Memorial Day

If you're looking for a new car Memorial Day is a good holiday for you. Every car dealership from here to Guam is having a sale. Car deals are good as long as it's not the only reason you're celebrating the holiday.

Please take a minute or two to remember the hundreds of thousands of men and women who've given their lives in the line of duty for this country. Please never take for granted the events that have shaped the freedom of America.

I am no fan of war. I think it is the worst of what we do as human beings but by the same token friends and family have died in wars they did not create and we must remember them fondly on this weekend.

If your town or city has a parade go to it and give a silent blessing in memory of our brave fallen heros.

We had a memorial day parade in my home town of Wilton, Conn. every year. Growing up in Connecticut we had a Memorial Day parade every May. It was so small my Dad used to tease us and say, "don't sneeze or you'll miss it." Inspite of it's size the whole town took great pride in the parade. Back in the 50s there were still World War I veterans marching in the annual event. They were followed by vets from WWII and Korea, then the local police, fire department, school bands and finally kids with decorated bicycles. We marched from Wilton Center up Ridgefield Road to Hillside Cemetary for the actual ceremony.

After the parade there was a softball game at the school field. The local Democrats played the Republicans in what was billed as the "Frivolity Bowl." Apparently a Democrat suggested a softball game years earlier at a town council meeting and a prominent Republican said, "we cannot spend our time on such frivolity. Thus the "Frivolity Bowl" was born. I was winning pitcher in 1971.

I urge everyone to have a great time on Memorial Day weekend. If you can find a Ford truck at a good price, go for it, but never forget why we celebrate this holiday. Never forget the brave men and women who served their country unselfishly so you and I could have a picnic on a nice weekend any time we feel like it.

Griffey Nap No Big Deal

What's the big deal about Ken Griffey Jr taking a nap in the clubhouse during a game if that's indeed what happened? Most of his teammates have been napping at the plate all season so one more nap isn't going bother me. I've come to one conclusion, there are far too many talk shows on the air and bloggers on the web, including me and I'm tired of hearing and reading what these "experts" have to say. In fact I've written myself a nasty note about this column and promise to mail it as soon as I'm finished.

Who among all of you haven't thought about taking a nap under your desk during the work day?

This is not a big deal and I'm tired of hearing about it. Obviously Griffey's bat speed is slower than it was but I still believe he'll snap out of this slump and have a productive season. Unfortunately it may not come to that. The Mariners may be forced to clear a roster spot and talk Junior into retiring.

Here's my suggestion. The next time Griffey hits a home run the Mariners should called a press conference and announce his retirement, that way he can go out the way Ted Williams went out, with a home run in his last at bat. All we need to do now is get an opposing pitcher to set him up with fast balls right down the middle, sort of like Denny McClain did when Mickey Mantle was one homer shy of 500. Come on boys let's create a happy ending for this story. Griffey deserves it.


Ken Griffey taking a nap in the clubhouse is far less a problem than Milton Bradley

Mom Was Right

I always thought the advice I got from my Dad through the years was pretty good. Most of the time he was right. He told me I should learn a trade so I learned the barber business and used it to supplement my income during my early years in broadcasting. He advised me to change the oil in my car every 3000 miles so it wouldn't wear out. He was right about that too. But it was my mother who gave me the spiritual advice I needed most. She was the one who told me to look within myself before blaming anyone else for my problems. She was the one who taught me the daily prayer, "This is the day the Lord hath made, I shall rejoice and be glad in it." She was always the one who told me the straight truth. I remember the first time she saw me on television. She had flown out from the east coast to visit me in Seattle. I went on the air for the 5, 6 and 11 o'clock news and when I got home at midnight she was still awake. She looked at me and said, "Dear, don't wear a brown jacket anymore you look better in navy blue." The next day I donated my brown jacket to Goodwill.

My mom passed away this last Christmas night and in her memory I put here in the sub title of my book, "Smile In The Mirror." The sub title is Dad was Right and So Was Mom.

On this Mothers Day do something memorable for your mom instead of just showing up for dinner. I leave you now with one of my favorite mom quotes. "A mother is someone who notices four pieces of pie for the five people around the table and suddenly decides she doesn't like pie."

Mom Was

Cardboard Heros

Michey Mantle lived in a shoe box in my closet when I was a kid. He shared it with Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Duke Snider and Jackie Robinson. They were the cardboard heros of my childhood. I used to imagine that they would come alive at night when I was sleep and play an all star game on the carpet next to my bed. For all I know maybe they did. I was a pretty hard sleeper in those days.

Baseball cards have been a constant in my life time and in fact for generations. I bought my first card from herman's Smoke Shop in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1953. I'm not sure but I think a pack of cards cost 10 cents and included a rock hard square of bubble gum whose flavor lasted less then 40 seconds.

Herman's sold tobacco products, candy, gum, Coke and Pepsi in bottles and baseball cards. Oddly enough the guy running Herman's Smoke Shop was named Herman. He was a friendly guy who used to point out which packs of cards had the best players inside them. I don't know how he knew but he was usually right. Following his advice I once got a Mickey Mantle in a pack of 1954 Topps and a Ted Williams in the next pack. That was years before kids even cared about the value of a card. In those days we traded them, flipped them or attached them to the fenders of our bikes with clothes pins to make it sound like a motor bike.

Baseball cards are still appealing to me though they cost as much as 3 bucks a pack now and don't come with bubble gum anymore. Herman's Smoke Shop is long gone and I live three thousand miles away anyway so it wouldn't be practicle even if Herman was still there. Now I buy my cards at a store that sells nothing but sports collectables. The guy who runs it is nice enough but he never tells me which packs have the best cards and I don't even think his name is Herman.

Seahawks Mini Camp

Picture a jigsaw puzzle with 53 pieces. Sounds simple enough huh. Now what if you had to start with a 104 pieces and figure out which 53 make up the real puzzle. That's the task facing Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his staff as they launch into a three day weekend mini camp.

With three over head cameras watching every move of every player for 90 minutes a day the coaches will be armed with enough material to figure out who belongs where when training camp begins in late July.

The team has a lot of needs, that's no secret but with a successful draft netting nine new players including at least two immediate starters, the Seahawks are one their way to a comeback.

Bird and Cash Return

Sue Bird and Swin Cash return to Seattle this weekend and will be on hand for Storm Media Day Monday at Key Arena. Lauren Jackson will be back in town next week. All three have been playing basketball in Europe which is commonplace in the WNBA. It's like the old days in major league baseball when players actually had to get jobs in the off season to supplement their incomes. The Storm open their home season against Los Angeles Sunday May 16th at Key Arena.