I was visiting with a friend, he is 72. He told me of an experience he had when he was 11, back in 1950.
At a street corner in Kenmore Square near Fenway Park out walked Yogi Bera,(Yankee), Phil Rizzuto, (Yankee) Joe DiMaggio (Yankee), Walt Dropo(Red Sox) and Hank Bauer (Yankee). He ran up to the players and asked for autographs. Everyone gladly gave their autograph except Hank Bauer, he looked at the little boy said "No" and walked away. As I looked at the autographs carefully placed in a scrap book. It hit me that after 61 years this man was still disappointed about Bauer, one of his idols. Bera, Rizzuto, Dimaggio, Dropa showed taste and class. Giving a boy a lifetime memory. It brought back to mind my attendance of Patriots Practice Camp this summer. Brady throwing, Woodhead running doing whatever he does. Belichick coaching. At the end of practice all the little boys lined up with some adults for autographs. Belichick who usually looks like he is sucking on lemons(Hey, it has to be about food). Smiles and waved. Woodhead smiled and signed autographs. Both men showed class and taste. Brady put his head down and left. For those boys, I wonder how many years their disappointment in their idol with be?
No comments:
Post a Comment