The greatest sports column ever written was done by the late, great Jim Murray of the L.A. Times. The famed sports writer—-a man who made his living watching others—was suddenly sightless. Yes, for years only one eye functioned. After an unsuccessful surgery he lost the sight in his good eye.

Originally he was understandably resentful: "At that point, I did not care. I would like to have died, actually. When you're blind, there's no quality to life."

After overcoming his initial bitterness, Here's how he explained his loss to his readers:

“I lost an old friend the other day. He was blue-eyed, impish, he cried a lot with me, saw a great many things with me. I don't know why he left me.

...We read a lot of books together, we did a lot of crossword puzzles together, we saw films together. He had a pretty exciting life. He saw Babe Ruth hit a home run when we were both 12 years old….he saw Maury Wills steal his 104th base… He left a lot of memories. He couldn't take those with him. He just took the future with him and the present. He couldn't take the past.

I don't know why he had to go. I thought we were pals. I thought the things we did together we enjoyed doing together. Sure, we cried together. There were things to cry about.

…I suppose I should be grateful that he didn't drift away when I was 12 or 15 or 29 but stuck around over 50 years until we had a vault of memories. Still, I'm only human. I'd like to see again, if possible, Rocky Marciano with his nose bleeding, behind on points and the other guy coming….I guess I would like to see Reggie Jackson with the count 3-and-2 and the series on the line, guessing fastball. I guess I'd like to see Rod Carew with men on first and second and no place to put him, and the pitcher wishing he were standing in the rain someplace, reluctant to let go of the ball.

I'd like to see Don Drysdale trying to not laugh as a young hitter came up there with both feet in the bucket.

I'd like to see Sandy Koufax just once more fac ing Willie Mays with a no-hitter on the line….I'd like to see Henry Aaron standing there with that quiet bat, a study in deadliness…I'd like to see Elroy Hirsch going out for a long one from Bob Waterfield, Johnny Unitas in high-cuts picking apart a zone defense. …I'd like to see Sugar Ray Robinson or Muhammad Ali giving a recital, a ballet, not a fight….Also, to be sure, I'd like to see a sky full of stars, moonlight on the water, and yes, the tips of a royal flush peeking out as I fan out a poker hand, and yes, a straight two-foot putt.

Come to think of it, I'm lucky. I saw all of those things. I see them yet.”

Those of us who live in this, perhaps the most beautiful Valley north of Vallejo, only know of its beauty through one source.

Never was that more crystal clear than last Saturday when the Napa Rotary sponsored an opportunity to Cycle for Sight. Over 1500 people pedaled from 15 to 50 miles to raise over $100,000 for The Pathway Home Project (a transition center at the Veterans home) and the Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind on Mt. Veder.

No need to get mawkish here, but talk about “sucha deal.” It was the perfect storm of win/win. A great cardio-vascular workout; friends, everywhere, manning their stations (Apparently, one Rotarian balked at getting up at 5:30am, but changed his mind when asked what time kids woke up in Iraq).

From Justin, up the frontage road to the Veterans home (past the ”Memorial Mile” where those who gave their last full measure, including Saints’ teammates Bob Flannery,Gary Rodriquez and Dan Long were honored)--though Yountville; up the highway; across the Oakville Cross, down the Trail and back to Justin.

The weather was clear and cool. The colors electric—yellow mustard, green hills, deep, blue sky. Traffic was minimal. I thought of folks boasting about expensive bike trips in Bordeaux—clueless.

The sighted helping the sightless is good—I guess. And of course, anything for wounded Vets. But the ride was not without guilt. In these down times, are we grateful enough for what we have and where we live? None are so blind as those who will not see.