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ODE
TO ERNIE HARWELL "For
lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; Ernie
Harwell from
The Detroit Tigers
have opened their exhibition baseball season in Lakeland, Florida. In
years past, the first radio broadcast would begin with Ernie Harwell,
our beloved Hall of Fame announcer, exorcising the winter demons by
quoting from The Song of Solomon. Could baseball
season truly begin in earnest until William Earnest Harwell, for 55
years the Voice of Baseball, proclaimed that “…the voice of the
turtle is heard in our land?” Alas, Ernie Harwell
is dying, just as spring is bringing new hope to our hearts. On
September 3rd, 2009, the world learned that he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer of the bile duct.
The doctors gave him 3-6 months to live. Let’s dedicate 2010 to Ernie Harwell, in honour of this fine gentleman’s
splendid memory and his many contributions to life and baseball. God
bless Ernie Harwell!
GOOD
FRIENDS My wife Lori and I became good friends with Ernie and his family in 1991. A few months earlier, in what can be politely termed the greatest gaffe in Detroit sports history, Tigers owner Tom Monaghan and his new general manager, Bo Schembechler, had announced that the team was going in a different direction. Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell would be unceremoniously
released following the 1991 season. Fired, truth be told. Say what? Fire
Ernie Harwell? Have you two gentlemen lost your minds? The storm of protest was perfect! Talk about a dunderhead move! The resulting outrage and fury over the news release was astounding. Ernie, with his timeless announcing style, was by far the most beloved figure in Michigan and environs. The subject dominated the news and call-in shows for months,
much to the dismay of Bo and Monaghan. Like everyone else,
I was scandalized by the news. Ernie had been part of my life since I
had stepped off the boat from Greece at age 9 – How dare anyone
disrespect him such? Around Christmas Eve, 1990, something moved me to write a satirical piece spoofing Schembechler and Monaghan, and lampooning their bonehead decision to fire Ernie. I called it The Song of the Turtle – Ode to Ernie, and printed 100 copies, which I distributed to friends and family, and promptly forgot about. My
pal Dr. Gerald Silverman, an avid Tigers and Ernie Harwell fan who with
his family was visiting us that Christmas Eve, got the first copy. Well. Wonder of wonders, the late Bob Talbert, renowned columnist for the Detroit Free Press, got his hands on one of the 100 copies of the Song of the Turtle. He enjoyed reading it so much that he contacted Ernie and forwarded to him the Ode. In turn, Ernie and his beautiful wife – ‘Miss Lulu’
as he calls her - loved my humorous tribute to him, and decided to look
me up and to call me. That’s the kind
of thoughtful guy he is, as I soon found out. It was the morning
of January 14th, 1991 when the phone rang. My wife Lori
answered and seemed startled by the caller. She cupped the mouthpiece
and whispered to me, “Ernie Harwell’s on the phone, he wants to
speak with you!” Get real! Are you
sure it’s not a prank, I asked, but she just nodded and replied, “I
think I know his voice, babe.” “Hello Nick, this
is Ernie Harwell. Sorry if I’m disturbing you.” There was no
doubting that southern Georgian Voice. I willed my heart to remain in my
chest. “Bob Talbert from
the Free Press just sent me over the Song of the Turtle. Miss Lulu and I
don’t know how to thank you.” I assured Ernie,
best as I could in my state of shock, that it was actually myself - and
all baseball fans - that should be thankful. We spoke for a few minutes,
and I revealed that I owned Thanasi’s Greek Restaurant, and would be
honoured to host him and Miss Lulu for lunch or dinner sometime. “Consider it an open invitation, Mr. Harwell,” I said, and he joked that surely he would take me up on it, seeing as he would have plenty of free time at the end of this summer. We laughed and said goodbye.
