Benjamin Franklin once said ‘Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing!
The great Yankees manager Billy Martin was a true history buff. I used to sit with him in his office and he would school me on different people from the era the 1700s all the way to present day.
He loved talking about people that made a difference in this country. I was amazed at how much he knew about things non-baseball-related.
Naturally, he loved the Wild West and loved his nickname Billy the kid. He also was very self-educated about different man that made a difference. He had many books about these subjects and loved to smoke his pipe and read.
These are some of the things that people didn’t know about one of my all time favorite people and a man that I considered a true mentor.
One of my favorite passions has been writing. This actually started because I used to love watching and listening to Billy talking to some of the great writers of that era. People like Dick Young and Phil Pepe and of course Maury Chass and Dick Schapp. I used to love listening to Billy debate some of these people about what made the world go round.
Through Billy I would learn and understand the Benjamin Franklin quote at the beginning of this column.
While with the Yankees I have met some powerful and interesting personalities. One naturally being George Steinbrenner and another being team President Randy Levine. If you read Levine’s bio it is amazing what this New York kid has accomplished. He has held many different positions and titles but the one he loves most is President of sports most storied franchise, the Yankees!
Like his Yankees Boss, the thing that has impressed and inspired me the most is watching how he quietly has such a philanthropic side. I’m probably going to get reprimanded for writing this but like the Boss he doesn’t like to show his soft side either. Also like the Boss he understands his responsibility for his society and is always extending a hand to try to make a difference.
When you think of John Stark’s then naturally you think about The Shot. You think about John leaping over the greatest basketball player ever (Michael Jordan) and jamming that ball through the hoop and making the Garden go crazy.
I think of a guy that has become one of New York’s greatest sports ambassadors. A guy who I can’t tell you how many times I have called to help me with kids in need… mentally, physically, and spiritually and he has been there. Like Levine, a guy that stays under the radar. I must add that when I visit the world’s most famous arena John always comes over to say hello to whatever kids I may have with me that night.
When the Yankees traded away Gio Urshela my heart was broken because in Gio I had a guy that treated the kids of the Bronx like if they were his own. Then we got a Bronx-born outfielder named Harrison Bader. With Harrison and his parents we got Bronx people that have never forgotten where they come from. When you ask Harrison if he can come to a local school to talk to the kids and give them a message he always has his standard answer… What Time ?…
This past winter the very prominent pediatric brain cancer foundation The Cristian Rivera Foundation which specializes in DPIG which is a very rare tumor in children honored Harrison for all his charitable contributions. Ironically the last two recipients were Gio Urshela and the wonderful Bronx born actor Chazz Palminteri.
Speaking of Chazz, this man has been a hero to the youth and adults of the Bronx and the city because of his powerful film, A Bronx Tale!
The lessons learned in that film will live forever for both Black and White.
I was first introduced to Chazz by George Steinbrenner because he thought that our lives mirrored each other. Chazz has become a man that I have big time respect for because of the artist that he is and more importantly, the philanthropist that he is in the causes that he represents. Me being the father of two police officer sons I’m so grateful for all that Chazz has done for the police during difficult times.
This weekend the Mets honored a man that I consider my brother… Doc Gooden!
I am so grateful that Steve and Alex Cohen decided to retire Doc’s number 16. I was so happy to of been invited to such a wonderful event for someone that I love so much. While walking around Citi Field I was impressed by the way the employees talked about the Mets co-owner Alex Cohen. To many workers there she is affectionately known as Tia Alex which means Aunt Alex in Spanish. I learned about how she uses her podium to help different Citi-wide charities.
Harrison Bader who today is the Mets centerfielder and his mom Janice told me how in such a short time they have fallen in love with her and her charitable ways.
I guess I write this to be able to say that even though your rank may be that of a general that doesn’t mean that you can’t have lunch with us privates.
I thank these people in this column and others like them who understand that together we can still help make this world a better place.
