Ramble On ... Emptying out the Misc. Files

NEWS ITEM #1 - Barack Obama's op-ed in today's NYT:

If you haven't read President Obama's op-ed piece in today's New York Times, I recommend you click here and take a second, then - PLEASE - come on back.

Here are a few of the issues that stand out for me in President Obama's opinion piece:

This is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. I don’t believe anyone should be in charge of your health care decisions but you and your doctor — not government bureaucrats, not insurance companies.

The long and vigorous debate about health care that’s been taking place over the past few months is a good thing. It’s what America’s all about.

But let’s make sure that we talk with one another, and not over one another. We are bound to disagree, but let’s disagree over issues that are real, and not wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that anyone has actually proposed. This is a complicated and critical issue, and it deserves a serious debate.

And, the key issue:

In the coming weeks, the cynics and the naysayers will continue to exploit fear and concerns for political gain. But for all the scare tactics out there, what’s truly scary — truly risky — is the prospect of doing nothing. If we maintain the status quo, we will continue to see 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance every day. Premiums will continue to skyrocket. Our deficit will continue to grow. And insurance companies will continue to profit by discriminating against sick people.

TL View: The last item in italics is where the whole issue stands in my view. Do we stand around, talk and debate and DO NOTHING (as has been the case since the early '90s and before)? Or, do we support the President and begin to take dramatic (and risky) steps, yes very difficult steps with difficult choices and dangerous forks in the road, to begin to institute some change that might not pay dividends until our children's children perfect a nationwide system for healthcare.

Taking it to a distant comparison that I remember from my days at the NBA, I can remember the criticism that followed our implementation of the very first Anti-Drug program in professional sports when the NBA announced its plans with a signing ceremony between then-Commissioner Larry O'Brien and then-President of the NBA Players Association Bob Lanier. That step, taken in 1983, has led to a very comprehensive Anti-Drug Agreement that is widely recognized as the best in sports. It began with small steps - legislating against the use of cocaine and heroine by NBA players and it included steps for education, prevention and a clause that allowed players to come forward without the risk of being penalized.

That program did not include a program against the use of marijuana and it did not address the steroid issue that has dominated the anti-doping issue of late, but it did put a very significant tent-pole in the ground for the NBA and its players and it sent a HUGE message to the youth of the world, that being, "If you want to be an NBA player, you better believe that the use of cocaine and heroine will eventually stop you from playing in this league. Now, it took the death of Len Bias to truly drive home the point, but - at least - in 1983, the first steps were taken to bring some type of system into the professional sports workplace with the goal to protect the players while all the while, other union labor leaders were burying their heads in the sand and doing further harm to the very players they represented.

Shame on Donald Fehr and Gene Orza. They should both realize the damage they've done to their clients and to the American sports psyche. Shame on them both.

***

In the past week, we've celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the "Wizard of Oz" and the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock. I've enjoyed posting some Monday Morning Maniac Music over the past month to recognize and celebrate the concert that defined a generation of Americans.

I will continue the 'tradition' for a few more weeks, at least. But, would love to get some suggestions for music links and the like. Please send them in as comments to The Blog @ TerryLyons.com

***

News ITEM: Globe to make online readers pay for boston.com content?

According to the cross-town rival:

The Boston Globe will soon begin charging for its Web site, publisher P. Steven Ainsley told the paper’s union bosses yesterday as the Globe’s parent New York Times [NYT] Co. confirmed in a regulatory filing that the money-losing Hub broadsheet is for sale.

News of the Globe’s intention to charge for Boston.com came a day after News Corp. [NWS] Chairman Rupert Murdoch announced his company would start charging for content at all of its news Web sites, including the New York Post, The Times of London and The Sun, a popular British tabloid. News Corp. already charges for some access to The Wall Street Journal’s Web site.

Globe spokesman Bob Powers said charging for Boston.com appears inevitable.

“It’s going to happen one way or another,” Powers said. “We are looking at several different options, and the goal would be to generate revenue.”

Ainsley also told Globe union bosses the combination of price increases and labor cost reductions, including $20 million in union concessions, have put the paper on better financial footing.