In July Ernie
called to tell me that next Saturday he was announcing the Tigers/Blue
Jays game from Toronto, and was taking a Via Rail train back home on
Sunday. Miss Lulu would be along on the road trip, and they would love
to meet me. How cool was that! Lori and I thought that Ernie was just being nice when he called me way back in January, but evidently he was true to his word and had kept my phone number. I gave him directions to Thanasi’s from the Via Station, and
nervously looked forward to meeting him and Miss Lulu. I knew that the train arrived at 4:20pm, and that their daughter Julie was meeting the Harwells, so I decided to drive to the Walkerville train station to greet them. I spotted a young lady waiting and asked if her name was Julie Harwell. Indeed it was, and together we chatted as the train
arrived. Ernie was delighted that I had come to the station, and
insisted that he ride with me to Thanasi’s. “Julie and Miss
Lulu can follow us, Nick.” It was surreal driving with Ernie in the passenger seat. I silently prayed that I didn’t kill us both in an accident – Imagine the headlines! He asked
that I call him Ernie, but I explained that I respected him like I did
my father, and would prefer “Mr. Harwell”, if he didn’t mind. That
pleased him. Ernie was old school. “In that case, I
will call you 'Mr. Nick', if you don’t mind!” he grinned, and so
has he done these past 19 years. THANASI’S GREATEST PROMOTER The Harwells absolutely loved dining at Thanasi’s, and became regular guests. It was the setting for many of their family gatherings, and numerous Harwell birthdays, anniversaries and other special event have been celebrated in splendid Grecian fashion.
Ernie soon
proclaimed Thanasi’s as his favourite restaurant, and never missed an
opportunity to state as much whenever he was interviewed. He became our
greatest promoter, unpaid at that! Ernie even
mentioned Thanasi’s as his favourite place to eat in a couple of his
books. But it wasn’t only family that enjoyed our great Greek food –
Whenever a visiting announcer or friend whom Ernie cared for was in
Detroit, I would get a phone call: “It’s Ernie
Harwell, Mr. Nick. George Brett is in town on Saturday to call the Game
of the Week for Fox TV. We’ll be coming to Thanasi's after the game.
Can you put his name on the marquee?” Ernie always insisted I join them, if not for dinner, at least for coffee and conversation, and I happily did. Sitting in on some of the discussions was like eavesdropping on baseball history, especially when the old-timer announcers spoke names such as Ruth, Cobb, DiMaggio, Robinson and Williams, and told first-hand stories about them.
My favourite Ernie guest was Norm Baer, long-time producer for CBS Sports, and Ernie’s friend for many decades. Norm and I hit it off (he had spent time in
Greece, and had even directed actress Melina Mercury in one of her
movies!) and we developed a terrific relationship. He and Ernie had some
amazing conversations, and I was privileged to have been that proverbial
fly on the wall!
It was Norm Baer who informed me that Ernie was an accomplished songwriter, with over 65 of his songs having been recorded by various musical artists. "Needless to say, I have more no-hitters than Nolan Ryan, Mr. Nick!" Ernie quipped. Norm produced the Thanksgiving Day football game for CBS Sports, so I knew that I’d see him at least once a year. He always brought me two press passes to the Turkey Day battle at the Silverdome, complete with premium parking and full meal privileges for the game. I was very fond of him. I shed a tear when Ernie called a few years back to tell me that our good friend Norm had peacefully died at a ripe old age. During one visit, Ernie asked me who my favourite Tigers were. I immediately replied Alan Trammel and Lance Parrish, 1984 heroes. Ernie smiled but said nothing. A week later, he called to say that he’d be bringing over a few guests, and to reserve a table for 6. He asked that I join them for dinner. “Any name on the
marquee, Mr. Harwell?” “None this
time, Mr. Nick.” Imagine my
utter surprise when Ernie opened the door to Thanasi’s, and behind him
marched Alan Trammel, Lance Parrish, and a couple of Tigers coaches. The
huge grin on Ernie’s face grew as I shook my heroes’ hands,
wide-eyed like a kid! “I knew
you’d like my little treat, Mr. Nick!” was all he said. What a man!
What a man!
