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zach
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So, for years I have always thought Willie Mays was a grouchy, angry and self centered man. I felt that he carried a lot of his anger from his playing days.
Well, that opinion has now changed. I was involved with a large fund-raising dinner in New York that Willie was one of the honorees. He has become a very fragile man with many health issues including his ability to walk well and diminishing eye sight. During his acceptance speech he discussed how he tries to help others that are less fortunate or give back to the community. Here are a couple of quick stories that I can remember I thought I would share.
1. He visited some kids in a hospital during the Christmas season one year. He went into one room and there were two boys in the room. He didn't realize that there were two in the room when he first walked in. Willie offered the one boy the cap he was wearing. He signed it and handed it to him. He then realized that there was another child in the room. He felt so bad that he asked the nurses to quickly find another baseball cap so that he could give it to the other child. They found one, he signed it and gave it to the other boy as well. He refused to leave the room until they found another hat for him to give.
2. During Halloween, he signs 500 baseballs and gives one out to each of the kids when they come trick-or-treating. He says that some adults (after their kids get a ball) try asking for an autograph and he tells them that he signed 500 ball and it was only for the kids. At his age and health, it's hard for him to sign that much.
He was very gracious and had the crowd of 1200 guests cheering "Say Hey" during his entire 15 minute speech. He would have talked longer but Bob Costas cut him off so that the rest of the program can go on. He enjoys watching TV Land for all of the old TV shows and Sesame Street with his grandchildren.
Now that I have heard him speak and open up a little about his life in baseball and what he does now, I understand more about the man that I once thought was a grouchy old man.
Through understanding comes acceptance.
Well, that opinion has now changed. I was involved with a large fund-raising dinner in New York that Willie was one of the honorees. He has become a very fragile man with many health issues including his ability to walk well and diminishing eye sight. During his acceptance speech he discussed how he tries to help others that are less fortunate or give back to the community. Here are a couple of quick stories that I can remember I thought I would share.
1. He visited some kids in a hospital during the Christmas season one year. He went into one room and there were two boys in the room. He didn't realize that there were two in the room when he first walked in. Willie offered the one boy the cap he was wearing. He signed it and handed it to him. He then realized that there was another child in the room. He felt so bad that he asked the nurses to quickly find another baseball cap so that he could give it to the other child. They found one, he signed it and gave it to the other boy as well. He refused to leave the room until they found another hat for him to give.
2. During Halloween, he signs 500 baseballs and gives one out to each of the kids when they come trick-or-treating. He says that some adults (after their kids get a ball) try asking for an autograph and he tells them that he signed 500 ball and it was only for the kids. At his age and health, it's hard for him to sign that much.
He was very gracious and had the crowd of 1200 guests cheering "Say Hey" during his entire 15 minute speech. He would have talked longer but Bob Costas cut him off so that the rest of the program can go on. He enjoys watching TV Land for all of the old TV shows and Sesame Street with his grandchildren.
Now that I have heard him speak and open up a little about his life in baseball and what he does now, I understand more about the man that I once thought was a grouchy old man.
Through understanding comes acceptance.