He said union concessions, plus $8 million in Globe management givebacks and the $18 million the company expects to save by closing its Billerica printing plant, have all helped, sources said.

The Times’ quarterly report filed yesterday shows the company spent $30 million to close its Billerica printing plant. Sources have told the Herald that at least one outside party was interested in the plant, but was rebuffed.

Ainsley refused to answer questions about the potential sale of the Globe at yesterday’s meeting, saying his Times Co. overlords had ordered him to keep mum.

TL View: I'll continue to pick up the paper everyday, but will be more apt to log into the Boston Herald site for free online content. Face it, the newspapers of the world have screwed up monumentally when you look at the way they fumbled over the changes in journalism since the advent of TV and the Internet. And, while they provided today's most interesting, newsworthy and thought-provoking piece of content, the NYT and its companies, trying to the industry leaders, have consistently proven that they have absolutely no clue as to where the future might be in terms of online business success and the revenue it promises to generate. It seems funny to me that the sports sites figured it out quickly (generating revenue and users via interactive fantasy games and online video clips (see Cinesport) and, I won't even go into the world of online gambling/porn/etc/etc, but the great collection of the world's most prestigious news gatherers proceeded to watch the bus go by at 60 mph.

xxx

Assorted Stuff for a "Tuesday Afternoon"

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - a client of Terry Lyons Sports Marketing LLC - today announced the winners of the Manny Jackson Award for Human Spirit. I am proud to say that I've known and worked with all of the very worthy recipients, dating back to the '80s with Ken Hudson, the '80-90-2000s with Bob Lanier and since '88 with Alonzo Mourning - which included an extended 'run' together at the '94 worlds (when Zo was a young buck) and in 2000 when he was a real pleasure to work with!).

See: http://www.hoophall.com/news/2009/8/10/naismith-memorial-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-hudson-l.html

***

You think the Dream Team's drubbing of Angola back in '92 was a kick in the ass? Check out yesterday's USA women vs. The Dominican, a 128-17 dismantling. Yikes.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Aug. 10, 2009) - The 2009 USA Women's U16 National Team (1-0) wasted no time taking advantage of its size and quickness advantage over Dominican Republic (0-1) in its opening game of the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, capturing a 128-17 win on Monday night at Juan de la Barrera Gym in Mexico City, Mexico.

The USA jumped to a 30-0 lead at the 3:16 mark of the first period and never looked back, holding Dominican Republic to a total of six made baskets and two made free throws for the game.

"I loved their attitude. I loved their effort," said Barbara Nelson, USA and Wingate University head coach. "They were very focused on the way we asked them to play, and it was very exciting to watch."

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei H.S. / Anaheim, Calif.) led seven U.S. players in double figures with 21 points, including four 3-pointers. Cierra Burdick (Butler H.S. / Mathews, N.C.) and Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse H.S. / North Syracuse, N.Y.) added 13 points apiece; Justine Hartman (Brea Olinda H.S. / Brea, Calif.) contributed 14 points; Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne H.S. / Virginia Beach, Va.) contributed12 points; and Bashaara Graves (Clarksville H.S. / Clarksville, Tenn.) and Betnijah Laney (Smyrna H.S. / Clayton, Del.) scored 10 points each.

"It is a big relief to have the first game under our belt," Mosqueda-Lewis said. "We came out hard, and we all played team ball and it paid off."

Eight U.S. players had recorded points by the time the Dominican Republic put is first points on the board at 2:25 in the first quarter to bring the score to 30-2 in the USA's favor, and by the period's end, the U.S. lead had grown to 39-2.

***

Sad day as Eunice Kennedy Shriver has passed away. When I think of Mrs. Shriver, I think of all the wonderful things that the Special Olympics have become. She was a true ambassador. The ultimate compliment upon her death is this: "Eunice, a job well done, as you will live on forever."

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F Kennedy and founder of the Special Olympics, has died aged 88.

She died at Cape Cod hospital in Massachusetts on Tuesday morning, her family said in a statement.