CBS Radio Sports astutely hired Ernie in 1992. Before a nationally broadcast CBS Game of the Week, this one in Detroit, Ernie and Norm Baer invited me to watch the game from the announcers' booth! Amazing!
The radio booth at
old Tiger Stadium was perilously close to the action, and Ernie warned
me to bring my glove. I was standing behind him when a foul ball zinged
past our heads, with everyone ducking out of danger. Ernie didn’t miss
a beat: “Don’t worry,
folks, we have our good friend, Nick Pontikis from Windsor, watching
over us in the booth with his mitt!” he deadpanned, as I picked the
ball and myself up off the floor.
Nice souvenir, for
sure. Another time, with the Yankees in town, I was in the booth when
Phil Rizzuto, then the New York radio announcer, came by to call half an
inning with Ernie. Picture this setting: The tiny radio/TV booth at historic Tiger Stadium, with Ernie Harwell and his CBS announcing partner, Jim Hunter, on one side. I stood next to Norm Baer, who was producing the broadcast.
Right next to them, sharing the same tiny booth, George Kell and Al Kaline were doing the local TV broadcast for Channel 4 Detroit. Cameras and engineering equipment were strewn all around, and I kept busy guarding Ernie with my glove.
In walks Rizzuto from the booth next door to say hello, and Ernie invites him to call the bottom of the inning with him. Jim Hunter evacuates his seat and offers his headphones to the Scooter, who proceeds to call an extremely entertaining half inning with Ernie.
Jim Hunter, seasoned veteran broadcaster, turns to me and whispers, in an awed tone: “Holy @$#%, Nick, I'm in awe! I've got four Hall-of Famers in the booth with me! Rizzuto, Harwell, Kell and Kaline…I got goose bumps!”
Yo, Jim, how do you
think I feel, buddy? I’m just a restaurateur! Good thing I brought a
camera, otherwise nobody would believe me! When Mike Ilitch bought the Tigers from Monaghan in 1993, his first move was to bring Ernie back to the booth, a gesture that forever endeared him to all baseball fans. I was blessed over the years to have watched a select few
games from the best perch in baseball, the announcer’s booth at Tiger
Stadium, grateful guest of Ernie Harwell. The price of
admission? Some stuffed grape leaves from Thanasi’s (Miss Lulu’s
favourite dish), or perhaps some spanakopita, or a box of homemade Greek
desserts for Ernie to bring home. One of my favourite pictures shows Ernie and me in the booth during a game, both of us beaming broadly as Ernie hastily devours a sticky piece of Thanasi’s baklava between innings. He couldn’t wait.
Here’s the real
impressive part: Every one of Ernie’s booth partners would come armed
with binders, books, notes, stats and graphs pertaining to the game and
the two teams involved. This helped them in calling the game. Ernie brought one index card, listing the team rosters and the day’s line-up. He kept score on his program, and that was the extent of his preparation. All
the names, bits of info and anecdotes he’d mention throughout the
broadcast were off the top of his head, from memory! GREAT
SENSE OF HUMOUR Ernie was the most
unassuming and thoughtful man I have ever met, with a great sense of
humour. Once while discussing the Iliad and Odyssey, timeless Greek
works by the ancient writer Homer, Ernie asked how long ago these
classics were written. When I responded
that the epics were told over 3,000 years ago, Ernie winked at me and
said, “Well, Mr. Nick, you can say that this Homer is loooong gone!” I had given him
copies of both books because he had expressed an interest in reading
them. When I saw him next, I asked how he liked Homer’s Iliad, book
number one. “I’m halfway
through it. Lots of play by play, Mr. Nick, you need a scorecard to keep
things straight!” was his reply. I can just hear
Ernie intoning, “Greeks 5 - Trojans 5, bottom of the ninth, man on
third, two out. Switch-hitting Achilles at bat.” Ernie could never
give the score often enough… I introduced Ernie to computers. In 1995 I had created a web site for Thanasi’s, the first restaurant site in Essex County. While discussing the Internet with Ernie one visit, I mentioned that his favourite restaurant was now online. Ernie was intrigued by the idea that anyone in the world could
access this information and asked for a demonstration. I took Ernie to my back office and gave him a quick tour of the Internet. This was 1995, mind you, when only one in fifteen people had Internet access. Ernie was
