 Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Baseball Immortality -- Induction Day in Cooperstown
Sunday was an emotional day. It was a chance to see one of my
heroes, Goose Gossage, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, near my
hometown in Cooperstown, New York.
I texted Editor-In-Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack that the rain would hopefully hold off and it thankfully did. The only sad news was that my camera battery died. A new friend, John, is supposed to send me his. Until then, words will have to suffice.
My sister got some great tickets for my 12 year old nephew,
Elijah, and me. (It's partial closure for not giving me the Lakers at
Celtics ticket for the 1986 NBA Finals.)
Elijah and I traded stories about baseball players we have met. I
met A-Rod and he met the late, great Buck O'Neal. He has Rollie
Fingers' and Harmon Killerbrew's autographs. I met Gary Carter
and Dave Winfield and have their autographs. I guess meeting legends runs in the
family. 
I am really grateful to Elijah for saving my baseball cards from the Flood of 2006 in Upstate New
York. I don't have any kids so Elijah is the closest thing I
have to a son.
There was a record 56 out of 64 living Hall of Famers in
attendance. The first voice on ESPN, George Grande, introduced each
one to the cheers of the crowd. Dallas Green correctly remarked that
there should be no games on this weekend as we should honor the past
legends like Yogi, Bob Feller, Reggie Jackson, Ralph Kiner, and on on.
Given that it's been 100 years since the last Cubs World Series
victory, Ernie Banks asked for reinstatement. Bud Selig unfortunately
said that he can't do it to the boos of the crowd. "We want a new
commissioner!" a lady behind me yells.
I got choked up when they did the roll call for Bobby Murcer, Tim
Russert, and Phil Rizzuto. It's a day for grown men to cry because
"it's a perfect game played by imperfect men" as Bruce Sutter's dad
would say.
There were so many great moments like the Buck O'Neal Lifetime
Achievement Award. No one will ever forget him as a bronze statue will
greet everyone at the entrance to the Hall of Fame. He dedicated over 70 of
his 94 years to baseball. Society owes him an immense gratitude for
being "right on time".
The voice of the Mariners, Dave "My Oh My" Niehaus, was the Ford
Frick inductee. I can see why many Mariners fans came to see him. He
has an infectious enthusiasm and his words tell the story better in the
"enclosed green field of the mind."
"Those are real baseball
cards back there," pointing to all the inductees behind him. Niehaus
took us on a journey from his boyhood Indiana home to Seattle and back
in the blink of an eye through his broadcasting work for the Armed
Forces Network, the Yankees, and even LA Lakers basketball games. It's
like you were drinking lemonade and listening to the game on the radio
on his parents' porch.
Larry Whiteside was honored by his son
for growing "The Black List" of African American journalists from 9 to
90. He was the African American writer to have a vote on the Writer's
Committee.
Get up and stretch! Stan "The Man" Musial usually plays his
harmonica. But, he couldn't make it this year. Johnny Bench stepped
in and did a great Harry Carey impersonation. Ernie Banks joined him
to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".
Pirates owner Barney
Dreyfus was Veterans Committee Selection for help starting the World
Series. He was inducted by his great grandson Andrew. Andrew did a
great job even though his great grandfather died 32 years before he was
born. Barney was reunited with other Pirates Honus Wagner, Ralph
Kiner, Bill Mazerski, and Goose Gossage.
Bowie Kuhn was honored to be a "next scoreboard boy" as a kid at
Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. But, he became much more
than that. He was commissioner through 15 turbulent years. His
adopted son, Paul Gegener, articulated how special his dad was. Paul
was adopted after his father was killed in a car accident. Paul
answered Bowie's critics. Bowie was the vanguard of the game against
gambling and other lurid interests that besmirched the "spirituality"
of the game. George was speaking to Commissioner Selig seated next to the podium and to all of us.
He linked to the current class, especially Goose Gossage, who was
the last major leaguer he spoke with before Bowie died. His dad
always "tried to do the right thing and be fair."
The crowd howled when Commissioner Selig presented George with the
plaque. "How does it feel to be near a real commissioner?" a man to my
right shouted.
"Bud, you'll never get one of those plaques!" another man shouted.
I couldn't see the rest of the speeches because I had to catch the last bus back to
the City for work. I was glad I spent the day with Elijah. We
made several great memories that I'll remember forever. I hope to
enjoy future ones as well, God Willing. If Elijah's Little League team
wins their next tournament, they get to burn their manager's Boston Red
Sox hat. That's enough incentive for me to get reinstated in Little
League with or without Commissioner Selig's permission. Posted by an emotional Tank at the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York.
