REMEMBERING RUSSERT

I am an unabashed political junkie. I read two newspapers a day in print and countless others on-line everyday. I subscribe to both Newsweek and Time. I treasure the political work I get to do with my friend and colleague Brian and my daily discussions of the political tenor with my buddy Jack. During my work day, when my television is on in the background it’s either some ballgame or MSNBC. I DVR the NBC Nightly News and all three Sunday news shows. During the evenings, Mrs. Ball and Jen and I are watching Chris Mathews, Keith Olberman, the Daily Show and Colbert. Yet, with all these alternatives available to me, I simply cannot imagine what life will be like going forward without the presence of Tim Russert. 

 

Russert had been the moderator of “Meet the Press,” the oldest continuous program on television, since 1991 and had even been before that, starting in 1984, the NBC Washington bureau chief. Under Russert, “Meet the Press” was the premier place for newsmakers and political candidates to make their case to the nation. If you couldn’t pass Tim’s muster, you could not win approval of the people because in spite of experience, his law degree, his prestige, he was one of us. He was us. 

 

Like my mom, Tim Russert was from Buffalo, New York and was a constant cheerleader for the city. Periodically, I stick a political statement in Billy-Ball and invariably I hear from you how much you love Billy-Ball, but “please, keep my political views to myself.” I can only imagine the grief that Russert would hear when at the end of Meet the Press he would say, “Go Bills,” or “Go Sabres.” His boyish enthusiasm for the things he loved and felt so sincere about simply could not be denied. 

 

He loved baseball as well and was deeply involved in the sport, far beyond being a Yankees fan and Washington Nationals season ticket holder. Jane Forbes Clark, the chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame said, "We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Tim's sudden passing. He was an integral member of our Board of Directors and its executive committee, and he cared about the Hall of Fame and its mission so much. We'll miss Tim's critical thinking and his unsurpassed passion for the game tremendously." 

 

MLB.com reported how Russert said he was thrilled when he was selected to the Hall of Fame Board, "Baseball has been central to my life, as a son and as a father," he said at the time. "I am honored to join the Board of the Hall of Fame to help preserve the history of baseball and educate a new generation about the glory of the game." 

 

He would go to Nationals games and sit next to his friend, and Sunday morning rival, Bob Schieffer, the host of CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Several years ago, Mr. Schieffer recalled on the air on Friday, a minor league baseball team held a one-night “Bob Schieffer bobble-head doll” promotion. 

 

“The next day on my desk was a little box with a bobble-head doll of Russert,” Mr. Schieffer remembers. “It was his way of saying, ‘Just so you know I have one, too.’ ” 

 

Tim Russert, who worked with Brian Williams as a presidential debate host, even served in that capacity in last summer’s "debate" for President of Red Sox Nation. Red Sox CEO Larry Luchhino released a statement: "On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, and the entire Boston Red Sox organization, I express our deep sadness and profound grief at the news of the passing of Tim Russert.  We extend our deepest sympathies to his family including his wife, Maureen, and his son, Luke, who always made him so proud.   Tim was a passionate fan of baseball, a great friend of the Red Sox, and a dear and beloved personal friend to many of us.  He left us far, far too soon, but he leaves a gigantic legacy of professionalism, journalistic excellence, authenticity and friendship that will inspire us and generations to follow us.  Red Sox Nation mourns the loss of Tim Russert more than we can express." 

 

In the tribute shows to Russert we would often see a picture of him with Yogi Berra taken in 2004, when his CNBC weekend interview show featured a panel including Yogi, Whitey Ford, Jim Palmer and Roger Cl*m*ns. The show was shot in front of a live audience at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J. 

 

Commissioner Bud Selig issued the statement, "I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. He was one of the great journalists of our generation and a great fan of baseball. His untimely passing leaves a great void for our nation and Major League Baseball. All of us in Major League Baseball mourn Tim, and we send our sympathy and condolences to his family and friends." 

 

And George Steinbrenner said, "I join millions of others in mourning Tim's passing. He loved the game of baseball and was a true friend of the Yankees and mine. Tim always batted in the cleanup spot for the media and always hit for the fences. May God bless him and his family." 

 

It always comes back to Tim Russert’s family who he treasured above all else. His dad, Big Russ, his wife, journalist Maureen Orth, and his son Luke, who just graduated from Boston College with whom he would talk to, text, and IM daily, invariably about baseball and other sports. 

 

He regarded Meet the Press as his second son. I understand how a labor of love can be that important. 

 

Tim Russert was a great icon of American journalism. 

 

He was a great icon of America. 

 

He was a great icon. 

 

As my daughter, Elizabeth Chuck, who works for NBC and MCNBC News, so perfectly put it, “It feels like Sunday died.”

 

Bill Chuck is the creator of Billy-Ball.com and, with Jim Kaplan, is the author of the book, “Walk-Offs, Last Licks, and Final Outs – Baseball’s Grand (and not so Grand) Finales,” with a Foreword by Jon Miller, published by ACTA Sports, and available worldwide.

 

Autographed first editions are available by contacting, [e-mail] or order directly from Acta Sports, http://www.actasports.com/detail.html?&id=3427 or from your favorite bookstore.