Art Rust Jr used to talk about sports on WABC radio when I was a kid. I loved his show, which was the first sports talk radio I remember hearing. One day, must have been in 1981 or ’82, I was home sick. I got to stay in my parents bed that afternoon. Nobody else was home. I listened to Art and was desperate to ask him a question. At the time, it seemed to me to be the most important question in the world: Will Reggie Jackson hit 500 home runs?
I dialed the number to the show on our red rotary-dial phone, over and over. Once I heard the busy signal, I hung up and started to dial again. Finally, the pattern was broken by a voice. “ABC: hold.” Then silence. I was startled, so I hung up. Only to realize that I had just blown it.
I never did get through again. But for years I listened to Art Rust Jr. I don’t recall much about him. I know he was a big boxing fan and his voice was knowing and assuring and made me feel safe and in good company.
Sad to hear. I also remember listening to Art Rust Jr. on WABC. If my memory is correct, I think he was on frequently after Yankee games on the weekends. This was before the time of WFAN, so hearing sports talk on the radio was special. As the 1980s wore on, I also seem to recall Steve Malzberg (who now does politics) occupying the WABC sports talk chair. Rust's gruff voice seemed made for the role, so hearing Malzberg always disappointed me.
Wow. Just hearing his name brings back the powerful sensation of being in the basement of the building across the way from me and in buildings in my neighborhood, delivering the Post when I was in like sixth grade. I used to listen to him all the name. As I recall, he was on before or after Bob Grant.
RIP.
Bummer .... he and Jerry Girard and were two of my favorites growing up.
Yeah, me too, all of that.
Also, Suzanne went to my school -- she was a friend of my sister's. Suzie.
Man, that was a long time ago. I hardly ever have vivid auditory memories from those years, except the musical ones, but I can hear his voice so clearly.
I was a devoted Art Rust Jr. listener back in the early-mid 1980s. I always think of Art when I think of that 1984 Winfield-Mattingly batting title race and of the also ran Yankees of that era like Sheriff Joe Cowley and Alvaro Espinoza. He was big on calling Yankee Stadium "The Big Ballyard in the South Bronx," which I say all the time to this day. I hadn't really thought about it until today, but I realize I got that from Rust. Happily, unlike Alex, I didn't chicken out and got on the air to ask a question back when I was probably 12 years old. What a rush that was.
RIP Art.
On Haiti:
There are many great organizations that need donors, if you can't think of one then please look here and try to help:
http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/donations/
Prayers for the people of Haiti...(and for that sick, sick man Pat Robertson to one day see the light about his hateful ideology.)
[6] It would be great if every adult in this country contributed even just a small amount.
Also, for once, I somewhat agree with your added political commentary. It would be nice if Pat Robertson could focus on and promote his charitable works instead of what often seems like a very warped sense of theology and current events.
Nah, Matt I didn't chicken out. I was surprised and hung up by accident, not cause I was ascared. Then I called back again and again and it was only then that I realized I had blown it.
Fortunately for me, Reggie did make it past 500 dingers and all was settled.
{5} I was a big fan of Aurthor George Rust Jr. He was produced back in the day by the now on air conservative talk show host Steve Malzberg, Rust always said the Mets played at Flushing by the Bay at Shea, and the Yanks at The Big Ball Orchard in the South Bronx, He was very endearing talking about his youth his dad and his signature sign off of saying Goodnight Edna Baby.