As we write, Senator Chris Dodd (D-Ct.) is holding a press conference to announce he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Indications are it has been caught early. Early detection yields a 96-97% cure rate.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
A Day of Historic Proportions
The Tampa Bay Rays made history Thursday.
No, it wasn't just that they had Mark Buerhle throw a perfect game at them on the road in Chicago.
It was that they allowed us to partner with them to host our 2nd Annual free PSA screening at Tropicana Field at the same time.
Unlike last August 26th, when it was held outside, this was inside the stadium rotunda.
When the doors swung open at 7AM, there were approximately 75 men ready for their blood tests and digital rectal exams, courtesy of Zero, the Project to End Prostate Cancer and the heralded Moffitt Cancer Center.
When the doors to the screening closed at 3PM, we had tested 685 men, shattering this organization's record of 317 established with the Rays last year.
With waits of at least 90 minutes and frequently more than two hours, countless men were forced to leave the line to return to work while others showed up but turned around because of the line. The consensus was, had we not been overwhelmed, we easily would have screened upwards of 800 men.
Of those that were there, as they say at the beginning of "Law and Order," these are their stories.
There was Ron Yougman, who lost an uncle to prostate cancer.
The doctors found a lump inside Dave Miller and they told Jose Rivera he had to go straight to the hospital.
John Martinov heard my interview on The Fabulous Sports Babe's show late Wednesday morning and was inspired to attend.
Steve Simone came because he saw a story about the upcoming testing on Channel 10 in Tampa.
Jimmy Holland's son has an enlarged prostate. Dad accompanied his son.
Greg Laprete came even though he's only 34, well before the prostate cancer demographic of 40.
He's a commercial fisherman who has no insurance and only showed up because our screening was free.
Another young guy was Robert Delgado, age 32. His father, "never sick a day in his life" was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "He had no symptoms and told me to get down here."
Bruce Field thought he also better come. His grandfather, father and father's brother all were stricken with prostate cancer.
Walter Walker was there because his grandfather had prostate cancer.
Tracy Walters was in attendance after being laid off.
Aubrey Lynch's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer just two weeks ago. He has no health insurance and told me "this means the world to me."
Reynoldo Lopez came with three little kids in tow and a baby carriage for Julio. His wife, Monica, was holding tiny Julio, one month old, who just underwent heart surgery.
Dan Rushnock was there. His father and older brother had prostate cancer.
There was Ray Curley, Frank and Elizabeth Biscotto, John Beggins and Vince Walker, each former NYPD, Rod Skaggs, Tom Gianitsis and Roger Mogle all returning from last year, Pete Cuttie, Jimmy Pappas, Tom Shelton, Dave Carron, Chris Howard and Mike Martoushi.
And then there was Chuck Haynes.
He attended last year's event, standing in line with Rays' broadcaster, Todd Kalas, and took a PSA exam. His PSA was three. It had never been over three and he though he was home free.
On Thursday, he told me I encouraged him at that time to also take the digital exam since he was already there.
The results of that exam revealed prostate cancer.
In a very emotional conversation, he said, "Ed Randall, you saved my life."
Please help me welcome our new poster boy for Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure, Chuck Haynes.
You'll be seeing plenty of him shortly.
Words nearly fail me to adequately express what I fell in my heart, to thank all those whose efforts made this an event a\the success it was.
That includes Tom Hoof, Suzanne Murchland, Leslie Tieszen and Rich Herrera at the ballclub, Skip Lockwood at Zero, Mary Coffeen and Cody Northrup and the doctors and nurses at Moffitt.
It was our greatest day ever.
Until the next one.
A Day of Historic Proportions
The Tampa Bay Rays made history Thursday.
No, it wasn't just that they had Mark Buerhle throw a perfect game at them on the road in Chicago.
It was that they allowed us to partner with them to host our 2nd Annual free PSA screening at Tropicana Field at the same time.
Unlike last August 26th, when it was held outside, this was inside the stadium rotunda.
When the doors swung open at 7AM, there were approximately 75 men ready for their blood tests and digital rectal exams, courtesy of Zero, the Project to End Prostate Cancer and the heralded Moffitt Cancer Center.
When the doors to the screening closed at 3PM, we had tested 685 men, shattering this organization's record of 317 established with the Rays last year.
With waits of at least 90 minutes and frequently more than two hours, countless men were forced to leave the line to return to work while others showed up but turned around because of the line. The consensus was, had we not been overwhelmed, we easily would have screened upwards of 800 men.
Of those that were there, as they say at the beginning of "Law and Order," these are their stories.
There was Ron Yougman, who lost an uncle to prostate cancer.
