Job Well Done, George!

 

After 23 distinguished years as one of the best columnists/sportswriters in the country, the New York Post said goodbye to George Willis. To say it is their loss is an extreme understatement. 

 

I began reading the New York Post in High School playing baseball in my junior and senior year. My first year in junior college (Sullivan County) one of my teammates was Yankees second basemen Willie Randolph’s brother. Another story all together. I continued to read the paper when l could, following the New York sports teams.

 

Fast forward to 1984 and l was employed in corporate America for the next 12 years. Sports had always been a part of my life. My parents raised 5 of us, my sister being the oldest. We played every sport. My older brother Charlie was the point guard his freshman year at Baruch college. My younger brother came within one game of going to the college World Series as a member of Wagner College losing to St. John’s that had John Franco and Frank Viola in their rotation. Gene made the NCAA College All Star team and started at third base. We sat front row at Shea Stadium watching Gene play in a stadium that saw the Metropolitans win the 1969 and 1973 World Series.

 

All the while l had been reading the writings of George Willis as he covered the most important sporting events both locally and nationally. I left corporate America in 1997 not sure what my future had in store. As an undergrad at the New York Institute of Technology, l was part of WTNY the school radio station. Because it was a cable radio station we were granted credentials. l covered the Knicks and Yankees. To this day, stories of Billy Martin and Hubie Brown resonate. The number of sports writers of color were few. Then came November of that fall.

 

I was in South Beach Miami when l received a call from radio station 98.7 Kiss FM. The New York Knicks were in town and they asked if l could get pre and post game sound. l decided to stay in Miami and cover the Heat for the rest of the regular season not knowing they would face the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. Walking into the Knicks locker room, the very first person l saw was George Willis. My comfort level went through the roof and this was before l introduced myself to him. After practice, l asked George what he had planned for the rest of the day. Knowing South Beach, I suggested Ocean Drive and the beach. Along with Anthony Gargano, we met, had drinks and began a friendship that has last to this day.

 

I have had the pleasure of knowing George both personally and professionally. He has covered football, baseball and basketball always bringing more to the story than the fine score. When it came to golf and boxing, he is the “go to” guy. I interviewed on many occasions for the various outlets l worked for. He authored the book, The Bite Fight: Tyson, Holyfield and the Night That Changed Boxing Forever. When he had the book signing party in a Manhattan sports bar, Mike Tyson made an appearance. Tyson wrote the forward in the book saying in part, “when l look on my second fight with Evander, l still can’t believe l bit his ear.” Thanks to George, l was able to interview Tyson one on one. A testament to the kind of person George is, other luminaries attended the event most notably, Rob Gronkowski who was still a member of the New England Patriots. 

 

What stands out more than anything else about George is the fact that he never has forgotten where he came from. He attended Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico before studying journalism at New Mexico State. George recently posted a photo of a game between his Aggies when they hosted Larry Bird and Indiana who were ranked #2 in the country at the time. George was sitting courtside. “One of the best games I ever witnessed,” he would say.

 

“George has been a staple of New York sports and the culture of sports for many years,” said Jamie Harris sports editor of the New York Amsterdam News. “He’s embodied the ideals of sports journalism and has been an exemplary model for many young black journalist who have emerged in part as a result of the path George has helped pave.” 

 

George has been more than a friend. I was fortunate enough to attend the wedding to his lovely wife Janelle. I have have learned more about boxing and golf because of his writings. In a ego filled industry where everyone is “a sports expert” and can only get their point across by screaming, yelling and cutting people off, George has been a calming writer who brings a human element aside form the results.

 

Queens native Rob Parker wrote for both the Daily News and Newsday. Currently with Fox Sports1 Parker said, “the loss of George Willis from the New York Post is a big blow to the NYC landscape. GW is a talented writer with a strong voice. his commentary will be missed by many.”

 

Given his resume and reputation great things are in store for George Willis. His writing talent and personality have been well established. When this Coronavirus/Covid19 fiasco ends and sports are back, George Willis will be on the scene. Sports fans will be waiting for his take. I look forward to standing next to him at the next press conference.