Page 7 - Discover Fall 2020
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I remarked to my brother that it may have Sadly, had he known, we might have gotten
been better to wait, but he insisted that in two a lot closer to the team. I then requested a
stops, the train would be nearly empty. He personal introduction to Keith Hernandez.
was right. There may have been a slight threat of bodily
harm behind that request.
Suddenly, as he had predicted, the car
was much less crowded, and I was one of Danny complied, and seconds later I
the few who remained standing. I glanced found myself shaking hands with Keith and
casually toward the rear of the car, and did a Gary. They seemed just as interested in my
double take. All the way at the end of the car, impending radio station purchase as I was in
I saw Keith Hernandez, one of the greatest talking to them. It was a wonderfully relaxed
baseball players in Mets history, also standing exchange, in which we discussed the game,
up. To his left sat Gary Cohen, a longtime and it was just as if we were old friends sitting
Mets broadcaster. To Cohen’s left, and to my at a table and chatting.
amazement, stood one of my best buddies
This scenario occurred to me as I watched
from my college days.
those same two gentlemen call this game. I
“Danny!” I shouted. He didn’t seem to hear realized that they wouldn’t even be shaking
me. hands with each other, let alone some star
struck stranger, and that in any case none of
Dan Reagan was the sports director at my
us would have been at the ballpark or on that
college radio station. He had gone on to work
train afterward.
at Sports Channel in NY for the Mets and
Yankees, and later in Atlanta for the Braves. Now I wonder what the future holds. I
He was an accomplished TV sports director, am not afraid of shaking hands, but I am
and had just happened to be filling in that day certain that plenty of others are. What has
for the vacationing Bill Webb. this pandemic done to our interpersonal
relationships?
I called out to him again, and he seemed
unaware of me. Then my wife joined in, as she When will we feel comfortable enough to
had met Dan during one of his frequent visits shake hands, to hug one another, or to gather
to the lake. Still, he paid no attention to us. together in solidarity and friendship?
Finally, Keith leaned over in his direction, I understand people’s fears, but why have we
and said, “Danny, I think those people over not been similarly fearful of other threats to our
there must know you.” lives and health? We have learned to accept that
life has attendant risks, yet in this one instance
He glanced in our direction and was
we are willing to forsake our social needs in
stunned. He rushed over to me and said,
a vain attempt to create a sterile world. Is it
“What are you doing here?”
really worth it?
I told him that we had been at the game.
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