** Our hero will live forever – but the gift of life has its terms. He can never leave the island of Manhattan **

The spring and summer months are the time of year when people seem to do much more reading. If you are looking for an intriguing novel and love New York City, I strongly recommend you pick up the classic, “Forever” by Pete Hamill. It is a magical epic tale about an extraordinary man, Cormac Samuel O’Connor, who arrives in New York City in 1740 and remains...forever. This haunting story is a mixture of the supernatural, love and historical fiction, deeply rooted in the heart of the Great Metropolis, and speaks to the mysteries of the human condition.

Pete Hamill is an acclaimed journalist, best-selling novelist, and essayist, who during the course of his illustrious career served as the editor-in-chief of the New York Post and later, the New York Daily News. For many, Hamill is the living embodiment of New York City, one who has chronicled the life of New Yorkers, arguably more than anyone of his generation.

Mr. Hamill was a major influence in my decision to pursue a writing career. I have had the good fortune to know Pete Hamill since 2004 and interviewed him on many occasions concerning a number of his fiction and nonfiction works.

This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of “Forever” since it was published by Little, Brown in 2003.

***********************************************************************************

Below is my [December 26, 2002] book review of this critically acclaimed novel that has become an international classic best-seller:

                                               *** “Forever” – Reviewed by John Esposito ***
​
Born and raised in the 18th century Ulster countryside, the young Irish lad could not have received a more idyllic childhood from his devoted parents. It is precisely why, at age sixteen, he has bid farewell to his beloved homeland and is riding feverishly astride the galloping Thunder, in quest of the city of Galway where a departing ship will transport him to the west.

The year is 1740 and our hero is embarking on a fateful journey from Northern Ireland to the settlement known as New York. His immediate mission in the colony is to avenge the death of his parents who perished at the hands of the treacherous British nobleman, the Earl of Warren. It is here the young immigrant will also become the recipient of a most rare and precious gift – eternal life.

This novel unfolds as an enchanting, epic tale of Cormac Samuel O’Connor, a boy-man determined to honor the code of his ancestors and who will later be granted immortality after saving the life of Kongo, an African slave with magical powers that he befriends on the voyage to America. Cormac will live forever – but as the shaman cautions, “Even the gift of life has its terms. Its rules.” The condition is this – that he never leave the island of Manhattan. To do so would mean death and banishment forever from the Otherworld. While immortality bestows many blessings, the young protagonist will discover this magical gift delivers its share of loneliness and loss in a life that will not end.

This is a fascinating story that spans more than 250 years of human history with New York City as its lead character. In many respects it is equal parts historical novel and pure fantasy. It is also very much the story of the forever life and times of Cormac O’Connor. Through his ever-observant eyes we witness the violence, rebellion and disease that define New York’s early years and watch it slowly evolve into one of the greatest cities of the 21st century. Recognizing his gift of life requires that he “truly live”, Cormac assumes the customs and nuances that define each generation’s culture and becomes an eyewitness to all of Gotham’s major historical periods.

He is a craftsman in the truest sense and establishes himself over time as a blacksmith, printer, newspaperman, painter and musician. He is very much an activist and teetotaler with an affinity for languages. If many of these traits seem to suggest the alter ego of a living, breathing real New Yorker, who is also quite proud of his Irish heritage, you might suspect it is none other than the celebrated author of this magnificent 608-page tome.

Pete Hamill has been an acclaimed journalist for more than forty years. Although he has written on a variety of diverse subjects, his name is most synonymous with the city where he continues to perfect his craft. He is a modern-day O. Henry, the quintessential New York writer of our generation.

With Forever, his ninth and latest novel, Mr. Hamill has produced his long-awaited masterpiece, a fitting triumphant work of fiction. The prose is masterful in capturing the extraordinary range of people, experiences, events and emotions that marks essential moments in the city.

