October 11, 2004

Happy Columbus Day!!!!


They told me it was an easy shift.

When they asked me if I'd be willing to work a double shift on Sunday, which
would include the overnight desk shift in which I'd be the only one here, they
told me that nothing ever happens. You just sort of sit there, take the
occasional wacko phone call, keep an eye on the wires and the TV, and try to
stay awake.
That's what they told me.
That's on an ordinary night.
This was not an ordinary night.

    At around 12:30 or so, someone from the Houston Chronicle called and asked
if we were going to report that former Astro Ken Caminiti had died. There was
a report on CBS that said he had died in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon. We
called around the city, and no one was able to confirm it. We called CBS and
confirmed it with them, then the reports hit the AP wire. We started working
on that.
    Then Mark Bulliet who was working the desk till 2 AM, when he would hand
it off to me, was checking Drudge which was reporting that Christopher Reeve
had died. I went to his web site and got his press agent's number. We couldn't
get anything confirmed until that too came over the wire at 1:30 AM.
    It is now 2 AM. I hope we catch Osama Bin-Laden, just not till my shift is
over. And please say a prayer that the Pope pulls through the night.

Ken Caminiti (1963-2004) Would love to know what the hell he was doing in the
Bronx. His agent said he was "helping a friend" but helping a friend do what?
I don't think he was in Woodlawn or Riverdale, I'm sure he was in the rough
part of town.
   Caminiti will be remembered more for admitting that he took 'roids when he
won the National League MVP Award in 1996, than for anything else he did in
his career. (That MVP award should be rightly given to Mike Piazza) If this
current steroid scandal in baseball ever truly comes to light, and players are
truly exposed and records really do become tainted, Caminiti will etch himself
an infamous spot in baseball history.


Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)- Another man, talented in his field, who like
Caminiti, will be remembered more for something completely different.
    When Reeve fell off his horse and broke his neck 10 years ago, many
reports said he would either die within days, or at best, be a vegetable the
rest of his life. Instead, he became a human experiment, letting doctors try
different medications and treatments. That, and an incredible spirit to live,
helped Reeve make strides that no one had dreamed of 10 years ago.
  The first time I saw him interviewed after his accident, he would have to
stop every 30 seconds or so to refill his lungs with air. Slowly but surely,
over the years, he was able to go longer without stopping. He even appeared on
a couple of episodes of Smallville. It's no wonder that many people, including
John Kerry as late as last Friday believed that he would one day walk again.
   Sadly, he didn't reach that goal, but make no mistake: For anyone who
suffers a neck and spinal chord injury, he paved a much easier road. Not an
easy one, not by any stretch, but definitely and easier more hopeful road.

it's now 5:45 AM, nobody else has died yet.


FRIDAY'S DEBATE- BUSH-KERRY II SHOWDOWN IN ST. LOO

     I had to stay late on Friday night because we had a couple of reporters
in St. Louis who needed to file, so I didn't get to see the whole thing
straight through. However I saw most of the replay when I got home. Bush was
better this time in as much as he didn't make any faces, but he still came off
as angry. Senator John Kerry was barely finished talking when the President
would hop off his stool and start his rebuttal (for anyone who watched Will
Forte impersonate him on SNL this week i assure you the impersonation was
almost dead on) As far as the issues went, there were no real surprises. Both
men stuck to their positions, and both were strong and well-versed in their
answers.
   The next debate is Tuesday in Tempe Arizona, right up against Yankees-Red
Sox. I can't imagine anything new being said between them. They probably
should have had the foreign policy debate, the domestic policy debate and then
the town hall meeting to sort of tie it all together. Well, who said good
sense had anything to do with politics?  

BASEBALL 2004

Let's see how Wild B is doing so far:

WEEKLY MAIL SAID:

YANKS IN 5

What happened: The Yankees were losing to Santana on Saturday but were able to
get into the Twins bullpen, and win game 4 to take the Series

WEEKLY MAIL SAID:
Red Sox in 4

What Happened: The Sox just might be the team to beat. They smacked the Angels
around something fierce.

WEEKLY MAIL SAID:
Astros in 4

What Happened: The Astros finally lost a game at home. The series concludes
Monday night in Atlanta. Go 'Stros!

WEEKLY MAIL SAID:
Dodgers in 5
What Happened: I rolled the dice looking for an upset, I didn't get it. Cards
kicked ass.


Happy 31st birthday James M. Tubridy
Everyone else, Have a Great Week
Wild Bill