Dave Niehaus--we saw it on the radio

Katharine is involved in ministries to the sight-impaired and recently shared with me a letter from Marlaina Lieberg, from the Washington Council for the Blind, who spoke at the Seattle Mariners Dave Niehaus Memorial at Safeco Field.  

Here is an excerpt from Marlaina's reflections:

"I was seated in the second row just behind Rick (Rizz--Dave's radio and tv M's partner for years). He is a very tiny man as men go.

He is a very nice guy, and we were all moved and felt helpless when we saw him fall apart emotionally. When Edgar, Jay, Dan Wilson and Kevin Kremmons went up to surround him, you could feel everybody just letting go.

Marlaina speaking

The stage had four steps to walk up and the podium was a few feet away from those steps.  Originally John Olerud was going to escort me, but he ended up sitting in the wrong seat so a guy from the Marketing Department escorted me instead.

It was very weird at first to speak and hear my word a fraction of a second later!

I was using my BrailleNote Apex, and the one time I deviated from my notes, I nearly got lost because my hand was so cold it was almost numb.  They gave me hand warmers, but those only work if you keep your hands in your pocket!  Oops!


While I was speaking, I really felt aware of the fact that I was representing all fans, but especially we who are visually impaired.

I wanted to make the point that because of Dave, you didn't need to see the game.  When people applauded, I almost fainted!  It was very awesome to hear the sound coming from left, center and right of me.  

But what was more awesome was the fact that over 5 thousand sighted people clapped when they understood you didn't need sight!  I never thought that would happen in this lifetime.

Edgar Martinez and his family sat behind Gary and me.  After the ceremony was over, we shook hands.  Let me tell you, that man has the most muscular hands I've ever felt.  They aren't fat, but oh boy are they muscular!"