Mr. Hamill clearly demonstrates that he is a student of New York history, inserting his wealth of knowledge into Cormac’s time travels. We see him working at a printing press and taking up with a young, indentured Irish servant. He becomes an advocate for emancipation during the New York slave uprising of 1741. He fights the Redcoats during the American Revolution and is wounded in the Battle of Brooklyn. He is present during the Draft Riots, forms a friendship with the infamous Tammany Hall leader, Boss Tweed, witnesses the stock market crash, and needless to say, the tragic events at the World Trade Center.

We listen along with Cormac to the music of the ages: from Irish flutes to pulsating African drums and Latin rhythms, while overriding sounds of jazz and blues convey a sad message of isolation and loneliness. The centuries do not pass without Cormac experiencing a series of temporary relationships, which are just that. These friendships can never be fully realized, as his secret would come to bear in just a few short years. It becomes apparent to the jaded Irishman that immortality brings one intolerable truth: everyone you love will die.

Cormac must seek out the “dark-skinned woman” foretold in the prophecy if he is ever to escape his fate. As the bright, sunny morning of September 11th begins, the mystery lady “adorned with spirals” is only a short distance away. And as Cormac Samuel O’Connor will discover, forever is a very, very long time.

                        * THE RESURGENCE OF BOOKSTORES AND BOOKS IN-PRINT *

                                    LOCAL BOOKSTORES RECLAIM THEIR GROUND 
                                    BOOKS-IN-PRINT RULE WITH HIGH VOLUME SALES 
                                    E-BOOK SALES PLUNGE

                 A Renaissance is here but with room for all mediums of communication

***********************************************************************************
Many years ago, a street-smart guy that I knew from work offered me a memorable pearl of wisdom. During lunch at a greasy spoon near our office, we became engrossed in a deep conversation. Our discussion covered a myriad of topics. At one point, he leaned across the table and without hesitation, said in a gravelly voice made worse by his three-pack-a-day habit, “This world is a big place, man. There’s plenty of room here for everybody.”

Although not quite profound, his words have remained with me while the man has since passed away. I guess my coworker’s take on our world can be applied to almost any aspect of society, not the least of which is the way we do our reading and the medium we choose to gain and acquire knowledge and stay informed.

Let me explain where I’m going with this. The most recent data complied within the last two years reveals a steady decline in the sales of the once heralded new technology, e-books. This has been followed with a return in popularity and high-volume sales of the old-fashioned books-in-print.

We are also witnessing a major resurgence of local independent bookstores in big cities like New York. And there is no reason why this renaissance will not soon take hold throughout all of the United States. So much for the dire fate that was predicted for brick-and-mortar bookstores twenty years ago in the blockbuster film, “You’ve Got Mail,” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

https://www.nytimes.com/…/shakespeare-and-company-is-coming…

CNN reported on April 27, 2017 that e-book sales declined 18.7% in the United States over the first nine months of 2016, according to the Association of American Publishers. Paperback sales were up 7.5% over the same period, and hardback sales increased 4.1%. Likewise, sales of consumer e-books plunged 17% in the U.K. in 2016, according to the Publishers Association. Sales of physical books and journals went up by 7% over the same period, while children's books surged 16%. According to the Pew Research Center, 65% of Americans reported reading a printed book in 2016 compared to only 28% who read an e-book.

http://money.cnn.com/…/m…/ebooks-sales-real-books/index.html

Don’t misunderstand. I believe Amazon’s online services are terrific, (although surprisingly, they too, have now gone ahead and opened physical stores of their own); and Kindle and Nook e-readers certainly serve a purpose for many book lovers, but there is no reason why the electronic medium that sells and delivers books cannot coexist with the tried and true physicality of books-in-print and brick and mortar establishments.

As that wise man once said to me, “This world is a big place, man. There’s plenty of room here for everybody.”

                                          THE SLOW DEATH OF NEWSPAPERS-IN-PRINT

Now as to another matter.

