Interview with an icon

The opportunity came to me quite unexpectedly to interview one of my boyhood heroes. I had the chance to talk with arguably one of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time: Vernon Sanders Law of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The year was 1960 and I was this impressionable 13 year-old in Los Angeles who suddenly became very interested in baseball. A bunch of friends and I hopped the Venice bus, switched to the Vermont trolley and paid $.75 admission to the Los Angeles Coliseum to watch the world champion Dodgers take on the Pirates during the summer. Vern Law, whose nickname was “the Deacon” was pitching that day, He was magnificent! He shut out Johnny Podres and the ex-Brooklyn Boys 2-0.

Vern Law etched a deep fissure on my young cerebrum that July day. Vern went on to win 20 games that year. He won the Cy Young award during the period when the Award was given to only ONE pitcher for BOTH leagues. The Pirates went on to win the Pennant, and beat the Yankees in seven, in what many have called the greatest World Series of all time. Adding to the drama was the heart-pounding- bottom of the ninth homerun by Pirate second baseman Bill Mazeroski which allowed Pittsburgh to emerge victorious 10-9. What a year that was, 1960. I located Vern who lives in Provo, Utah. His son Vance, also a former Major Leaguer coaches the BYY Cougar Baseball team. Vern graciously extended himself to me for this interview. Naturally, I needed to temper my awe and wonder that I was talking to my hero, not just on the field but away from baseball. We talked baseball and the highlights of 50+ years ago came back to me with crystal-clear clarity. I could have gone on and on listening to this man and his wonderful stories. It is my opinion that generation of professional athletes was the best of America. Since that halcyon era, we’ve experienced a steady decline not only sports but our society.

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I asked Vern if he originated the quote, “Experience is a tough teacher. She gives you the test first, then you get the lesson.” “ Yes, that was me, replied the Deacon, ” whose name originated with a teammate who knew Vernon Law as a pious man, a man of faith and God, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Here I am, a Jewish kid from Los Angeles, interviewing this champion. It was humbling. As the interview proceeded, I broached the subject of politics and sensed Vern’s angst. “Vern, some folks say 2012 is the most important election in our Nation’s history, at least the most important one since the end of the Civil War.” Law replied, “I absolutely agree with that. I get so frustrated. This man doesn’t listen to anyone except who he surrounds himself with, like those folks from ACORN.” “This man? Do you mean Barack Hussein Obama, our president? ” “Yes, I mean exactly that, Roger. He is destroying our country against the will of the American people.” Law continued, “I have faith in the American people they will reject this man completely in the next election. I get so frustrated that the Government ignores the American people. I just don’t know what to do. Obama’s position on amnesty, his so called pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants is terrible. His Justice Department fights Arizona and its SB1070 law removing most of the guts from that law. The president fails to do his job in securing the Border allowing millions to illegally enter our country and use services that are supposed to go to Americans; he ignores the Constitution, and blames everybody and anybody but himself. It’s pitiful” Vern Law, you speak like a patriot. Law became righteously indignant when he referred to the corrupt ACORN activist group that finds itself in scandal after scandal. He continued, “The Group is banished by Government and the courts, only to re-emerge under a different name. That’s not right. ACORN is operated by the same slimy criminals who perpetrated their corruption on an American public that continues to have faith in the system. These crooks have the support of President Obama.” Law went on, “We’ve got to change Washington. My roots come from dirt poor Idaho farmers who taught me a strong work ethnic. I had to work for everything I have. No body gave me anything. Today, we don’t model that behavior for our children. Many parents do not set a proper example for their kids. Vern Law, I promise you, Barack Hussein Obama will see and hear your words with all of your Cy Young-1960 Pittsburgh Pirates passion and zeal. I promise you that, Sir, even if I have to deliver this to his front door step at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.