Mrs Shriver organised the first Special Olympic Games in 1968, partly inspired by her mentally disabled sister, Rosemary Kennedy.

She is credited with helping to transform views of the mentally disabled through her campaigns.

President Barack Obama said he was saddened at the death of Mrs Shriver, calling her a "champion" for disabled people.

Mrs Shriver had been in critical condition at Cape Cod hospital since last week.

Her diagnosis was not given, but she had suffered a series of strokes in recent years.

Mrs Shriver is the mother of TV host Maria Shriver, who is married to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Mrs Shriver's brother, Sen Edward Kennedy, is battling brain cancer that was diagnosed last year.

From St. Bonnie's, Standing 6-11, the one, the only ...

Clarence Cleamons of the E Street Band has the greatest nickname. It is simply, "The Big Man." Well, Clarence, let me introduce you to the first real, "Big Man" in my life. The one, the only.... Big Bob Lanier.....

I remember Bob Lanier and his great St. Bonaventure team marching to the national semifinals of the 1970 NCAA Championship and Lanier being forced to sit while Artis Gilmour lead Jacksonville to the national championship. My heart went out to "Big Bob" that night, and years later, I couldn't believe I was working alongside of him at the NBA office.

Bob Lanier, along with Satch Sanders, Mike Bantom, Rory Sparrow, Randy Smith, Mel Davis and yes, even Rod Thorn, were my "Fave 7" of former players at the NBA. (I reserve the right to change and add to that list at any time iof day or night!)

Here's a story about Lanier:


Lanier now known for his big feats

He is Bob “Less Filling” Lanier and Bob “Size 22 Sneakers” Lanier.

“People still point and say, ‘Those are some big feet,’ ” Lanier said. He’s one of the guys Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had to drag “up and down the court for 48 minutes,” and he is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Fans remind Lanier of those all the time, those old Miller Lite “Tastes Great, Less Filling” commercials, his ridiculously large feet and Abdul-Jabbar’s famous line from the movie “Airplane,” and Lanier is grateful to be remembered.

But what really knocks the former NBA center for a loop is when he’s asked to autograph one of the four books he wrote for children or when someone tells him that he — Bob Lanier — is the reason they stayed in school.

“That blows my mind,” Lanier said.

Funny how a few words can ring louder than the loudest ovation.

“We all have, because of our celebrity, a platform to influence, to make a difference,” Lanier said.

Lanier used to run basketball camps with Dick Vitale, his old coach with the Detroit Pistons. They remain close. That’s why Lanier will be one of the many basketball legends to descend Friday night on the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota for the annual Dick Vitale Gala for Cancer Research. Lanier is more than willing to lend his name to a great cause.

“I think it’s pretty phenomenal what he’s doing,” Lanier said.

It was called the Bob Lanier/Dick Vitale Basketball Camp.

The carrot, Lanier said, was basketball. The objective was teaching kids about life.

“Attitide determines altitude in life,” the 6-foot-11 Lanier said.

They taught campers the value in earning and giving respect. They taught campers the importance of making good decisions at critical times. Vitale tells Lanier that if they ran the camp today it would be called the Vitale/Lanier Basketball Camp.

Lanier laughed at the thought: “Dick says some funny things.”

After his playing days ended, Lanier became chairman of the NBA’s “Stay in School Program,” which became the “Read to Achieve” program. He wrote “Hey L’il D,” a four-book series about his childhood. The carrot, as always, is basketball. The goal is get kids ages 6 to 9 hooked on reading and teach a few lessons about life.

When you get older, Lanier said, you become concerned about legacies. He played 14 years in the NBA and made six All-Star teams but never played for a championship. Big deal.

Lanier helped teach kids to read and convinced them to stay in school. Now those are some pretty big feats.

Tribute to Big Bob Lanier and John "Red" Kerr ...

Each NBA All-Star Weekend, an insightful writer or columnist in the host city is smart enough to delve into the "Big" Bob Lanier story. The great St. Bonnie's center - Tim Russert's all-time favorite player, I might add - now hails from the Valley of the Sun and is still "getting it done" for the NBA, NBA Cares and Basketball w/o Borders programs.

