Posted by chicagomedia.org on February 17, 2008 at 17:06:08:
In Reply to: Bob Verdi remembers Harry Caray posted by chicagomedia.org on February 17, 2008 at 17:05:07:
What would Harry Caray think of today's baseball steroid scandal?
"I'm a guy who idolizes ballplayers," Caray told me 14 years ago. "So often, the guy who is idolized is not really a nice man. We see that every day."
Caray died 10 years ago this month, and his life will be celebrated next Thursday during another worldwide toast. As one of the most passionate ambassadors of the game, Caray would have been crushed to learn that so many players have cheated the fans and the game of baseball by using performance enhancing drugs.
Caray certainly wasn't naive, yet the Hall of Fame broadcaster would speak glowingly about the game he loved.
"How could there be baseball without the fans?" he once said. "They couldn't have the television money without the fans. It is the fan sitting in the seats who is responsible for the ballplayers. You would think [owners and players] would both be smart enough to realize it, but apparently they don't.
"What more loving sight is there than a man or woman with a beer and the two youngsters with a soda pop and a hot dog? That is Americana. And that is why I don't worry about the future of the game.
"Football and basketball have certainly moved ahead of baseball now. But they are really not the national pastime."
Next Thursday at 7 p.m., Dutchie Caray, Harry's widow, will lead the 10th annual toast to Harry followed by a round of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Harry Caray's Restaurant. The celebrities around the world who are to participate in the commemoration include Will Ferrell, Jim Belushi, Harold Ramis, Stephen Baldwin, William Petersen (the name as published has been corrected in this text), Jeremy Piven, Jeff Garlin, Dennis Farina, Bonnie Hunt, Dennis Franz (the name as published has been corrected in this text), James Denton, Woody Harrelson and Joe Mantegna.
"I was in (Palm Springs) California and I was in a little supper club," Dutchie said. "Somehow, they got my name, that I was there. People came over to me and they were all talking about Harry and what a great guy he was. Ken Venturi was one of the guys who came over to me. I knew he was a great golfer and all that, but I really didn't know that he knew Harry. Then [singer] Jerry Vale came over and talked to me that night. I was like, wow! Harry really left a big impression on people from all walks of life. Harry enjoyed every minute of his life."