Stick
People will come and go in your life. That's a fact. Respect
is earned, then given. That's another fact.
I can't say that I respect a whole lot of people over my
years on Earth. True colors always show through sooner or later and that color
isn't always pleasing. But when I get reminded about somebody who was one of
the 'good' people in my life who recently passed away,sadness takes over. And
then I remember all the good this person was. Then the sadness turns to smiles
and I write.... RIP Gene Michael.
To anybody who follows MLB baseball,Gene's death was widely
reported. A friend of mine texted me about GM.Then I went to the Internet to
read the story. Most of what I was reading about Gene Michael was about what a
great guy he was. He was awesome. I first met him when I was 6 years old.
My father had a lot of major connections back in the mid
1970's. Due to his involvement with local municipality duties and ownership of
numerous restaurants in New Jersey. He often made friends with local living pro
athletes and celebrity types. Having a New York Yankees player stop by my house
wasn't uncommon during that time. Gene Michael ended up being friends with my
dad when they started a scholarship fund under Gene's name.
With Gene's Yankees connections,I got access to things (as a
kid) that most Yankees fans now or since would envy. Best seats for World
Series comped. Check. Having anything I wanted autographed by any Yankees
player. Check. Getting to drive with Gene and Ron Guidry (Yankees pitcher) to a
restaurant in Manhattan after a Sunday game,and have Guidry give me pitching
pointers during dinner. In 1978 (Guidry's Cy Young winning year). Check. And it
goes on and on....... Gene Michael treated me like I was his own son. Better
than my own father. Maybe Gene knew that my old man was a dick to my family.
Who knows?
I feel totally humbled and privileged to have done what I
got to do as a kid. There is a lot more to tell about growing up around Gene
Michael and all the Yankees players.But I will tell those stories in person,if
you ask me. What I wanted to accomplish with this blog was that a very
special,good person has recently passed away. And we can all learn something
about being good to one another. RIP Gene. You were my hero growing up.
Love
Peace
Soul
KK
@kapn_krude
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