The Rev. Jerry Falwell came to Madisonville, Kentucky in 1981, shortly after Ronald Reagan had been elected President. I was a news reporter back then, and I went to Madisonville to cover his appearance there at a local church. Falwell was then head of the Moral Majority and was quite a controversial figure.
I got to the church which was already crowded with parishioners. About 100 people were there in the small country church when Falwell stepped to the podium. He gave a sermon, and I'll tell you, whatever you thought of him, Falwell gave the best sermon I've ever heard. It was teriffic, real fire and brimstone combined with a real understanding and compassion for Jesus Christ. Just incredible. When he finished he said 'Now all of you in the church, you come right up here and Jerry will pray for you.' Everyone rushed the stage and bowed their heads and Falwell lead them in prayer.
After the sermon, I interviewed Falwell about his political involvement. I really wanted to stick it to him about the Moral Majority, which I didn't approve of, but I was no match for him. He really knew his lines and sort of disarmed me. He was charming in person, smiling, and not the confrontational person I thought he would be.
My memory of that evening though, was his incredible command of the Bible and his great sermon. The best sermon I've heard, before or since. Thanks for listening.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Minnesota North Stars-Unforgettable Memory
In the winter of 1967, when I was 13, I was on a plane going from Chicago to Minneapolis to visit some relatives when a large group of men came on the plane and took the rest of the seats around me. The man sitting next to me turned and said 'Do you know who we are?'. I shook my head no and he said 'We're the Minnesota North Stars'. Sure enough, the original, expansion, North Stars were on the plane with me.
The player sitting next to me was Bill Goldsworthy. I asked Goldsworthy t0 point out some of the other players to me and he did.
Parker MacDonald was sitting across the aisle. Cesare Maniago was taking a nap right behind me. Moose Vasko was a few rows behind him.
During the flight I peppered Goldsworthy with hockey questions and he was gracious and kind, asking him stuff that a 13 year old would ask like: What's it like to play against Bobby Hull?'. He was nice about it all.
When the plane landed, Goldsworthy handed me an autograph sheet that all the players had signed. Some of them came up to me and thanked me for being a fan. I was overwhelmed.
I also met Johnny Mariucci, a coach with the team who had been a player for the Blackhawks in the 1940's. He signed as well. A wonderful memory all these years later.
The player sitting next to me was Bill Goldsworthy. I asked Goldsworthy t0 point out some of the other players to me and he did.
Parker MacDonald was sitting across the aisle. Cesare Maniago was taking a nap right behind me. Moose Vasko was a few rows behind him.
During the flight I peppered Goldsworthy with hockey questions and he was gracious and kind, asking him stuff that a 13 year old would ask like: What's it like to play against Bobby Hull?'. He was nice about it all.
When the plane landed, Goldsworthy handed me an autograph sheet that all the players had signed. Some of them came up to me and thanked me for being a fan. I was overwhelmed.
I also met Johnny Mariucci, a coach with the team who had been a player for the Blackhawks in the 1940's. He signed as well. A wonderful memory all these years later.
Bobby Hull-Unforgettable Memory
In the winter of 1969, when I was 15, I went to O'Hare Field in Chicago to try to get autographs of the Chicago Blackhawks after they returned from a road trip from Toronto. Their plane was delayed by fog and it didn't land until 3 in the morning. Still, even at that late hour, the Blackhawks were so popular that almost a hundred fans were waiting along with me at the terminal hoping the players would sign for us.
Finally, off the plane they came. Stan Mikita, Doug Mohns, Pierre Pilote, Chico Maki and all the rest. Believe it or not, we let them all go by. We were waitng for Bobby Hull. Perhaps by design, Hull was the last player off the plane. When he arrived, we surrounded him asking for autographs.
Even though it was 3 in the morning, there was Hull, smiling and signing for everyone and posing for pictures. We were all on cloud nine.
Then we raced down the long airport hallway to get the other players to sign for us. They couldn't have been nicer. Mikita, and everybody was as nice as could be. We were just kids and everyone just sort of looked at each other, clutching our autographs, smiling, and thinking just how great this was.
Thanks for listening.
Finally, off the plane they came. Stan Mikita, Doug Mohns, Pierre Pilote, Chico Maki and all the rest. Believe it or not, we let them all go by. We were waitng for Bobby Hull. Perhaps by design, Hull was the last player off the plane. When he arrived, we surrounded him asking for autographs.
