For the first time in more years than I care to remember I wasn’t at Parkway Field for Bradford High’s home football opener last Friday night (August 31).
I had office duty, but the more I think about it, the more I realize how appropriate it was because an avid Owls supporter wasn’t there either.
In late April, Mike Walter passed away after battling his way through a series of health problems which eventually took their toll. He was 62.
Mike always showed up at the field for home games and over the years we bonded. Each of us had our own issues to deal with.
When I was informed that he had died, I began planning a column as a tribute to him. However, things didn’t exactly work out that way.
I came down with a serious case of pneumonia and was just one step ahead of being put in the hospital. Thank goodness my wife, Molly, a retired Registered Nurse, helped me convince the doctor to allow me to rest and remain at home as long as I followed all the orders I was given.
Needless to say, I didn’t get a chance to pay my respects and say goodbye as well. I wasn‘t even able to convey my condolences to Tim, his brother, and the rest of his family. So, before I go any farther, I’d like to do that right now. Mike was a good friend.
Everyone liked Mike Walter because he liked everyone. He accepted the way things were and didn’t make excuses, nor did he blame the world for his problems.
Chuck Pollock, former sports editor at the Olean Times Herald, in a column touched on Mike’s interest in the radio business, especially broadcasting games, but there was another side to Mike that most people never knew.
Mike really wanted to be a sports writer.
Prior to the start of a game he would find me and always had a myriad of questions. If you knew Mike, you might remember that he always carried a clipboard with several sheets of paper.
Our typical pregame discussions would go something like this:
MIKE: Who do you think will win?
ME: Well on paper, I think the Owls have a good chance if they don’t make any mistakes.
MIKE: How will you get the information on the game?
ME: I list all the plays and then use the notes to write the story.
MIKE: When will you talk to the coach?
ME: Right after the game, but if we’re playing a team from our coverage area, then I’ll talk to their coach first because they’ll want to get headed home.
MIKE: How long does writing the story take?
ME : Well, it depends on whether or not there is a lot of scoring and whether Bradford wins or loses. Time-wise it usually takes well over an hour, because you have to double check all your notes and look for spelling errors and other mistakes.
On occasions, I would ask him to help me out. He’d agree with a big smile.
ME: You have your clipboard and I need help keeping track of first downs. I want you to write down when each team gets one. Just put down a mark after the team’s name.
MIKE: I can do that.
At some point in the game we’d run into each other and he always had something written down although I can’t say for certain what it was.
As Mike’s health problems increased, he had to pull an oxygen tank around with him. As soon as the alley door leading to our office opened and I heard the metal wheels and the tank clang against the step, I knew it was Mike’s midweek visit.
I’m going to miss that and our pregame talks at the field.
