9302100787
DETROIT FREE PRESS
931109
Tuesday, November 09, 1993
METRO FINAL
1C
Photo Color
:
Bernie Smilovitz
MITCH ALBOM
Copyright (c) 1993, Detroit Free Press
JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO WATCH BERNIE BURN
Khhlmmphph!
Thought I'd parachute into this column.
And now, sticking with that theme, allow me to parachute into your
charitable thoughts, the way "Fan Man" -- that's what he's calling himself --
came parachuting into the ring Saturday night in Las Vegas. (In the old days,
by the way, a guy interrupts a big fight, they beat him up and leave him in
the street. Today, he goes to the hospital and gets a Movie of the Week.)
I will say this about the floating buffoon: when I saw him land, my first
thought was this: my boss has once again found a way to attend an event for
free.
My second thought: I bet he shows up on Bernie's Blooper's.
Which brings me to the point of today's column. Bernie Smilovitz has been
in this town long enough that, whenever you see something stupid happen, you
think of him.
Wait. That didn't come out right.
Well, you get the drift. And so has Bernie. In fact, after seven years on
WDIV-TV, seven years of trading jokes with Mort and Carmen, seven years of
trying to understand what the hell Sparky Anderson is talking about, he will
soon be drifting off to New York City, to take his unique brand of
sportscasting to an audience that could use a laugh.
Actually, they have a permanent blooper supply in New York. It's called the
Mets.
But Bernie is leaving, and he will be missed. If you don't believe me,
check out this list: Joe Dumars, Rodney Peete, Steve Yzerman, Cecil Fielder,
Chuck Daly, Bo Schembechler, Jeff Daniels, Maury Povich, Lomas Brown, Chris
Spielman, Scott Hastings, Calvert & Kelly, Carmen Harlan, Brian Williams,
Frank Beckmann, Eli Zaret, L. Brooks Patterson, Mike Ridley, Eric Williams.
Those are just some of the people who be live, on the dais, next Thursday
night, Nov. 18, at the Westin Hotel, ready to say good-bye to Bernie in the
most manly of fashions: by roasting him.
You guessed it.
This is a pitch.
Don't hang up
But a good one. And a worthwhile one. As regular readers of this column
know, once a year, I ask for your help, when we host a charity roast to raise
money for The Dream Fund, which provides scholarships for needy area kids to
study the arts at Detroit's renowned Center For Creative Studies.
Think about it. The next great painter, sax player, tap dancer or sculptor
could be right here, in our city, unable to feed his or her talent because
there's no money for lessons. Instead, the kid sits around, grows restless,
ends up on the streets.
Or worse -- lying in front of the TV . . .
. . . watching Bernie's Bloopers.
And we don't want that! We need to save those brain cells!
Which is why I would like you to attend this gala function, called "Bye Bye
Bernie," by calling
872-9463. Are those numbers big enough? The details will follow in a moment.
First, a word about Bernie.
Knucklehead.
Now, where were we?
Actually, to be honest, I have known Bernie since he arrived in Detroit. I
remember meeting him at Tiger Stadium back in 1986. He was new in town, and
people were making fun of his strange name, and his strange style on TV. It
was a rough few months, and I felt bad for the guy. I remember putting my arm
around him and saying, "Listen, you stink."
After that, things began to look up. Eventually, Bernie's style caught on,
and he became our most popular sportscaster, which only proves, once again,
that showing little doggies running across a baseball field beats serious
news every time.
Watching Bernie get ripped is worth it
All kidding aside -- and I think I was kidding -- Bernie is a terrific
person, a family man and a consummate pro. I used to butt heads with him in a
bit called "Point-Counter Point" on Channel 4. Naturally, I showed up with
profuse notes and research. Bernie showed up with his makeup kit.
So I know what he's like in the trenches. And I can hardly wait to see him
ripped to shreds by not just me, but Schembechler, Daly, Fielder, Peete -- you
know, the pros.
It should be some kind of evening -- never to be repeated, unless New York
blows up. Bernie, I and the children who could use your help would love to see
you at the Westin, Thursday, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m,
call 872-9463.
Are those numbers big enough?
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with special private cocktails with all the
roasters. Dinner follows, and then the roast. Tickets are at several levels:
$150 for the cocktail reception, dinner and roast; $85 for the dinner and
roast only. Corporate tables are also available. Call for information.
Of course, contributions are tax deductible.
Did I mention the phone number? 872-9463.
Thank you for helping us. By the way, for those of you who missed Bernie on
Saturday night in Las Vegas, the doctors say he'll be fine and should be able
to parachute again real soon.