Ed Koch, dead at 88

The Canessa Commentary
By KEVIN CANESSA Jr.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. —

I must have been 5 or so. It was 1979.

I was in the living room with my grandpa, Tom, and as usual, as was the case every day at 5 p.m., we had Channel 4 on for the news. It was likely Chuck Scarborough behind the mic and in front of the camera.

They broke to a story about Ed Koch, the mayor of New York.

"How come he says 'ahhhh' all the time?" I asked my grandpa.

"That's just how he talks," grandpa told me.

Grandpa wasn't the biggest fan of Koch — the mayor was a liberal Democrat, and grandpa was a Republican who loved Richard Nixon.

And yet, despite Grandpa's views of Koch, I loved the man. I was 5, and it was the beginning of a love affair with politics, one I didn't realize was happening at the time, but one I know of now that I look back at it.

There are so many reasons why Ed Koch will go down as one of the most beloved politicians in my lifetime.

Perhaps it's the notion that like me, he came from humbled beginnings in the Bronx (I from Jersey City). Perhaps it's because he told it like it was. Perhaps it was because he cared more for the little guy than he did the big banks and unions.

Perhaps it's because he could be friendly with fans — like everyone in the Democratic Party — and with his foes, like the-late John Cardinal O'Connor, with whom he never saw eye to eye, but who saved him a seat every Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Perhaps it was because every time he spoke, you knew it was coming from his heart, and not form a terribly awful prepared speech laid into a teleprompter.

Most likely, it was just because Ed Koch was seriously just like you and me.

Before he died, Koch told The New York Times he wanted to be remembered as "being a proud Jew who loved the people of the City of New York and did his best to make their lives better."

And that's precisely what he did.

He made the lives of millions of people better.

He restored pride to New York City at a time when the city was burning (Summer of 1977), had no money (Ford to City: Drop Dead), there was no law and order and people just wanted to get the hell out.

After he was mayor, New York was safer. People wanted to stay.

People wanted to come.

And regardless of what your political affiliation is or was, there's no doubt — he truly did make people's lives better.

And our world is short one great man today.

Somehow, I suspect, St. Peter and the Lord are getting an earful right about now — and they're probably close to changing their minds about a lot of things.

Rest in peace, Ed Koch.

Rest in peace.

And thank you for making me love politics like few others could.

One of the final photos taken of Koch, during a recent hospital stay.

A remarkable video obituary for Ed Koch

I will write a reflection of my own later today.

Bobby Murcer dead at 62

Bobby Ray Murcer, one of the most popular players to ever don Yankee Pinstripes, has died of complications from his cancer. He was just 62.

The YES Network made the announcement of Murcer's death shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon, mere moments after his Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-4, at Rogers Centre.

It was in late 2006 that the world learned Murcer had contracted a malignant brain tumor. Reports said Murcer had been complaining of a lack of energy prior to the diagnosis, which was made on Christmas Eve that year.

He made several appearances in the YES TV booth in the 2007 season, but despite a strong desire to do so, was unable to call any games in the 2008 season. A recent New York Daily News story indicated he was in "the fight of his life," though no other details about his condition were shared.

Murcer made his Yankees debut on Sept. 8, 1965. Of note, he would go on to man center field at Yankee Stadium, ultimately replacing Mickey Mantle.

Murcer had a strong career, averaging 21 home runs and 89 RBIs. His career batting average was .277.

Aside from the Yankees, Murcer played in San Francisco and in Chicago with the Cubs.

But Murcer is perhaps best known for his broadcasting career, which spanned from the latter part of the 1983 season until last season. He was partnered with many broadcasting greats, most notably Phil Rizzuto. The two had tremendous on-camera chemistry.

Murcer is also well known for his annual on-field commentary of Old Timers Day at the stadium. He would often wear a mic as he played the field and as he went to the plate.

Murcer also made a tremendous impact on the world of tobacco. A long time tobacco user, Murcer went on to become an anti-tobacco advocate, and was the driving force behind a bill in the Oklahoma State Senate which regulated the sale of tobacco in the state to minors.

As news of his death spread Saturday afternoon, many current Yankees, including Jason Giambi, Mariano Rivera and manager Joe Girardi shed tears in interviews about Murcer with the YES Network's Kimberly Jones.

"He was a great Yankee, but as I said before, he was a great friend to all of us," Girardi said. "He always put others first. He cared about the game. He cared about whether we won or lost. He always wore his emotions on his sleeve — and he was one of the few people who got what life was about."

Murcer is survived by his wife, Kay, and his two children, Tori and Todd.

For a complete obituary about Murcer, click here.

— Kevin Canessa Jr.