As we have been saying a lot recently this business, sports and entertainment, has to be more about the people and the places than the things for those who work in it. You can’t put in the hours, the travel, the sacrifices, unless you have the passion for it, and all along the way should stop and enjoy those who you are with and the special places you go.
Along those paths from time to time you see these people who are doing just that; men and women, more now probably than ever before, who are out there covering events big and small just for the experience and the love of the game. They exist more probably in a massive market like New York than in most places, showing up at every press conference, asking questions, listening, sometimes getting a mic flag into a shot, and then they go back and write or post stories for the weekly newspapers, the websites, the new sources that many times are forgotten when the biggest of names and stories take the headlines. They are part of a subculture of sports and entertainment, the lifers who seem to find their way into the fabric of sports or theater. Sometimes they are loud or rude or obnoxious, but more often than not they are respectful, welcomed and understanding when the brightest of stars don’t answer a question. They often times go and seek out the little known stories, and help those who are trying to get stories told do just that; help the rising star, the aging veteran, the obscure but interesting life experience, get the due it deserves.
One of those people I came to know over the years, and actually see not just at events but in the background along various press rows or special events, was Howard Goldin. Howard was a 72-year-old Bronx native who wrote for any number of sites who welcomed his work, including sites like The Bronx Times, Latino Sports and New York Sports Day. .A former English instructor at Monroe College, his love for sports started with baseball and expanded to everything from wrestling and boxing to college football and the NBA. If there was a sport or a community event, Howard was there, along with a group of other New York faces that all seemed like they were pulled from a Woody Allen movie. They traveled in a pack, grabbed a sandwich, asked questions and many times went on their way. They would always, always send a story link to share, and although most are not the most adept at social media, would usually find a way to amplify the message. People like that, not just older men and women but young people getting a start, are sometimes forgotten or belittled by major league teams in the massive market, but they certainly have their place ,especially on rainy days when relationships you have get you a little more than maybe you deserve for stories that are nonetheless interesting.
I was very saddened to hear that the sports world lost Howard this week to a massive heart attack. In the last few ties I saw him he was always upbeat, showing up on time and asking more about topics than most of those who would come in, looking for a quote or a quick photo. For a get it done yesterday world engrossed in social media he was definitely a throwback, but always gave the craziness of sports a little balance. He was always quiet, always appreciative and always available not just for the biggest of stories but for the little ones, some of which become big ones over time.
Sometimes the best part of the fabric are the simple threads that hold a tapestry together, the pieces that are sometimes forgotten as the colors and the majesty gets blended together, but Howard’s passing reminded us that we need those consistent threads for projects big and small. I would be pleasantly surprised if his passing gets a mention by the teams he dutifully covered over the years, as he never sought the spotlight or the big headline, and the outlets he wrote for were certainly not the biggest. However he was a gentleman, and a pretty good writer in an age where those traits are sometimes lost. After all he was a teacher, and he will be missed especially when the little guys need a story told.
Once again, it’s the people and the places, not the things, that make it special.
