Get Well Soon Frank Viola
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
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beast of the east
Active member
I have two opinions of Frank Viola, the person, from two people I've been close to over the years:
One was from a close friend of mine at St. John's, a really good guy and a bright guy, who doesn't spend his time tearing people down, but who can be brutally honest. I played softball with him for 5 or 6 seasons. The guy played baseball with Viola at East Meadow HS. Mention Viola to him, and he would scowl, "I hate the guy." To him, Viola was the kind of prick who after a teammate made an error behind him on the field, would show his dissatisfaction by stopping play as he delivered a long, piercing stare at the teammate who made the error. After multiple occasions of this behavior, his teammates paid him back by putting HEAT in his jock.
A few months back one of the Redmen superfans passed away quietly. He'd moved to Port St. Lucie in the late 80s and never looked back. Huge Mets fan, and in one of the first spring trainings around 1990 approached Viola, Franco, and Bross all of whom were Mets at the time. He introduced himself gregariously not only as a fan, but a St. John's alum, and ceremoniously was blown off by each, almost mocked, as in "So what?"
The other is from a relative, a self described sports fanatic in Boston, who is such a genius of sports facts that he's self published a few trivia books about some of the Boston sports teams. A while back while in the same hotel for a work function, Viola was in another conference room doing a promotion for Spalding. This relative has a knack for meeting sports celebrities, and wandered into the room. The relative went to U of Minn, and striking up a conversation with Viola's wife, discovered that she had gone there too. Frank was warm and gracious, and asked if the relative would like a photo taken of the three of them, which Spalding would them forward to my relative. A few weeks later, instead, the photo was sent from Viola himself, autographed along with a warm personal note.
The story changed my opinion of Frank a bit. I mean, who is Viola, the guy who embarrassed hs teammates while on the mound, mocks fellow SJU alums, or the sweetheart who took the time to send an autographed photo to a fan who he discovered shared a common ground with his wife?
The answer is of course, I don't know, because I don't know Viola. I wish him well as he recovers from surgery, and these stories weren't designed to defame Frank. Quite the opposite. For weeks now, months for some, poster here have written some pretty horrible personal stuff about Lavin, whom I am certain very few of us have met in a way that would give us license to judge his character. But these attacks not only have persisted, they've intensified. Defend Lavin or the program one bit, and these posters turn on you in a personal way.
I just spent a wonderful evening last night at a Villanova fundraiser. Father Peter Donahue was there (magnificent speaker, and a really wonderful person who I've gotten to know a little). So was Jay Wright, who was also one of the speakers. In introducing Wright, it was noted that the team had the most regular season wins in their history (28) and was ranked 3rd in one poll at the end of the season. No mention of the disappointing end and no murmur from the 600 in attendance. I spent about 10 minutes with Wright and his wife Patty, as we have a common friend. The entire evening was uplifting, as the school, its leaders, students, and alumni, are overwhelmingly class acts.
In returning home and logging on here, the vitriol has intensified. People who hardly posted before have now hijacked this site, and many long time posters have joined in. I understand disappointment, frustration, and even some anger at recent developments. But this site has ceased to be a fun place to visit. It's actually much worse than the worst days during the Norm regime, and to a large extent disgusting.
There are still some great people on this site, so is the glass half full or half empty? Maybe the glass is half good, and half polluted - but to be completely honest, who would want to drink a glass of pure water that's been polluted with garbage.
southernjohnny2
Member
hard to believe Franco was a prick with Viola...Viola and Franco and Cangelosi, and Pete Smith(when he came from atlanta) all used to go to a place in bay ridge after games(zio's). Especially on Thursday nights, and the place would be packed, and they were as friendly as can be..people would go up to them at tables and they would give autographs, pictures taken, very friendly bunch. Franco would take his wife there for dinner, and people would always come up to him and interrupt their dinner, and he would be very nice and cordial..
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Fantastic news to pass along ................
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...ady-to-serve-as-mets-triple-a-pitching-coach/
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...ady-to-serve-as-mets-triple-a-pitching-coach/