Remembering Tom Holden

This past weekend the Mahoning Valley lost an icon -- Tom Holden, news anchor for TV-27 died on Saturday night . . . Holden may have been one of the most, if not the most, respected man in Youngstown . . . he anchored the news desk for 30 years . . .

I was fortunate enough to have him for a journalism class at YSU . . . he was an outstanding teacher and like everyone has said, he was a nice guy . . . think about it, how many of today's news people act like their "crap doesn't stink" when out in the public . . . not Tom Holden . . . Holden would talk to anyone and always had a smile or nod when passing by . . .

As a young kid, my family always watched TV-27 news with Tom Holden and Don Gardner on sports . . . Holden was one of the "good guys" who stayed loyal to the Valley . . . he was a staple of this area . . . there was no doubt that he could have moved on to a bigger city, but he was content doing the news at TV-27 and living on the southside of Youngstown . . .

I interviewed him for an article and he said that he was fortunate to have a good job . . . think about it, most people today want to keep moving up in the job market in order to show they are successful . . . Holden wasn't like that -- he was a simple person . . . he loved his Mahoning Valley and especially his Youngstown . . .

What I also think made Holden unique is that he had his flaws just like the rest of us . . . it was widely known that "back in the days" Holden would like to have a nice cold one or two . . . but that is what made him real . . . he was not some plastic glamour wonk hired to attract viewers . . . he wasn't too good to sit next to the average Joe and have a beer . . .

This Valley needs more people like Holden in order to improve . . .

Tom Holden will be missed . . .

Random Thoughts - 6/12

And the beat goes on . . .

Will Mike Tyson just go away already . . .

Anyone who spent $50 to watch the Tyson fight on Pay-Per-View has to be either: a) filthy stinking rich; or b) a moron . . .

Tyson was done after he lost to that tomato can in his last fight . . . but the hype continued for last night’s fight . . . during the pre-fight conference, Tyson was talking how he was going to "kilt (instead of kill) Kevin McBride . . .

After reading the post-fight story, Tyson was a cheap shot artist in the fight . . . he blatantly head butted McBride and then tried to break his arm out of desperation . . .

The sports world needs to turn its back on Tyson . . . it’s over for him . . . and the media should no longer cover his fights . . . .

If it wasn't for that third place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Afleet Alex would have won the Triple Crown . . . this horse would have taken the nation by storm if he would have won the Derby . . . yesterday's Belmont Stakes was a beautiful ride by jockey Jeremy Rose . . .

These are the hardest working teams in baseball: Washington Nationals, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates . .

Pirate manager Lloyd McClendon has taken his share of flak over the last few years, but he always has his team playing hard every game . . . and don’t look now, but the Pirates are at the .500 mark . . .

Sports Illustrated reported this week that Jim Leyland is interested in returning as a manager . . . the magazine reported that Leyland may end up with the Rockies or Indians . . . hmmmm, what’s going on within the wigwam up in Cleveland . . .

Did you know that 10 current Major League Baseball managers never had minor league managing experience? . . . they are: Dusty Baker (Cubs), Phil Garner (Astros), Ozzie Guillen (White Sox), Lloyd McClendon (Pirates), Bob Melvin (D’backs), Lou Piniella (Devil Rays), Willie Randolph (Mets), Frank Robinson (Nationals), Joe Torre (Yankees), and Alan Trammell (Tigers) . . .

Who should be the manager of the United States team next spring in the first ever World Cup of baseball? . . . early favorites are: Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, or Ron Gardenhire . . .

Which team would Manny Ramirez play on? . . . Baseball America lists him as part of the Puerto Rican team, but Ramirez is now an American citizen . . . so shouldn’t he be playing for the U.S. team? . . . where’s the rule book????

Supposedly Phil Jackson is going to announce if and where he is going to coach next season . . . all reports indicate he will go back to the Los Angeles Lakers . . . I guess Phil’s girl, Jeannie Buss, (who’s father owns the Lakers) has a greater pull if Phil is wanting to put up with Kobe Bryant once again . . .

Whatever happened to Paul Westhead? . . .

Even if the Pistons lose tonight and go down 2-0, I still think they have a good chance at winning it all . . .

Pre-draft rumors indicate that the Milwaukee Bucks may take former North Carolina six man Marvin Williams with the first pick in the draft instead of Utah’s Andrew Bogut . . .

Donald Trump turns 59 this week . . .

Everyone remembers Joe Namath’s famous guarantee before Super Bowl III . . . however, during the regular season, Namath threw only 15 touchdowns and 17 interceptions . . .

Until next time . . . the beat goes on . . .