Read the great piece on AZ Central:

"I found out early," he said, laughing, "that by feeding the hungry, I got a chance to eat some of the really good collard greens and fried chicken we were serving to the people."

Lanier had sympathy for those who felt isolated. He was 6 feet 8 by the time he was 14 and forced to wear ill-fitting men's clothes while his peers opted for khakis and penny loafers. He was told by a coach that his large feet would prevent him from becoming a successful athlete, and as a sophomore he was cut from his high school's basketball team.

He worked hard and improved, eventually ended up at St. Bonaventure. He was a three-time All-American and continued his interest in helping others, working with the Seneca Nation of Indians. In the NBA, where he averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in 14 seasons, he was inspired by Detroit Pistons teammate Dave Bing, now a Detroit mayoral candidate, who "just kind of got it and made us get it," Lanier said. "He was the kind of leader and mentor who made sure guys got involved with community visits and doing clinics in tough areas. It was important to him."

Lanier retired in the same year, 1984, that Stern was named commissioner. Several years later, Stern asked Lanier to help launch the NBA's Stay in School program. He has stayed involved with many of the league's community outreach programs and was a founder of Basketball Without Borders, a group that runs basketball clinics around the world and helps teach at-risk youth life skills.

One of the reasons he moved from Milwaukee to Phoenix in 1996, in addition to the warm weather, was "a great airport."

Travel is a necessity of his job. He has introduced many NBA players to causes outside the United States. Stoudemire traveled to Sierra Leone in West Africa last year, and now his foundation is helping fund much-needed well construction.

Despite what some might suspect, Lanier is inspired by today's NBA players and their willingness to help.

"It's been absolutely phenomenal," he said. "Our players get it. I've got guys waiting in line to do some of the international stuff. We had some guys doing Special Olympics stuff in Africa recently. It gets me choked up thinking about it. This is a different era, a different player, but they still care about what we do."

So does Lanier, who is a great example for this season's All-Star selections.

Recently, his 10-year-old daughter asked him he had ever been named an All-Star Game MVP.

"Google me!" he told her.

She should. She'll find out he was the MVP in 1974. She'll find out a lot of other great things, too.

***

The Chicago Bulls and Basketball Hall of Fame honored Johnny "Red" Kerr, the former NBA great, former coach and broadcaster. Here is Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telender's tribute to Kerr:


Kerr tribute: As good as it gets
Ceremony for Chicago legend a trip back in time to the glory days for 'Red,' Jordan, fans

BY RICK TELANDER rtelander@suntimes.com

For a moment at the United Center, time stood still. Or, rather, it went back to another era.

Call it golden.
Rick Telander, Sun-Times sports columnist

Honoring Red Kerr

It was a few minutes into the first quarter of the Pistons-Bulls game when Michael Jordan saddled up to Johnny ''Red'' Kerr, and they started b.s.-ing like old times. Just like when the big Irishman cut a wide swathe through the halls of Chicago hoops and Jordan was an active demigod of never-seen proportions.

The difference was ''The Big Red One'' was no longer playing, no longer coaching, no longer broadcasting.

He was sitting down, in a corner box about 40 rows from the court, slowed and weakened from the effects of prostate cancer.

The Hall's Official News Release:

SPRINGFIELD, MA - Johnny "Red" Kerr has been selected to receive the 2009 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Board of Trustees of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-1964, this award honors coaches, players and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional or international game.

"Mr. Kerr's career contributions are the epitome of what the John W. Bunn Award Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to recognize. There are few people who have committed their lifetime to the game of basketball as Johnny "Red" Kerr has done. He has touched every facet of basketball and has done so with an unmatched passion, dedication, professionalism, and respect for the game he loves," stated John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame President & CEO.

Jordan is Jordan, the only athlete anyone can think of who had a statue built of him and erected, while he was still a player.

Jordan was casually debonair in an olive blazer, black turtleneck and jeans. Kerr looked professional, if thin and tired, in his black business suit, white shirt and tie.

Oh, the fun those two used to have!