The doctors found a lump inside Dave Miller and they told Jose Rivera he had to go straight to the hospital.
John Martinov heard my interview on The Fabulous Sports Babe's show late Wednesday morning and was inspired to attend.
Steve Simone came because he saw a story about the upcoming testing on Channel 10 in Tampa.
Jimmy Holland's son has an enlarged prostate. Dad accompanied his son.
Greg Laprete came even though he's only 34, well before the prostate cancer demographic of 40.
He's a commercial fisherman who has no insurance and only showed up because our screening was free.
Another young guy was Robert Delgado, age 32. His father, "never sick a day in his life" was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "He had no symptoms and told me to get down here."
Bruce Field thought he also better come. His grandfather, father and father's brother all were stricken with prostate cancer.
Walter Walker was there because his grandfather had prostate cancer.
Tracy Walters was in attendance after being laid off.
Aubrey Lynch's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer just two weeks ago. He has no health insurance and told me "this means the world to me."
Reynoldo Lopez came with three little kids in tow and a baby carriage for Julio. His wife, Monica, was holding tiny Julio, one month old, who just underwent heart surgery.
Dan Rushnock was there. His father and older brother had prostate cancer.
There was Ray Curley, Frank and Elizabeth Biscotto, John Beggins and Vince Walker, each former NYPD, Rod Skaggs, Tom Gianitsis and Roger Mogle all returning from last year, Pete Cuttie, Jimmy Pappas, Tom Shelton, Dave Carron, Chris Howard and Mike Martoushi.
And then there was Chuck Haynes.
He attended last year's event, standing in line with Rays' broadcaster, Todd Kalas, and took a PSA exam. His PSA was three. It had never been over three and he though he was home free.
On Thursday, he told me I encouraged him at that time to also take the digital exam since he was already there.
The results of that exam revealed prostate cancer.
In a very emotional conversation, he said, "Ed Randall, you saved my life."
Please help me welcome our new poster boy for Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure, Chuck Haynes.
You'll be seeing plenty of him shortly.
Words nearly fail me to adequately express what I fell in my heart, to thank all those whose efforts made this an event a\the success it was.
That includes Tom Hoof, Suzanne Murchland, Leslie Tieszen and Rich Herrera at the ballclub, Skip Lockwood at Zero, Mary Coffeen and Cody Northrup and the doctors and nurses at Moffitt.
It was our greatest day ever.
Until the next one.
No, it wasn't just that they had Mark Buerhle throw a perfect game at them on the road in Chicago.
It was that they allowed us to partner with them to host our 2nd Annual free PSA screening at Tropicana Field at the same time.
Unlike last August 26th, when it was held outside, this was inside the stadium rotunda.
When the doors swung open at 7AM, there were approximately 75 men ready for their blood tests and digital rectal exams, courtesy of Zero, the Project to End Prostate Cancer and the heralded Moffitt Cancer Center.
When the doors to the screening closed at 3PM, we had tested 685 men, shattering this organization's record of 317 established with the Rays last year.
With waits of at least 90 minutes and frequently more than two hours, countless men were forced to leave the line to return to work while others showed up but turned around because of the line. The consensus was, had we not been overwhelmed, we easily would have screened upwards of 800 men.
Of those that were there, as they say at the beginning of "Law and Order," these are their stories.
There was Ron Yougman, who lost an uncle to prostate cancer.
The doctors found a lump inside Dave Miller and they told Jose Rivera he had to go straight to the hospital.
John Martinov heard my interview on The Fabulous Sports Babe's show late Wednesday morning and was inspired to attend.
Steve Simone came because he saw a story about the upcoming testing on Channel 10 in Tampa.
Jimmy Holland's son has an enlarged prostate. Dad accompanied his son.
Greg Laprete came even though he's only 34, well before the prostate cancer demographic of 40.
He's a commercial fisherman who has no insurance and only showed up because our screening was free.
Another young guy was Robert Delgado, age 32. His father, "never sick a day in his life" was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "He had no symptoms and told me to get down here."
Bruce Field thought he also better come. His grandfather, father and father's brother all were stricken with prostate cancer.
Walter Walker was there because his grandfather had prostate cancer.
Tracy Walters was in attendance after being laid off.
Aubrey Lynch's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer just two weeks ago. He has no health insurance and told me "this means the world to me."
Reynoldo Lopez came with three little kids in tow and a baby carriage for Julio. His wife, Monica, was holding tiny Julio, one month old, who just underwent heart surgery.
Dan Rushnock was there. His father and older brother had prostate cancer.