fascinated, especially by the idea that he could read news, box scores
and sports reports from other cities updated hourly and daily. Many of
these writers were his friends. Better yet, he was
thrilled when I showed him how he could email in seconds his weekly
column to the Detroit Free Press, rather than typing out, printing and
faxing it. By the way, say hello to Spell check! Ernie, a notorious bad speller, was hooked. He
asked me what kind of system would best suit him, and the next day he
went to Best Buy in Farmington Hills and bought a multimedia computer. He must have called me half a dozen times that first day, seeking advice! The next day, he only called four times, and so on, until he became completely familiar with his new toy and with his AOL dial-up. He proved a keen student, and
it didn’t take him long to learn. Around that time I
created a tribute web site
to Ernie and posted it on the net. It included the Song of the
Turtle – Ode to Ernie, as well as an expansive photo
gallery, with many pictures from the Harwell’s personal photo
collection. At my request Miss Lulu had brought over a shoebox filled with pictures of their life together, including some of Ernie as a child in baseball uniform, Ernie as a rookie announcer, and other priceless mementos. I had her permission to scan and post them on the web, most photos appearing in public for the first time.
It got tremendous
traffic for years, and I maintained and web mastered it as a labour of
love until Ernie registered his own web site, www.eharwell.com. Did I mention how thoughtful Ernie was? He never came empty handed, always bringing one of his books, cassettes, CDs or other memorabilia. On his second visit he presented me with an original painting of himself, done by a Michigan artist. He signed it for me and I had it framed. To this day it
proudly hangs by the fountain as you first enter Thanasi’s.
In the summer, Miss
Lulu would bring my wife Lori fresh roses from her beloved garden. When
we visited them at their Farmington Hills home, Miss Lulu showed Lori
around her garden, while Ernie demonstrated the mini trampoline parked
in the centre of their large family room. “I bounce on it a half hour each day, Mr. Nick, it helps keep me young!” One of our fondest memories occurred when the Harwells joined our families for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner at our home. Ernie honoured us by saying grace prior to the feast, and we all felt truly blessed.
Another time Lori and I kept the Harwells waiting for an hour and a half for us to show up for lunch! The previous week Ernie had mentioned that there was this charming Italian bistro in Farmington Hills, and that they’d like to treat us to lunch there sometime next week. Ernie made the reservations
but in his hectic schedule, he forgot to call and tell us. I was working a busy lunch at Thanasi’s when the phone rang a little past noon. Ernie wanted to know where we were – Miss Lulu, Julie and he were waiting at the bistro. We were aghast, but had a great laugh when we realized that
he had forgotten to call us. We insisted that the three of them go ahead and eat and we would take a rain check, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Patiently they waited while Lori and I scampered across the border, praying that we didn’t get pulled over at Customs. On arrival I recall the restaurant staff giving us curious
glances, as if to say, who was this rude couple that had kept Ernie
Harwell waiting all this time… NATIVE’S
TOUR OF ATHENS When Ernie and Miss
Lulu took a European cruise one summer, part of the itinerary included a
two-day stopover in Athens, Greece, my city of birth. Ernie asked if I
had any recommendations, so I arranged for my sister, Helen Niforos, who
at the time lived in Athens with her daughter Nancy, to give the
Harwells a native’s tour of historic Athens. They had a blast! Even though Helen didn’t really know who Ernie Harwell was, she understood that he and Miss Lulu were very special to us, and she outdid herself in providing some of that famous Greek hospitality.
When the
Harwells returned from the cruise, they couldn’t wait to come in to
Thanasi’s and gush over their trip to the Acropolis, the National
Athens Museum, the ancient monastery and amphitheatre. Helen had done me
proud, right down to dinner at a popular Grecian taverna, complete with
retsina wine and a live bouzouki band. I believe a couple of plates were
broken in true Greek fashion! Opa!