And then there was another moment.
One more Jordan moment

It was during the halftime midcourt ceremony, arranged to present the 76-year-old Kerr with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame, an honor previously bestowed upon such luminaries as John Wooden, Hank Iba and Red Auerbach.

Arranged around Kerr, who was seated rather uncomfortably in a red cushioned wheelchair near the center circle, were hoops greats and pals such as Scottie Pippen, Dolph Schayes, John Paxson, Bill Wennington, Jim Durham, Bob Love and Jerry Colangelo, who would make the trophy presentation.

Jordan was there, too.

And when host Neil Funk announced good old No. 23, the crowd went nuts. Jordan walked up to Kerr and clapped his own gigantic hands near the man who once played in 844 consecutive games, who was the first Bulls head coach, who announced Bulls games for three decades, who once was bright red and feisty but now is shades of gray.

Resin powder exploded from Jordan's palms in a cloud of glory. Kerr, has been his custom, pulled out a hankie and cleaned his pants and glasses.

What, you though LeBron James invented the powder ritual?
'He is the Bulls'

For a while there we were all transported back to the days when Jordan and his mates gave this city a bouquet of sports joy that may never be matched.

Through it all Johnny Kerr was there -- on the sidelines, in the booth, on the bus -- and his passion for the game and the hometown team was unmatched.

''He is the Bulls,'' general manager Paxson said before the game. ''You know, he was a fan.''

And that came through in everything the lively 6-9 man did or said. His yelps and muffled curses when the Bulls screwed up or the refs made a ''bad call'' (any call against the Bulls) were so telling that ''FAN'' might as well have been stenciled on the large man's forehead.

Wennington, another Bulls career basketball nut, got thoroughly tied up with Kerr once Wennington retired and joined the broadcasting team.

''He'd sing all the time,'' Wennington recalled before the ceremony. ''Especially on the bus after a win. If you were listening to a game, you didn't even need to know the score, if the Bulls were ahead or not -- you could hear it in his voice.''

Now these current Bulls are average at best, and the 1990s days of NBA title after title recede like a fading voice.

Jordan, ever the fun-time guy, mentioned the joy of sharing with Kerr, ''a little drink here, a little cigar here.''

One after the other the attendees walked up to Kerr and hugged him. And soon the metal bust of Johnny at the microphone that will be displayed in the United Center concourse was unveiled.

Kerr himself spoke at the end, in good humor, chiding his own son, Matt, who fumbled handing him some typed notes. ''He never did listen,'' muttered Kerr of his adult child.

Kerr then spoke of this being the ''happiest day in my life,'' and a Bulls fan named Barack Obama came on the big screen overhead and stated, ''Thank you, Johnny, We love you!''

Soon enough the lights came up and the real world intruded, and the Bulls rallied for a victory.

But for a while there it was, as good as it gets.

MLK Day Tribute to Big Bob Lanier ...

Let's face it, we all have our favorites.

Among my favorites co-workers from 26 years at the NBA are Tom "Satch" Sanders and Big Bob Lanier. Satch and Bob are two of the greatest players who have ever played the game. They are even better people.

The NBA is paying tribute to Bob today as part of the MLK Day holiday. Bob hails from Buffalo and Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan, a former Newsday NBA writer, wrote the following tribute to Lanier's work:


The Bennett High and St. Bonaventure graduate has made as big an impact on human lives as anyone who ever played

NBA honors Lanier for work in spirit of Dr. King


COMMENTARY
by Jerry Sullivan

Last summer, Bob Lanier was in town for a St. Bonaventure reunion when he took a tour of his old neighborhood on Buffalo’s East Side. Lanier visited his mother’s old house on Northland Avenue. Then he went over to the Boys & Girls Club on Masten Avenue, where he had spent so much of his free time as a kid.

Lanier walked into the club, unannounced. None of the kids recognized him. Then, a little boy noticed an old photograph of a basketball player on the wall. He gazed at the middle-aged man standing before him, and back to the photo. “Is that you?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” Lanier said with a smile. “That was me at one time. I don’t know anymore.”