Even though it was 3 in the morning, there was Hull, smiling and signing for everyone and posing for pictures. We were all on cloud nine.
Then we raced down the long airport hallway to get the other players to sign for us. They couldn't have been nicer. Mikita, and everybody was as nice as could be. We were just kids and everyone just sort of looked at each other, clutching our autographs, smiling, and thinking just how great this was.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Chicago Cubs-Last Day of the 1969 Season
As most Cub fans know, 1969 was a season to remember. The Cubs were on the way to winning the pennant when the New York Mets came out of nowhere to win it and the World Series. The disappointment felt by Cub fans from that 1969 season has lingered through the years and even with some of the players.
I will never forget the last day of the 1969 season. I was watching the final game of the season on telelvision. It was at Wrigley Field and the Cubs legendary broadcaster Jack Brickhouse was announcing the game.
The Mets had overtaken the Cubs on September 10th and never looked back. At the end of the game, when the last out was made, the fans in the lower box seats rushed onto the field, hugging the players and thanking them for the 1969 season.
And Jack Brickhouse, seeing this, said 'Look at that will you!', the fans are on the field thanking the players for the season!', and the ushers just stood around and let the fans do it. No one was arrested or anything like that.
Then the cameras showed a fan in the stands with a sign which read, 'The Cubs are Still Number One to Us.' The Brickhouse came on camera with tears in his eyes and told us that we would never forget the excitement and thrills of the 1969 season, even though the Cubs finished second.
And Brickhouse was right, of course. 1969 has remained in the memories of Cubs fans everywhere.
I will never forget the last day of the 1969 season. I was watching the final game of the season on telelvision. It was at Wrigley Field and the Cubs legendary broadcaster Jack Brickhouse was announcing the game.
The Mets had overtaken the Cubs on September 10th and never looked back. At the end of the game, when the last out was made, the fans in the lower box seats rushed onto the field, hugging the players and thanking them for the 1969 season.
And Jack Brickhouse, seeing this, said 'Look at that will you!', the fans are on the field thanking the players for the season!', and the ushers just stood around and let the fans do it. No one was arrested or anything like that.
Then the cameras showed a fan in the stands with a sign which read, 'The Cubs are Still Number One to Us.' The Brickhouse came on camera with tears in his eyes and told us that we would never forget the excitement and thrills of the 1969 season, even though the Cubs finished second.
And Brickhouse was right, of course. 1969 has remained in the memories of Cubs fans everywhere.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
New York Mets-1969 Memories
In April of 1969, when I was 16 years old, I went to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game against the New York Mets. I got to the game right when the gates opened at 9:30am, with the game not starting until 1:30. I loved to run around the ballpark taking photos and getting autographs of my favorite players.
I wandered over the to the right field bullpen where the young Tom Seaver and Jerry Grote were signing autographs. They couldn't have been nicer. Both of them posed for photos and signed my program.
Then I went over to the Mets dugout where manager Gil Hodges was signing along with Ron Swoboda. The Mets of 1969 were great to us Cub fans. They signed for all of us, including broadcaster Lindsay Nelson.
The Mets won the World Series that season. But in April of that year, no one expected them to do much. The Cubs, my team, were the ones expected to win the pennant.
Wrigley Field, back in the 1960's was simply a magical place. I met Jackie Robinson there in 1968, along with Satchel Paige in 1970, in addition to Stan Musial. Celebrities like that were always walking around the ballpark before the game. Hope some of you Cubs or Mets fans will read this...
I wandered over the to the right field bullpen where the young Tom Seaver and Jerry Grote were signing autographs. They couldn't have been nicer. Both of them posed for photos and signed my program.
Then I went over to the Mets dugout where manager Gil Hodges was signing along with Ron Swoboda. The Mets of 1969 were great to us Cub fans. They signed for all of us, including broadcaster Lindsay Nelson.
The Mets won the World Series that season. But in April of that year, no one expected them to do much. The Cubs, my team, were the ones expected to win the pennant.
Wrigley Field, back in the 1960's was simply a magical place. I met Jackie Robinson there in 1968, along with Satchel Paige in 1970, in addition to Stan Musial. Celebrities like that were always walking around the ballpark before the game. Hope some of you Cubs or Mets fans will read this...
