May 31, 2019 Issue, Page 3 of 17

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Reflectin on sports By Don Munsch Editor Sports fans can have long memories of certain plays and games, even those from long ago. The first sports team Tever followed was the Texas Rangers, my home- town team, back in the 1970s. The second team I liked was the Boston Red Sox. Boston center fielder membered a time many years Fred Lynn was my favorite before when she was a small player as a kid. ww child. Her mother had died when she was very young Tcan tell you where I was on Oct. 25, 1986. I was at my and when the nightmares folks’ house - it was my first of year of college and I was liv- came, there was no one there ing at home - watching Game 6 of the World Series between Glynda Lomax is a Chris- number of years. She was a to comfort her. She remem- Boston and the New York Mets. tian author and podcaster bitter person and complained bered nights spent awake ‘There’s a good memory here: Dave Henderson hits a who resides in the Ozark long and loudly on a daily fighting the nightmares and homer to left in the top of the 10th inning, Boston takes the Mountains of Northern Arkan- basis. No family ever vis- fearing the dark. With anod, lead, and I pick up my brother's dog, Oliver, to celebrate. sas with her two very bossy ited her. Most of the nurses she folded back the cover and, The Red Sox led 5-3 heading to the bottom half of the inning. dogs. She wrote her first About disliked treating her at all and going against all the rules, Leading the series three games to two, Boston was three outs Life... column in 2003 for a none of the other residents away from its first World Series title in 68 years. newspaper in Dallas.She is tried to befriend her. Indeed, climbed into bed with the old woman and gently held her And then there’s a lasting bad memory: Boston blows a planning her next book. most only wanted to put two-run lead with two outs and loses 6-5, with the iconic play distance between themselves frail little body stroking her hair until at last she found being Mookie Wilson’s slow roller to first that went through “You cannot doa kindness and her constant complain- sleep. the pain and suffering of the the legs of Bill Buckner and “behind the bag!” as announcer too soon, for you never know ing. After the sleeping pill took how soon it will be too late.” ‘The nurse returned to the other person and do not try to Vin Scully would tell America. The miscue brought home ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson old woman’s room with a effect, the nurse resumed her look away. A compassionate Ray Knight from second base, whose score clinched the duties but didn’t forget the old sleeping tablet prescribed by woman’s plight. At the end of game and tied the series. She was a nurse employed the doctor. She spoke in quiet her shift in the early hours of person is someone thinking of Iwas stunned after the game. ’'m sure everyone was at anursing home in Western tones to calm the woman. shocked in Boston, also. I remember driving around for an morning, she went to check others, not self. Oklahoma. It was a muggy The old woman looked very on the woman. She quietly ‘There is a Chinese proverb hour after the game thinking, what just happened? A Sports summer night and many of tired. Suddenly she looked up, opened the door and walked Illustrated edition the next week included two pictures, the residents seemed more terror filling the old eyes as over to the bed. The woman that says “A bit of fragrance placed side by side, of Boston fans watching the game at a restless than usual. One of she said, “I know I don’t have looked peaceful, but she was always clings to the hand that bar. The left picture showed fans celebrating after Boston the patients, a very elderly much longer to live and I'm no longer breathing. She had took the lead in the 10th, while the other picture, shortly woman with a sour disposi- gives roses.” How true this is, so afraid.” Big tears began passed away in her sleep. The after they lost, showed many fans in utter disbelief. The Mets tion most wouldn’t even ven- to roll down her wrinkled nurse’s kindness had been the for we never touch the life of went on to win Game 7 and the series. ture near, was especially ill. cheeks as her eyes pleaded last kindness shown to her another without also touching ‘And too many people in Boston seemed to just blame Her doctor had quietly told with the woman for under- before she died that night. Buckner. Unfairly. the nurses she didn’t have standing. How many of us would our own. Buckner died Monday, and I can only echo others this long to live. The nurse’s heart was filled have had the courage to week who said it was misguided for some Boston fans to mis- The nurse hurried to the with compassion and she risk our jobs to help a dying “Beginning today, treat treat Buckner in the years following that game. Anyone who end ofthe hallway as the went to the woman then and stranger? How many of us watched that Game 6 game should know it was ineffective woman yelled loudly once put her arms around her. It would have felt any compas- everyone you meet asif they relief pitching that had more to do with the Red Sox’s loss. again for someone to help her. was near midnight and her sion at all when faced with were going to be dead by