As all of Auburn is aware of, we lost an icon in the sports world last month. I consider myself unbelievably, extremely lucky to have met, gotten to know and consider myself a friend of Leo Pinckney. If I had not been involved in sports medicine or more specifically with the Auburn Doubledays, I may never have met Leo or at the least I would not have gotten to know him like I did. He was truly one of my “rewards” for practicing sports medicine.

As you all know, he was one super special person who I am very grateful touched my life. There have been a lot of eulogies for Leo already, and I'll miss him very much especially when the “boys of summer” come back this year, but I just wanted to mention him and pay tribute to him in my column as he mentioned me in his every year.

I'll/we'll miss you Leo!

Also, all of Auburn (and New York state for that matter) is aware that the Auburn Maroons Football team captured the NYPHSAA Class AA State Championship in the Dome last month.

Herein again lies the rewards of my sports medicine involvement. I have had the privilege of providing sideline medical coverage for the football team for nine years now (Jim Swartz far outranks me there ... not that he is “old” or anything).

There have been both up and down times. Coach Moskov has ALWAYS talked from day one about being a TEAM rather than individuals and “taking care of one another first.” Both those things have always meant more to him than wins and losses. Obviously he and everyone would like to win every game, but I can truly say that from the day I met him, he has always cared more about developing good men who are prepared to go out and “tackle” not just football, but real life.

This year was no different from the beginning. It just turns out that Coach Moskov finally got rewarded for all his hard work and dedication. I would like to list every single player's/coach's and other supporting personnel's names here as they all were integral in winning a state championship, but I think they would all agree that they truly were one as a TEAM this year and don't need individual recognition.

I have never seen a more humble group of guys, which is a reflection of their head coach. He would not want the individual accolades, but since the head coach (or any leader of any organization/business) is truly ultimately “responsible” (rightly or wrongly) for both the failure and success, then he should be congratulated individually.

Congratulations Coach Moskov and the entire “Auburn Maroon Nation!”

For helping me gain experience as a sports medicine physician and mentoring me along the way I want to thank the following people. Because of them, I was able to know Leo and be involved with the above achievement. Thank you Dr. Irving Raphael, Dr. James R. Andrews, Dr. William G. Clancy, Coach Moskov and the Auburn Maroons and to all my family, staff and patients who make the hard work worthwhile.

And thank you Leo.

Dr. Marc P. Pietropaoli is a board certified/fellowship trained

orthopedic surgeon/sports medicine specialist and is president of Victory Sports Medicine & Orthopedics

in Skaneateles. Reach him at drp@victorysportsmedicine.com