Monday, April 16, 2007
Meeting Nelson Rockefeller in the 1968 campaign
Nelson Rockefeller, loaded with charisma and electricity, ran for president in 1968, and I met him at the Hotel Gary in Gary, Indiana when I was 15 years old. I had met Bobby Kennedy
earlier in the year and Rockefeller was so similar. That personal power, the undeniable charisma, was part of his appeal.
He went into the hotel with Gary mayor Richard Hatcher, then he came out of the hotel, and when he did, there were ahout 150 people, including me, wanting to shake his hand and meet him before he got on his campaign bus.
Rockefeller appeared and he was engulfed by the crowd. A police officer assigned to him was pushed back about 5 feet.
There are people who are energized by large crowds and others who are exhausted by them, and Rockefeller just loved the energy and with a big smile he said 'hi' to all of us in that thick New York gravelly accent of his. I managed to get right up to him and what a thrill that was for a freshman in high school.
He finally made it onto the bus and was signing autographs through the window and I was snapping away with my instamatic camera as the crowd pushed against the bus.
All these years later, I have heard that the Hotel Gary was turned into a senior citizens center and Nelson Rockefeller died about 10 years after that campaign appearance.
Thanks for listening.
earlier in the year and Rockefeller was so similar. That personal power, the undeniable charisma, was part of his appeal.
He went into the hotel with Gary mayor Richard Hatcher, then he came out of the hotel, and when he did, there were ahout 150 people, including me, wanting to shake his hand and meet him before he got on his campaign bus.
Rockefeller appeared and he was engulfed by the crowd. A police officer assigned to him was pushed back about 5 feet.
There are people who are energized by large crowds and others who are exhausted by them, and Rockefeller just loved the energy and with a big smile he said 'hi' to all of us in that thick New York gravelly accent of his. I managed to get right up to him and what a thrill that was for a freshman in high school.
He finally made it onto the bus and was signing autographs through the window and I was snapping away with my instamatic camera as the crowd pushed against the bus.
All these years later, I have heard that the Hotel Gary was turned into a senior citizens center and Nelson Rockefeller died about 10 years after that campaign appearance.
Thanks for listening.
Meeting Robert Kennedy-1968-Unforgettable
I was 15 years old in 1968, and Robert Kennedy was running for President, and his campaign came through my hometown of Gary, Indiana. The Indiana Primary was coming up and I rode my bike about 5 miles to 10th street where his car was supposed to drive by.
Sure enough, Bobby Kennedy and Ethel (who was pregnant with her last child, Roary, at the time) came around the corner onto 10th street. I cannot even begin to tell you how much unbelievable charisma Bobby Kennedy had. People surrounded the car. He was smiling and shaking hands. Ethel was just trying to shield her eyes from the sun which was directly in her face.
Kennedy had this raw, positive, power that just made people cheer when they were around him. Everyone was just thrilled to meet him.
Kennedy had finished shaking hands with us and the car started inching away, speeding up along 10th street. People were literally chasing after his car, and the last thing I saw him do was that famous habit of his of taking his right hand and sweeping his hair out of his face.
There was a media car behind Kennedy, filming his every move. There was no security at all around him. How times have changed.
All these years later I wish someone in the Kennedy inner circle would have convinced him not to run for President. Perhaps he would still be with us today.
Sure enough, Bobby Kennedy and Ethel (who was pregnant with her last child, Roary, at the time) came around the corner onto 10th street. I cannot even begin to tell you how much unbelievable charisma Bobby Kennedy had. People surrounded the car. He was smiling and shaking hands. Ethel was just trying to shield her eyes from the sun which was directly in her face.
Kennedy had this raw, positive, power that just made people cheer when they were around him. Everyone was just thrilled to meet him.
Kennedy had finished shaking hands with us and the car started inching away, speeding up along 10th street. People were literally chasing after his car, and the last thing I saw him do was that famous habit of his of taking his right hand and sweeping his hair out of his face.
There was a media car behind Kennedy, filming his every move. There was no security at all around him. How times have changed.
All these years later I wish someone in the Kennedy inner circle would have convinced him not to run for President. Perhaps he would still be with us today.
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