RIP Vin Scully

My old joint had a ton in the can, a lot for people you wouldn’t think would be in there — from way beyond the coverage area, prominent national figures. You wouldn’t think to check and see if we had one. Then I remembered how much wider our turf used to be, and how much more ambitious we once were. They were almost all written by folks who were no longer in the room. Another moment where you realize how far we’ve all sank.

 

Nearly 15 years ago I was EP of a small-time daily entertainment news show and one of the oldest producers we had spent all his spare time putting together 90 second obits for A and B list celebs. He literally had more than 200 when we were cancelled.
He took his segments with him when he left. He has since retired but posts his zombie obits on his Facebook page every chance he gets. It’s hilarious.

 

I had written one for every living member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, just in case it happened at a time when no one on the NASCAR.com desk had a clue what to write about Leonard Wood, for example.

However, when NASCAR took the website back, all of those files were eventually deleted by Turner. I'm certain NASCAR won't care if AP handles Richard Petty's obit now.

 

Not sure if anyone has already done it, but imagine a video tribute of a kid out front of his house playing catch with a buddy, Vin on in the background, shot in black and white of course, FF to his teen years driving around in some 60s muscle car, on to the 70s with his young family etc. all with Vin on in the background. Seriously, the guy was a part of peoples lives longer than just about anyone but your parents or kids.

 

My mother listened to him Knew him coming out of Fordham. My mother got to grow up watching Mickey Mantle, Duke Snider, and Willie Mays.

 

Must have been hard for her when the Bums and Giants bolted. From what I've read, the Mets filled the void adequately even while they sucked out loud their first seven seasons.

 

I'm not disputing the "impossible" part of Vin's 1988 call, but trying to figure out how "improbable" the season was. Gibson was NL MVP for the season, but the World Series MVP was Hershiser, the NL CY winner with the 59-inning scoreless streak.

The incredible Red Sox late-season run under Joe Morgan was the more memorable event of that year, even though the A's made short work of them in the ALCS.

 

FYI

 

My mother went to college soon after the teams left and was never around for the Mets. She rooted for the Dodgers and did not care for the Mets.

 

How many people can still generate ad sales that could support a special section - figure the ad people have been busy.