There's No Place Like Home

And like Dorothy I wish I could click my heels and be home right now. To my real home that is. Where the whole city is in mourning about Dave Niehaus, and people understand the tears.

Though, I did find a common soul today in a man who came into eat at my bar. While having a nice talk over lunch we started to talk about health issues for some weird reason, and I mentioned Dave's heart attack. He was shocked. He was also from Seattle and out here on business. We both started crying, talking about Dave and our memories. How much our lives would be affected by this. It sounds silly, but really, baseball will never be the same. And that is a poignant though, 2 strangers, 2000 miles from Seattle, crying together in a restaurant over someone they'd never met, but that they considered a family member.

Being a Mariners fan is mainly about be an optimist, tomorrow will be better, next season we'll win. And Dave made us believe in that optimism.

But never again, will I turn the TV volume down and follow Dave to the radio broadcast, and never again will I hear him call out "Get out the rye bread and mustard Grandma it is Grand Salami time!!"

On Saturday, the Mariners are opening Safeco field for fans to come and pay tribute to Dave. I wish I could be there, I will be in my heart. Tonight, I just sit and watch videos, and remember the good times, and the bad times, the games that broke our hearts. All with Dave providing the background. I guess that's his real legacy, he will always live on. He will always be the voice of the Mariners.

Niehaus Highlight Clips

Fly Fly Away

I am a huge Seattle Mariners fan. The kind of fan, that no matter how bad the season, looks on it with optimism and knows that tomorrow will be better. The kind of fan that if they ever got into the post season would take the entire month of October off of work, because she would be unable to function in a commercial setting. The kind of baseball fan that listens to games, and finds magic in the calls she can't see.

A big part of this is due to growing up listening to Dave Niehaus, the M's announcer since the franchise began in 1977, and someone who was an even bigger Mariner's fan than I was.

Some of my favorite memories as a kid are listening to Dave call the games, good or bad. He even made the rainouts interesting, reciting Casey at the Bat. He made baseball come alive, with his enthusiastic My oh My! Calls and his amazing ability to place the details into his dialogue that others missed.

Dave passed away today at 75 years old from a heart attack. He never retired, never got to see his beloved M's play in the World Series, but every day he did what he loved. He supported his team, and made those of us who couldn't be at the stadiums feel as though they were. He brought a whole new generation to the game, and his calls will live on in our memories.

Baseball in Seattle will never be quite the same, as Dave was one of a kind. I feel like I lost a family member, and in a way I did. Dave was part of my life from April-October, for as long as I can remember. The return of Spring training every year, meant Dave coming back with his enthusiasm and magical words.

Fly fly away Dave to Paradise where the M's will always win, and the season never ends. You will live in our memories and hearts forever.