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This is mostly a blog about sports with some music sprinkled in. However, there are sometimes big events which can’t go unnoticed. Such was the case Friday when we heard the shocking news about Tim Russert announced by WFAN’s own Mike Francesa.

The Buffalo native was only 58 when he suffered a massive heart attack tragically passing away to the shock of many doing what he loved. Russert was doing a taping in the nation’s capital for NBC when he was stricken. Unfortunately, it was too late for paramedics to save him.

This was a very important person who had an excellent reputation as a political news reporter hosting NBC’s popular Meet The Press since 1991. I’m not going to say I knew Russert well but watched and listened to the man enough to gauge that he was very genuine and had a passion like few others in the TV industry. I frequently remember him appearing on Imus In The Morning before their falling out last year involving the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

His style of reporting was fun and frequently put political candidates on the spot during his shows. His style was kind of like a trial lawyer where he’d ask tough questions because at one time, he was on. The man also had a good sense of humor spelling out in magic marker on a board, “Florida, Florida, Florida,” about the controversial 2000 Presidential Election. He also nailed what 2004 came to by accurately mentioning Ohio in similar fashion.

Watching former colleague Tom Brokaw break the news and then be interviewed on the NBC News at 6 here in New York, it was quite obvious how heartbroken he was.

As I sat here watching Brokaw speak so highly about Russert, I just thought about how brave it really was. How many could really be put on the spot like that and eulogize a close friend with cameras rolling? At one point, the NBC veteran who used to anchor the NBC news got too emotional and was basically reduced to tears.

This was really hard to watch which might be why like so many, I was touched. The slight heavyset man with the bright smile was gone and way too soon. He had built his career by working on a couple of Democratic campaigns including former New York Governor Mario Cuomo some 26 years prior before eventually leaving politics to join NBC News where he eventually became the Washington Bureau Chief in 1988.

Russert became a recognizable face to so many households who appreciated his honest approach. He never acted like a Democrat doing his job the right way without any bias setting a proper example.

Both this year’s Presidential candidates each paid tribute to him Friday as did many others:

Sen. John McCain said “Tim Russert was at the top of his profession. He was a man of honesty and integrity. He was hard, but he was always fair.”^[33] Sen. Barack Obama said: “I’ve known Tim Russert since I first spoke to the convention in 2004. He was somebody who over time I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend. There wasn’t a better interviewer in television nor a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew.“^[33]

Not only was he an accomplished reporter but also went on to pen a few books including a best selling autobiography a few years ago entitled, “Big Russ and Me” about growing up in an Irish-oriented neighborhood in the Southern part of Buffalo.

Russert also bled for his two hometown sports teams the Bills and Sabres. He would’ve given anything especially to see the Bills win a Super Bowl. The man was a good sports fan who also liked the Yankees before becoming a Nationals fan and also liked the Wizards.

No matter the topic, the personable kid from Buffalo who was married to Maureen Orth and celebrated his son Luke’s college graduation from Boston College with a trip to Italy would always chime in giving his views.

He will be sorely missed by all.

R.I.P. Tim Russert (1950-2008)