Those were the words that echoed through my mind when I heard the news.  Barbaro's euthanization brought a country (well most of it) together as it usually appeared to be a positive glimmer of hope in a world that's been devastated by tragic news.  Most of us saw the ill-fated Preakness Stakes in which "America's Hero" limped with his ankle in a grotesque position. 

We all heard that his prognosis was "grim" and that they would essentially have to use a gluestick to make his leg function somewhat properly.  Then we saw a day-by-day timeline in which it appeared that not all hope was lost and that hopefully, Barbaro may have a future as a stud.  Dr. Dean Richardson started looking less gaunt but was still aware that the fatal disease, laminitis, could strike and severly hurt Barbaro's chance at survival.  Sure enough, he was right.  In July, nearly two months after initally breaking his leg, Barbaro had his first significant setback.  Laminits had stricken. 

Hope was pretty much lost.  The sympathy cards were pouring in from all over the country and it appeared imminent that Barbaro would be euthanized.  But not-so-fast there.  Barbaro slowly trekked on, through the summer into the fall.  At this time, hearing a news story about Barbaro was rare which is always good news. 

Then around Christmas time, another update was given.  Richardson said that Barbaro could be released in the near-future.  The cast was replaced on his ill-fated right leg and his laminitis-stricken hoof was slowly growing back.  The feel-good story, may just have a feel-good ending to it.  We got an update that there was some small discomfort in the hoof but nothing that would be considered significant.  Then the worse came.

Richardson put Barbaro through a "risky" surgery to try and save him.  The next day, he had a small glimmer of hope as he looked "bright-eyed" but his condition deteriorated and he was put down.  It was a hit to the stomach.  The Barbaro-loving nation recoiled.  The story ended with a sorrow ending.  All of those surgeries and time put in was for naught. 

But why did we care?

This is a country that eagerly waited on YouTube to view the hanging of Saddam Hussein.  A country that turns sadistic as they search for the Joe Theismann, Napoleon McCallum, Clint Malarchuk and Moises Alou injury.  Hell, we even watch movies that depict people getting beheaded, burned to death and drowning.  But why did we recoil when we saw him limp?  What made us care about an animal so much?

I'm not a sensitive person, I'll be the first to admit.  Besides funerals at a young age, the only time I nearly cried was listening to the Rudy theme song after he made the sack.  For some reason, that nearly puts a tear to my eye.  But when I heard about Barbaro's euthanization it saddened me.  Perhaps it's because we don't think animals know any better and are helpless.  Barbaro didn't know he was a superstar but he probably didn't know that if he kept bearing weight on the other hooves, he would get a fatal illness.  Maybe it's just the human in some of this that sense.  Obviously, others are not profoundly impact in the least but that's their own choice.

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