That’s how many people see Lanier after all these years — as a basketball legend, a towering, two-dimensional figure in an old, black-andwhite photograph. But the little boy had no idea that a true giant was in his midst, a man whose achievements extend far beyond the modest, rectangular world of a basketball court.

Oh, Lanier was one of the all-time greats. The Bennett High and St. Bonaventure grad is a Hall of Famer, an eight-time NBA All-Star. Last fall, the court at Bona was renamed in his honor. He is the best player this town has ever produced.

We don’t turn out many hoop greats. But our guy has made as big an impact on human lives as anyone who ever played. For the past 10 years, as special assistant to the commissioner, Lanier has been the NBA’s good-will ambassador, spreading a message of hope and education to people around the world.

On Monday, as part of the NBA’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. day, Lanier will be honored for his contributions to civil and human rights at the Grizzlies-Bulls game in Memphis, Tenn. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will also be honored.

Lanier said he was humbled to be honored for carrying on King’s legacy of justice and equality.

“I was blessed as a young boy in Buffalo, N.Y., that I had two parents,” Lanier said Thursday by phone. “My mother was from Kentucky and my daddy from Tennessee. My sister and I had a sense of our history instilled us at a young age.”

Lanier remembers traveling through the South when he was 9. He and his father had to go into a restaurant through the back door, a “Colored Only” entrance. He had heard the older folks talk about discrimination, but he had never experienced it until that day.

“I was too young to understand the impact of that moment until I was in college, and they wouldn’t serve a group of us at a bar my freshman year. They said they didn’t serve mixed couples. We were just a bunch of kids going to a function. I think it helped shape my life and my thinking, and gave me a strong sense of the fight for fairness and equality in life, and everybody having equal access and opportunity.”

Lanier, who retired in 1984, began working for the NBA in 1988. He spent a short time as a coach, then returned to the league office, where he has been doing a variety of community outreach programs for the past decade. He leads NBA Cares, the league’s global outreach program, and the Read to Achieve program.

“One of the great moments for me,” Lanier said, “is when I see our players sitting on a floor or a big old couch with kids in their laps or gathered around them, reading a book and trying to make the words come to life for the kids.”

Lanier was a founder of Basketball Without Borders, which runs hoop clinics around the world. Last summer, he led the NBA’s 12-city tour, organizing summer day camps to teach kids basketball and life skills. Two weeks ago, he was in Miami for a volunteer day, serving food at a rescue mission. The big lefty has run the league’s rookie transition program for years. He’s the national chairman of the NBA’s Stay In School initiative. He gives motivational speeches on education, family development and health.

Yeah, his legacy goes a little bit farther than his 19,248 points and his 9,698 rebounds. How do you calculate the number of hearts and minds Lanier has helped reach? Teachers say they touch the future. That’s what Lanier has done.

Lanier coached briefly in 1995, taking over as Golden State’s head man for half a season. Back then, he told me he wanted to give players “wisdom for life.” He went 12-25 and decided there were better ways to impart his wisdom.

“You don’t know what the Lord has in store,” Lanier said. “But there is something in my message that I think comes from another place, that it’s not me. It comes through me. The NBA has given me a forum to touch more lives than I could ever touch on my own. I’m an instrument. What has been special to me is that our commissioner [David Stern], he got it. He understood that touching young lives is germane to us building a better America.”

As a black man in America, Lanier exults in the progress that has been made, while acknowledging how far we have yet to go.

“The longer I live, the more I know we still need to focus on,” he said. “We have to continue to get people of color educational opportunities and let them know the importance of education. We have to strive for a level playing field. Until I see that happening, we have a lot more work to do.”

Lanier sees himself as a living example. He said he wouldn’t be where he is today without the Franciscan ideals that were instilled in him at St. Bonaventure. He gets a surge of pride when he hears people say he reflects everything that school stands for.

“That lifts me up,” he said. “My parents always told me I had to work twice as hard, because I wasn’t only representing myself. I represented my parents, family and community. I was blessed to grow up with the parents I had, and to come from Buffalo. Those two things kept me rooted in life.”

By Jerry Sullivan - jsullivan@buffnews.com