Interesting stories in Pat O’Brien’s autobiography. You remember him as the host of the NBA on CBS. Tells stories about Michael Jordan, Magic, Larry, Barkley Ali, the Beatles, Mickey Mantle, Howard Cosell, Tommy Lasorda, etc. He started out as an assistant to David Brinkley. Once was crossing a NYC street in a downpour, a car window rolled down and the occupant said get in, he’d give Pat a ride. O’Brien hopped in and the only one in the car was the driver: Joe DiMaggio.
Famous pre-playoff game interview with MJ: Pat asked how MJ could beat the Lakers. Jordan replied “Pat, we’re playing the Celtics today.” O’Brien first met MJ not long after he’s hit the game-winning shot for UNC in the national championship game against Georgetown. In the timeout beforehand Dean Smith didn’t say a word until they were about to go back on the court. Dean never let a freshman take a final shot. Finally he said “Let the freshman shoot it.” Dean looked at Jordan and said “you’ll be wide open.” He was.
O’Brien’s son Shawn spent lots of time around NBA players, including MJ. One day Shawn came home from school and asked “Dad, is Michael Jordan famous? Shawn’s friends didn’t believe that Shawn knew him. So MJ invited Shawn and a friend to the premiere of Space Jam, and walk the red carpet with MJ.
Another time O’Brien was eating with MJ and Barkley. A kid approached, waited for Barkley to stop talking, and politely asked for an autograph. Charles was rude and the kid went away. MJ chased down the kid and made Barkley sign. They all gave the kid their autographs, and posed for pictures. MJ told Pat he can tell if an autograph is real or fake. MJ always works the number 23 into the M in his autograph. Other autograph stories from Bill Russell (who never signed) and Reggie Jackson (make your autograph legible).
Once O’Brien was playing golf with Mantle, not long after the Mick had gotten out of rehab. On the first hole Mantle teed the ball, then stepped back and just looked at it. Pat asked if there was a problem. Mantle replied “it’s the first time I ever got the ball to stay on the tee on the first try.” Before his hands were always shaking.
For the first game in Toronto’s SkyDome the Canadian prime minister and US president George H W Bush threw out the first pitch. Later in the broadcast booth O’Brien was told to move the PM and POTUS around for a different camera angle. There wasn’t much time, so O’Brien said “guys, let’s move over here”. The White House officials weren’t happy with O’Brien referring to the PM and POTUS as “guys” but Bush didn’t care. Bush invited Pat next door to the private suite, where Bush personally fixed O’Brien a hot dog. Also in the booth were DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Bush offered Pat a ball autographed by Joe, Ted, Bush, and the PM. O’Brian turned down the ball, and later kicked himself for the decision.
Tuesday: left work at 530. Stopped by the bank. Then to the Y for another 4 miles. Each night I’m getting faster by a few seconds. Wore one of my Grizzlies shirts. Really shows when I sweat. Home to watch the rest of the Garth Brooks interview. Garth seems to be a down to earth guy, creative with tons on energy, able to admit his faults, who made it big. Really big. Wasn’t proud of his divorce. Admitted that it was his fault for chasing stardom. Quit the music industry and raised his kids, going to great lengths for his three girls to be raised with both parents in the picture. Didn’t spoil his girls. One summer made them build a 50 foot concrete and wood bridge.
Barney was limping worse after his late night climbing of the stairs. We made him sleep downstairs last night.
Christmas letters: loved by some, hated by others. I like to write them. Fine line between providing news updates and outright bragging. Some provide too many details. We do get one letter each year that’s long and detailed, but they’re not afraid to include warts and all. Too long isn’t good. A chore to read. Two thousand words is too many. Do others really care that much? Mine is 500 words. Gave news but not intricate details. I don’t enclose letters with every Christmas card I send – only to the few that send letters (or who I think are interested). You can give me a thumbs up or down when you get mine.
Dennison is correct: everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. Few these days have a moral compass. Dennison lays out the five viewpoints of the president in regards to impeachment.
HOYT WILHELM [SABR Bio] the Orioles part-time reliever threw a nine-inning no-hitter against the American League champion Yankees - No-no 20-Sep-1958 He had been an Orioles for less than a month. Signed by BAL off waivers from CLE on 23-Aug-1958. Struck out a Hall of Famer as an added bonus - struck out Mickey Mantle (as did many pitchers) in the 7th.
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