our respect in death.

Jason Whitlock is a sports columnist for The Kansas City Star.