P.S. Elijah called me today and said he was able to get Goose's
autograph on a baseball. The "perfect game" is in good hands of the
next generation.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Visiting The Sports Museum of America
Editors Note: Steve and the Tank have off today for the All-Star break, so guest blogger Kevin McCall visited the Sports Museum of America and posted about it here.
If you live on Long Island like me it's very likely that you live hours away from the nearest sports hall of fame. For this reason, I recommend visiting the new Sports Museum of America during your next trip into Downtown New York City. Opening on 26 Broadway two months ago as part of a restoration of Lower Manhattan, the Sports Museum of America is the only museum in the U.S. to encompass all the sports Americans love. It was created in partnership with over 50 individual sport hall of fames, which donated artifacts to the museum. Each room is dedicated to one particular sport and equipped with computers linked to archives for the sport as well as televisions that show highlights of each moment that made fans stand up and cheer. They further enhance the experience by putting you inside the game, and also help educate the casual fan.
My visit began in the Immersion theater where I viewed a ten minute presentation highlighting some of the great moments in various sports. I then entered into the first exhibit, the Heisman Gallery the largest room in the entire museum. This is the new home of the Heisman Trophy, college football's top honor. Photos and biographies of all the past winners are shown on the wall. It's a little over done, but that's expected because it was a big reason for the museum's construction in the first place. The award winning ceremony will now take place at this location.
The next room honors all athletes who have thrived on the world's biggest stage, the Olympics. Medals won by track star Jesse Owens and world class swimmer Michael Phelps lie behind a glass case. Cubicles with items from the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" as well as the 1992 "Dream Team" can be viewed.
The following part of the museum was my personal favorite, the baseball exhibit. The sound of hardwood hitting a baseball and shouts from a vendor could be heard in the background, which kind of grew on me after a while. I snuck a picture of the World Series trophy, taking it with the camera on my cell phone, which is most likely the only way you will walk out with a photo of anything in the museum. An interactive experience allowed me to try different pitching grips on baseballs such as the knukleball thrown by Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. Bats used by Seattle Mariners leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki and slugger Ken Griffey Jr. could be picked up. Displays included artifacts from the first women's softball league and the Negro League are also included.
The basketball room is more small and narrow than the others, but includes memorabilia from major basketball cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and of course, New York. Large college basketball exhibits highlight the rivalry between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils.
The room dedicated to soccer contains the most secular items, some of which are pretty out there. The sports bra worn by Brandi Chastain in the 1999 Women's FIFA World Cup is one of them. The article of clothing became famous when Chastain threw her shirt off in celebration of her game winning goal against China that sealed the title for the U.S. Golf clubs used by all the greats from Sam Sneed to Tiger Woods are displayed in the golf exhibit. The tennis section contains rackets used by greats such as Andre Agassi and Billie Jean King. The auto racing section is largely dedicated to Dale Earnhardt as the infamous number 3 on his race car is displayed in a case especially for him. The inside setup of an old car used by NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon can be viewed. The museum did not forget about the fans of extreme sports. Most artifacts in this area are from the collection of skateboarding mogul Tony Hawk. X games medals are displayed in a case with snowboards and bicycle handle bars.
Next are the hockey and football rooms. The hockey experience allows people to put their head inside a goalie mask and view different shots. I found the commentary by Mike Richter unnecessary and annoying, but it gives you a great perspective on just how fast the puck comes at the goaltenders in the game. Any New York Giants fan will especially appreciate the case honoring this past Super Bowl.
Along with the trophy is the helmet worn by wide receiver David Tyree when he made his drive saving catch to propel the Giants to the game winning touchdown and ending the hopes of a complete undefeated season for the New England Patriots. I stared in awe for a few minutes at the visible marks the football left on the helmet!!
The final few rooms of the museum honored those athletes who defined an era. They excelled in more than just their sport, but in overcoming racial discrimination barriers and paving the way for social revolution in America. The achievements of Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, and Roberto Clemente are honored among others.
Finally, the museum commemorates the common folk who have made the sports industry as large as it is today, the fans. Through private donations, the museum has accumulated a collection of cards, pins, hats, and jackets representing various players and teams. Broadcasters are also honored in this area, as microphones and other artifacts from ABC Sports are on display. This section also includes a fantastic experience in which I had the opportunity to play a broadcaster and make up my own call for a great moment in sports!!
