Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 6, 1989, edition 1 / Page 7
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The Daily Tar HeelWednesday, September 6, 19897 To this fan, Giamatti symbolized game of basebal By CHRISTINA FROHOCK had begun. Friday afternoon I stared in disbelief as a newscaster announced the "official death of A. Bartlett Giamatti, baseball commissioner." No, something wasn't right with this. Such a mortal concept as death had no place in the world of baseball. Celebrity deaths fail to affect me, but this was the loss of a fellow baseball lover. Something was defi nitely wrong. Anyone raised on baseball as I was knows how the sport enters your soul and colors your summers with intelli gence and excitement. I remember Yankee Stadium in August. Hot dogs had been brewing since April and fans bought Cokes not to drink but to drench themselves. The boys of summer danced the field in one-on-one contests masked as team play. I remember my dad explaining the metaphysical side of the game between innings to an attentive daughter. This is my baseball. I keep the game sacred by forgetting George Steinbrenner alto gether, Joe DiMaggio's work as a Mr. Coffee spokesman, ThurmanMunson's fully merged the often polar worlds of academics and athletics. Giamatti symbolized my baseball. The night he died I called home. Dad and I couldn't shoot the breeze like Vve normally did. Giamatti's death dis turbed the magic we loved in baseball". Friday we were saddened by the loss of a friend and I suddenly felt old. Later that evening I kept a promise and went to a late-night fraternity party. I sat on the front wall for about 20 minutes and then walked home. I was in no mood to fest. I wanted only to sleep and dream of my perfect game of baseball. Good night, Mr. Giamatti. And thanks. Staff Writer Last spring my father sent me a New York Times article announcing A. Bartlett Giamatti's ascension from president of Yale to commissioner of Baseball. My father, a professor and baseball disciple, included a post-it note reading: "Academic makes good lucky bastard! Love, Dad." I immediately called home to dis cuss the significance of this develop ment in the baseball world. Dad and I shot back the usual questions: Was Christina Frohock plane crash and, someday, Giamatti's heart attack. Giamatti believed in the integrity of the game and preserved it by banning Pete Rose for life from baseball for betting on major league baseball games. In an articulate speech, Giamatti re established baseball as supreme over the players. But I think of the former commis sioner for more than the Rose incident. He brought a brilliance into the system and became the envy of every baseball loving scholar in the universe. He skill- Staff Writer Giamatti qualified? Did he know base ball as we knew it? Could he handle the immensity and balance of the game? Did this man fully grasp the beauty of God's only perfect sport? Yes, we finally agreed. We approved of the former Yalie and hung up with the awareness that a new era in baseball mm bum & Mflrars, wi shop mwm em Prices Effective Wednesday, September 6 Thru Tuesday, September 12,1 989 0) HOC OCWISSC 4 Grade "A" Lb. Boteto Lb. Bag Fryer Thighs Or Drumsticks Holly Farms Smithfield Sliced Bacon Light n' Lively Regular Yogurt Ay xvy - & vy r ' mm B M ii. mi t i mm ii m trw . , - c - m M i BKM SSS j jg p Advil Caplets I I Or Tablets Pepsi Cola, Mountain Dew Light n' Lively Ice Milk y2 GaL.L2 lampax - ctrn Tampons.... 40 ct.tsi'vi 0 - jyixierarty roxoi Caps..!?.?!: 20 Ct. Post Bran Flakes.... i60z. (6(0) TioSancho 2U ,(Q)(Q) laco Shell. .5.6 Oz. Tropicana j Twisters 46 oz. ii (Q Tio Sancho TacoQ Dinner .. 7.75 oz. Comet Cleaner Lysol Spray Z 140z.Vy' 12 Oz. .77 JSSA Catfish Medium ,flfe(8Y Whole "1 (Q(S ShiAmgMW Catfish v,. t.WW Eckrich Honey Cured Ham Eckrich Bologna Lb. Sliced To Order Sliced To Order wFriceSMpermrket ThotTsesToActLikeOHe! Prices In This Ad Effective Through Tuesday, September 12, 1989. In Chapel Hill Stores Only. We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities. None Sold To Dealers. We Gladly Accept Federal Food Stamps. Former Tar Heel needs your help Any person with knowledge concerning the losstheft of a 1 98 1 Super Bowl ring belonging to former UNC and NFL football player Amos Lawrence is asked to contact the UNC sports informa tion department at 962-2 1 23 immediately. Lawrence, who is taking classes at the University this fail, last had the ring in his possession in a restroom hear his room in Craige Residence Hall. Any information provided is strictly confidential and greatly appreciated. Doctor -sensed Giamatti's ill health NEW YORK The doctor was horrified by what he saw on the giant television screen. It was only a 10 second glimpse but it was enough for him to say, "Giamatti's dying." Twelve days later, and a day after being told of the doctor's warningz baseball commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti died of a heart attack. ,- What Dr. William G. Cahan sav during a telecast of a Dodgers-Mets game was a telltale sign on Giamatti's right hand that could indicate a serious health problem. It is called clubbing of the fingernails. "Giamatti's dying," Cahan was to tell a friend. Cahan contacted Dr. Bobby Brown, the American League president and a cardiologist, and they agreed Cahan would send a letter to Brown suggest-, ing he urge Giamatti to get a chest X-' ray and to quit smoking. ' Brown relayed the warning last Thursday. "He smiled that smile and told me it sounded like a good idea,'' Brown was quoted as saying by sports." columnist Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News. ' The next day, Giamatti suffered a fatal heart attack at his summer home on Martha's Vineyard. He was 51. Big names among NFL cuts Veteran kicker Chuck Nelson, who, missed seven of nine field goal at tempts in exhibition games, was one of 14 players cut by the Minnesota Vi kings. The Giants cut wide receivers Stacy Robinson and Phil McConkey, both of whom have been cut before and brought back. McConkey returned from Green Bay in 1986 in time to catch a touch-' down pass in the Super Bowl. ; Green Bay, starting almost from" scratch, released quarterback Randy" Wright and wide receivers Phillip Epps. and Walter Stanley, a combination that started most of the team's games the past three years. : Detroit cut three players who started at least part-time last year quarter-! back Rusty Hilger, wide receiver Pete! Mandley and defensive back Devon' Mitchell. Chicago released four veteran back-i ups, guard Kurt Becker, defensive line-J man Sean Smith, center John Adickes and safety Toddy Krumm. I In addition to Cris Collinsworth and Jim Breech, Cincinnati released its third-round draft pick, Freddie Chil- dress, a guard from Arkansas who re- ported to training camp at 379 pounds and weighed 340 when he was released- Neal Olkewicz, who started 129" games at middle linebacker for Wash ington since 1979, was among 13 play- ers waived by the Redskins. t The Los Angeles Raiders cut 12f players, including three former Pro Bowlers cornerback Mike Hayne$ and linebackers Otis Wilson and Matt' Millen and former Chicago quarter-? back Vince Evans. ; Timmy Smith, acquired as a free agent by San Diego in hopes the former; Washington running back would du plicate his Super Bowl form, was cut along with 10 others by the Chargers. In other NFL news, Tony Mandar- ich, who wanted to fight Mike Tyson decided it might be safer on the footbalj field and agreed to tentative contract; terms with the Green Bay Packers.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 6, 1989, edition 1
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