This is the way John. I feel like you are at your best when you use sports as a Trojan horse of sorts (see what I did there) to tell meaningful human stories. This is one of your better ones. Legacy stuff, truly. Well done, Sir.
Great piece. Thanks. I wonder if their blind date was at Dexter Lake Club. " A few miles from Eugene near a reservoir". It fits. And so perfect as that's where the Otis Day and the Knights "Shout" scene was filmed for Animal House. Which, of course, led to the Joey Harrington bit in the "Shout" video at Autzen. I'm going to stick with that because it would be so perfect for these two and they deserve it.
Another wonderful take mixing sports with a terrific insight into the human element. I can relate to this couple. My Dad who served in the Navy in the South Pacific died on July 4, 2017, at the age of 98. He played nine holes of golf 3 times a week up until 2 weeks before he passed and taught me the love of football and sports in general.
God bless the Smiths.
However, I am confused. According to Bluto didn't Germany bomb Pearl Harbor? And as a student at Faber College, he should know because at Faber - 'Knowledge is Good.'
Like many others, I consume a lot — a heckuva lot — of sports media. Pretty confident saying that in my experience, no one humanizes sports as well as John.
You know that old saw: if you could pull a small group of public figures together for a dinner, who would you choose?
I’d want John at my table. (Perhaps joined by Alice and Walt.)
Great story. You could probably write a similar one for my wife and I, but we've only been married 63 years and 50 years as a DAF season ticket holder. Go Ducks!
This is what Tom Brokaw called the "Greatest Generation" and rightfully so compared to today. These were people like my parents...my dad enlisting after the "Day of Infamy" and meeting my mom during the war. Staying married till the day my dad died and always doing the right thing and and not flinching from responsibility and family.
So few are left, and their stories are always great, and whether it is family vacations, Sunday breakfast with the 8 pound paper and discussing the articles (and always sports), watching a game together, or all the other things we did as children with our parents these memories are great; the fact that these two still enjoy football together is a nice note for a time when the society the culture they lived is almost gone from sight was wonderful...nice job on the article young man :)
I will add one thing....as I get older I realize that one small benefit is that one develops gratitude for what one has instead of always striving for "what is next and down the road;" Makes up for the aches and pains.
Apr 19, 2023·edited Apr 19, 2023Liked by John Canzano
Love, love LOVE this. My parents would be 97 and 95 today, but both passed in the last 5 years having lived colourful, fulsome and rewarding lives. They had good innings. And both were die-hard Duck fans who also yelled at the TV during games, even in the memory care unit during moments of clarity. Joey Harrington was Mum's favorite, and Pop was particular to Marcus Marotta, who signed a jersey for him that he took to his grave. Keep 'em coming, JC.
You did it again, John. Your story about the Smith's was interesting and had a personal connection with me. I moved to The Dalles for grades 8-12 and had a personal connection with Mr. Smith. He was my English teacher and in my Senior year, he helped organize a broadcasting club I joined and we had a weekly program airing on local radio KDOL. At that time he was known by the name of Jack Smith. During the year I got to know the announcer at the station and I quickly developed a passion for radio. Until that point I had no interest or plan for any schooling past high school, but I followed through with my interest in radio and spent 4 years at the U of O, majoring in Radio-TV in Speech. After graduating in 1957, I was hired as a announcer/disc jockey at station KWRO in Coquille, Or, prior to fulfilling my ROTC commitment to serve in the Army. After ending my military service, I had lost my fervor for continuing my radio career in the Coqulle's of the world, and ended up eventually at CBS Television City in L.A. for the next 33 years before retiring to my present home in N. CA. Like the Smiths, I haven't lost my passion for all Duck football and basketball events, and I truly appreciate your contributions to maintaining that obsession. Keep 'em coming!
Beautiful. Just beautiful. Stories like this are more than worth the subscription. Thank you.
This is the way John. I feel like you are at your best when you use sports as a Trojan horse of sorts (see what I did there) to tell meaningful human stories. This is one of your better ones. Legacy stuff, truly. Well done, Sir.