The unprecedented decline of the newspaper industry and the demise of the printed newspaper is unfortunately, another matter entirely and presents itself as an institution which does not appear salvageable. The real shame with much online journalism featured on social media as blogs, is that they do not equate to real journalism and many of the bloggers who churn these out are not real journalists. The fact is many of these online contributors are not even being paid for their efforts.

This is coupled with another essential missing ingredient needed to make stories effective - the need for seasoned editors. An editor’s job is to demonstrate a commitment to accuracy, fairness and a comprehensive account of events that presents all sides of a story and build credibility and trust among its readers. This is sorely missing. As print journalism continues to move to an all- electronic format, qualified editors are essential to take the lead and create new standards for news websites and internet reporting. Effective editors invest time in reporters, talking through story ideas and flushing out unique story angles. When a story requires significant editing, they review changes with reporters so they can learn and grow professionally.

Time will be the clear indicator whether the electronic medium will present honest reporting and provide real journalism to its readers.

I have great admiration for Rod Serling. He was an extraordinary person, and a literary genius who reached the pinnacle of success, as creator and main writer of the classic television series, "The Twilight Zone." In the years since the original broadcasts aired in prime-time, his stature has elevated to that of a true American icon.

Rod Serling wrote the vast majority of the "Twilight Zone" scripts. He was a visionary whose creative stories spoke of humanity, sympathy for the downtrodden, and the absolute need for tolerance against the social evils of prejudice, racism, and bigotry. He wrote about urban alienation and the atrocities that come with war. His writings also explored such human conditions as depression and mental disorders that can lead people to acts of utter destruction and commit suicide. His intelligent discourse on these very subjects was brilliantly camouflaged through the guise of different genres: fantasy, suspense, horror, science-fiction, superstition, drama, light comedy, and psychological thrillers. This was successfully accomplished to appease the program's sponsors ongoing fears of offending and potentially losing their all-important, dearly coveted product base with the buying public. His masterful application of richly layered dialogue sailed 'over the heads' of most sponsors and avoided a number of potential censorship issues.

Serling's work was especially significant during the middle period of the last century because many of his story lines went far beyond the conventional bounds of popular culture. "The Twilight Zone" was therefore able to prosper during the years of conservative prime-time programming that dominated television in the early 1960s when the series aired.

Many of "The Twilight Zone" episodes also served as morality tales, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist. Others contained elements of real nostalgia, where his characters seek to relive the earlier and supposedly happier times and places in their lives. Some of the tales were actually based on Serling's fond recollections from his own childhood and early adult life while living in Binghamton, NY.

The intelligent use of language that permeated all of Rod Serling's fine work served as the essential cornerstone for his magnificent career. This included his early acclaimed writing for 'live' television in the mid-1950s; the subsequent classic "Twilight Zone" years from 1959 to 1964; as a respected Hollywood screenwriter for major motion pictures; and later, the "Night Gallery" television series from 1969 to 1973. All his writing projects have held up immeasurably well in the ensuing years. Serling's incredible body of work is a testament to his outstanding skills as one of the most successfully prolific writers of the twentieth century.

Rod Serling was a remarkable individual, a family man, a workaholic, very much admired by
industry peers and his multitude of fans throughout the world. This has perpetuated into an amazing legacy, which continues to grow and flourish. Serling died much too young at the age of 50 in 1975. As is the case with the classic works of so many great writers and artists, "The Twilight Zone" has outlived its creator and continues to inspire us today and will continue to do so for generations to come.

**********************************************

For my Blog readers who are “Rod Serling” or “Twilight Zone” devotees, here is my personal DVD and book suggestions that you may wish to check out at your local library or purchase for your own collection:

DVDs:

• “The Twilight Zone – The Complete Definitive Collection – 28-DVD Set” (2006) - EXCELLENT!

