Smoking

This photo used to bother me.

When I looked at it the photo re-enforced all the negative stereotypes it conveyed in the minds of people:

Dick Allen was a rebel.

Dick Allen was a clubhouse cancer.

Dick Allen was too much of an individual in a team sport.

Dick Allen was selfish.

However, over the years I have come to love it. It encapsulates the free-minded spirit of Dick Allen. He didn't care about what others thought about him. He refused to follow the rules that he thought were unfair. He just wanted to play ball and let all the other stuff go.

That free-minded spirit came with a price tag. From what I understand about the man, I think Dick Allen is OK with that cost.