The week that gave us three super heroes: Mike Huckabee comes to the aid of Centers for Children and Families

What a great week it was for superheroes.

Certainly getting the most pub was "The Dark Knight," the new Batman movie being hailed as a modern classic in which the late Heath Ledger's depiction of the Joker is being described as Oscar-worthy. And, at the risk of falling prey to the gonzo marketing of the Warner Brothers PR machine, "The Dark Knight" was spectacular entertainment and Ledger's performance was one of those that makes you stop what you're doing just to watch everything he is doing onscreen. A creepy performance made even more so by the inclusion of the sound of his licking his chops incessantly. The movie was easily the entertainment high point of the year so far, imho, and the character of The Joker should forever be retired.

As breathtaking as these two hours of entertainment were, what stole last week's show for me was what happened in Midland. As sad as the news of Tony Snow's passing was, what was really remarkable was the reaction of Mike Huckabee.

As you probably know very well, Snow, the former White House Press Secretary, died of cancer last week. He was the scheduled speaker for this year's "An Evening With ..." fundraiser benefiting Centers for Children and Families. There was more buzz about Tony's appearance than any of the other speakers the organization has had since Henry Winkler. People were really, really looking forward to seeing Tony.

Within 48 hours after his death, Centers had inked a replacement: Former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee stepped to the front, volunteering to fill Snow's slot. Huckabee commands a larger appearance fee than Snow, but agreed to do the benefit for Centers at the same amount Snow was to have been paid, and that is the mark of a real person of integrity. Very impressive. Very quality.

What would Tony Snow have talked about at the Centers fundraiser? We'll certainly never be able to say with absolute certainty, but we have a pretty good idea. A friend sent this to me the other day. It contains no religious or political overtones. It is simply one of the best commencement addresses I have ever read. You should read it, and you should pass it on to your children and friends. It sheds an ample amount of light on the kind of man Tony Snow was.

There are still tickets available to hear Gov. Huckabee, who is a gifted speaker. Call 570-1084 for ticket info.