There was Ray Curley, Frank and Elizabeth Biscotto, John Beggins and Vince Walker, each former NYPD, Rod Skaggs, Tom Gianitsis and Roger Mogle all returning from last year, Pete Cuttie, Jimmy Pappas, Tom Shelton, Dave Carron, Chris Howard and Mike Martoushi.
And then there was Chuck Haynes.
He attended last year's event, standing in line with Rays' broadcaster, Todd Kalas, and took a PSA exam. His PSA was three. It had never been over three and he though he was home free.
On Thursday, he told me I encouraged him at that time to also take the digital exam since he was already there.
The results of that exam revealed prostate cancer.
In a very emotional conversation, he said, "Ed Randall, you saved my life."
Please help me welcome our new poster boy for Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure, Chuck Haynes.
You'll be seeing plenty of him shortly.
Words nearly fail me to adequately express what I fell in my heart, to thank all those whose efforts made this an event a\the success it was.
That includes Tom Hoof, Suzanne Murchland, Leslie Tieszen and Rich Herrera at the ballclub, Skip Lockwood at Zero, Mary Coffeen and Cody Northrup and the doctors and nurses at Moffitt.
It was our greatest day ever.
Until the next one.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Hudson Valley Renegades
Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure is pleased to announce that, in association with the Integrated Medical Foundation, we will be offering a free PSA screening with the Hudson Valley Renegades, Tampa Bay's entry in the New York-Penn League, on the day of our Prostate Cancer Awareness Night, August 20th.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
All-Star Memories
--Covered the first of approximately 14 All Star Games in a row in 1985 in Minnesota. Have only
one memory of it: walking over, WHILE HE WAS HITTING FUNGOES from the batting circle on
the first base side, and saying hi to Sandy Koufax, the left hand of God. What nerve!
--Fernando Valenzuela striking out six in a row in 1986 in Houston. Clemens vs. Gooden.
--Bo Jackson's home run off Rick Reuschel in Anaheim in 1989 flew past me in the upper deck.
As the players say, he got it all.
--The rain-delay at Wrigley Field in 1990 and CBS cutting away to air "Emergency 911."
--Beloved Nora, my World Record mom, passed away the day after we arrived in Baltimore for the
1993 game. Given my life's work, appropriate that it would be on a baseball trip.
--Tony Gwynn's game-ending rumble in 1994 from first base in the bottom of the 9th as he ran as
fast as he could past third base coach Jim Leyland to score the winning run on Moises Alou's
double. One month later, the strike of all strikes.
--Game-time temperature in Texas in 1995: 96 degrees, won, fortunately by the National League.
--Batting practice in Denver with Mark McGuire at the peak of his power. Just imagine. And
Lasorda went flying in the third base coach's box. Met and interviewed Tim Russert for the first
time.
--Tears in 1999 at Boston as Ted Williams was surrounded in front of the mound by both All-Star
teams and B-52s flew above. I will never forget this night.
--Just being in the press box at Yankee Stadium last year for all the living Hall of Famers AND
STANDING FOR 15 INNINGS (slept well).
--Memories from TV as a kid: Johnny Callison in 1964, the All-Star Game in the new stadium in
St. Louis in the stifling heat in 1966, moving the visiting Casey Stengel to say in his inimitable
way, "It holds the heat real well," Pete Rose and Ray Fosse in the first night game in 1970, the
six future Hall of Famers homering--including Reggie's--in 1971, the pre-game throwing contest
from right field in Yankee Stadium in 1977 with Dave Winfield, Dave Parker and Ellis Valentine
and the ovation for the returning Seaver, Parker's throw to Gary Carter from right field in Seattle in 1979, how Willie Randolph's error tagged my friend, Ed Farmer of the White Sox, with the
loss at LA in 1980, the 1981 game on an August Sunday night in Cleveland that welcomed back
baseball after the 50-day strike left a hole in the season, rookie Dwight Gooden throwing to future
batterymate Gary Carter in San Fran in 1984.
That's all.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Big coup to open ED RANDALL'S TALKING BASEBALL this morning on WFAN-Radio with a appearance by the newest New York Met, outfielder Jeff Francoeur. I first interviewed Jeff in September, 2005, two months after his ascendency to the majors. That relationship enabled this morning's spot on the radio.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports TV and foxsports.com called the Seattle Mariners the biggest surprise in baseball's first half with San Francisco--who would qualify as the National League wild card team if the season ended now--right behind.
Biggest disappointment? "Cubs, Cubs, Cubs."
Dusty Baker lost Josh Hamilton and his team-leading 18 home runs to a serious wrist injury sustained in New York Saturday night. The MRI was to be conducted in Cincinnati today.
The Reds have had their starting eight intact for just 10 games this season. "Some teams get publicity about that sort of thing (read: Mets) and some don't."
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