Great piece. Thanks. I wonder if their blind date was at Dexter Lake Club. " A few miles from Eugene near a reservoir". It fits. And so perfect as that's where the Otis Day and the Knights "Shout" scene was filmed for Animal House. Which, of course, led to the Joey Harrington bit in the "Shout" video at Autzen. I'm going to stick with that because it would be so perfect for these two and they deserve it.
Another wonderful take mixing sports with a terrific insight into the human element. I can relate to this couple. My Dad who served in the Navy in the South Pacific died on July 4, 2017, at the age of 98. He played nine holes of golf 3 times a week up until 2 weeks before he passed and taught me the love of football and sports in general.
God bless the Smiths.
However, I am confused. According to Bluto didn't Germany bomb Pearl Harbor? And as a student at Faber College, he should know because at Faber - 'Knowledge is Good.'
You hit another one out of the park. Lovely story, John.
What lovely people! Hope they have a lot to cheer about this year.
Vintage Canzano.
Like many others, I consume a lot — a heckuva lot — of sports media. Pretty confident saying that in my experience, no one humanizes sports as well as John.
You know that old saw: if you could pull a small group of public figures together for a dinner, who would you choose?
I’d want John at my table. (Perhaps joined by Alice and Walt.)
Great story. You could probably write a similar one for my wife and I, but we've only been married 63 years and 50 years as a DAF season ticket holder. Go Ducks!
Beautiful--reading this was like getting a big breath of oxygen--a true gift in this day and age! Write On, my friend!---Ken Woody
This is what Tom Brokaw called the "Greatest Generation" and rightfully so compared to today. These were people like my parents...my dad enlisting after the "Day of Infamy" and meeting my mom during the war. Staying married till the day my dad died and always doing the right thing and and not flinching from responsibility and family.
So few are left, and their stories are always great, and whether it is family vacations, Sunday breakfast with the 8 pound paper and discussing the articles (and always sports), watching a game together, or all the other things we did as children with our parents these memories are great; the fact that these two still enjoy football together is a nice note for a time when the society the culture they lived is almost gone from sight was wonderful...nice job on the article young man :)
I will add one thing....as I get older I realize that one small benefit is that one develops gratitude for what one has instead of always striving for "what is next and down the road;" Makes up for the aches and pains.
What a wonderful story about two beautiful people. Thanks for sharing their story.
Mr. Smith was my high school English teacher in the late 1970’s. One of best teachers I have ever had, loved by his students and highly regarded.
Thank you for this heartfelt article!
Another well-written story about people we would all like to know.
“Players play for each other.”
At the end of the day, “hearts want to connect with hearts - on and off the field.”
Love, love LOVE this. My parents would be 97 and 95 today, but both passed in the last 5 years having lived colourful, fulsome and rewarding lives. They had good innings. And both were die-hard Duck fans who also yelled at the TV during games, even in the memory care unit during moments of clarity. Joey Harrington was Mum's favorite, and Pop was particular to Marcus Marotta, who signed a jersey for him that he took to his grave. Keep 'em coming, JC.
You did it again, John. Your story about the Smith's was interesting and had a personal connection with me. I moved to The Dalles for grades 8-12 and had a personal connection with Mr. Smith. He was my English teacher and in my Senior year, he helped organize a broadcasting club I joined and we had a weekly program airing on local radio KDOL. At that time he was known by the name of Jack Smith. During the year I got to know the announcer at the station and I quickly developed a passion for radio. Until that point I had no interest or plan for any schooling past high school, but I followed through with my interest in radio and spent 4 years at the U of O, majoring in Radio-TV in Speech. After graduating in 1957, I was hired as a announcer/disc jockey at station KWRO in Coquille, Or, prior to fulfilling my ROTC commitment to serve in the Army. After ending my military service, I had lost my fervor for continuing my radio career in the Coqulle's of the world, and ended up eventually at CBS Television City in L.A. for the next 33 years before retiring to my present home in N. CA. Like the Smiths, I haven't lost my passion for all Duck football and basketball events, and I truly appreciate your contributions to maintaining that obsession. Keep 'em coming!