This past week I attended the 38th Annual Thurman Munson Dinner. The awards dinner, put together by media mogul John Cirillo, benefits children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Carlos Beltran, David Robertson, Justin Tuck, TJ Rivera and Jorge Posada were honored for their charitable contributions to society. I know that in the case of Beltran and Posada, they have been extremely busy with all of the work that they have done in Puerto Rico because of the hurricane.
I find it incredible that thirty nine years since we lost Thurman Munson, people all over this city and all over this country still think about this incredible man. I loved hearing how much Thurman meant to Jorge Posada. It was beautiful to hear Diana Munson tell her story about how Jorge showed Diana a Thurman article that he kept in his locker for inspiration.
I looked around this room and felt a large sense of pride because only Diana knew Thurman better than I did. I find that crazy. I got to know the player and I got to know the real man… a mans man!
Oh my God, how this man loved his children and Oh my God how this man loved his wife!
I will share one of my favorite and sensitive Thurman stories……
When Thurman would go on the road I would usually drive him to Teterboro Airport. I have to admit that I loved doing this because besides having alone time with Thurman, I would get to have a brand new Cadillac to drive while the team was on the road. Sometimes Thurman would come back to New York with Diana and I would love that because the ride back to the Bronx was going to be a true comedy show with the two of them. Thurman would dish it out but what Thurman loved so much was that Diana would come right back at him and I have to admit that I laughed my ass off.
Thurman Munson loved and appreciated music. Once on the drive back with him and Diana I will never forget that a Paul McCartney song came on and Thurman got quiet. The song was called ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’
I was sitting in the back seat and remember just staring at them because they just looked so cool together.
The first few lines of the song went like this……
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time…
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you …
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you pulled me out of time and hung me on a line …
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you…
At that moment, Thurman and Diana had this long beautiful loving stare that made me feel uncomfortable because if I wasn’t there they may have pulled over so that he could have given her a kiss.
They were magic together and the fact that Diana is so loving and giving with the fans that love her husband so much has been a blessing. Let’s not forget that when her husband was alive Diana and her children had to share Thurman. It’s been thirty nine years since we lost him and the Munson family is still sharing him with the world.
I can only say ….thank you Diana Tracy, Kelly and Michael… because as Paul McCartney would say in the last line of that song …..I’m amazed with You!
Ray Negron’s stories can also be found on nysportsday.com, newsmax.com and baseballamerica.com
And he can be heard Saturday’s from 12-2pm on Impact ESPN 1050am