It's been several weeks since my last blog post and much has happened. Football season has begun. I am the commissioner of our fantasy football team. A very good friend of mine passed a very important test. My 2 kids went back to school. The youngest is doing cross country and basketball. The oldest is in Europe studying English in England. What a concept right? My wife of many years booked her trip to go see the oldest in England in November. I think I spotted a few more gray hairs. My favorite sport, baseball, is rapidly coming to an end. Hockey and basketball seasons will soon be upon us. Where does the time go right? That's a question I'm sure all of us ask ourselves no matter how old we are. The events I mentioned are just a few of the things that took place since the last time I wrote here. As I see my kids continue to grow up, and the grayer I become, I'm asking myself that question more and more.
I brought up sports because that is one facet of my life I thoroughly enjoy; mainly baseball. Today is a sad day for me. I grew up listening to the immortal Vin Scully call Dodger games since that one day in April 1976 when I was first introduced to Dodger baseball. He has been the Dodger broadcaster for 67 seasons. I've listened to him for 40 of those. Today is his last broadcast and I am listening to him as I write this. So of course I am a bit melancholy. Let me tell you a story. Enlighten me.
It's a Sunday in April 1976. My family and I reside in La Puente, CA which is located in the beautiful San Gabriel Valley. All right, it's not exactly beautiful but I digress. We were pretty close to our neighbors next door. My friend Henry always talked about the Los Angeles Dodgers. Of course I was a deprived child and had no idea who the Dodgers were but I did know baseball as I attended many little league games. So on that Sunday he asked if I would go with him to see the Dodgers play the Houston Astros. I asked permission of course and surprisingly my "must attend church every Sunday" father let me go. So off I went with Henry and his family to Dodger Stadium to see my very first Dodger game. I was hooked. I wanted to go back. Henry taught me how an entire baseball season works. The Dodgers would play games at home and on the road as well. He also taught me since it's not always possible to attend the games I could listen on the radio and even on TV. I asked my Dad for a radio and he found one for me. Thus my addiction to baseball and Vin Scully began. I listened as much as I could to that voice that still captivates me to this day. So trust me as I say again, this truly is a sad day for me.
Maybe you have to have lived long enough and be from Los Angeles to fully understand how tough this is for me and for countless other Dodger baseball fans. He's the only voice we know that's been attached to Dodger baseball. Chick Hearn was the long time broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. When he passed I literally broke down. Bob Miller is the Los Angeles Kings broadcaster. I hope to hang on to him as long as possible. I'm sure many of you have your favorite sportscasters you couldn't live without as well.
So what's the point you ask. My point is simply this. Time is not slowing down so cherish the time you have with your friends and family. The holidays will soon be upon us so document the events that mean the most to you. Write in a journal. Do not take anything for granted. I know, that is a very old cliche but consider my memories of the sportscasters I grew up with mainly about Vin. You don't realize what you have until it's gone. So as Vin hangs up his microphone, this kid from LA wants to say thank you for all the great baseball calls you've made over the years. Like any family member, there is no replacing you. God bless Vin. God bless all of my friends and family.
D.Z