Overall, the Sports Museum is a phenomenal place in which fans of all sports can interact, relive the defining moments, and view a wide variety of memorabilia. I recommend it for someone who isn't a sports fan at all, for they will still be amazed by the courage and determination of those represented in the Hall of Halls. Admission is
$27 for adults (ages 15-59) and $20 for children (4-14). Children under 4 are free while students with current identification and senior citizens can enter for a discount of $24. If you find it too expensive to visit the museum, stop by the store next to the entrance. Sports nuts can purchase numerous merchandise for their favorite sports and teams at a discounted price. For more information, visit www.sportsmuseum.com.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Gary Carter
I had the pleasure of meeting Baseball Hall of Famer and 1986 Mets World Champion catcher Gary Carter in Midtown Manhattan last week. He was autographing his new book, "Still a Kid at Heart: My Life in Baseball and Beyond".
Speaking of kids, I asked him to autograph a copy of the book for my 12 year nephew Elijah. Elijah is playing Little League baseball, soccer, and other sports thank God.
Gary mentioned that many school districts across the country are cutting physical education programs. I knew this and we discussed the alarming rate of childhood obesity. I mentioned that I was watching a 220 pound 12 year old boy who was on the "20/20" program a few years ago. It is scary because of the future health ramifications.
It was great that Gary continues to inspire and hope that school districts get with the program. We should all be "kids at heart".
Posted by an inspired Tank reporting live from Midtown Manhattan.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The Goose Finally Gets the Biggest Save of All - The Baseball Hall of Fame
Former Yankees closer Rich "The Goose" Gossage was finally granted entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame earlier today.
This may have been Goose's last best chance as Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn were enshrined last year and Rickey Henderson looms on the horizon next year. Though deserving, former Red Sox star Jim Rice also just missed entry. Rice was rarely media friendly, perhaps a contributing factor in the voters minds.
But for today and this summer, Goose will stand alone as the only player inducted in Cooperstown. (His former Padres manager Dick Williams joins him by the Veterans Committee vote last month.) When today's relievers only go an inning, Goose went two or more innings to get the save. Along with Lee Smith and others, Goose set the standard that Mariano Rivera and others live by. Congratulations Goose! See you in Cooperstown.
Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Meeting Ozzie Smith Shows That The Baseball Hall of Fame Is More Than A Collection Of Plaques
I recently had the pleasure and privilege of meeting The Wizard of Oz, Ozzie Smith. It was quite a thrill as I attended his 2002 induction ceremony near my home town of Cooperstown, New York.
Upon his retirement from baseball, Ozzie has become a Baseball Ambassador. He participated in a Baseball Hall of Fame exhibition named "Baseball: The Ultimate Educational Tool" that I recently attended in Midtown Manhattan. The seminar lived up to its billing as baseball is a common identifying point across different generations, ethnic, religious, racial backgrounds, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Ozzie was a 13 time Gold Glove Winner but homework always came first at the insistence of his Mom. After he finished his homework, she played catch with Ozzie. She raised Ozzie and five sisters.
The exhibition illustrated that baseball teaches many things like statistics, civil rights, special abilities, cultural diversity, physics, leadership, honor excellence, preserve history, connect generations, mathematics, the business of baseball, character, education, American history, fine art, communication arts, geography, industrial technology, labor history, women's history, milestones and history makers, interaction with legendary leaders.
He almost quit playing baseball but his Mom and high school coach talked him out of it. Two weeks later, the starting shortstop hurt his ankle and Ozzie stepped in. The rest is history.
When facing adversity, Ozzie wisely said that no one faced anything like Jackie Robinson did. Keeping that in mind got him through the tough times like being traded from San Diego to Saint Louis. "Turn the other cheek and keep moving," he said.
Ozzie was also in a video showing the history of WWII Japanese-American internment in Manzanar, California. The interned Japanese-Americans played baseball in the camps. They had leagues and watched baseball movies like "Pride of the Yankees", a classic in any day. They had to make their own bats. It was fascinating. It showed that baseball got people through the hardest of times.
Posted by a grateful and enlightened Tank reporting live from Midtown Manhattan.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Does Andy Pettitte deserve the Steroid Scarlet Letter for taking HGH twice? Justice was Not Served Literally
The fallout from the Mitchell Report continues to envelope the baseball world, especially NY baseball players. According to AM New York, 15 players who played for the Yankees and 12 players who played for the Mets at one time or another.
Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Justice, and others have been named. Andy admitted yesterday to using HGH twice for an elbow injury according to Bloomberg Radio. Roger denies using performance enhancment drugs.
Another of the 85 players named was David Justice who was on Michael Kay's radio show on 1050 AM Radio Friday. Justice said Senator Mitchell nor his team did not contacted the YES Network nor his business manager. Justice's phone number has changed twice in the past year as his home burned down and for other reasons. Justice was said that former Yankee trainer Brian MacNamee did offer him HGH. He said it is not a steroid. Justice turned down MacNamee's "siren song" offer.
There are fundamental flaws with this investigation. Can the "evidence" hold up in a court of law? Maybe. People are named but are they tested? No. They are guilty until proven innocent. They have to wage their battle in the court of public opinion. Senator Mitchell is judge, jury, and prosecutor.
Is this his report an exercise in nothing? (1) No, it was an effort to shine the light of day on the past to improve the future. The only good thing that will come out of this is that kids will hopefully be discouraged from using performance enhancing drugs. (2) It is also an attempt to salvage what little is left of Bud Selig's legacy. This report is really indicative of what is wrong of his Commissionership. For instance, when the All Star Game was still tied in extra innings a few years ago, he declared a tie and didn't have a home run contest or some other way to end it. No one went home happy and the same is true with the Mitchell Report. People were thrown under the bus and their reputations were sullied forever. They have little chance to defend themselves -- guilty until proven innocent.
Given Senator Mitchell's record, it's hard to question his integrity but we all have biases. As I have written in the past, Senator Mitchell also happens to be a Red Sox director which he stepped down during the investigation but was seen on the field at Fenway Park earlier this season wearing a Red Sox sweater. He should have recused himself from any ballpark. The bias is true for Commissioner Selig himself. Only under intense pressure, he transferred ownership of the Milwaukee Brewers to his daughter Wendy a few years ago. But seriously, do you think she isn't going to listen to her dad? Exactly. Baseball isn't going to be truly fixed until there is an truly independent commissioner and not with ownership ties. Where have you gone Peter Ueberroth?
Yes, players from all 30 teams were named but only a non-star from the Red Sox was named. Were Red Sox sources similar to Radomski on the Mets and MacNamee on the Yankee discouraged, covered up, and/or overlooked? I don't think Senator Mitchell himself but perhaps someone on his staff did. As many questions that the Mitchell Report answered, the more questions need to be asked.
The IOC stripped Marion Jones of her medals earlier this week. MLB won't strip Clemens and others of Cy Young awards and World Series rings for allegedly used performance enhancement drugs. However, will he still go to the Hall of Fame?
As I predicted months ago, don't be surprised if politicians jumped into the fray, especially Republican President candidate Senator John McCain who has been on the forefront of this issue. Senator McCain was on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning on Friday morning. This is not an endorsement of Senator McCain but an observation of this continuing story.
Posted by a saddened and skeptical Tank in NY.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Redemption at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony
Six NFL greats were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend in Canton, Ohio. Included is Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills who is 12th on the all time rushing list. Thurman changed the game by catching passes out of the backfield on a regular basis. For me, Thurman was the biggest cog in the great Bills offense of the early 1990s which included Andre Reed and Jim Kelly. Thurman was my first and only NFL jersey until I bought Reggie Bush's jersey last year. Congratulations to a great player who finally got his due.
Congratulations are also in order for fellow inductees Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Gene Hickerson, and Roger Wehrli!
Saturday night's induction ceremony was highlighted by none other than the Playmaker, Michael Irvin. Michael had a great career for the Dallas Cowboys including three Super Bowl championships included two over Thurman Thomas and my beloved Buffalo Bills.
Michael also weathered a number of off-the-field issues including drug related issues which he referenced during his speech. Michael wept when talked about going to the threshing floor to asked "God, why must I go through so many hills and valleys?"
He asked his family for forgiveness and told his sons to be like his teammate, Troy Aikman, who was/is a model citizen. It took a honest and humble man to put someone else ahead of him in front of the whole world. Michael thanked his wife for being there "for better, or worse."
Michael's redemption was due to his spiritual advisor, Reverend T.D. Jakes, and his Mom's faith. She raised 17 children and said that there would be better days. Saturday night was one of those better days.
Michael left us with words to live by "look up, get up, and don't ever give up."
Posted by an inspired Tank in NY.
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