Mar 3, 2007

Joe Black

I watched some African American Awards and Bill Cosby when offered a lifetime achievement award told the following story about this friend, Joe Black:
"His name was Joe Black and he was my friend". Joe Black was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers who was later in his life suffering from prostate cancer. He was in a Phoenix hospital and Bill would call often to check in. Joe was on morphine and would hallucinate a lot, but he was still sharp, even on the morphine. Bill would often joke with him to keep things light.
Said Bill, "I'm at your house digging up your backyard looking for your money, dug all around apple tree and still can't find it." Joe said back, "Wrong house." Another time Bill said, "I'm at the grocery store here in Phoenix, all these sad women are in the aisles crying wondering when they're gonna see ya again, what do i tell them." Joe said to Bill, "Give them all a loaf a bread and i'll be over with the peanut butter later."
Bill called Joe one day - didn't know it was the day before he was going to pass and Joe says to Bill, "I need ya"
Bill, "What do you need me for?"
Joe, "I need you on hot corner."
Bill explained to the audience that hot corner is third base - where balls come at you the fastest.
Bill, "Well Joe, I always played second base, where the balls didn't come so fast and when they did I always turned my head."
Joe, "I need you on hot corner, the bases are drunk and i got two balls and no strikes on this guy."
Bill, "Okay Joe, I'll play hot corner and whatever's coming, I'll look it in."
Joe died the next day.
Honey, I'm trying my best to play hot corner and look at whatever's coming in. I try. God, give me strength. I love you honey, you are beautiful.

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