导出博客文章It was in the middle of the Barry Bonds home run chase, and I was sitting with Vin Scully in the broadcast booth at Dodger Stadium.
Brock McGinn Jersey .The Dodgers were playing the Giants, and Vin had been kind enough to agree to an interview before the game. I was writing a column about his views on Bonds, though the conversation would eventually cover everything from his days at Fordham to Willie Mays.First, though, I had a confession to make.I was one of those kids with the transistor radio, I told him. Under the pillow at night, listening to the game.I dont remember what Vin said in response, but Im sure it was gracious because Vin Scully is nothing if not gracious. Its simply in his DNA, and has been since he was a kid growing up in New York.Yes, he had probably heard the same thing a thousand times before. Somehow, though, I still had to tell him how much it meant.His voice has been part of the soundtrack of my life for so long I cant remember ever being without it. His presence on the radio every spring was always a reminder that while everything changes, this never did.It changes now, for reasons as ancient as mankind. We all get old, and Vin is no exception, even if he has weathered the ravages of time well. Hes still remarkable at age 88, but wants to get out before people start whispering about his age.His last game after 67 years calling the Dodgers will be in San Francisco. Fittingly enough its on the 80th anniversary of when he was walking home from grammar school, and saw in the window of a Chinese laundry that the Giants had been beaten by the Yankees in the World Series.Ive considered him a friend for the better part of a half century, even though before that day we had never met. Our friendship was always a bit one-sided, with Vin in front of the microphone and me listening wherever I could.It pains me that hes walking away after 67 years. Not just because Ill miss him, but because there is a sobering realization that there simply isnt any more.No more Vinny to greet us wherever we may be on a beautiful night from Dodger Stadium. No more descriptions of how glorious the mountains beyond Dodger Stadium look in the fading sunlight from his perch behind home plate.No more seamlessly weaving stories in between pitches about players or things you didnt know.Im hardly alone. If anything, Im just one of many in a loosely formed community that calls Vinny their own.And we all have our own stories to tell about the hours listening to his soothing voice.It could have been any summer evening at Dodger Stadium. Often it was a nondescript game somehow made interesting in the way only Vinny could.Deuces are wild, he might say in the seventh inning. Two on, two out, a 2-2 count. Score tied 2-2.My favorites were from the 1960s Dodgers of my youth when any ball hit out of the infield was thought of as an offensive explosion. On the rare occasion there would be a Dodger home run, and Vinny would match it with a call.A way back, she is gone!!! Vinny would call out, drawing out the words for added dramatic effect.I knew him while riding in my dads car from my first baseball game in the L.A. Coliseum. I knew him on an elementary school playground, transistor radio to my ear, as Sandy Koufax mowed down the Yankees in the opening game of the 1963 World Series.I knew him on a June evening in 1968 when Don Drysdale set a scoreless streak of 58 2/3 innings. Two days earlier, Robert Kennedy had been assassinated just a mile or two away after winning the California presidential primary and the world seemed to be falling apart.Somehow, Vinny brought a bit of comfort, just like he did on so many nights with the little red radio under my pillow and his voice taking me to places both near and far away.Hi everybody and a very pleasant evening to you wherever you may be, he would greet me, and I was pretty sure he was talking just to me.My two sons are grown now but they have similar memories because Vinny was always on in our house or in our cars. They grew to love him too, and theres not too many summer days that go by without a call or a text from one of them about Vinny telling the history of beards during a game or describing how the Beatles escaped Dodger Stadium in an ambulance after they played there.Vin made calls that will live in baseball history. He memorialized Henry Aarons home run to pass Babe Ruth and Kirk Gibsons home run to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.He brought me into a Dodger Stadium one September night in 1965. At the time Id never been to Dodger Stadium, but I could picture myself there when he called out the time on the scoreboard as Koufax was pitching a perfect game against the Cubs.I would think that the mound at Dodger Stadium right now is the loneliest place in the world, he said in the ninth inning. He is one out away from the promised land, and Harvey Kuenn is comin up.Vinny thought Koufax was the best pitcher ever, and on that we definitely agreed. He and I are also in agreement that Willie Mays is the best player we ever saw, though he actually saw Mays and I mostly only heard Vin describe the great things he did.His final game at Dodger Stadium -- where he has described nearly 5,000 games over the years -- will be Sunday against the Rockies. Vin said this week that he hoped to focus on the game and not let his impending departure overshadow it, as if thats possible.Then its three final games in San Francisco. Hell do those in typical Vinny style, trying not to draw undue attention to himself.And then I will go home, he said.We wish that he wouldnt, wish that he would suddenly change his mind and announce that hell be back for another season. Its just a wish, and after 67 years he owes us nothing, particularly his time.He wants to watch his grandkids -- he has 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren -- play ball. Yes, hell miss the games, but mostly hell miss the people at the ballpark.I will miss all of that, I know I will, he said. I will just do the best I can to live with it.Well do the best we can to live without Vin, too. For some of us lucky enough to have been along for a lot of the ride it will be harder than others.It was a few weeks after I first saw Vin that a hand addressed envelope came in the mail. Inside was a note from him thanking me for my nice words about him.Ive seen him several times since, but have never mentioned that my kids had it framed for me. It now hangs in a prominent spot on my office wall, and I make sure everyone who visits gets a look.Even so, Vin Scully thanking me just doesnt seem right.Not with all that I have to thank him for.----Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press and a Southern California native. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or
http://twitter.com/timdahlberg Cam Ward Jersey . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say.