The Harwells always
asked about my sister whenever they came in, and on their last visit to
Thanasi’s they were kind enough to bring me some unexpected photos of
themselves at the Parthenon, posing with Nancy and Helen. “Please give
these pictures to Helen,” Miss Lulu said. They had unearthed them
while going through some old albums, and thoughtfully brought them for
my sister.
Ernie even
announced the births of my daughters Niki and Melina on air, during the
Tigers broadcasts! He is the most considerate man I have ever known,
other than my father. When the last game ever was played at Tiger Stadium on September 27, 1999, Julie Harwell asked if I had tickets for the sold-out finale. When I replied that I did not, the tickets were impossible to get, she told Ernie, who invited me to attend as his guest. I sat with Miss Lulu and Julie, and the generous man even provided an extra ticket for my father in law, Bob Matis.
Following the historic final pitch the four of us were allowed onto the storied field as part of Ernie’s family. While we waited for the gathered news media to finish interviewing Ernie and other notables, Bob and I proceeded to fill a few film canisters with sacred Tiger Stadium infield dirt.
Home plate at Tiger Stadium had earlier been conveyed to the new Comerica Park as part of the closing ceremonies. It was getting late, past 11pm. Ernie was wrapping up an interview with Ted Kopell on Nightline, when the last bank of stadium lights went off, leaving the park nearly in the dark. The only light came from the nearby Nightline cameras and the centerfield scoreboard, as I stood on the naked spot where home plate used to be for so many decades.
Now, only a shallow hole stood testament to all the great plays, by all the great players, that had taken place right there. It was a poignant moment. Ernie
finished and worked his way over to us. I pointed out that I have heard
of people stealing home, but stealing home plate was altogether
different… We took a bunch of photos on the field and in the Tigers dugout, then Ernie signed, dated and presented me with a terrific poster of Tiger Stadium, which now hangs by the front desk at Thanasi’s.
When Ernie finally retired - on his own terms - in 2002 the Tigers held a gala Ernie Harwell Day at their new field, Comerica Park. Family and friends from near and afar joined Ernie in the special luxury suite reserved for the Harwells by a grateful Mike Ilitch. Once again Ernie made sure that Bob Matis and I were there. We enjoyed all the camaraderie, food and festivities in the suite, and there was hardly a dry eye in the house after Ernie had given his farewell speech. Following the on-field ceremonies, Ernie joined us in his suite to watch the game, take pictures and reminisce. It was a bittersweet day to remember! After his retirement Ernie and Miss Lulu sold their Farmington Hills home and moved into a wonderful retirement complex in Novi, Michigan. Lori and I were invited to dinner, and we had a great visit in their spacious new apartment unit. Miss Lulu told us how Ernie kept busy by leading the residents on their daily one-hour walk. “There must be a couple of hundred gathered each morning waiting for Ernie,” she laughed. “He gets in front, and they march behind him like he’s the Pied Piper!” While the Harwells were showing us around the facility (more like a fancy resort than a retirement community), Lori and I marveled at how every single resident greeted Ernie as we passed. Amazingly, Ernie addressed each of them by name: “Good afternoon, Ted. How are you feeling today, Lucy?” And the old-timers, many of them Ernie’s seniors, would literally melt because the Voice of Baseball remembered their names. Ernie had a knack for making people feel special, his folksy Georgian mannerism putting them at ease. The best part of all, it was sincere and genuine, guided by true Christian principles. A MAN OF DEEP FAITH That was the defining quality of the Harwells, their deep spiritual belief. For years Ernie led the Tigers chapel services, and always consented to speak without fee when asked by a myriad of charitable groups. That was one of Ernie’s problems throughout his life, Miss Lulu once told Lori and me. He could never say no to any request for his time, and this often led to a doubling of his workload. But Ernie didn’t see it as a problem: “I praise the Lord here today. I know that all my talent and all my ability comes from him, and without him I'm nothing and I thank him for his great blessing,” he said in his farewell speech. This past summer the Assumption University of Windsor presented its Christian Culture Series Award Gold Medal to Ernie and Miss Lulu. Previous recipients include Jean Chretien, Paul Martin Senior and Junior, National Public Radio senior news analyst Cokie Roberts, and many more noted personalities. A few weeks later Ernie’s incurable cancer was diagnosed during a routine check-up. The Christian Culture Series celebration marked the last time that Lori and I saw Ernie in person. The thoughtful man had asked the organizers to invite me and my wife to the luncheon and award presentation.
