At the outset A few thoughts from the editor… by r. j. paré What would you do If I sang outta tune Would ya stand up And walk out on me? Joe Cocker 1968 {Lennon/ McCartney 1967} Welcome everybody, to the latest edition of RKYV ONLINE – your FREE art-lit / pop- culture e-Zine! This ish, numero 36 , covers submissions received up to and including May 31 st 2010. Once again, RKYV ONLINE is teaming up with “our friends” at Speakeasy Primates in order to promote independent creators by setting up a promotional table at a summer convention! S.M.A.C.C. – Southern Michigan's Arts and Creativity Conference This con should be interesting and if you happen to be in Dearborn that weekend stop by our table to chat, exchange ideas, get snapped on camera or in video and maybe buy some cool swag! S.M.A.C.C. is a combination public arts and crafts show with an ALL-NIGHT film festival and concert. It is also an opportunity for independent artists, authors, actors, fashion designers, sculptors, wood- workers, filmmakers and other creators to develop collaborations. S.M.A.C.C. is being held on July 24-25th, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan This month RKYV is pleased as punch to share the work of independent colourist Jon Beirmann . As our “Featured Artist of the Month” Jon took the time to answer some interview questions and [hopefully] shed a little light on this nascent comic pro. His drawing of the Marvel Comics icon, Captain America, was a perfect foundation for David Marshall to build this month’s cover upon, kudos to both for their fine work. This month’s submissions from our returning columnists, inspiring poets, masterful writers and sublimely talented artists – credited throughout the Zine – really make for a spectacular issue to KICK OFF yer summer reading. I hope you get as big a kick out of every page as much as I had putting it all together. Grab yer laptop, e-reader, iPad, touch phone or whatever device you like to read RKYV with and head over to the patio… kick back with some iced tea [Long Island or otherwise] and ENJOY! r. j. paré EIC RKYV ONLINE e-Zine [PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: The RKYV Health & Safety committee advises all readers not to carry RKYV with you if you decide to take a dip in the pool. As our “esteemed” Editor has learned, water and electronics DO NOT mix [even if the extension cord reaches that far]. Thankfully, Mrs. Paré is used to such absentmindedness from her dear husband and is First Aid trained and certified in order to retrieve and revive him. Sadly, the laptop in question now decorates the bottom of their pool.] <drippy laptop – by r. j. paré Truncated Torso Sketch – by Josh Bowe Sports Rossini’s Ramblings by Tom Rossini THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES… ERNIE HARWELL Jan 25 1918 – May 4 2010 Ernie Harwell was born in Washington, Georgia and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia as a huge baseball fanatic. He was a batboy at the age of 5 for the “Atlanta Crackers” , and at the age of 16 began working for “The Sporting News” as a baseball correspondent. After graduating he worked for the Atlanta Constitution as a copy editor and sports writer. His career began in 1943 for WSB Radio announcing games for the “Atlanta Crackers”. He joined the United States Marine Corps shortly thereafter for 4 years. In 1948 Ernie was actually traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Cliff Dapper. This is the only time in history that an announcer was traded. Ernie remained the Brooklyn Dodgers announcer until his contract expired in 1949. Over the next few years he broadcast for New York Giants from 1950- 1953 which included his call of Bobby Thompson’s “Shot Heard Around the World.” Ernie was the broadcaster during the 1951 National League Pennant game which was hosted on NBC ). From 1954-1959, he was the broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles . In 1960 Ernie Harwell became “The Voice of the Tigers” and sat along side George Kell . Ernie remained in Detroit until 1991 when WJR stated they would not renew Ernie Harwell’s contract. A Statue of Ernie at Comerica Park Tiger Baseball Fans and people throughout Michigan and the baseball community were outraged, but the ballclub and the radio station stood firm: and that “Ernie’s firing was not going to change no matter how much clamor is made over it,” said team president Bo Schembechler . (Bo Schembechler is a former University of Michigan football coach, a legend as well. Tom Monagham sold the team in 1992 to Mike Ilitch and his first priority was to bring back Ernie Harwell. The 1993 season concluded with a three-person radio team (Rizzs, Rathbun and Harwell) with Harwell calling innings 1–3 and 7–9 of each game. From 1994-1998, Harwell called television broadcasts for the Tigers and in 1999 , he resumed full-time radio duties with the Tigers through 2002. During spring training of that year, Harwell announced that he would retire at the end of the season -- this time on his own terms; his final broadcast came on September 29, 2002 against the Toronto Blue Jays . Comerica farewell speech Ernie Harwell gave a 2-minute, 12-second farewell address to fans and the Tigers organization at Comerica Park on the night of Sept. 16. The comments were made in the middle of the third inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals : “Thank you very much. We don't want to be penalized now for the delay of the game, but I do want to express my feelings here. It's a wonderful night for me. I really feel lucky to be here, and I want to thank you for that warm welcome. I want to express my deep appreciation to Mike Ilitch , Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers for that video salute and also for the many great things they've done for me and my family throughout my career here with the Tigers. In my almost 92 years on this earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey. And the blessed part of that journey is that it's going to end here in the great state of Michigan. I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all. No question about that. And I certainly want to thank you from the depth of my heart for your devotion, your support, your loyalty and your love. Thank you very much, and God bless you.” Ernie’s Farewell Speech – freep.com Following his retirement, in 2003 Harwell came back to call a Wednesday night baseball game telecast on ESPN , as part of that network's “Living Legends” series of guest announcers. In 2005, Harwell called the game for an inning on the FOX network's coverage of the ALL-STAR GAME which was played in Detroit at Comerica Park, as well as an inning on the ESPN Radio broadcast. Over the next few years Ernie continued to do guest spots. Ernie was well known for his low-key delivery, and southern accent. Some of his most famous phrases are…. • “That one is long gone!” • “He stood there like the house by the side of the road, and watched it go by.” • “Called out for excessive window shopping.” • “It's two for the price of one!” • “A fan from (insert a city) will be taking that ball home today.” • “The Tigers need instant runs.” Links to watch as Ernie Harwell says good bye: www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWJl3qpUIM www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTedZ3g2pw8 Sen. Carl Levin delivered the following statement on the Senate floor on May 5, 2010: “For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” “Mr. President, spring after spring, for four decades, a man named Ernie Harwell would recite those words. He would recite them at the beginning of the first baseball broadcast of spring training. And those are the words that would tell the people of Michigan that the long, cold winter was over. Ernie was the radio voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 years, and in that time, there may have been no Michiganian more universally beloved. Our state mourns today at his passing, yesterday evening, after a battle with cancer. He fought that battle with the grace, the good humor, and the wisdom that Michigan had come to expect, and even depend on, from a man we came to know and love. A moment for Ernie - - media.idahostatesman.com This gentlemanly Georgian adopted our team, and our state, as his own. And his career would have been worthy had he done nothing more than bring us the sound of summer over the radio, recounting the Tigers' ups and downs with professionalism and wit, as he did. But without making a show of it, Ernie Harwell taught us. In his work and his life, he taught us the value of kindness and respect. He taught us that, in a city and a world too often divided, we could be united in joy at a great Al Kaline catch, or a Lou Whitaker home run, or a Mark Fidrych strikeout. He taught us not to let life pass us by “like the house by the side of the road.” In 1981, when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Ernie told the assembled fans what baseball meant to him.