Holy Cow...

I lost a hero today. Well, yesterday. But thanks to microbiology, etc... I didn't find out until just now. Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto died yesterday at the ripe old age of 89. He was one of the greatest shortstops ever to bless the diamond; and he was the best damn sports broadcaster ever. Because of the Scooter, I wanted to be a shortstop and I wanted to be on the radio. Thankfully, I managed both. The first not as well as I would have liked; but with the second I pretty much cleaned up. I honestly believe that I have him to thank for my radio success as he showed me at the tender age of three what could be accomplished by a voice across the airwaves with his unmatched ability to call the game while adding endless color commentary. In addition, this October marks the 29th anniversary of when I hid under my blankets with my portable radio listening to the Scooter call the 1978 series into the wee hours (well, at least for a four-year-old). I gave thanks for my carpet square and made good use of my nap time at preschool just so I could hold out long enough; but I never did make it to a game end. My mom or dad would always have to come in to turn off the radio and my mom recalls finding me more than once hugging it in my sleep. Thus, I can pretty much say without a doubt that the Phil Rizzuto was my first 'real' hero. I will never forget those nights as they are some of my fondest childhood memories; and I will never EVER forget the Scooter.

I never thought I would ever do this, but to quote Steinbrenner:


"I guess heaven must have needed a shortstop,"



And so, in honor of #10, I close with this:
(thanks to Steve Berry's website)




And This...

The Scooter At His Best (Audio)