Twilight Zone Books:

• “The Twilight Zone Companion – Second Edition” – Author: Marc Scott Zicree – Paperback (1992)
• “The Twilight Zone Encyclopedia” – Author: Steven Jay Rubin – Paperback (2017)
• “Dimensions Behind The Twilight Zone” – Author: Stewart T. Stanyard (2007) – Paperback 
• “Rod Serling Stories from The Twilight Zone” (Collection) – Paperback – (Original Publication: 1960) 
• “Rod Serling More Stories from The Twilight Zone” (Collection) – Paperback – (Original Publication: 1961) 
• “Rod Serling New Stories from The Twilight Zone” (Collection) – Paperback – (Original Publication: 1962)

Rod Serling Books:

• “The Rise and Twilight of Television’s Last Angry Man” – Author: Gordon F. Sander – Hardcover and Paperback
• “As I Knew Him, My Dad, Rod Serling” – Author: Anne Serling – Hardcover and Paperback (2013/2014)

Note: I have purposely not included any DVDs pertaining to the following: Rod Serling’s celebrated ‘live’ television writing credits (mid-1950s); the “Night Gallery” television series (1969-1973), which he contributed a number of scripts, but did not have the same control of content and tone as he had on “The Twilight Zone” series; the major film writing credits for motion pictures in later years; and television documentaries, which he aptly served as the narrator with that unmistakable voice.

My intention here was to confine this discussion to Rod Serling, a visionary man, his universal appeal, and to honor his most famous creation, "The Twilight Zone." Most all of Serling's other superb television and motion picture writing credits are also available on DVD and discussed in the two Serling books which I have listed above by Gordon F. Sander, and Serling's daughter, Anne Serling. 

Bob Dylan has received the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Literature. It is a well-deserved honor.

Back in the early days, there was much disagreement and confusion about Dylan's merits as a singer. Once people got past his unusual voice did an appreciation develop for all the gifts he had to offer. His lyrics in song made us think in ways we never did before.   

In a recent interview, he discussed singing the great standards from the 1940s and 1950s and had this to say: "These songs are songs of great virtue. That’s what they are. People’s lives today are filled with vice and the trappings of it. Ambition, greed and selfishness all have to do with vice. Sooner or later, you have to see through it or you don’t survive. We don’t see the people that vice destroys. We just see the glamour of it — everywhere we look, from billboard signs to movies, to newspapers, to magazines. We see the destruction of human life. These songs are anything but that."

Dylan's perceptive commentary is but one example why the street corner troubadour is a living legend whose words and music continue to dazzle and enrich us. 

Congratulations, Bob, our new Nobel laureate! Thanks for speaking directly to our generation and the generations yet to come. I'm happy to be living in your time.

​Has Football Reached its Peak?

The blog commentary that follows reflects my view after reading a Bloomberg View article (October 12, 2016), the subsequent New York Post reprint of the article (October 15, 2016), and a relevant Grantland article (February 13, 2012), which all ask the question: Are sinking football viewer ratings indicative the sport has now "peaked?" I believe that football has definitely reached its pinnacle, but by no means is the game in a serious state of decline.
​
[The complete Bloomberg View, New York Post and Grantland articles can be viewed by clicking on the specific downloads above.]

​I read Stephen L. Carter’s compelling article, NFL’s Video Ban Won’t Slow Its Ratings Tailspin, originally published in Bloomberg View (October 12, 2016); and subsequently reprinted in the New York Post as “Behind the NFL’s Sinking Ratings: Have We Reached ‘Peak Football? (October 15, 2016) with considerable interest. The acclaimed Yale law professor, Bloomberg View columnist and best-selling novelist begins by expressing three possible reasons why there has been a recent drop in football’s viewership ratings: interest in this year’s presidential campaign; the “Kaepernick effect;” and the prohibition of NFL teams from posting video to social media during games. It is conceivable all three may have contributed to the game’s lower ratings, but in my estimation, only to a small degree.

