John, Billy and Jackie

John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

I keep wanting to blog more but the topics I have thought about blogging about would either be overall themes and thoughts that might seem as too vague and inflict questions or just topics that nobody cares about. 

Then again, you likely don't care about the topics I am about to write about. Or you can find thoughts on all this elsewhere. 

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John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on the radio, announced that he is retiring, effective immediately. 

It was first reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic and confirmed by both the Yankees and Sterling himself. 

Sterling will have a press conference on Friday and be honored on Saturday. 

The timing is interesting, and I wonder if we will hear more but he's doing what he feels is right for himself and you cannot fault that. 

For me, there were years of summers listening to John and Suzyn Waldman call Yankee games on WCBS 880 before the Yankees moved to 660 WFAN. 

I personally also think about listening to the end of game six of the 2009 ALCS as the Yankees won the pennant over the Angels and listening to John's call as I was in the car at the time. 

There are so many other great calls of Sterling's From the World Series, to other milestones, to no-hitters and perfect games, and so much more. 

So many iconic home run calls, and other calls with nicknames, from "Bern Baby Bern" to an "A-Bomb from A-Rod" to many others. 

We will all think of John as the Yankees radio voice, but he was more than that. 

Before John started with the Yankees, he broadcast the Islanders, Nets, Hawks and Braves. 

Just a tremendous career for John Sterling and a well-deserved retirement. 

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Let's get to the Billy Joel concert at MSG on CBS that took place on Sunday night. 

Yes, I actually watched and listened. Partly because it was on in my house, but I actually was interested and paid attention. 

There is certain music I like (mostly "oldies"), I just don't pay enough attention to it or know enough to really talk about it or anything. If only I paid attention to it the way I do sports. 

Lots of great songs played, and some that were not. 

Now, to get to the broadcast. 

First off, yes, a lot of people were not happy with it starting late due to The Masters running long. 

During football season, this happens all the time with 60 Minutes and other shows and broadcasts being delayed due to football games running longer than planned. 

Second, yes, the broadcast cut off when Joel was still playing "Piano Man." Someone at CBS likely had it set to cut away to commercial and the local news at a certain time and didn't make adjustments when the show ran late/long. 

Good to hear that CBS will re-run the show in full later this week. 

I also found it interesting that it was presented as Billy Joel being live when others were reporting that this was a show that happened a few weeks ago. 

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Lastly, it's Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball. 

The league has done a good job of recognizing Jackie and what he did both on and off the field by retiring number 42 around the league and having everyone wear 42 on April 15 every year. That day is used because that is the day Jackie broke the color barrier in 1947. 

People have talked about different, and possibly better, ways to honor Jackie. We will see if baseball changes that one day. 

That's one thing sports does well, is honoring it's history.