Comments on: Mike Isn’t KOOL

By: Mandy

Mandy — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 17:10:16 +0000

That really is interesting about the ball thing. I had no clue they did it either. It’d be interesting to know whether they still do it.

At first I thought of it as cheating, but I guess if everyone uses the balls then it’s not.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 02:43:20 +0000

Meaghan and Adam,

I think they still rub mud on the balls but am not 100% certain. I love those little nuances about sports and life that others don’t seem to care about. I looked up the umpire on google and didn’t see him on the major league roster so he is either still doing minor league games or retired. But to where? That’s what I’m curious about. Our lives intersected for a few minutes and then what happened? The mind roams.

By: Adam Viklund

Adam Viklund — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 04:25:46 +0000

Hey Mike,

I’m really glad you shared this gem from your past. It answers a question I had after I read your book. You talked about how you worked as a sports reporter but you had a unique style that everyone liked. I was always curious what you had done differently, and now I know. Ingenious really…move the camera around as you report. And like Meaghan, I’m also now curious as to whether baseballs still get muddy before being used…

Take care, and please go swimming in the lake once for me this year!

By: Meaghan

Meaghan — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 03:02:55 +0000

I was just wondering.. do they still put mud on the balls now? That was interesting to find out.. I never knew that about baseball.. You learn something new everyday.. Baseballs in mud.. and Mike Leonard and his stylin fro.. SAY WHA?

Hope your summer hasn’t been too busy. Take some time to relax. That is what summer is all about.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:36:39 +0000

Thanks Ari. Hope all is well. Busy time here.

By: Ari

Ari — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 17:27:01 +0000

The ‘fro was the first thing I noticed. LOVED it.

Haha, thanks for sharing this Mike, it’s fun to watch the older stuff you’ve done in comparison to now. It certain ways its a lot different, but in other aspects it’s the same…even in this older clip it is evident that you weren’t afraid to stray from then norm and do your own thing, which is valued and a distinguishing factor in defining both your work and who you are.

Thanks again and I hope you and Cathy are doing well!