Friday, February 29th 2008, 4:00 AM
Keivom/News
Bobby Murcer during Old-Timers' Day festivities in 2007.
A friend of Bobby Murcer's answered a question Thursday morning by putting it in perspective. Yes, he said, the Oklahoma twang would be missing from the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network's first spring training telecast Sunday.
And maybe Murcer would miss a couple more exhibition games he was scheduled to work.
Not to worry. This was all just about a scheduling conflict. Murcer's doctors at the M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston simply changed the days of his regular visit. Ever since Murcer had a brain tumor removed in late December, 2006, he returns to the hospital every few months to be examined and have treatment.
For about a month, he had been congested and coughing. Another Murcer pal said his buddy coughed frequently during a conversation last week.
"With his condition, Bobby's immune system is different," the friend said. "It takes him longer to get over things."
Okay. This all sounded routine. Another checkup. Just missing a few games. No need to be concerned. No need to worry.
An hour or so later, an e-mail from Murcer's wife, Kay, arrived. ". . . And I've always said, ‘No news is good news,' however that's why I'm getting this to you today," Kay Murcer wrote. "Bobby's MRI Tuesday showed an area that the docs are concerned about, and he's scheduled for a brain biopsy at MDA this coming Monday. . . . Please pray that it will be determined to be necrosis (scar tissue from the radiation), and not another cancerous tumor.
"It's one of the two."
Today, Bobby Murcer needs all our prayers. But we need Bobby Murcer. Even now, we need him just as much as he needs us.
Baseball needs him even more.
Apple pie and Mom have been replaced by lying and cheating. The biggest stories in the game make it seem like it is played in a sewer. Roger Clemens, defiant and delusional, staring down the barrel of a possible perjury indictment. Andy Pettitte, destined to spend his summer as a professional witness.
Brian McNamee, the trainer/"friend," with his collection of syringes and gauze. Then there are all those mouthy lawyers and politicians. Don't forget Bud Selig and Donald Fehr. They have been hauled before Congress so many times they are on a first-name basis with the guy who guards the door.
See, we need someone to deliver a bouquet of flowers to a room that stinks. Yeah, we all need Bobby Murcer. We need him now. And in the last season of Yankee Stadium, we need to hear him, on a sunny July day, reminisce about Reggie, Sweet Lou and Thurman. We need to hear him tweak Michael Kay before spinning a few Scooter yarns.
At least for three hours, every summer night, we need to forget about the polluted air surrounding the game. We need to hear Murcer say, "Oh my gosh," after Mariano closes another one. Or throw a few more superlatives at A-Rod.
We need to hear him talk about Derek Jeter's grit and tell us how his former broadcast partner, Joe Girardi, is handling the new gig.
And we all need to think, think hard, about last season and the memories Murcer - and Yankees fans - provided after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Murcer underwent six hours of surgery to have the tumor removed.
A week later, the first week of January 2007, the pathologist report was grave. The tumor was malignant. Reports showed there were other invasive cells. Murcer then underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
But three months later there he stood, bald, beautiful and smiling. It was Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. Top of the third inning against Tampa Bay. Flanked by Kay, Ken Singleton and Girardi, Murcer looked down at the fans and waved. Rod Stewart's version of "Forever Young" sounded from the PA. Then, the crowd of 56,035 stood and cheered. Yankee players did the same. Some pointed up to the broadcast booth.
Murcer wiped away tears.
"If anyone can get well because of that," Murcer said, "I'm well already."
One month later in Arlington, Murcer returned to work his first game for YES. He blended in over the rest of the summer. Once again, Murcer was coming into your home, part of the family, talking Yankees baseball into the fall.
Yesterday, there was nothing in his voice, a voice so positive, indicating anything will change. "I fully intend to be in the booth for the regular season," Murcer said.
The words were spoken by a man of faith. Murcer was supposed to be on Munson's plane that tragic day. And things looked really bad for him last year, too. There is still plenty more for him to accomplish here. March 31 will be his 35th Yankees opener as either a player or broadcaster.
We need him to be there. We need Bobby Murcer.
Pray.
No comments:
Post a Comment