There's been increased traffic lately on this site, and SBG appreciates all of you who have stopped by to read this humble little blog. If you happen to read the comments at all, one name that keeps popping up is "Butch". Butch reads the site a lot, and he comments a lot too. Some of his comments are pretty funny (at least to SBG), sometimes he is overly complimentary of the author of this site. That's okay, Butch is SBG's Dad. You would expect that.

SBG wrote last Monday, on the occasion of his 40th birthday, a little bit about Butch. SBG had planned to talk Twins tonight, but he's scrapped that idea. That can wait. A little more about Butch is in order.

Butch got hurt at work today. He's going to be all right, but frankly, SBG thinks it sucks. SBG wrote last week about how he was glad that Butch was going to retire. SBG talked to him yesterday and he said "23 days left". In almost 33 years of manual labor, Butch was never injured. Today, he got his thumb caught in a hydraulic clamp and it was smashed. Today was likely Butch's last day. SBG talked with Butch on the way to the hospital this afternoon. The Mayor was driving him up there. Butch told me that the thumb is flat. Shit.

Hopefully, Butch's thumb can be repaired. If not, he'll have a heckuva battle scar to cap off 33 years of hard work. Now, SBG realizes that this is not the end of the world. Things could certainly be a whole lot worse, as Butch pointed out. It is not SBG's intention to dwell on this. It is SBG's intention to say a little more about Butch.

Butch is a smart, funny, and principled man. He wasn't a particularly good student and he never went to college. One of his favorite stories is how he was third in his eighth grade class. Yep, third. Out of three. SBG laughs every time he hears it. But, anyone who knows Butch knows that he's a smart guy.

Butch cut hair for 13 years, but with three kids running around (and The Mayor eventually made four), Butch had to get a better job to feed his family. So, he went to work as an assembler in the factory. At night, he went to the nearest community college (50 miles from where he worked) to learn how to weld. Eventually, he got a job welding. And he's been doing ever since. Every day. Often six days a week. A few times even seven. Sometimes 10 hours, sometimes even 12 hours. SBG worked as a design engineer for the same company for over a dozen years after college. He got a chance to see the old man at work. And damn it, he worked hard. He worked hard in a hot, noisy, dirty environment. SBG is very proud of his Dad.

Butch has an excellent reputation in the factory. SBG knew and worked with a lot of the executives there and they always praised Butch. Butch is an unapologetic Union guy. He bargained contracts, argued grievances and was constantly defending others in an adversarial role against the company. Even though he was somewhat of an enemy of the management, they still praised him, because he was tough but fair -- and he also worked his ass off in that factory. Now, that's respect. In fact, he was the guy that they always went to train new employees in the weld shop. And he was training somebody today when he got hurt.

SBG laughs when people debate whether athletes should be role models. SBG has never looked upon an athlete as a role model. He's had Butch. Butch works hard, he's tough, he treats people fairly, and he's accepting of others. He has always had time for his family -- SBG can absolutely count on Butch. Just yesterday, SBG had a little situation that needed some attention back in ND. Call Butch, he'll know what to do. He's been SBG's biggest supporter and he's always backed SBG in every thing that he's done. When SBG graduated from high school, Butch told him that he should be a lawyer. And SBG followed his advice -- eighteen years later. When it was time to do it, Butch said go do it. He didn't say what about your career, he said go do it. Father knows best.

And now, for all intents and purposes, he's retired. SBG had intended on a tribute on your last day, and now it's here just a little early. It's too bad that you had to end it this way Dad, but SBG is glad you are out of there.

Update: Talked to Putzer. Butch is undergoing surgery on the thumb tonight.

Update II: Butch is home resting after his surgery. He sustained quite a bit of damage on his thumb -- 2000 PSI of force between two plates of steel will do that -- but it appears he'll be able to keep it.