Twilight Zone Music (a little self-indulgence)
In 1969, I turned 15. If you had asked me at that time who my greatest heroes were, the list would certainly have included Art Garfunkel, Jerry Koosman, and Kurt Vonnegut.
So, in the distant future, on April 11,2007, I go to Mets Opening Night at Shea with my 15-year old daughter and Art Garfunkel sings the Star Spangled Banner and Jerry Koosman throws out the first pitch. All on the day that Kurt Vonnegut dies at the age of 84.
I’d love to go back in time and tell myself.
“Memory Brushes the Same Years.” Simon and Garfunkel, 1970.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
That’s a pretty amazing trifecta, Dana!
I watched the game at home here in Arlington, Virginia…my 23 year old son, who has just moved to Philly, was in attendance with his girlfriend.
Kooz was in the broadcast booth for an inning with the guys…he was tremendous…interesting, informative, energetic, and altogether charming. Sometimes he’d say something and Ronnie’s face would brighten and then bob up and down in agreement…great stuff.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:11 am
Dana,
That is amazing. Talk about serendipity. I have had experiences similar to that, and I truly believe that you have a guardian angel or some otherworldly source that caused your 3 heroes to converge in one spot.I still maintain that Bobby Valentine became the Mets manager a week after my Dad passed away, because he constantly talked about how Dallas Green was a horrible manager and Bobby Valentine should be the new manager. This serendipity in sports is the same force that allow us to “call” a homerun by a favorite player. It seemed to work last year with me and Carlos Beltran and/or Carlos Delgado. It also seemed to work with Mike Piazza when he was on the Mets. Of course skeptics will say it is coincidence, but most sports fans have their superstitions. When my son(who is now 21) was playing PAL basketball he always wore the same socks to every game, and his team won three years in a row! As Mets fans, we can use all the help we can get, spiritual and otherwise, don’t you agree? LOL!
April 13th, 2007 at 11:00 am
That broadcast session with Koosman really was wonderful. He is so baseball-smart and interesting. I was hanging on every word. And you’re right Chris, so was Ron Darling. That was almost as fun to watch. He was clearly one of Ron’s heroes.