THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509080017
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
With most of the nation cheering him on, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken just played in his 2,131th consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig's longstanding record.
Ripken is, without question, the Tabitha T. Daniels of baseball.
Who?
Now a sophomore at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Tabitha T. Daniels attended 2,340 consecutive days of school - kindergarten through high school in Surry County - never missing even half a day. In a Virginian-Pilot report on July 1, 1993, a month after her high-school graduation, she was called ``the Cal Ripken of education.''
Ripken took 13 years to set his record. Daniels spent 13 years setting hers.
Ripken has been paid millions a year and cheered by tens of thousands of fans. Daniels, of course, was unpaid, though she did receive a perfect-attendance plaque at her high-school graduation. (A few gasps of ``Oh, my God,'' were heard in the applauding audience when her perfect attendance was announced.)
Ripken played a game. Daniels sat through long class periods, some fascinating, some not.
Ripken loved what he was doing. So did Daniels.
He is a worthy hero. So is she. by CNB