McSherry’s Death Not a Real ‘Tragedy’

I’m perplexed by the news media’s invariable description of umpire John McSherry’s sudden death as “tragic.”

The man was over 50, dangerously overweight and had concomitant health problems. He also died doing what he loved to do for decades.

I don’t understand the “tragedy” here. Are the rest of us not going to die, or suffer apparently so little in the process?

BOB GORE

Santa Monica

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I find it difficult to conjure up sympathy for John McSherry, who weighed 328 pounds (probably more) when he dropped dead in Cincinnati on Monday. The man had numerous warnings that he chose to ignore--if carrying around 100 or so excess pounds wasn’t enough. Evidently, the major leagues have no control over this, but they should. There are other umpires who have serious weight problems too.

LOU STARKER

Los Angeles