My own theory for the ratings dip, however, is completely in line with Mr. Carter’s latter comments where he discusses medical evidence uncovered in the last several years concerning concussions and brain damage as a result of playing this increasingly dangerous sport. I concur with the article by the economists, Kevin Grier and Tyler Cowen, published in Grantland, What Would the End of Football Look Like (February 13, 2012), asserting that football has peaked. The most reasonable explanation for the significant viewer drop off is related to the serious concern about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the NFL’s earlier refusal to admit that the brain injuries suffered by many players were attributable to violence in the sport. It has come to the forefront that not only linemen are developing these permanent cognitive disabilities, but also quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. Furthermore, they are being diagnosed in high school and college athletes. It is no wonder that parents are worried and participation in high school football has fallen.​

The more unsettling issue is the fact that CTE cannot be diagnosed in athletes while they are living. Autopsies have been performed on the brains of deceased players with the permission of family members. The results have revealed that in the majority of cases where CTE was suspected, the deceased players were, in fact, found to have been suffering from CTE. The current projections are that it may take more than ten years before scientists can formulate a medical diagnosis of CTE while the player is alive.

I believe that professional football as we know it today, has finally reached its pinnacle. In the same respect, this is not an insinuation that the sport is in decline and its time has passed. Far from it. The game of football has been woven into the American fabric and consciousness like no other sport since major league baseball reigned supreme during the first half of the twentieth century. Let us also recognize an extremely important dynamic. Football is a cash cow for the National Football League and the future of the sport will be protected at all costs.

Although diehard baseball fans do not wish to admit it, baseball is our national pastime in name only. I can recollect those bleak days in the nineteen-seventies when so many fans complained about the slowness of baseball and how the game needed to be speeded up. It was a time when pitchers dominated the hitters, batting averages and home runs dipped, pitching mounds were lowered, stopwatches were employed to demonstrate the insane number of seconds that eclipsed between pitches, and team owners ordered that the fences in their ballparks be moved in, all in an effort to assist the batter and liven the game. This, of course, occurred a number of years before the steroid age assaulted so many cherished records.

Baseball has continued to retain a certain sentimental quality because it is probably the first sport many of us learned to play as children, and that sense of fondly recalling our youth remains. And it is perhaps the one athletic endeavor that people can reasonably attempt to play from ages 5 to 95. The game also exhibits a kind of nurturing where parents and grandparents can bond with their offspring in the backyard without seriously injuring themselves. While considering all the pleasantries associated with this sport, the reality is that the recent upswing in Major League Baseball’s popularity attributed to this year’s exciting post-season is a mere blip on the radar screen. The bigger picture is that baseball is much less physical and adventurous to the spectator's eye than most sports today. This is only heightened by the increasing speed and almost daily advancements in technology. To be blunt, the game has been under siege for the greater part of thirty years as simply b-o-r-i-n-g.

Baseball’s slow decline ushered in the upheaval period where football was crowned king and proudly continues to hold on to the title. Since the advent of the Super Bowl followed by the early days of Monday Night Football with Cosell, Meredith and Gifford, professional football has enjoyed a flight of astronomical proportions. Sunday NFL football has become more of an “event” and a reason to socially gather with family and friends in living rooms, bars and at tailgate parties. And until the NFL cover up surfaced, opening a floodgate and bringing CTE into the headlines, it seemed that there would be no end to its meteoric rise. Now I am not too certain. 

In fairness, the NFL is now making considerable efforts to address the concerns of the public and insure the game is “safer” for its players. The question is whether they can really make it that much safer given the athletes today are bigger, stronger, and faster. These qualities, in themselves, would reasonably equate to a more aggressive and menacing physical contact and ultimately a more violent game. My wife, who loves to watch football as much as I do, has repeatedly remarked that she has never seen so many time-outs with athletes lying on the field due to serious year-ending injuries.

