A true giant among so few of them

Greg Maddux' retirement Monday was just the second-most significant in sports this week.

We aren't exactly objective on this subject here at the Daily Herald, but to us Bob Frisk's farewell is No. 1.

Think of giants like Joe Paterno, Cal Ripken Jr. and Don Shula. Package them, tie a blue ribbon around them, and you almost have Frisk.

Almost, but not quite, because combined they still don't measure up.

I didn't choke up Monday while watching clips of Maddux' news conference, but I did Friday while reading Frisk's final column.

Bob is retiring after 50 years at the Herald. For the first time in a half-century, this newspaper, this entire media market, won't benefit from his keen sense of leadership, sportsmanship and friendship.

Although Frisk was sports editor for most of his time here, his legacy will be as a Hall of Fame advocate for high school sports.

That's why Saturday night's basketball game between the Buffalo Grove and Palatine boys teams was called the Bob Frisk Sleighbell Classic.

Folks, when a high school game is named for you, it's clear that residents are grateful you graced their community.

That honor alone places Bob Frisk among sports giants.

Paterno? He would have to be Penn State's head coach for another decade to rival Frisk's longevity here.

Ripken Jr.? He would have had to play another, oh, say a million more straight games to match Frisk's durability.

Shula? The NFL's winningest coach would have had to win dozens more games to be as big a winner as Frisk has been.

Some of you who don't know Bob might consider all this an exaggeration. And to be honest, we at this newspaper do tend to gush about him.

However, what Frisk stood for as sports editor, columnist, historian and department conscience is remarkable. That he did it so long is more remarkable.

Everyone should be fortunate enough to work with somebody who excelled at a job at the same place for 50 years. With somebody who began in the Eisenhower Administration and lasted until the election of Barack Obama. With somebody who came to work for the first time when the Cubs were only halfway to a century of futility.

It will be odd to come to the office and not see Bob at his desk. The Orioles must have felt that way the first time they went to the ballpark and Ripken wasn't in the lineup.

In a world changing at blurring speed, you need something stable to lean on.

Bob Frisk was that guy around here, someone who adapted without changing. I hate that he appears to weigh the same as he did decades ago but love that his positive approach to prep sports never wavered.

Watching athletes mature from boys to men kept Bob young and vibrant and enthusiastic over all these decades.

By not moving on to cover the pros like some of us cynical saps did, Frisk was able to maintain his level of optimism.

This paper will miss that, and readers will miss his uplifting weekly columns, but Bob won't be gone.

He'll still be at prep games applauding the accomplishments of our future doctors, lawyers and public servants.

So as Bob's career winds down, think Paterno, Ripken, Shula, Maddux, Frisk - though certainly not in that order.

mimrem@dailyherald.com