That Barbaro horse died.

So what? You'd think it was, say, a *person*. The New York Times had an article: After 8 Months Filled By Hope, Setback Ends Barbaro’s Battle; Barbaro’s Desperate Fight for Life Gripped a Nation in Anguish; and Veterinarian Says Goodbye to a Patient (whew! good thing there's nothing else important going on in the world!).

Sports Illustrated is particularly bloviating: A Champion Until the End
Barbaro Touched Us With His Grace and Fighting Spirit; before saying Churchill Downs Could Be Burial Site For Barbaro. It goes on and on.

Ummm, remind me again, who cares?

Sportswriters, of course, love to find the Big Picture. And then write it into the ground. And beat us over the head with it. With purplish prose. The Sports Illustrated article contains the following gems:

It lost a champion whose class and bravery -- before and after his injury
-- were inspiring and lent a visceral touch to a sport that is rapidly becoming
disconnected from human emotions.

His passing, upon further review, is immeasurable.

Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby in the manner of an athlete who is evolved
beyond his peers. He cut a massive, striking pose in the Derby paddock before
the race, taller and more muscled than the others in the race.

Calling Tim Layton, calling Tim Layton. We're talking about a horse here.

Maybe sportswriters grew up when people still cares about horse racing. But I think they're congenitally unable to resist the desire to show us how Sports Affects Us All. Blech.