Has it now come down to a moral question? Is football unsafe to play on any level? Retired professional athletes like the New York Giants Hall of Fame great, Harry Carson, believe the game is unsafe. Mr. Carson has publicly stated that he would not want his grandchildren to play football in the way it has evolved today. Harry Carson was a strong, tough and gifted athlete. He does not have to take a back seat to anyone, but he demonstrates honesty and concern for the health of young people and their eventual quality of life after retirement.

Let’s face it. Football is here to stay. It’s not going anywhere. Anyone who calls to abolish it, is only kidding themselves. For years, there were calls to abolish boxing after fighters died in the ring. Howard Cosell gave up doing ring commentary because of the brutality. And as we all know, boxing is still around although clearly no longer in its heyday. Football amounts to a form of present day gladiator fighting. It is one of our most popular types of recreational entertainment and sports fans love it! As my brother-in-law, Guy, once remarked to me, if the players weren’t wearing those brightly colored padded uniforms and shiny helmets, would there still be the same appeal to watching football? In all probability, the answer would be no. 

As a freelance journalist, I attended the Forum on Law Culture & Society panel discussion at the 92nd Street Y on February 2, 2016 in New York City. The topic of discussion was the mass tort civil litigation NFL concussion settlement recently approved by the Federal judge. The panelists included the renowned trial attorney, Arthur Miller; the plaintiffs’ attorney for the Class Action lawsuit against the NFL, Christopher Seeger; the ESPN investigative reporter, Mark Fainaru-Wada; and the aforementioned Mr. Carson. The only party missing from the panel discussion, and not surprisingly, was a representative from the NFL.

Near the conclusion of the discussion there was a Q. and A. segment. The final question to the panel was my submission, which was read by the moderator, law professor, novelist and essayist, Thane Rosenbaum. It was addressed by Mr. Fainaru-Wada, who along with his brother, Steve Fainaru, wrote the groundbreaking best-seller, League of Denial. My question, plain and simple, was: “Do you believe football has finally peaked and while asserting it is not yet in decline, has it seen its best days? To which he responded: “There’s no sign … It’s hard to imagine that it has really peaked.” He cited how the sport has turned itself into a total spectacle and a media frenzy. He stated football is now a $10-billion-dollar industry, with a goal by the NFL to reach $25-billion within the next ten years.

I must disagree with Mr. Fainaru-Wada’s opinion that football has not yet peaked. I believe that the sport has definitely reached its pinnacle, but by no means is football in a serious state of decline. Of course, only time will tell. Something much better will have to come along to take its place, that’s for certain. But as we all know, very few things last forever. 

The following are three of my favorite quotes that provide some mental stimulus for all of us to heed.

Pete Hamill (journalist):
"Accusations are not arrests. Arrests are not indictments. Indictments are not convictions."

African proverb (used in speeches and songs by everyone from politicians to rock singers):
"If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together."

Gene (a former coworker during lunch at a local greasy spoon many years ago):
"This world is a big place, man. There's plenty of room here for everybody."  

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra, an American icon for the ages, passed away on Tuesday. So strong was his public persona that immediately following social media's reporting his death came a massive outpouring of grief and heartfelt expressions of love that has continued each day since. We should all now take the time to reflect on his great accomplishments and celebrate the ninety extraordinary years of this wonderful man's life. His magical nickname, Yogi, is arguably the most famous and recognizable moniker on the entire planet, with the possible exception of George Herman "Babe" Ruth. And for many baseball fans from my generation, Yogi was one of the first ball players' names we learned as youngsters.  

