RIP Ernie Harwell

Ernie Harwell died today, and few could write about him better than Joe Posnanski already did.

However, I will add one thing. A few years ago, Fox or ESPN (I don't remember which) had him on one of their baseball broadcasts. On the one hand, it was a way of honoring him while he was still around. It was a Tigers game, of course, but it was broadcast nationally, so more than just the fans in Michigan got to experience him. And that was a treat. The broadcasters themselves (might have been Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Joe Morgan, Jon Miller, or maybe even Orel Hershiser or Rick Sutcliffe) were respectful and curious about what Ernie had seen and the stories he had to tell.

On the other hand, I couldn't help but feel that they were rolling out the grand old guy - Harwell would have been around 90 years old at this time - and paying him homage but not much else. "Tell the one about being traded for a minor league catcher!" "What was it like broadcasting the '84 team?" "How did you handle baseball during the summer of '68?" That felt wrong, that they were wasting his talent spinning yarns about the past when the team Harwell knew better than any of them was playing right there.

And I know it felt wrong because Harwell, in his own way, was pointing out that they were wasting his talents. He just wanted to call the damn game. He was gracious in the booth and answered the questions from the other guys, but as much as possible he just got back to the play-by-play he did so well. I got the sense that the guys in the booth didn't plan on having their jobs usurped, however briefly, by a 90 year old Hall of Famer, but Harwell did it anyway, and I loved every moment. No comments about an oddball fan or the sights in Detroit or the next camera angle or the off-day plans for the gang, just the play-by-play: straight, accurate, clear, and sounding like baseball.

All the best, Ernie.

Random Clicks: 3/28/10

Roaming the sidelines, and baby-stepping back into the blogosphere ...

Red Sox/MLB

Breaking down the Mauer signing.

Some thoughts on Sox prospect Josh Reddick.

Peter Gammons checks in on Spring Training.

Celtics/NBA

Rondo steals the record.

Breaking down the 2010 free agents.

Danny Ainge discusses the current situation of the Celtics.

Patriots/NFL

Class-act Joey Porter is making headlines.

Checking-in with Leigh Bodden.