I find myself like millions of other television viewers, political junkies, and avid sport fans, still grief-stricken over the sudden death of Tim Russert, a tragedy likened by one historian to the death of Edward R. Murrow in 1965; and a media frenzy many are already calling shameless, with its over-the-top, non-stop coverage.
But after watching Sunday's The Meet the Press tribute, and reading other accolades and viewing other online photo galleries, I couldn�t quite get his infectious smile and dancing Irish eyes out of my mind.
I never knew him, never met him, I didn�t even have his email address, but when I learned through a New York Times email alert he had died Friday afternoon, I couldn't help but feel like I just lost my favorite uncle, who never forgot your birthday, and somehow found time to make it to the family weddings and graduations.
Normally, I would have enjoyed watching the Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals last night, but I found myself still dazed, and little weepy at times, barely taking in Jeff Van Gundy�s and Mark Jackson�s expert analysis on ABC.
Maybe I�ll snap out of it by the time game six rolls around on Tuesday.
I do have to admit, growing up in Cleveland, I was a bit embarrassed not knowing Mr. Russert�s northeastern Ohio roots. Not until I read his bio on Friday, did I learn he graduated from John Carroll University and earned his law degree from Cleveland- Marshall College of Law.
David Barnhizer, an emeritus law professor, emailed to let me know Tim was one his clinical students in 1975-6, and continued to stay in touch with the Meet the Press star through the years. ``He demonstrated a concern for social justice even then and had already worked in Senator [Daniel] Patrick Moynihan�s campaign. ``We used to talk about what he was going to do after graduation because he had a job lined up with Moynihan who unquestionably had a strong commitment to social justice��
According to Don Ritchie, U.S. Senate historian in Washington D.C., Russert was hired as Moynihan�s press secretary in 1977; and in 1980 was named Administrative Assistant, replacing Elliot Abrams, who joined the Reagan administration.
Russert�s notorious custom for digging deep into the archives to ferret-out the truth about a subject served him well, even before becoming an NBC journalist. Mr. Ritchie informs me, Russert was influential in helping Moynihan win re-election in 1982, by uncovering information that his leading opponent had exaggerated his military record.
After watching Matt Lauer�s touching interview with Russert�s son, Luke, on the Today Show, and listening to the tributes paid by his colleagues on Sunday�s Meet the Press, you coudn't help but get a strong sense Russert believed he was more than just a journalist badgering pols for a straight answer; he firmly believed he was on a mission to educate his audience and the public at-large in unmasking the contradictions, double-talk, and empty promises of newsmakers, even if meant coming off as a heavy.
Professor Barnhizer observed, ``He [Tim] understood the potential of pursuing social change in Washington, DC and the obstacles that stood in the way. ``As he made his way out of the Senate and into the media, I believe he always had his eye on trying to make a difference through honest communication. ``I was enormously proud of Tim, Barnhizer wrote, and even with his far too early passing, the fact is that he contributed more in the years he lived than others who live decades longer.��
If we learned nothing else about Tim Russert over the past few days, we know he was a huge Buffalo Bills fan. So when I contacted the Bill�s communication office to see if any tribute would be paid to the Sunday morning television host during the upcoming season, Scott Berchtold, Vice President of Communications, emailed to say they have started some �hallway discussion� to that idea this morning. ``We have not had any formal talks about it as of yet, but we anticipate some discussion on the topic very soon and we�ll have to see where it goes from there. As you can imagine, Berchtold wrote, we like many others in this country, are still very saddened by the news. We will dearly miss Tim and our sympathies continue to go out to his family.��
But one tribute that is in the works, is a resolution introduced by Senator's Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer, and Congressman Brian Higgins to have a portion of U.S. Route 20 near Ralph Wilson Stadium named in the Buffalo native�s honor.
Hopefully, they won�t the name the highway ``Wide Right��, Russert�s most painful memory of the Bills, when Scott Norwood�s legendary 47-yard field goal sailed right in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXV in a heart-wrenching loss to the New York Giants, 20-19.
Given Russert�s affection for Bruce Springsteen and the Boss's sense of social justice as told through his music, calling the highway ``Thunder Road�� might be the perfect tribute.
Go Bills!
-Bill Lucey
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