I had the privilege of meeting Yogi in the early 1980s at the annual Sports Night Dinner held at Mayfair Farms, in West Orange, NJ. He was standing alone near the back of the room when I approached him. We spoke for only about five minutes. He was cordial and gracious. The only part of our conversation that I remember was asking him whether the train travel early in his career and later, those many plane flights from city to city, ever got to him. His answer was immediate. "Never, I loved it all." I really wasn't surprised by the response. And as the years passed and his managing and coaching days finally ended, the abundant energy from those earlier days never ceased. He could not wait each year to hop a plane for the Yankees spring training camp in Florida and be part of the action. Whenever asked, he was only too happy to participate in the myriad of baseball excursions and charitable events. This remained a major staple of his regular lifestyle until traveling was no longer an option. And there was something else I recall from that evening. While we were speaking, a gentleman presumably in his early sixties approached us and asked Yogi if he remembered the type of pitch he hit for a home run in the third inning of a day game against the White Sox, at Yankee Stadium in the mid-1950s. Unbelievable, I thought to myself. Is this guy kidding? How could he ever expect Yogi to remember such specific stats from a non-championship game that took place some thirty years earlier. But sure enough, Yogi told the man he did remember the game, AND the pitcher's name, AND the type of pitch he hit out of the park. Whether he was just being polite or really did recall that game I won't speculate, but his warm-hearted response in answering the question, (one of the many obscure type questions he was certainly asked through the years), made the man's eyes glisten with joy. This is but one of many sides to his professional career and personal life that demonstrates how happy he made people feel, and just how considerate and approachable a man he was, to both sport fans and non-sport fans alike.
               
Yogi Berra was a magnificent athlete and Hall of Fame catcher who will be remembered for as long as the game of baseball is played. He received the American League's Most Valuable Player Award three times. He won ten World Series with the Bronx Bombers and played in seventy-five World Series games. Both marks are all-time records. More importantly, he will be remembered as a kind, sincere, and humble person, a great American, a patriot who served his country well, and one who placed God and family first in his life. Yogi always exhibited a warm and welcoming presence that touched our lives. It registered with us whether we had the good fortune of meeting him in-person or simply watching him for all those years on television. Never has a bad word been uttered about the man and no negativity attached to him. There are few among us who can make the same claim. Number 8 was the real deal. 

Yogi Berra is a true folk hero, loved and admired by his entire family, many friends, teammates, and countless millions the world over. It must have been a wonderful celebration when his beloved Carmen, parents, and siblings greeted him at the pearly gates. And by now, Yogi is probably talkin' baseball with Casey, Joe D., Phil, Hank, Mickey, Billy, Elston, Moose and all his former Yankee buddies. Proud to be a New York Yankee. What a party indeed!    

Thanks, Yogi, for so many wonderful memories, and an incredible life well lived. You are an inspiration to us all. God bless you. Rest in Peace.      

Many years ago, a street-smart guy that I was good friends with from work offered me a memorable pearl of wisdom. During an extended lunch break at a local greasy spoon near our office, we became engrossed in a deep discussion. The conversation we were having centered on a myriad of topics, including the rights of individuals, and how the human condition can correlate with truth, freedom and lead to important changes in our society. I believe the essence of what he communicated to me that afternoon deserves repeating today. In a gravelly, hoarse voice made worse by cigarettes, he simply leaned across the table and said without hesitation, "This world is a big place, man. There's plenty of room here for everybody."

Although not unduly profound, those two concise sentences have remained with me over the years, especially in the context of mounting civil disorder and political unrest that persists in a number of cities across the United States. While we are all seeking answers to the significant problems facing our country, many people fail to recognize what it truly means to be free and how real freedom works to resolve conflict and bring solutions to so many issues in our lives. 

I would like to advance my old friend's words with some subjective commentary. Freedom and change are attainable, but only through an orderly process of adhering to society's rules using sound reasoning and judgment, and not by presenting unrealistic makeshift points lacking in substance. Conversely, this is not meant to suggest that we adopt a laissez-faire attitude, or stick our head in the sand, ignore wrongs, not address injustices, and forfeit demands for change when they are warranted. People can certainly agree to disagree on a host of issues, but a crucial first step in addressing the problem is to live and abide by the established rules and respect the system of authority that is in place, while always striving to improve upon it. We must also maintain a willingness to accept the differences among people and recognize there are those who do not look, think, and act like we do. It is imperative that we work together to achieve a common ground for the common good. Our survival as a free nation depends upon it. 

