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It was announced today that Tug McGraw, 58, one of my three all-time favorite Mets, has brain cancer, with at least two tumors detected. He is undergoing evaluation to see if the tumors are operable and the cancer treatable.
Like everyone else, Tug was, and is, a flawed human being, as his son, Country-Western singer Tim McGraw, has made plain. Nevertheless, it doesn't affect, of course, the fact that Tug occupies a special place in the hearts of Mets fans, who were, and contin ue to be, inspired by his mantra of "You gotta" believe!" that seemed to propel the team into the 1973 World Series.
Actually, it's a motto for all seasons, and I hope that Mets fans -- and baseball fans everywhere -- will bombard Tug with his own words in order to prople him past the Murderers Row waiting to bat against him inside his own skull.
YA GOTTA BELIEVE, TUG!
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Posted: |
Mar 15, 2003 - 8:37 AM
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By: |
ANZALDIMAN
(Member)
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Nobodys smile, or laugh in that clubhouse, (or goofing on Ralph on Kiner's Korner) was as great as Tug Mc Graw's..(Seaver came real close!)He was the brash handsome hero every kid who loved not only the Mets, but baseball wanted to be like..When he rode in in that bullpen car, stepped out, handed over his warmup jacket, and put on and adjusted his cap, you knew you were in for a treat..And, Jane Jarvis (Man, she was great!) playing Tug's "theme" on the Shea organ everytime he kicked the dirt, and warmed up on the mound got everyone going..I still see him , riding in in that bullpen car, taking off that Met's warmup jacket, and adjusting that cap, and striding toward the mound to this day....Like it was yesterday...
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Posted: |
Mar 15, 2003 - 3:29 PM
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By: |
Eric Paddon
(Member)
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Wrong tempo. The theme as the true fans know is:
"Y-A-N-K-E-E-S!
"Here come the Yan-kees! Let's get behind and cheer the, Yan-kees! They're gonna learn to fear the, Yan-kees! Everyone knows they play to win, cause, they're the New York Yan-kees."
Even the Met fans agree that we beat them on the song, since "Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street, where do they go? To meet the Mets!" will never top, "We're gonna shout when you powder the ball! We're gonna scream (sound of drunken fan) Put it over the wall!"
In a serious vein, prayers and best to Tug McGraw and his family. The irony is that since I didn't start following baseball until 1976 he was always a Phillie to me and I never thought of him as having a New York connection.
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Thanks, Jester. Normally, I'm the first one to veer a thread off-topic, but I'd like to stay focussed on Tug with this one.
Screw the Yankees and everything about their stupid sissy league.
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Posted: |
Mar 16, 2003 - 3:45 PM
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By: |
CAT
(Member)
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Team loyalty stays ingrained from birth and remains constant no matter where you happen to be residing.
Couldn't agree more, Eric! My loyalty for the Yankees stems back from when I was just a "wee one," sitting at the feet of my dad and his friends. It would be a hot summer day, and they'd all have their beers (Rhinegold, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schaefer or Ballentine), and they'd be huddled around the black and white, shouting, cheering and "coaching" their team. Such fond memories stick with you for a lifetime!
Just a few days ago, I was fortunate to get something I'd been wanting to find for years, a typical regular season telecast featuring the original Yankee broadcast triumvirate I grew up with of Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer and Bill White. I've never heard a better trio of announcers than those three.
These three are classic, indeed, and again, provoke such fond memories of what I like to call a simpler time. Without all the B.S. that today's commentators feel they have to entertain us with, these three really knew how to call a game. How fortunate you are to have gotten your hands on this priceless piece of sport's history. Enjoy it!
Frank passed away about this time last year, and he is still missed by those of us who remember and appreciate his work. The sad story of Tug McGraw's brain cancer is enough to remind us as we see these familiar faces and friends of our youth succumb to mortality, of how short life ultimately is.
Time marches on, doesn't it? It seems that almost every day now some piece of my childhood is taken away from me. Seeing the faces of our past disappear is like you said...a reality check. And as much as I enjoy nostalgia, it can be quite somber and sobering. My prayers are with Tug and his family...and with all of us.
CAT
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Yes, Gordon lived not far from me in Westchester County, NY.
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Tug's out of the hospital, reportedly in good spirits, and going home, which is good news.
The doctors seem to think they got 100% of the tumor out of his skull, but the lab analysis as to whether the mass was malignant or benign, which was due back today, hasn't been announced, amd that's is somewhat troubling.
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Hi Cat 
