Posts Tagged ‘Tony LaRussa’

Julie and Will Mozeliak

The team that knows how. That’s the Cardinals all over. History might prove the team is more precise than the cryptic Phillies. “Who you for – the Cardinals or the Phillies?”, asked the daring columnist of the tailgaters on Tuesday at the risk of being beat up. “We just came from the pet blessing at Ste. Genevieve du Bois Church,” said charming Julie Mozelliak, wife of Cardinals vp and gm John Mozeliak. With her was their son, 6 year-old Will, who professed his ambition to be a player – not a manager. Then, a visit with beloved Fanny Sehollin the Red Bird Roost. It’s a tradition to pay homage

Fanny Seholl

to the 95 year-old who’s been flipping homemade hamburgers in both Busch Stadiums for 42 years. Retirement? “When the good Lord wants me to,” she said. No frozen hamburgers for Fanny, who enjoys preparing her own seasoning and uses fresh ground meat. She proudly exclaimed she grew up on Fourteenth and O’Fallon Streets and attended the St. Lawrence O’Toole School. Member of the Cardinal ownership, Fred Hanser, popped in to hug Fanny as did his wife, Kathy. Joining Kathy was Bill Wallaceof U.S. Vets St. Louis. He revealed a new home for homeless veterans will be

Fred Hanser, Fanny Seholl

established in an apartment building in St. John. The 12 homes in the nation are funded by various federal and HUD grants. “We are the largest provider for homeless vets in the country,” Wallace said. Meanwhile, remember that wonderful, long gone restaurant and cigar bar – Joseph’s Italian Cafe and Jo-Jo’s in Kirkwood? Joe Consolo and his family are about to bow a dinery in Naples, Florida, where he and his wife, Geri, now call home. Their daughter Tiffany, lives here with her husband Eric LaRocca, who was catching the game Tuesday with Tom Murphy – both with Weiss Insurance.
As I paradiddled my fingers on the keyboard

Kathy Hanser, Bill Wallace

on Wednesday, the thought occurred to me that when a telecaster says, “Well, things could be worse,” you know he has given up the search for something better. “Down but not out,” predicted a news reader. Others: “Are the Red Birds done?” “The comeback Cardinals,” “I hope I’m on a plane to Philly in the morning,” cheered Frank Cusumano on Channel 5. Meanwhile, can you just hear Tony LaRussa telling the team, “Hey, what’re you guys trying to do with old Tony?” As the curtain fell on the loss, fans revolted and sounded a little menacing, too. Good luck tonight to the Cardinals, the team that won’t

Tom Murphy and Eric La Rocca

give up!

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.

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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.

JIM LEYLAND AND RED SCHOENDIENST

Arizona Cardinals’ former chief Bill Bidwill has the onset of Alzheimer’s, according to Johnny Roland, who was on hand Sunday night at the Baseball Writers Association dinner and Tony LaRussa Roast at the Millenium Hotel.  Roland, a onetime running back with the team, predicted that Albert Pujols will sign. “He’ll take home field advantage, because of his love for St. Louis,” said Roland.  Turning to the Rams, Roland said, “(Stan) Kroenke will put his foot down now that the team is all screwed up.” During the cocktail reception preceding the awards dinner, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland told the columnist, “We need one pitcher and we’ll be ready to compete.”

JOHNNY ROLAND AND GRANDSON, ADAM

Leyland was one of the LaRussa roasters.  Celebrated artist Dan Martin was in a confab with the Cardinals PR/civic affairs pro Ron Watermon, who once dittoed for the late county exec Buzz Westfall. During the dinner, Pujols and Yadier Molina were presented Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.  The sporting goods manufacturer’s senior veep Michael Thompson said the firm has now created a new minus-3 collegiate bat and a football helmet with all-new padding and cooling systems.  With Cardinals and Blues exhibits already built in the Sports Hall of Fame at Scottrade Center, its founder Greg Marecek said a St. Louis Hawks basketball team exhibit is on the drawing boards. Another great feat chalked up for Marecek, who had sold KFNS radio for $11.5 million at the right time.  Here ‘n there were Lynn Broeg, widow of popular sports scribe Bob Broeg, the ultimate baseball writer Rick Hummel,

DAN MARTIN AND RON WATERMON

photog extraordinaire Bill Greenblatt, and no-nonsense St. Louis Police Sgt. Tony Aubuchon, who maintained peace among fans outside the ballroom.”There’s no one so fanatic as a rabid fan,” he confided.  Cardinal headliners were sequestered in a room off the dais, while Pujols remained up in his room, said Aubuchon.  Why not?  If our town ever had an ambassador who commanded respect, it’s Albert.  The gap he will leave behind in the skyline will be his monument. ‘Meantime, the big rumor sweeping the crowd was that only six guests for each of the 15 recipients of the Medal of Freedom, including our own Stan Musial,  will be invited by the White House for the event.

