Memories That Go Forth!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Somehow it doesn’t seem right that today isn’t looped in to the start or the end of a three day weekend. 1 day and no more. Makes me wonder whether or not people would even be in the mood to go out or even do anything with the alarm clock set to go off in less than 24 hours.

It seems there was always something interesting that would happen on this day as a younger man. I recall for example a beach trip for the day along the Jersey shoreline. Heading home I saw what I could only describe as a UFO flying overhead. It stood still for a few moments before zooming away. Thousands of people saw this very same object 7/4/75.

Amazing seems to happen in the world of sports on July 4th. Need we go any further than the emotional day to honor Lou Gehrig on this day in 1939? With a disease that bore his name a speech was given that lives in infamy. Gehrig was dead less than 2 years later.

On a warm day in 1983 at Yankee Stadium with no less than legendary Mel Allen at the mike I watched Dave Righetti fire a 4-0 no-hitter over the Boston Red Sox. Wade Boggs the last out on a swing and a miss. That was memorable.

On a 100 degree Friday in Northern Illinois I was enjoying some rays with friends and learned about Nolan Ryan throwing his 3,000th strikeout as an Astro. Phil Niekro would do the same thing on this same day in 1984! That alone is pretty amazing.

1976 the Yankees were in Cleveland completing a 4 game series before a day game return to the Bronx and Kansas City. The Royals won that afternoon but what still remains in my head were the number of ships that were in New York harbor for the Bicentennial. Nine days removed from an All-Star game in Philadelphia and a case of Legionnaire’s Disease. Yes, I remember!

This last decade I have been able to enjoy some memorable  Ranger moments on the 4th.  A walk off hit by Kevin Mench in 2005 over the Red Sox. A rain delayed performance by Blue Jay Roy Halladay in 2006. Wilkerson hitting 3 homers in a game against the Angels in 2007. The fireworks shows postgame went for 30 minutes solid and the smoke and embers left behind more than provided an impact for the reverence of Independence Day.

This is where the focus goes for me. To those who are currently, or have recently, or have passed in the name of service. Thank you for serving! Your sacrifices have allowed me to enjoy life in America as I know it in as fun and free a manner as I choose. I understand freedom is not free. As my compadre Lew Patton likes to remind me periodically, ‘Will. EVERY time I hear the national anthem It hits me right here (pointing to his heart). You’re damn right it matters!’ Amen Lew.

For the 1st time in a week and a while I will be content to stay home and see what kind of amazing happens in the sports world. Barring Coney Island and that yearly eating contest I don’t believe that ‘independence’ and ‘reversal of fortune’ should ever be used in the same sentence!

Happy 4th!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will