What a magical afternoon it was, made that much more poignant in hindsight. A tasty luncheon was served to about 100 invited guests, and then we went upstairs to a packed Assumption Chapel for the Gold Medal ceremony. Ernie was in fine form, delivering a 45-minute speech without notes. It was vintage Harwell, filled with funny anecdotes culled from his 55-year career. He told us how he went to Brooklyn in 1948, at the height of Jackie Robinson’s career, and how with the Giants he broadcast the debut of Hall of Famer Willie Mays.
He spoke about the ’68 Tigers, and how they helped heal a city torn by race riots. Ernie described the ’84 Championship season, and his long walks and conversations with skipper Sparky Anderson. Pure magic!
Much to our delight, he then took all questions from the crowd, not stopping until every one had been answered. Then he posed for pictures with everyone. At the age of 91 the man was indefatigable!
Ernie introduced Lori and me to the crowd, and put in his obligatory plug for Thanasi’s, saying that it was his favourite restaurant, and it was located right here in Windsor. The man never missed a chance to honour us! ERNIE
WAS AT PEACE A month later,
Julie phoned to tell us the stunning news regarding her father’s
cancer. I called Ernie and was amazed at how at peace he was with the
devastating development. “God blessed me
by putting me here for 91 years, Mr. Nick,” he said, comforting me.
“Miss Lulu and I have no regrets. I always loved what I did, and if I had my time
over again, I would not change a thing.” I flashed back to his Hall of Fame Induction speech of August 2, 1981: "Baseball is a tongue-tied kid from Georgia growing up to be an announcer and praising the Lord for showing him the way to Cooperstown,” he had said. Most people don’t realize that Ernie was
dyslexic as a youth, and needed tutoring to overcome this speech
impediment. A Detroit Free Press scribe once wrote that Ernie had never broadcast a perfect game, but he had broadcast thousands of games perfectly. Detroit
Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline said it best: "Ernie is probably the most beloved person who has ever been in Detroit with the Detroit Tigers. He is loved by everybody and rightfully so. He's a great broadcaster but even a better person. That comes across on his broadcasts."
So many well-wishers inundated the Harwells following the cancer announcement that they had to change their phone number. Julie called to give us the new number. On January 25 I
phoned to wish Ernie a happy 92nd birthday. He sounded
surprisingly spry and cheerful, and mentioned that he’d love to come
over to Thanasi’s “one more time”. I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. His health is fast
deteriorating and he has lost far too much weight. His diet consists
mostly of fluids, and he spends much of his time sleeping. Julie came in for dinner last week and gave us the latest
update. I sent the Harwells some Avgolemono soup, stuffed grape leaves
and a couple of his favourite barbecue lamb chops, but I suspect he
won’t be able to enjoy the feast. When
Tom Monaghan fired Ernie I remember telling him that a star may go nova
and explode, but its light will endure forever, speeding through space
and bringing illumination long after its source was gone. In the same way, I told him, every single one of Ernie’s broadcasts have left Earth and are now traveling in space, as radio waves are wont to do. A million years from now, in a faraway galaxy, some alien creature
of God would tune into an ancient faint radio signal and wonder what
“It’s loooong gone!” means. Ernie
may die, but his light will shine forever. Let's dedicate 2010 to
Ernie Harwell, in honour of this fine gentleman’s splendid memory and his many
contributions to life and baseball. God bless Ernie Harwell!
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