Buckner took the fall because his error sealed the loss. When she arrived at the room, frail old body shook with sobs ‘someone usually so unpleas- Red Sox fans might have been particularly angry given the as so many times before, the as she cried. “I’m afraid to ant to deal with? How many of midnight, Extend to them all team’s inability to win atitle since 1918, and perhaps many woman did not appear to need die.” us would have felt sympathy the care, kindness and under- had the collapse of 1978 still fresh on their minds. [The team assistance, but seemed only After many minutes, the for her but in the end done standing you can muster, and led the New York Yankees by 14 games in July of that year to want someone with her. nurse was finally able to quiet nothing to help? True com- and then lost a one-game playoff at Boston's Fenway Park for She complained she could not the old woman. She looked up passion does not stand and do it with no thought of any the American League East title.] sleep and insisted the nurse at her from her bed, her eyes offer only words in time of reward. Your life will never Baseball, like other sports, can be a cruel game that gives do something about it. still filled with tears and said, need. Real compassion does be the same again.” ~ Og no do-overs, but life can often provide ample opportunities The old woman had been “Would you stay with me? not only look, it actually sees. for redemption. aresident at the center for a T'm so afraid.” The nurse re- ‘The eyes of compassion see Mandino Lost in many discussions about Buckner is he had a great career and that he managed to lead a normal and produc- tive life after his one play in the World Series followed him wherever he went. Of course, he did appear at functions like autograph shows Bold changes needed on justice reform with Wilson to sign pictures of the play, and he appeared on an episode oftelevision’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to goof on The Oklahoman, Oklahoma Justice Center. Most of those nity reform, the topics to be pacity. It’s a near miracle that himself, so it wasn’t like he tried to totally disassociate him- City reforms went by the wayside studied, Oklahoma hasn't experienced self from that play that proved so painful to Red Sox Nation. after the bill’s chief advocate “This task force will bring amajor riot due to prison The bigger picture of Buckner’s play is how people can Criminal justice reform in termed out of the Legislature. together all stakeholders to conditions and a shortage of sometimes remember others by one incident or happening in Oklahoma, which seemingly Lawmakers have approved discuss the criminal code, correctional officers. their life and ignore the greater good they might have done. has been studied to death several bills in the past few diversion programs, victims’ Stitt also has assigned all History should cut Buckner some slack. in the past several years, is years that do such things as rights and our prison sys- the major players to have a going to get yet another look, give judges more leeway in tem,” Stitt says. say. These include represen- this time by a task force cre- sentencing for some crimes The governor wants rec- tatives for district attorneys, Have a letter to ated by Gov. Kevin Stitt. This is a wheel that never stops and end mandatory-minimum sentences for some nonviolent ommendations that first off the courts, the attorney protect lives and property and general’s office, the DOC, the spinning. drug-related and burglary respect and support victims state’s mental health agency, the editor? Email It was 12 years ago, in 2007, that the Legislature offenses. Most recently, a bipartisan of crime. He says he also the Department of Human wants recommendations that Services, a victims’ advocate spent about $800,000 on a group called Oklahomans deter criminal activity, en- and someone versed in suc- performance audit ofthe it to editor@ Department of Corrections. for Criminal Justice Reform has proposed evidence-based hance and establish diversion cessful diversion programs. programs, reduce recidivism The 15-person panel has The report offered several policy changes that it says and lower Oklahoma’s incar- been charged with submitting recommendations designed to ecdailynews.com curb the growth ofthe inmate would not just slow prison growth but drive the census ceration rate. by Dec. 6 its recommenda- These are worthwhile goals tions for consideration during population; most of those down over the next decade. and badly needed. Oklahoma next year’s legislative session. were dismissed by lawmak- or stop by 206 W. ers. Those bills got sidelined this session. holds the dubious distinction of locking up more people, ‘Oklahomans working together “can create bold In 2012, the Legislature Now Stitt has announced per capita, than any other change that will offer our fel- passed a major reform pack- state, and our prisons -- most low citizens a second chance Broadway, Elk City. age that was bolstered by data the formation of a task force called “RESTORE,” which of them older and in poor while also keeping our com- compiled by the nonprofit stands for re-entry, supervi- physical shape -- are consis- munities and streets safe,” Council of State Governments sion, treatment and opportu- tently filled well beyond ca- Stitt says.