I grew up listening to Johnny Cash on my parent's eight-track cassette tape player. We only had about a half dozen tapes, so it doesn't seem to mean much when I say that Johnny was our favorite. But he was. And when I watched the story of his life being so respectfully and soulfully played by Joaquin Phoenix, I cried for his pain and yearned for an end to his suffering. Now I realize, however, that his suffering (and his willingness to identify with the suffering of others) is what made him such an amazing songwriter . . . and a truly great man.