Sports aren't everything.

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Sports are a huge part of my life and, if you're reading this, probably yours as well. But sometimes sports merely serve as a gateway to a bigger issue. Sometimes what happens on the field is insignificant compared to its impact elsewhere.

The NFL dedicated the month of October to raising awareness for breast cancer. It seems like every player has been rocking some pink gear in support of a cause that certainly deserves all of the accolades it has received. But it got me thinking about why there is so little public outreach regarding the male counterpart of the disease - prostate cancer.

The NFL's fan base is overwhelmingly male and certainly could benefit from a month in support of prostate cancer awareness. In fact, while most of the major sports leagues do something in support of breast cancer, there seems to be little done for prostate cancer.

This baffles me. Sports fans are predominately male so why aren't the fans being served? Or, more importantly, being helped? I knew I couldn't be alone in my disbelief.

I recently stumbled across an article about Ed Randall. You may know him as the well-respected host of various baseball programs on ESPN Radio, WFAN or Sirius XM or from his stint as Bob Sheppard's replacement as the public address announcer at Yankee Stadium. But his greatest work actually has nothing to do with baseball. Randall is the founder of "Bat for the Cure," an organization dedicated to bringing prostate cancer awareness and education to the public.

Randall was diagnosed in 1999 at the age of 47 with the disease despite having no symptoms and no family history. He successfully beat the disease but decided that wasn't enough. Ed Randall was angry and he wanted to fight back. He was determined to strike out cancer. Cheesy analogy? Yes. Admirable effort? Absolutely.

When discussing his idea in 2003, his longtime friend Tony Lacitignola said, "You should do something, you know everybody. Who would say no to you?"

And with that, "Bat for the Cure" was born. Using his countless baseball and sports contacts, Randall quickly established an impressive list of Board of Directors and Advisory Board members. The list reads as a who's who in the sports world. Bob Costas, Arnold Palmer, Len Elmore, Dusty Baker, Ken Griffey Sr. are all involved just to name a few.

I had the opportunity to talk to Randall last week over the phone. He was as gracious and candid as anyone I have ever interviewed, sharing personal details of his own battles with the illness and his passion for the cause.

"Bat for the Cure" has teamed up with several MLB, NBA and NHL franchises to offer free screenings to fans before games. Much to my surprise, it's a simple blood test. They have been drawing a few hundred men to each event so far.

And despite the organization being relatively new, they have already gotten to see the fruits of their labor. While in Tampa Bay before a Rays game in July, Randall was approached by a man named Chuck Hayes, who found out in a screening that he had prostate cancer. Thanks to early detection, he is doing fine and has become the poster boy of sorts for the organization. But more importantly, Hayes is living proof that early detection saves lives.

Here's something I bet you don't know - A man is 33 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than a woman is to develop breast cancer. One out of every six men (and one out of four African-American men) will get the disease

But here's the good news. Much like breast cancer, the devastating effects of prostate cancer can be minimized due to early detection. There is a 96 percent cure rate if discovered in the first phase. I'm terrible at math, but even I can tell you those are pretty good odds.

I found out my own father had prostate cancer on Father's Day. To be honest, it was a pretty lousy way to celebrate the holiday. As far too many of you know, the 'C' word is always scary. It knocks you off your feet the first time you hear it. Your mind drifts to a place full of worst-case scenarios, fear and disbelief. "I have cancer" has to be one of the most dreaded phrases in the English language.

I'm only sharing this with you because my dad is further proof that early detection is crucial. Less than five months later, he is well on the road to recovery and is currently undergoing treatment. His prognosis is overwhelmingly positive and we are convinced he will make a full recovery.

I wish every man was as lucky as my father. His doctor's diligence led to his diagnosis but I have to wonder what would have happened had she not been so thorough? Like Randall, he was asymptomatic and felt completely fine.

This is where the NFL (and all of the leagues) come in. It is absolutely essential to raise awareness for this potentially-devastating disease. Randall might have summed it up best when he explained that "prostate cancer is where breast cancer was 35 years ago" in its lack of publicity and information. This has to change.

Randall is dedicating his life to this cause and hopefully others will follow suit. In his words, he is "the only business person you will ever know that wants to go out of business." If you're feeling motivated, encourage your favorite sports team to get involved. You might help save a life.

POST: You would think I would have asked Randall for some World Series predictions. But, truthfully, it never came up. Because while baseball might be Randall's first love, fighting prostate cancer is where his heart truly lies. My apologizes to anyone who read this article thinking it might be about baseball. If it makes you feel any better, I think the Phillies or the Yankees will win it all. You're welcome.