This column is for both Buck ONeil and me. After a shining weekend of celebrating Bucks unparallel life, heres one more salute to a lifetime of good deeds and better smiles. I think this may also help me move on to a place thats going to feel all too empty around Kansas City, the void left by such a distinguished and graceful figure.
Walking through the halls of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Friday to pay Buck my final respects, it was evident just how much influence he still waves even in passing. The museum was flooded with patrons to visit Buck as soon as the building opened in the morning. The Jazz District, usually quiet during weekday hours, bustled all day. By the time most of the city had gotten out of work for the weekend, the line wrapped around the corner and down the block. An astounding 10,000 patrons passed through the gates during the course of one day.
People of all colors, races and age snaked their way through the halls of Bucks dream, a museum dedicated to a brand of baseball once forgotten. Black and white, male and female, old and young walked together, reminiscing about their own Buck stories. That point glaringly stood out all week like a dancing fastball by Bucks one-time teammate Satchel Paige. It wasnt just one group of people, one segment of the population, with personal memories of how Buck touched them. Everyone had a story. Everyone was moved at some point.
Ive got my own story. Spring training 2004, Surprise, Arizona. As a newbie talk-show host to Kansas City, attending my first Royals camp, I spotted Buck sitting on an outdoor patio of the team offices watching a matinee game. I needed to say hello, introduce myself to a living legend. Damn, I had hit the jackpot, no one else around. I debated three or four times if maybe I should catch him after the game or sometime else during the week as to not disturb him during the game.
I quietly approached Buck, slid over to him with my hands in my pockets. I nervously introduced myself, stammered through some idle greeting and figured I would quickly shuffle away. Of course, there is no impersonal, brief meeting with Buck. He spent ten minutes talking baseball, talking Royals and asking me about how I enjoyed my new hometown. How easy would it have been to send along a hello, thanks and good bye and go back to watching his game? Nope. He acted like I had been around as long as he had, paying me with respect and grace. IÕll never forget it.
In regards to his Hall of Fame snub last spring, instead of allowing anger to overtake us, lets find compassion like Buck did. In place of frustration for whats missing, lets find appreciation for what exists. Replace love for hate, kindness for hostility. If anything, lets learn from the man who touched every corner of this city, this region, this country.
There are not enough adjectives in my online thesaurus to adequately describe Bucks life. As violence and anger march through our daily headlines, Buck gave us an alternative. He gave us an example to follow, in which peace, tranquility and positive energy could overcome hardships and break down barriers. As Buck famously said on my show not long ago, -Its the time for loving. Mmm hmm.- Love. Thats the lasting essence of John Jordan -Buck- ONeil. Consider this one more Valentines Day card.
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
This column is for both Buck ONeil and me. After a shining weekend of celebrating Bucks unparallel life, heres one more salute to a lifetime of good deeds and better smiles. I think this may also help me move on to a place thats going to feel all too empty around Kansas City, the void left by such a distinguished and graceful figure. 
