Mike Krukow story proves character matters

Patients and caregivers are gaining comfort from Mike Krukow's inclusion body myositis revelation. Patients and caregivers are gaining comfort from Mike Krukow's inclusion body myositis revelation. Photo: Charles Mostoller, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Charles Mostoller, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Mike Krukow story proves character matters 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

People have been talking about it all week. On Tuesday, when Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow revealed that he is suffering from a debilitating muscle disease, the reaction was immediate. My e-mail inbox filled up and it generated hundreds of online comments.

But here's the kicker: There was hardly a negative comment. The famously nasty SFGate.com trolls did the right thing for once and took a pass. Instead, the space was dominated by good wishes for Krukow and praise for his stepping up and going public.

You can draw your own conclusions. Krukow is clearly beloved in the Bay Area, and he and his broadcast partner, Duane Kuiper, have perfected a folksy, witty style that makes everyone fond of them. But I think there's more to it than that. There's a larger factor I would sum up in two words: Character matters.

Krukow could have gotten defensive and told us his personal life was none of our business, that the intrusive media was prying into areas that should be left alone. That's not an unusual response and, he admits, that's what he did at first. He insisted he was fine, just battling through the aches and pains that come with being a former professional athlete.

But that didn't feel right. So he went public. And I'm sure he's heard about it ever since. Although friends and family requested that people acknowledge he's suffering from a muscle disease - inclusion body myositis - and then leave it alone, some folks can't help themselves. They want to tell him they care, or suggest a vegan diet or a seaweed cure that helped their uncle. It is, in short, just what he was afraid was going to happen.

But there's more. There are e-mails from people who have IBM or say their father has it. And, they say, it's a comfort to hear someone like Krukow talking about it.

So that's why we do the right thing. Or, better yet, why we admire and are inspired by those who do so. You may have heard that character is doing what's right when no one's looking. I'd say it is better represented by doing what's right when it is difficult and unpleasant ... and everyone is looking.

People sometimes ask me what my e-mail is like. They read the comments and see the truly vicious personal attacks. "Your e-mail must be horrible," they say.

It isn't. Like most of us at The Chronicle I get the occasional personal attack. But when you start to read a rip job it's amazing how often you can predict how it's going to end - no signature, no name.

This isn't a scoop. The unhappy cranks in the comments section revel in the fact that they are anonymous. They aren't accountable. They don't have to answer questions or face the public. They think they're pulling a fast one.

But we know the deal. They're cowards.

Being that person is easy. No consequences, no confrontations, no obligations. Someone told me once that maintaining a bad reputation is the easiest thing in the world. Even if you do something way out of line people just say, "Yeah, that's the way he's always been."

The harder road is to maintain your cred as a class act. Nothing stings more than to hear, "We expected more from you than this." It's that voice in the back of your head that convinces you that you know what's right, and even if it causes some pain and concern, you do it anyhow.

Krukow did that. He knew this was going to turn into a minor fan frenzy and he went ahead and spoke up. It's worth remembering that it is a choice with powerful ramifications.

Nothing shows that better than this story. When Krukow made the tough call and put himself out there he elicited the ultimate compliment from the ranters, the haters and the trolls.

Silence.