Kryptonite

I just heard the news about the passing of Christopher Reeve. Bittersweet, I'm sure, for those who loved him up close and personally — bitter, in that he never seemed to lose his lust for life even in the face of his tragic injury, and brought encouragement, inspiration, and hope to many millions of disabled individuals and their loved ones; sweet, if only in the knowledge that he is now unencumbered by the frailty that beset him the last decade of his life.

I wasn't a fan of the Superman films — I've never cared much for Superman the character, in any venue — but certainly no one could have worn the blue underwear with the big red "S" with more grace and goodwill than Reeve did. Ironically, though, my strongest cinematic memories of Reeve aren't connected to the Metropolis Marvel. I remember him most as the scheming playwright in the film version of Deathtrap, a crackling good role that pitted Reeve against Michael Caine in a deviously twisted plot. I also remember his voiceover from the trailer of one of the most abysmal movies Hollywood ever made, the religious intrigue potboiler Monsignor: "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned...I have killed for my country...I have stolen for my church...I have made love to a woman...and Father...I am a PRIEST!" I've always wondered how many takes were required for Reeve to get through that ridiculous soliloquy without breaking up.

Sad news. My condolences to Mr. Reeve's family.

I also just heard that Ken Caminiti, the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player who tossed his illustrious career down the sewer with cocaine and steroids, also died today. That's sad too — he was only 41. But as the late John Lennon once observed, instant karma's gonna get you.

My condolences to the Caminiti family as well.