Good-Bye's of 2007

People close to me know of my somewhat bizarre fascination with celebrity deaths. Every time I sit down to watch the Oscars, Emmy's, ESPY's, or other random award show, the memorial tribute montage is the part I most greatly anticipate. I think it has to do with a genuine interest in human nature. We often have difficulty letting go of the past, from events that changed or entertained us, and people we admired for their accomplishments. I'm always interested in who will draw the loudest applause amongst the deceased. Are they the people who lived the lives we wanted to, those who conducted themselves with the most class, or those who were simply the most popular among their fans? As I ponder these questions, I bid adieu to a few people and events that meant something to me in 2007.

Brad Delp (55): The lead singer of Boston, Delp's voice was instrumental in preserving my sanity on several lengthy flights and road trips over the years. "More Than a Feeling" remains one of my 10 favorite rock songs, and the band's self-titled debut album still receives regular airplay on WZLX and other local stations. And no band had a better name.

Frankie (?): The long-time host at Charley's Eating & Drinking Saloon in Chestnut Hill, MA, never seemed to age. Frankie was always friendly and respectful towards my family, taking care of us on even the busiest of Friday nights, much to the chagrin of other customers. I can safely say he was one of two Friday night mainstays throughout my childhood, the other being Charlie's nachos. Frankie always made us feel welcome in a time when most restaurants are growing more and more impersonal. I'll remember him as a kind man with a firm handshake and a smile on his face. "Good-bye buddy."

Merv Griffin (82): One of television's most prolific personalities, Griffin was a game show host, talk show host (whose self-titled The Merv Griffin Show won 11 Emmy Awards), and late-night host. Creator of the hugely successful game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, Griffin arguably left his greatest contribution in the hands of Jerry Seinfeld, who used his famed talk show set in one of Seinfeld's funniest episodes, in which Kramer reconstructed the set in his apartment, complete with theme music. Although I'm not Griffin ever mixed up his cue cards.

David Halberstam (73): The American Pulitzer Prize winning author was among the most accomplished writers of the later-half of the 20th century. While his work on Vietnam and politics first brought him fame, it was his sports writing that endeared him to a younger generation of readers. Among those he published were Summer of '49 (about the Yankees & Red Sox), Playing for Keeps (about Michael Jordan), and The Education of a Coach (about Bill Belichick).

Harry Potter (1997-2007): The boy who saved reading. Created by J.K. Rowling, the 7-part fantasy series was THE pop-culture event of our time, obliterating sales records at a time when books seemed to lag far behind the internet, movies, television, and video games as means of entertainment for younger audiences. This year's final entry The Deathly Hallows did not disappoint, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione survived, Voldemort was destroyed, and readers bid a final farewell to Hogwarts. More symbolic, it marked the end of an era, and a phenomenon that rivaled both Star Wars and The Beatles. Not bad for a penniless writer who got creative on a delayed train to London.

Dennis Johnson (52): One of the most underrated athletes of his era, D.J. stunned the basketball world when he collapsed from a heart-attack in February. One of the great defensive guards of all-time, Johnson was a vital contributor to 3 NBA championship teams, the first with Seattle in 1979, for which he won finals MVP. The latter 2 came as point guard for the Celtics in 1984 and 1986. D.J. earned a reputation as one the most clutch players of his generation, and no less an authority than Larry Bird called him the best player he ever played with. Johnson, a 5-time All-Star and member of 9 straight All-Defensive 1st or 2nd teams, will likely be inducted posthumously into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame in Springfield, though that honor should've come much, much sooner.

