Tuesday, July 8, 2008

They Heart NY

I recently came across these two PSA's urging New York City residents to keep their fair city litter free. Having such contrasting styles, it's fun to watch them side by side. The first was made by director, David Lynch. The second, from 1971, used longtime Yankee player and broadcaster, Bobby Murcer. (who passed away today)


FDE's fave David Lynch movies...Mulholland Dr. and The Straight Story, (so very non-Lynchian and hey, what can I say, I'm from Wisconsin)
FDE's fave David Lynch regular...Harry Dean Stanton
FDE's fave line from a Lynch movie...Lula (Laura Dern) to Sailor (Nick Cage) in Wild at Heart, "You got me hotter than Georgia asphalt."



Murcer, who hit .277 over his 17 year career, with 252 jacks, never really lived up to the hype that surrounded him upon his entry into the Yankee organization. He's probably best known for his moving eulogy at the funeral for teammate Thurman Munson. Just hours after the Munson funeral, Murcer was suited up for a game against the Orioles. With the Yankees down 4-0, Murcer hit a three run homer in the 7th and then delivered a two-run single in the 9th to give the Yanks the win. Murcer gave the bat from that game to the widow of Munson, to honor his former teammate.

Bobby Murcer's other Babe Ruth moment was known as the "Scott Crull" game. On August 8, 1977, Murcer promised to try and hit a home run and a double for terminally ill fan Scott Crull who he had spoken to by phone. That night, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Murcer hit two home runs. Broadcasting the game nationally on ABC, Keith Jackson told the country how Murcer had fulfilled the dying boy’s last wish. However, no one had told the young man he was dying. Murcer, however, denied he made an outright promise to Crull, as ABC had reported during the game.

Scott's mother told the AP, "It's wonderful that he got to talk to one of the players, and by Murcer hitting the home runs...he was thrilled." The AP later reported comments from Kenneth Crull, the young boy's uncle said "Bobby Murcer did a wonderful thing for Scotty . . . it was the highlight of his whole life." Linda Crull, the boy's aunt added, "What Bobby Murcer did was great. But what happened afterward we'd just as soon forget about." ABC's Jackson had relayed the story that had been told to him by a Chicago Cub official Buck Peden and alerted the boy to his own medical condition. Three weeks later, On August 22, Crull died. Ten hours later the Cubs beat the Giants 3-2 at Wrigley Field and Murcer hit his 24th home run. At that point the Cubs' record was 70-53, and they were 7-1/2 games out, in 2nd place. The Cubs slumped and finished at .500 with and 81-81 record. The homer in the "Scott Crull" game was one of 5 game-winning home runs Murcer had in 1977.

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