[NU Sports] Cory Lidle Remembrance

[NEONRye at aol.com]

I know we are a Northwestern-oriented list, but I hope all of you will  
indulge me on this.
 
I just read a wonderful article authored by Mychael Urban, a reporter based  
in Oakland for mlb.com, in which he movingly describes his friendship with 
Cory  Lidle.  Given how often many of us on the list vent about Maronetti and  
other writers with whom we may take issue (often with good reason), I found this 
 writer's account so poignant, I thought I would share it with all of you:
_http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=2
0061011&content_id=1709560&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp_ 
(http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20061011&content_id=170
9560&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp) 
 
I rembember when Lidle first came up with the Mets, and followed his  career, 
on and off, over the years until he finally came back to NY with the  Yanks.  
I saw him pitch in pinstripes in August.  The Bombers lost the  game by a 6-5 
score, I think, and he gave up 3 early runs, but he then settled  down with 
his recognized grit and competitiveness, and the Yanks almost came  back to win 
it.  I always thought the mark of a good pitcher was to fight  back after a 
rocky first or second inning, so he made a strong impression.   I also used to 
live a half-block from the crash site, so the whole spectacle  yesterday was 
rather chilling.   And finally, on Columbus Day  (Monday), while off from work 
and driving in my car, I happened to listen  to his last radio interview--with 
the well-known duo on WFAN, "Mike (Francesa)  and the Mad Dog (Chris Russo)", 
who ripped him pretty good for some comments the  day before in which he 
stated, in substance, that the Yanks were less  prepared for the ALDS than the 
Tigers, which they took as a knock on Joe  Torre.  He hung in, despite their 
criticism, but seemed somewhat  shaken.  And now he is gone......
 
Paul Levinson