Tragically, the sports world has suffered a great loss
“Tragic” and “great” are two words misused and abused in sports.
Reading or hearing the term “tragic loss” coupled with a game has always made me cringe. Ending up on the wrong end of the scoreboard in a game or meet should not be equated with losses that truly matter.
Then there is the overuse of great. A great play, a great game or a great guy all get thrown around much too easily.
But the shocking news about the death of Daily Herald sports writer Mike Spellman on Tuesday was truly a tragic loss of a great guy.
Mike would be the first to cringe if someone referred to him as a great writer because he would understand that should be reserved for an Ernest Hemingway or a Tom Clancy. Mike was a very talented writer who knew how to bring the right mix of drama and humor to a story that was ultimately about something that was fun.
Mike was also in these pages more than three decades ago as a standout catcher at St. Viator. Someone — likely our colleague John Leusch — had a picture of him during the pregame introductions for the old Hal Sprehe All-Star baseball game that ran in the Herald. Fittingly, the recollection is he was smiling and likely laughing as he shook hands with a teammate.
A lot of people who are now adults also saw their names in the paper thanks to Mike's efforts to chronicle the successes of area kids in youth leagues or underclass sports. Mike would also cover high school games when needed, and never considered it beneath him, but his columns and pro coverage were the best place for him to use his humor in his writing.
Mike was one of the rare people who, no matter what kind of day you were having, would always smile and then greet you in a way that made you both laugh. Having desks next to each other, and growing up as Chicago sports fans in the 1970s, gave us the silly ability to crack up as we tossed out names like George Mitterwald, Whitey Lockman, Harry Chappas, Mirro Roder, Mike Phipps, John “Crash” Mengelt and Chico Maki.
Mike was also always right on target with his impressions of another Chico we knew well, and had fond memories of, in retired Viator teacher and baseball coach Bill Pirman. His renditions of Jack Brickhouse calling Ernie Banks' 500th homer or Moose Moryn's catch to save Don Cardwell's 1960 no-hitter were a laugh riot.
That's what Mike may have understood better than most, especially today, where sports at every level is often taken too seriously. Mike had fun playing in what is often referred to as the newspaper's toy department.
But the best thing about Mike was he did not just make press boxes, press rooms and newsrooms better places. He made life better for all of us who knew him and were fortunate to be around him.
That's why the news of Mike's death made this such a tragic loss. He was a great guy who will truly be missed.
marty.maciaszek@gmail.com