Ernie Harwell is a friend of mine. He has had a profound impact on my life. He hasn’t rescued me from a fire or lent me a large sum of money to get out of debt - or anything like that.
His impact has come from little messages. A phone call here. A short note there. Perhaps an e-mail. Most have been complimentary - when I’ve been feeling down. I don’t know if it has been coincidence or not, but his timing has been uncanny - and uplifting. Other times, Ernie has reminded me about how one should act professionally and personally. When you add all those "little" messages together, they present one "big" impact. What a good man.
I feel for Ernie in his situation of being diagnosed with cancer. I also know him well enough to understand he is at peace. It’s sometimes forgotten how tough he is - the man was a marine, you know. I feel for his wife, Lulu. I’ve had some nice talks with Lulu that I remember well and treasure. She makes a great chicken salad sandwich, too. As good as Ernie is, she is his better half. Ernie would be the first to tell you that.
I’ve gotten a lot more out of knowing Ernie than he could ever have gotten out of knowing me.
And thing is, the way I feel is the way all people feel. Like Ernie is their good friend. Like all those little messages he has delivered down through the years have added up to one big impact in their lives.
It’s why he so loved. A truly gifted and great broadcaster. A better person.

My column in today's Oakland Press on perceptions and realities about the Tigers: http://tinyurl.com/lbkf6z