On television, Roy Blunt‘s newest ad blared, “My opponent is killing jobs!”, Bill Corrigan‘s pitch claimed,  ”. . .will stop the merger” and Tony La Russa, whose hair gets darker and darker, admirably plugged the Animal Rescue Foundation.  Suffering from San Andreas of the mind, the columnist was then poised for collecting items. The timing was exquisite.  Within one strip of south Lindbergh Boulevard, pickets from IBEW Local #1 held a sign in front of Chaminade College Prep, that read, “Shame on Chaminade,” in protest of the school’s hiring the non-union Birkel Electric for work on a new addition.  Pamphlets distributed implored parents to “ask for a 25 percent tuition discount ” to demand the same requirements as a result of paying less than area standards to the company.  Farther south, the free standing structure, that once housed Coco’s, has been under restoration for about a year to make room for Mike Fiala‘s newest Talayna’s pizzeria.  At Diane Breckenridge Barrett‘s interior design boutique, senior stylist Melissa Buckley was in the throes of pampering two luxury structures in China: one in Beijing; the other in Tang Shen, both designed by our town’s Lawrence Group.  Libby Storts, Diane’s daughter-in-law,  was selecting fabrics for the houses of Judy and Dennis Jones and Don and Suzanne Danforth.  (Libby’s hub is Brick Storts, IV, who is partnered in CIS Communications, owner of five cell towers.)  George Tompras and family’s Kreis Restaurant was being prepped for another night of frivolity, where the unique, hence, irreplaceable Jeanie and Dr. Don Bassman had been spotted holding hands over dinner. Over at Schneithorst’s the charming Patty Battram, widow of May Co.’s senior vice chairman Dick Battram,  entertained her sons, Jeffrey and Rick of Bella Homes, who had just completed remodeling her penthouse at the Crescent. At another table,  80 year-old tiger and Lashly Baer barrister Brainerd Latourette said he’s still doing part time volunteer duty at St. Luke’s. And, a few blocks away, Martha and Al Small were hailing the success of their grandson Zach Hyatt‘s cinching the sale of his and biz partner Jonny Umansky‘s pilot script, “Young Turks,” to NBC.  Zach is the son of Deborah and Mark Hyatt, and is a grad of Parkway Central High and Syracuse U.

The Cardinals flamed out Wednesday against the D-Backs, but Mike Shannon lit up the room hours later promoting the St. Louis Press Club‘s Media Person of the Year Dinner, September 29th at Lumen Private Event, the swelegant restored space in the Packard Loft Building at 22nd and Locust Streets. Press Club prez Dick Weiss reminisced with more than 100 in attendance about the Moon Man’s storied past. “Over eight seasons as a Cardinals player and nearly 40 as a broadcaster, Mike has made us feel like we are all part of the team,” Weiss said. “Through Mike’s call of the game, we share in a story that goes back generations and will continue on for many years.” For his part, Mike said he was particularly pleased that funds from the dinner would underwrite scholarships and internships for young journalists. “They are the future,” he told Press Club supporters. And, speaking of the future, Shannon pointed to KTRS radio’s sports host Mike Claiborne as an up-and-comer and, perhaps, the next Cardinals play-by-play man. Claiborne will be emcee at the Media Person of the Year dinner, which will also feature Joe Buck and Tony LaRussa. The gambol will be held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. Among those on hand for the Shannon do was Bob Fox of New Space and Build-A-Bear Workshop. Fox is orchestrating an auction on behalf of the Press Club in which 100 stuffed Fredbirds with Shannon’s autograph will be offered to those attending the dinner. Others on hand were: Harriet Blickenstaff of Blick & Staff Communications, Laura Hobson Bond of Fox 2, Martin Duggan of Donnybrook fame, Jeff Gordon, P-D online columnist, Susan Hegger and Mary Leonard of the St. Louis Beacon, florists Gail and Walter Knoll, Sr., Larry Levin of the Jewish Light, Diane and Paul Gallant, Webster U.’s Karen Luebert, Bill McClellan, McGraw Milhaven of KTRS, Steve Moore of KMOX, Tom Pagano of Fleishman-Hillard, Shannon’s sidekick in the booth John Rooney and Mary Swan of AmerenUE. For ducats or sponsorship of the Media Person of the Year event, call 636-230-1973.

Not everybody is on the same page regarding the City of St. Louis’s new indoor smoking ban. An emailed newsletter this week from Ald. Kacie Triplett, a co-sponsor of the city’s bill, mistakenly uses language from St. Louis County’s different law to explain what will happen in the city. . .Europe, Jasmin Redzic‘s club tucked away into a nifty former transformer building on 14th Street, seems to be getting a small facelift: a sign and an awning. Without them, you probably have to know where this gem of a nighspot is to find it. . .Staind singer/rocker Aaron Lewis has a bit of news for the baseball hot stove league. Lewis told rock music website Newscreep this week that he will be one of four participants in a reality TV show about hunting on the Outdoor Channel. Among his fellow competitors will be “JC Whitely, the bull-riding Iron Man” and a St. Louis Cardinal baseball player.” The columnist bets the Cards skipper Tony LaRussa, an avid animal rights activist, will not be tuning in. . . Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder, is telling tech types that his newest venture, @Square, will have offices in NYC and San Francisco (where Jack has homes) – and in St. Louis, where Dorsey already has a key to the city. . . Myron Kopperman is back from Florida and is in residence at Kopperman’s on the CWE. . . Tommy and Cissey Bahn celebrated the good times at Truffles over another sucessful year at their Cousin Hugo’s. . . And, a nice person from the Missouri Auditor’s office notes that her office, not the Secretary of State’s office, writes the fiscal notes that will be attached to initiatives that the Secretary of State will put on ballots. Everybody’s got a job.