The ultimate method for influencing others, affecting positive change, finding the truth and establishing real freedom is by listening and digesting what others bring to the table, especially those whose voices are much different than our own. This is how solutions are found and problems are eventually solved. At the same time, individuals articulating a personal viewpoint, whatever it may be, must recognize their assertion will be weighed under the auspices of a higher authority, where order prevails and rules are enforceable. Without order in society there can be no real freedom, only chaos and anarchy. A wise man once said, "Who is actually more free, a fish in the water or a fish out of the water? And which is more free, a train traveling on the tracks or a train traveling off the tracks?" 

Peace.    

The Times They Are A-Changin’ - Back in 1964 and 1965, who besides Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra were more polar opposites in defining America’s generation gap and pop culture, especially with respect to the music and dress of the times? Dylan, whether he sought this distinction or not, was certainly viewed as one of the leading kingpins of the anti-establishment movement by nature of his protest songs, cryptic lyrics, long hair and unusual voice. This versus the "swinging" and "hip" Sinatra with his classic fedora, tux, pocket handkerchief, cuff links, silk tie, perfectly shined black shoes, and of course, "The Voice." Frank Sinatra, even dating back to the 1950s, was never publicly shy about expressing his disdain for rock ‘n’ roll, (although his opinion did soften somewhat in later years). In a 1957 article for the Los Angeles Mirror News, the Hoboken crooner said: “My only deep sorrow is the unrelenting insistence of recording and motion picture companies upon purveying the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear - naturally I refer to the bulk of rock ‘n’ roll… it fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phony and false. It is sung, played and written for the most part by cretinous goons and by means of its almost imbecilic reiterations and sly, lewd-in plain fact, dirty-lyrics, and as I said before, it manages to be martial music of every sideburned delinquent on the face of the earth…this rancid-smelling aphrodisiac I deplore.”
​
So now we find ourselves in this current year 2015 when Frank Sinatra would have turned 100, and it appears that Bob Dylan has either mellowed from his younger days and come to appreciate the importance of popular music ('The Great American Songbook' - 1920s to 1950s), or perhaps he always did have a closet affection for Frank Sinatra’s music. And even if he was never completely enamored with Sinatra’s approach or his style of singing, Dylan the poet, fosters a genuine love for the incredibly rich lyrics expressed in those torch songs, of which most Dylan fans may have been completely unaware, that is, until now.  
 
One month ago, Dylan released his new album, ‘Shadows in the Night.’ it is a collection of Sinatra ballads (hand-picked by Dylan himself), which 'Old Blue Eyes' recorded from the 1940s through the 1960s. Dylan has also released an accompanying video, ‘The Night We Called It A Day,’ to coincide with the album. He plays a lover who spars with another man for the affection of a beautiful blonde. This 3 minute plus video (which can be viewed on YouTube) is right out of the black and white noir films from the 1940s and 1950s.  (As a side note, his rival in the video is the actor and singer, Robert Davi, who in 2011 released his own Sinatra tribute album, ‘Davi Sings Sinatra – On the Road To Romance.’ Davi has a strong, powerful voice and does an admirable job on a number of the Sinatra classics.)
 
I never thought I would see this day, but Dylan's new album clearly demonstrates that no one can ever hang a label on him, and more so, that great music, no matter the era, is timeless. The ‘Shadows In the Night’ album has since gone to # 1 on the British charts with rumored speculation that Dylan will release a second album of Sinatra’s music. Stay tuned. 
 
I bought the new Dylan CD and it is excellent, not so much for the quality of Bob Dylan’s voice, which is actually stronger and more layered than on his more recent records, but for the beautiful, intense lyrics, haunting melodies, and excellent band accompaniment. The video is also quite good. I have been a fan of both Dylan and Sinatra most of my life, and for more reasons than I can articulate here. But it has never really been about style or a singer’s approach, it is all about the music. ​