On the evening of December 20, 2017, I had a phone call with a humble, kind man in California. Although that previous sentence reads like a potential opening sentence of a novel, the conversation happened. I realize it’s a mundane way to start a blog post, not necessarily catching your interest, but I ask you hang in there and read on.
You see, I had never met him, but I’ve seen him many times. I had never spoke with him prior to that call, but before that moment he’s spoken to me on more than one occasion. He’s painted pictures in my head, drawn my attention to details I didn’t notice, described things to me in a modest, heartland sort of way making the complex quite simple yet powerful, and has taken me to places and events I could only dream about as a kid.
His name was Dick Enberg. For those of you who may not immediately recognize him, Mr. Enberg was a Hall of Fame, world-renowned sportscaster with a career spanning almost six decades. He covered many of the leading sporting events of our time, from Super Bowls to the Olympics to Wimbledon and pretty much every sport in between. Born and raised in central Michigan before beginning his career in Los Angeles, he never seemed to lose his Midwestern qualities and brought those to bear each time he was on the air. Perhaps his most famous line was “Oh, my,” which he spoke after particularly exciting and outstanding athletic plays with regularity. That phrase’s understated utterance perfectly overstated those great moments with two simple words. It became his on-air signature.
My background is in the professional sports business, and it was a particular event that I was involved with that brought me to the conversation I had with Dick Enberg. I was with the Detroit Tigers at the time. We were holding a big splashy dinner and program to honor two of our players who had just been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. We knew we needed an emcee of some stature. Someone everybody would know so we could raise the bar and bring even greater celebrity to the event for our business partners who we were entertaining. Hence, our PR guy reached out to Dick Enberg who graciously agreed to do it for free. Being a Michigander, the Tigers had a special place in his heart.
As the date drew near (middle of January), the logistics and travel details for Mr. Enberg fell to me as it was my department’s event. I reached out to him on December 20th to finalize details before the holidays hit so we would be ready to go come January. That call was the first time I ever spoke to him and all I can say is that he was so straightforward pleasant that I remember the conversation almost crystal clear. He had zero pretentiousness, and he restated that he was thrilled and so looking forward to it as a Tigers fan himself. The call lasted maybe ten minutes, and we wished each other Happy Holidays before we clicked off. It was probably around 8:00 PM Eastern.
The next day, December 21st, I was at work at the ballpark when I heard the news that Dick Enberg had died. He was found in his foyer that morning with his bags packed at the door of his home waiting for a ride to the airport. Stunned, shocked, incredulous…pick a word. I was at a loss for one. I had just spoke to him hours earlier for the first time ever. It hit me almost immediately that I was one of the last human beings on the planet to have talked with the man.
It was a life lesson. Dick Enberg brought his warm-hearted approach to a stranger, namely me. His kindness and humble attitude came through loud and clear on that phone call. It took a while for the shock to dissipate, but I’ll never forget that interlude of a moment.
As a take-away, just pause occasionally and understand that the random stranger you meet could use a dose of kindness. Giving to someone else does indeed make the longest lasting impression, made more powerful if you don’t know them. That person may not be around the next morning, and Mr. Enberg reminded me that we may not be either. Say hello to someone with a smile and a touch of grace. You could be the last person they ever hear from, or vice versa.
A Roger Viceroy Novel: Book 2
Publication Date: November 9, 2021
Roger Viceroy faces a return to the FBI and a life he vacated long ago, until a knock on his front door announces the presence of billionaire and former U.S. Senator, Jürgen Sandt.
The past has come back to rear its ugly head. Sandt stands on his threshold for a reason: a decade prior the senator’s only son disappeared into the jungles of Guatemala, and Sandt has come to convince Viceroy that further investigation is now necessary. A package left mysteriously outside the family estate, opens the door to the possibility that his son is still very much alive.
Viceroy and his team agree to take on the hunt. Their search steers them from the back streets of Milwaukee to the stealthy corridors of Washington, D.C.—an eerie trek that will ultimately lead to an ancient site that supposedly doesn’t exist.
As Viceroy closes in on the truth, a parallel plot emerges. Not only could it point to the reason behind the cryptic disappearance of Bertram Sandt, but it could also launch a deadly battle that will put millions of lives at stake. On pure instinct, Viceroy knows nothing is adding up. Somehow, somewhere they missed a clue, and if it’s not discovered soon…it may be too late.
This is a Rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Steven C. Harms. There will be THREE (3) winners for this tour. Each of the THREE (3) winners will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card (US Only). The giveaway runs November 8 through December 5, 2021. Void where prohibited.
Steven C. Harms is a professional sports, sponsorship, broadcast sales, and digital media executive with a career spanning over thirty years across the NBA, NFL, and MLB. He’s dealt with Fortune 500 companies, major consumer brands, professional athletes, and multi-platform integrated sports partnerships and media advertising campaigns. He’s an accomplished playwright having written and produced a wildly successful theatrical production which led him to tackle his debut novel, Give Place to Wrath, released November 9, 2021 from Suspense Publishing. Harms is a native of Wisconsin, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He now resides in the greater Milwaukee area as a sponsorship executive.
At first I was wondering – “Where is he going with this?”
And then, WOW! That’s an amazing story. And yes I totally agree with you – you never know when – “You could be the last person they ever hear from, or vice versa.”
I love this! 🙂
Wendy – thanks for leaving a comment and glad to hear the story had an inspirational touch point for you.
Steve