Bow Tie Cause

Issue: I thought this was a sports blog - are you giving fashion advice now?

Short Answer: If you've ever seen my wardrobe, you'd know that's not the case.

Reasoning: I've never worn a bow tie (other than clip-ons for tuxes I've worn in weddings), and I've certainly never owned a bow tie.  I think they can look fashionable, but I usually think the people wearing them are just trying hard to be different (i.e., they are nerds).  Ken Rosenthal may fit the definition of a nerd, but I'm not sure Dhani Jones does.  But, the two of them have teamed together for what is called "Bow Tie Cause".  Starting at the beginning of this year's MLB season, Rosenthal donned a different bow tie for each of Fox's Saturday Game of the Week.  Each of the bow ties raised awareness for various charities.  The website bowtiecause.org explains each bow tie and the charity which Rosenthal and Jones are helping to raise awareness for.  The 9/11 Memorial Fund, ALS, Cystic Fibrosis, and Ovarian Cancer are just a few of the causes that Rosenthal and Jones have represented.  You may be asking yourself, "what the heck does this have to do with this blog, other than the fact that Rosenthal wore these during baseball games and Jones was a former NFL player (he was a former Bengal - and an average one at that)?"

Well, ladies and gentlemen, one of the ties Ken Rosenthal wore, in Game 5 of the World Series no less, holds a place near and dear to my heart.  Let me show you the tie first:

Pretty sharp looking tie, no?  Well, this tie benefits the St. Xavier High School retention fund.  Yes, St. Xavier High School is my alma mater, I coach varsity baseball there, and, it is the best high school around.  Deal with it.  Allow me to let Fox Sports explain the significance of the charity:

St. Xavier High School assists young men to become leaders through rigorous college preparation in the Jesuit tradition. The school, whose motto is "Men for Others," created its retention program to assist non-traditional students to reach their full potential — academically, socially, spiritually and personally. The subtle X in the pattern of the bow tie reflects the school’s Long Blue Line tradition, while the geometric design represents the Jesuit approach to leading within complex, changing environments. Designed for the school's annual gala (Xtravaganza), the signature St. X BowTie helped raise over $30,000 to support the program. Dhani visited the school and taught students how to tie a bow tie.

Awesome.  St. Xavier High School made an appearance in the 2011 World Series.  I'm not sure many (if any) other high schools out there can make the same claim.  Makes me proud to be a Bomber.  Oh, who are we kidding?  Bombers are always proud to be Bombers, that's why people don't like us so much.  There is also some video of Rosenthal wearing the St. X bow tie, as he interviewed the Mets' Scott Hairston after a July 16 game in Shea Stadium.  The bow tie only makes a quick appearance at the beginning of the video, so, instead of posting a video with an interview of a player most people have never heard of, after winning a meaningless game in July, for a team that absolutely stunk (unless they were playing the Reds), I will just post a picture:

Again, awesome.  Here's to Ken Rosenthal and Dhani Jones raising money for numerous good causes, including a few that are near and dear to my heart, especially giving non-traditional students the chance to experience St. Xavier High School.  Go Bombers!