The Naked Gun Villains:
In 1991's The Smell of Fear (2 1/2), Robert Goulet (73) terrorized the world as Quentin Hapsburg, who's inept plan to destroy the environment was foiled when Leslie Nielsen's Lt. Frank Drebin accidentally tripped over a chord that unplugged his nuclear bomb. Goulet found greater success on stage in 1960's Camelot, in which he played Sir Lancelot, and later won a Tony award for 1968's The Happy Time. Goulet also won a Grammy Award (1962) as best new artist.
In 1993's The Final Insult (33 1/3), Anna Nicole Smith (39) made an impression as Tanya Peters, Rocco Dillon's flirtatious girlfriend who had her eye on Lt. Drebin (It's a movie). Of course, Drebin lost interest when he discovered Ms. Peters was as "well-equipped" as he was. Smith's personal life sparked controversy, from her marriage at 17 to an 80 year-old billionaire oil tycoon to the mysterious death of her son. But Smith gained the most fame as the 1993 Playboy Playmate of the Year, decorating the bedroom walls of adolescent males across America.

The O.C. (2003-2007): Californiaaaaaaa, Californiaaaaaa . . . Critics be damned. The O.C., created by Josh Schwartz, was the single most entertaining teen drama since the early years of Beverly Hills 90210. Unlike 90210 however, The O.C. wisely invested as much time in the adult Cohens and Coopers as their kids. While the show burned through way too much story in season 1 (one of my 5 favorite t.v. seasons of all-time), it still had enough juice to sustain 4 seasons of lust, fights, betrayals, pools, surfers, beaches, burritos, chinese food, comic-books, lesbians, and some of most clever one-liners this side of White Men Can't Jump. Every young adult male deserves a cradle robbing neighbor like Julie Cooper. And I still wish I was from Chino.

Pirates of the Carribean (2003, 2006, 2007): For pure entertainment value, one of my favorite trilogies since Indiana Jones. Director Gore Verbinski helped keep the tone light, the humor strong, and the action fierce. And that score kicks ass! While many felt the sequels didn't live up to the original, I enjoyed each entry more than it's predecessor, culminating in this summer's thrilling At World's End. Despite that title, I wouldn't be surprised to see a 4th entry in this cash-cow franchise if Johnny Depp signs on again as Captain Jack Sparrow, who ranks among the most original, iconic characters to emerge in film during the past decade.

Chip Reese (56): Winner of 3 World Series of Poker bracelets, Reese earned the respect of his peers over a hugely successful career highlighted by stellar play and consumate professionalism. Among the most accomplished cash game players of all-time, Reese was the youngest living player to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame (1991). At a recent poker conference at Harvard Law School, Mike Sexton (host of The World Poker Tour) described his early days playing poker in Ohio, where 1 player always broke him at the tables. Sexton doubted his ability until he got to college, where he began cleaning up in cash games. It wasn't until years later that he discovered the player who dominated him years earlier was Chip Reese. A fitting tribute to a man Doyle Brunson recently called, "the best poker player that ever lived."

The Sopranos (1999-2007): Tony, Carmela, Meadow, A.J., Melfi, Junior, Paulie, Silvio, Pussy, Christopher, Janice, Livia . . . characters readily identifiable by a single name. I never thought we'd see a mob family rival the Corleones in stature, pop-culture relevance, and name recognition. But David Chase's New Jersey based clan accomplished just that. Among the most critically acclaimed television dramas of all-time, The Sopranos was also the most financially successful cable series in the medium's history. At the show's center was James Gandolfini's Tony, trapped in a constant psychological struggle between his responsibilities to his family and his "family." Though I missed much of the series when it was new, the magic of on-demand has provided me the opportunity to immerse myself in Tony's world, which features some of the strongest writing and acting I've ever seen.

Other Departures:

Ingmar Bergman (89): One of the most influential names in cinema, the Swedish filmmaker directed 62 films, many of which he wrote. Among his most notable were The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries (both 1957), Persona (1966), and Cries and Whispers (1972).

Joey Bishop (89): The former stand-up comedian guest hosted Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show more times than any other man. But he was best known as the last living member of the famed Rat Pack, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr.

The Bourne Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007): The new millenium's answer to James Bond, only with superior action, editing, and stunt work. Matt Damon embodied Jason Bourne with a vulnerability rarely seen in the genre, which the trilogy helped to re-invent. Doug Liman (Identity) and Paul Greengrass (Supremacy & Ultimatum) directed.

