Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/146704
EDITOR'S MEGAPHONE By Jack Mangus n January of 1946 a seven-year-old. boy was anxiously awaiting the return of his father from overseas following the conclusion of World War II. The boy's dad, a career Army officer, had been gone since the week following Pearl Harbor Day - that infamous seventh day of December in 1941. During one 0f his daily visits to a great-uncle, who lived across the street from the boy's home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he saw a picture in a daily newspaper of a young man in a Navy uniform who was spoon-feeding a bed-ridden older man. Reading the caption revealed that the sailor was home on emergency leave, tending to his father. The sailor was a baseball player, the 1943 Na~ional League batting champion and Most Valuable Player. His name was Stan Musial and he played for the St. Louis Cardinals. The young boy decided on the spot to choose him as his boyhood hero. The boy's father returned from the I Congratulates the Chantpions .. ~~;;;; . L ",; .. er P-te C)iampion' ~ .AMA 750cc'Supersporl Champion JON CORNWELL Can~dian F;U Champion ·:li~~?:QAM~J..·'·WIi;;,ln. j' .' :':'l'tational Hari CSt Hound Champ 0 SCORE Baja 1000 Overall Champion I JEFFEMIG 1~5C;c~otocross.National £hampion. '\: ..:.... .;, ".:".":'.. .~ II The young boy decided on the spot to choose Musial as his boyhood , hero. " war and life in America returned to normal. Over the next 17 years the boy's hero collected six more batting titles and two more MVP awards. When Musial retired in 1963, the "boy" was a 25-year-old man who had completed his formal education and a stint in the military. _ A nearly hour-long farewell tribute was conducted prior to Stan "The Man" Musial's last game in 1963. Many spoke words of praise for Musial, who, as one person put it, was the embodiment of as near all-around perfection as baseball has ever seen, but the words spoken by. Ford Frick, the then commissioner of baseball, were the ones the young man would never forget. "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior...here stands baseball's perfect knight," Frick said. . Those words summed up Musial, for not only was he a legendary recordsetting baseball player, he had an impeccable off-field reputation. A devoted family man, Musial became a pillar of the St. Louis community. His post-baseball life included owning a successful restaurant and three Hilton hotels, but he always found time to serve charitable organizations, more often than not with but one proviso no publicity. Frick's memorable words are engraved on the base of the larger-thanlife statue of Hall of Famer Musial that sits outside of Busch Stadium in St. Louis and the boy-turned-man, who is now past the half century mark, makes it a point to "visit" the statue every time he passes through the Gateway City. Yes, I'm that boy. And I've remained a Musial fan since that day in 1946 when I chose him to be my boyhood hero. Journalists aren't supposed to have heroes. But journalists were once children and many remain in awe of -----------1COntinued on page 57 WAYNE RAINEY 500cc World Grand Prix Champion A Special Congratulations and Farewell to Shoei Champion JEFF WARD. Jeff is the only rider to have won every major AMA National Championship MX title; During his 15 years as a Pro, Ward collected one 125cc MX National title, two 250cc Supercross crowns, two 250cc National titles and two 500cc National titles. For Comfort and Confidence . Champions rely on.... (SHOEI) . "The Choice of Champions" SHOEI SAFETY HELMET CORPORATION, 2228.Cotner Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 477-6051 The management and staff at Metzeler would like to wish everyone a Dll)J)J¥ DOJ..IJ)llY ·Our heart-felt thanks go out to all who supported us through the year. We are looking forward to another successful year of working with you!! METZELER@ 53