I never, ever thought I would agree with Keith Olbermann on anything. After all, the man is an ignorant slimeball who never should have left sports
I have been ticked at ESPN's lack of coverage. It just shows they have no class. They give a little blurb here and there about him being the youngest player ever, but they really don't go into his career or his impact. Well, fine. Screw them. They are the ones missing out. They don't have a clue anyway. Let them engage in self-examination and bloviating over Barry the ScumBag Bonds. Let them wallow in SteroidGate. Me, I want to remember the greats. True giants, not those who simply wore a uniform with it on the chest. ESPN is nothing more than the great Enabler and Backstabber. It creates stars and then smashes them, but cares nothing for the Great People in the sports field. ESPN has shown that it truly sucks and is nothing more than self-important gas bags no better than the spoiled brat man child athletes they cover, that they would not even devote B story time to such a man who influenced 60 years of baseball fans, and generations of players in the Reds system. So, to ESPN, I will refrain from any more insulting, as Joe would get mad at me. But shame on you...you missed the call, real bad.
Some outlets get it. Even the New York Times had a moment of clarity in that Joe's obit led off their section yesterday or today, in the printed edition. Here is the link.
Major League Baseball has a nice story up by a former Reds beat writer.
The usually bland and pathetic Liberal Cincinnati Emptyquirer even has a nice spot, opening up comment to us, the fans.
And for those of us who think Joe was just some humdrum pitcher, think again. 83 complete games, 20 shutouts. A lifetime 3.90 ERA. Look at his numbers. If he were a pitcher today, a man who never made more than 25,000 in his era, today he would probably be pulling down 5-10 million dollars. And this was in an era when pitchers were hard workers. When 6 innings was a bare start, when 9 innings was expected. That he could go longer and still have the career he did, on some of the teams he did, says a lot. He was not just some shadowy hanger on. He had talent, and was a two time all star in an era that saw the Drysdales, the Koufaxes, the Marichals, etc. Today Joe would be a big money pitcher, and a big money lefty at that. He was a very good pitcher, on some lousy teams, but again, most importantly, he was A GREAT MAN. The reason we don't think about Joe the athlete is that Joe the MAN overshadows him. It is not often that the off the field endeavors overshadow an athlete's career. But what Joe did as a man and the way he treated people do just that.
I know Joe is probably looking down shaking his head at all the fuss, since he never asked for any accolades all his life, he only asked that people treat each other kindly, and that pitchers get that bunt down, and that people try hard. All he ever wanted was to make life a little better for us all. For that, Joe, mission accomplished.
He has now gotten the ultimate call-up and has slipped the surly bonds of earth and thrown a nice inside heater to the Man upstairs.
I think they should name the field after him. Joe Nuxhall Field at the Great American Ball Park. I think it has a good ring to it. What do you think?
And to those of us left behind, I think he will simply tell us what he told many of those Reds pitchers he shared memories and knowledge and encouragement with....
HANG WITH EM.
God bless you Joe. Godspeed. And thanks for the memories, the long summer nights, and winks and nods and autographs and handshakes...Thanks for you, Joe, thanks for you.
