Archive for the ‘The Greatest Sports Town’ Category

A galaxy of baseball idols was scattered around the room at the Four Seasons Hotel Thursday night for the Thompson Foundation for Autism Dinner & Auction, which garnered $500 k.. Folk hero Mark McGwire chomped on a stick of Spearmint gum, while he greeted the throngs of fans surrounding him as though he was attending a homecoming at his alma mater, Damian High in LaVerne, CA. Shaking hands, signing baseballs, mugging for the photographers and acknowledging a bevy of swooning onlookers, McGwire was later required a posse to spirit him away to the dinner. Tony LaRussa was in obvious discomfort with what he described as “an infected eye,” while he greeted newly sworn-in Ladue Mayor and wine merchant Tony Bommarito.  More than $500k was raised through the dinner and auction at which Fayette, Missouri’s fourth generation banker, Jay Jacobs,  bought Albert Pujols’ bat.  Skipper Tony LaRussa’s six field box seats were purchased twice for $6,000 each.  A stay at the Three Forks Ranch was purchased for $7,000.  An offer to match a bid of $5,000 for the charity got hands up from four buyers. KMOX’s Charlie Brennan served as a standout host, while Bill Thompson, who founded the Thompson Center Center for Autism & Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders with his wife Nancy, presented Mike Keathley with its 2011 distinguished service award.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Barring any late-breaking news or major news development, Cards slugger Albert Pujols‘ profile will air on CBS’ “60 Minutes” this Sunday.  That’s the word according to KTRS mid-day man J.C. Corcoran as told to him by the show’s correspondent Bob Simon.  Said J.C.: “The piece is expected to show Pujols everywhere from his home here to the Dominican Republic.”  J.C. spoke with Simon recently in Jupiter.

Though Cardinal Nation is understandably fixated on the start of the baseball season, Sunday’s edition of The New York Times learned one Missourian’s pioneering role in another sport – basketball. It seems that in the 1930s, John Miller Cooper purportedly took the first jump shot ever at the collegiate level while playing at the University of Missouri. “My feet left the hardcourt surface and it felt good,” Cooper said before his death last year at the age of 98. “I knew I had discovered something.” (His coach, however, reportedly benched him and warned, “Don’t ever do that again!”)

Onward to Joey Borczewski’s hotspot Joey B’s on Hampton Avenue, where we met Philadelphia Eagle’s full back Clay Harbor and his bro, Mike. Signed in a draft for a four-year contract of $2.2 million, Clay explained, “We were just driving through St. Louis and had to come here.” The muscle-bound gridder, who once played football at Missouri
State, was awed by the massive crowd of actual youth who filled the restaurant/watering hole.

“Chip Rosenbloom is producing movies,” offered Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff about the heir to the late Georgia Frontiere. “And wait until next season. The Rams will do much better.”  Demoff was surrounded at lunch at Il Bel Lago at lunch with the team’s “partner” – Edward Jones exec Steve Clement, Michael O’Keefe and Rams director of partnerships, Susan Slemmer.

Cards slugger Jack Clark is launching his nightly baseball and sports show 10-11 nightly on KTRS 550 with co-host John Marecek. 101 ESPN has added baseball analysts Andy Van Slyke, Chris Duncan and Jason Simontacchi to its 6-7 p.m. slot, that begins Monday through the World Series. As part of KMOX Radio’s Sports Speakers Series, Clark, pitcher Danny Cox and left-hand receiver Ken Dayley will be on hand Tuesday night at Morton’s the Steak House at which guests can plunk down $100 each to meet the guys and have a steak dinner.

Diamond Box season ticket holders at Busch Stadium are in a snit over the latest message:  ”Please note that due to a lack of use over the past few seasons, the Cardinals will no longer be offering in-seat waiter and waitress service.  There will be additional vendors visiting the area to meet your in-seat concession needs.”

When you look at photos of downtown St. Louis on travel folders, you see a city of good feelings, where assorted beliefs and passions exist in delicate balance.  No tornado has shattered us, but the city is atilt all the time. If this Grand Duchy of a city ever had an Ambassador who commanded respect wherever he goes, it is Tony LaRussa. The Cardinals manager epitomizes what they call “a good guy”: decent, kindly, sensitive, dedicated and generous with the media. And so it was this week in Jupiter, where he tipped KTRS’ J.C. Corcoran that his book, “Three Nights in August,” may be adapted into a movie.  A fictionalized version of the book has been written and Billy Bob Thornton, who has the rights would play longtime pitching coach Dave Duncan.  As for who might be cast in the role as the Cardinal skipper, LaRussa joked, “Anybody but Danny DeVito!”  His pick is actor Paul Giamatti.