Marquise Hill (24): Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2004 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, Hill died tragically in an accident while jet skiing in his native New Orleans. The former standout defensive end helped LSU win a BCS title game (2003), and was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl winning team his rookie year. He also donated much of his time and money to help rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Richard Jeni (50): Likeable with a somewhat goofy demeanor, Jeni had a successful career as a stand-up comedian, with multiple comedy specials on both HBO and Showtime. He appeared frequently on The Tonight Show and starred in a handful of films, most notably as Jim Carrey's sidekick in The Mask (1994).

Deborah Kerr (86): One of Hollywood's most respected actresses, Kerr received an Honorary Academy Award in 1994. She was nominated for 6 oscars, all in the Best Actress category for the films Edward, My Son (1949), From Here to Eternity (1953), The King and I (1956), Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), Separate Tables (1958), and The Sundowners (1960).

The King of Queens (1998-2007): One of the most underrated, consistently funny sitcoms to emerge during the 90s, the story of tubby postal-worker Doug Heffernan and his wife Carrie earned many fans over the years. This was primarily due to the engaging performances of it's likeable, talented cast, especially Kevin James, Leah Remini, and the invaluable Jerry Stiller.

Phil Rizzuto (89): "The Scooter" was among the most popular Yankees of all-time. Rizzuto spent his entire career in New York, helping the team win 7 World Series, while cementing his legacy as one of the greatest defensive shortstops in history. The American League M.V.P in 1950, "Rizzuto" also made Billy Madison run out of class crying when he couldn't write his name in script.

Joel Siegel (63): After spending much of his early career working in the civil movement, Siegel gained fame as film critic for ABC's Good Morning America, a job he held for more than 25 years. While it seemed he almost never gave a negative review, that was his appeal. He was a movie fan above all else.

Bill Walsh (75): Widely regarded as one of the finest football coaches of all-time, Walsh is often credited with inventing the famed West Coast Offense. The NFL's coach of the year in both 1981 and 1984, Walsh won 3 Super Bowls as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, compiling a record of 102-63-1 over that stretch.

Roger's Legacy

Deny 'Til You Die. Apparantly Roger Clemens has chosen to adopt Ari Gold's business philosophy with regard to his recent inclusion in the much publicized Mitchell Report. While the report doesn't indicate a conclusive determinent of guilt, it can certainly tarnish one's reputation in the public's eye. This is the area I suspect Rocket is most concerned about. Until recently he was being praised by writers, fans, and sportscenter anchors as the greatest pitcher who ever lived. With over 300 wins, 4000 strikeouts, 7 Cy Youngs (a record), an MVP, 11 all-star games, a pair of 20 strikeout games, and 2 world series rings, who's to argue?

Well, now many people choose to argue, much the way they did when the incomparable Barry Bonds became widely suspected of steroid use. Humans may be an ignorant bunch, but we aren't to blame. We accept the realities the world presents to us, and if the media doesn't report wrong-doings, we simply don't know about them. Major league baseball, from the higher-ups (Bud Selig) to the owners conveniently turned a blind eye when hallowed records started to fall. They were thrilled by the popularity boom baseball experienced during the summer of 1998, when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both broke Roger Maris' single-season homerun record. Jaws dropped when Bonds hit 73 homeruns just 3 years later. Did nobody think it was a little strange that a record which had stood for 37 years was shattered by 3 different men in a span in the span of as many years? And yet the visual evidence was there. Don't believe me? Visit your old shoeboxes filled with baseball cards and dig out the rookie cards. Skinny McGwire evolved into a Hulk Hogan clone, while the practically anorexic Bonds most closely came to resemble Ken Griffey Jr. after chugging the bottle of nerve tonic on the Simpsons. History has shown that production begins to decline, that bodies begin to breakdown once players hit their mid-late 30s. And yet, guys like Bonds and Clemens are hitting their peak at 40?