Jaccob Slavin Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday.
http://www.hurricanesauthority.com/authentic-klas-dahlbeck-hurricanes-jersey/ . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No.NASHVILLE -- Chris Johnson is often asked how many yards he thinks he can rush for any season, and the player nicknamed CJ2K always responds with the same answer: 2,000. But Johnson said he is rarely asked about his team goals and gets tabbed as a selfish player for mentioning his personal goal. Still, he believes he can run for 2,000 yards again and help the Titans make the playoffs. His ultimate goal is helping Tennessee win a Super Bowl. "Every year I want to rush for 2,00 yards, and I feel like if we are doing what is right and we making plays on Sunday and if I get to that yardage, I feel like we can be a playoff team and hopefully win the Super Bowl," Johnson said. Johnson said he knows people need something to talk about, but hes surprised how much attention he gets every time he mentions his annual goal to become the first man to run for 2,000 yards in a season twice. But he said hes not going to talk about team goals when asked specifically about his personal plans. Those team goals are why the running back entering his sixth NFL season has been a regular in the Titans off-season program this year, getting to know all the new players Tennessee brought in to help this franchise rebound from a 6-10 season. Its been three seasons since Johnson ran for 2,006 yards and became the sixth man in NFL history to reach that mark. Its been even longer since the Titans last made the playoffs. "Oh, its been forever," Johnson said. "It seems like Ive never even been to the playoffs. So its a situation that I really want to get back there." The Titans want Johnson to have a big year too because that likely means they have done just that too. "Theres no doubt he needs to have a big year," Titans coach Mike Munchak said. "Were planning on him having a big year because obviously that means things are going well for us." The three-time Pro Bowl running back seems very happy with the changes both in the offence and the help the Titans got him this off-season. Munchak officially named Dowell Loggains as the offensive co-ordinator, and Johnson sees evidence in the playbook of turning back to a run-heavy offence after a heavy focus on passing the past two seasons under former co-ordinator Chris Palmer. The Titans also revamped the interrior of the offensive line with their first free agent signee in left guard Andy Levitre and their first draft selection in right guard Chance Warmack.
Haydn Fleury Jersey. They signed veteran Shonn Greene to offer up the change of pace back this team hasnt had since LenDale White in 2008 and 2009. Johnson pointed out White scored plenty of touchdowns in 2008, and that was the year Tennesssee went 13-3. Johnson said hes also able to share with Loggains what plays hes most comfortable with, and he appreciates new running backs coach Sylvester Crooms ability to have more input into the offence with both Munchak and Loggains. Greene ran for 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons with the Jets, and hes 26 pounds heavier than Johnson. He said Thursday that hes not worried at all about how much playing time hell get this season. He also thinks targeting 2,000 yards rushing is a good goal for Johnson to have. "I think hes capable of doing it, and I think everyone in this team is going to strive to help him get that done," Greene said. The Titans do want more from Johnson. Hes been working on catching passes to help the Titans move him around more while getting him out away the line of scrimmage with room to run. Johnson caught 50 passes for 503 yards in 2009, and he caught a career-best 57 receptions in 2011. But he had only 36 for 232 yards last season. Munchak said Johnson also is a key part of their pass protection despite his size at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. The running back knows where to be and how to buy that extra time for the quarterback. "Can we win week in, week out without him putting up numbers and doing well?" Munchak said. "Probably not." Johnson also knows criticism comes with playing running back in the NFL. "If I dont rush for 1,000 yards, then I lost a step. Im not the same guy," Johnson said. "But when I want to run for 2,000 yards, Im being selfish. Just got to take it." Notes: The Titans wrap up their organized team activities this week and hold a three-day minicamp next week to conclude their off-season. Munchak said some players like Levitre and RT David Stewart may be limited to individual drills. Munchak said the goal is to have players with any injuries healed up and ready for training camp.
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