Clemens isn't an idiot. He's seen how reviled many of the 1990s superstars now are in the eyes of the fans. He knows that many athletes once considered first-ballot locks for the hall-of-fame now have zero chance of induction. Too many cynical sportswriters have already made up their minds for guys like McGwire, Sosa, and Raphael Palmero to come anywhere near the 75% needed for induction. He's seen what's happened to Bonds, how so many now want nothing to do with him. Remember those old debates about who was baseball's greatest, Bonds or Griffey Jr.? The results are in and Griffey's won in a landslide, self-induced animated head expansion aside. With no connection to BALCO and no subpoenas, Clemens is going with the old adage, "It's my word against their's." Unfortunately, too many precedents have been set for his word to hold much weight with the public. Afterall, Palmero sternly denied ever taking steroids on Capitol Hill, pointing an unwavering finger at anyone who claimed otherwise. That seemed to be good enough, until he became the highest profile player to test positive.

I seriously doubt Clemens will ever slip up like that, for many reasons. His career is winding down and he doesn't ever need to step on a pitcher's mound again. He wouldn't possibly risk alienating the few supporters he has left. He has a lot of pride and seems genuinely concerned about his legacy. His records and achievements alone would seem to indicate a spot on baseball's Mt. Rushmore (a really cool idea that needs to happen some day) were they not considered tainted. Additionally he has 4 sons, the oldest of whom Koby, plays in the minor leagues. I imagine he prays his sons don't think less of him nor does he want these allegations to follow Koby as he pursues his own career.

But the truth is Clemens has been the ultimate "me-first" guy for a long time. After a hugely successful tenure with the Red Sox, the Rocket posted back to back to back to back subpar seasons from 1993-1996, eventually convincing GM Dan Duquette that he was finished (some accused him of tanking). Clemens had already been pitching for 13 years and it became evident that his best was behind him. But leave it to Roger to finish his spinach (cue Popeye theme song) and off he went to Toronto, picking up 2 Cy Youngs in a short stint with the Blue Jays. Self-serving, disloyal publicity hound that he was, Clemen's next stop was the big apple for 5 years. It didn't hurt that they were throwing money at him like confetti. He won his rings and perhaps his highest acclaim, ironic since these are now the years most in question since his former trained revealed that Clemens likes to bend over and take it up the ass (pun intended). Prepared to go out on top, Clemens stopped in every major league city for choruses of rousing ovations on his endless farewell tour. But marvel that he was, he decided that he wasn't through. His body was stronger than ever and age is only a matter of mind anyway, so why not fool everyone again and join the Astros? He even had the nerve to do a second retirement tour while in Houston, soaking up the applause from Oakland to Beantown (I was never among the participants). And just as it was time to quit for good, Steinbrenner and Cashman came calling with the most insane pro-rated salary ever concocted.

Much to my pleasure, Clemen's final stay with New York backfired. But regardless of where he ended up, I take issue with the luxuries afforded him that fly in the face of of everything it means to be part of a team. Forget the money, ludicrous as it was. Clemens didn't have to travel with the team. He didn't even have to show up unless he was pitching! If Roger so desparately wanted to spend extra time with his family, couldn't he simply have retired? To my knowledge Clemens is the only player to buck the trend that you can't have it both ways. Ego and money drove Clemens to return, not that he needed more of either. But if you choose to be part of a team, than be part of that team. As a friend of mine once said in response to my telling him there's no "I" in team, "yah, but there's a me." Truer words were never spoken.

And alas we've come to the end of Roger Clemens. Was he a great pitcher? Absolutely. Did he cheat the game of baseball? Probably, though no more than several other major leaguers who chose to bend the rules to benefit themselves. And the truth of it all is that I don't care that much about the steroid issue anymore. Maybe it's because I'm sick of hearing about it. Perhaps it's because baseball could've stopped it at anytime, so I don't hold the players entirely responsible. I don't know how I'd vote if given a hall-of-fame ballot, but I do know this. If Bonds is going to be doubted by fans and sports reporters, his records accompanied by large black asterisks for the rest of time, than Clemens warrants the same fate. Roger, you've always wanted to be the center of attention. Mission accomplished.