Terrible news. I am not a regular SportsCenter viewer any more but when I was he was one of my favorites, too, and for exactly the reasons you mention. He knew his stuff and was also a soothing presence on the air.
I will listen to the clips when I can get the ******(*) sound driver working again. You would think it would be simple, but no. This house is suddenly afflicted with computer problems. My primary PC and monitor have apparently died and so has Emily's Macintosh. I was hacked a few weeks ago and think they left behind a time bomb that prevents me from even scrubbing everything and starting over. Yeah, I know, the shoemaker's kids.
Semi-related, if you or anyone else here knows of any FoxPro work please let me know. I could definitely use the money and a way to spend my time usefully. When I put my head down and concentrate on the work I can still do the job. Not so much lately, and not boasting, but I have done a lot for this community and think I deserve a last chance. Which I would approach as such.
Best of luck in your new habitat. They won't know what hit them. Now I will let you go and enjoy the small stuff (football) and the big stuff (Katy and your wife).
49, that's so young. One of my very best friends died of cancer at 55 in August after a four year battle with cancer. He fought it right to the end. He was a starting tight end at Wake Forest and was respected by everyone in the company, some of whom didn't even know he played football. He was a pro's pro. We went to lunch often at the nearest Chili's, where he always ordered the exact same thing (the chicken sandwich), even after we both left the company. If there is a god, he has a cruel sense of humor. Worthless jerks who are of no use to anyone live into their 90s and Jim went at 55.
This is a really long post from Jim's eulogies. Some things are worth reading and some people are worth remembering.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Jim Kennedy – August 22, 2014 V4
Jim Kennedy
For those that don't know me, my name is Tom Munz. I have known Jim for 20 years. We connected through families, neighborhood, golf, our kids sports teams, and schools. For the past 18 months Jim joined me, Bob Sparr and Dan DiCaro for morning coffee at a various spots in Mt Prospect. It is amazing how many world problems Jim solved during these outings. I only wish I had taken notes or taped the conversations.
When I was asked to share some thoughts today I realized my 20 years was missing out on way too much of Jim's life. So I started making phone calls and sending emails. I sent emails to Jim's long time friends. Chris Hanson and Larry Dahl. Reached out to some of his coaches – 7th grade basketball Coach Jerry Scherrer, High School Football coach Fred Lussow, Wake Forest Football Coach John Mackovic. Wake Forest teammates Sid Kiston, Bill Ard, and Jay Venuto.
So Donna, if you hear something you like those are my comments, however if you hear something that upsets you, it came from one of the others.
I watch the Late Show with David Letterman and am using his format of the Top 10 List.
So here are the Top Ten things that impacted Jim's Life
Instead of starting at 10, I am just going to read 1 through 5 and then provide comments on 6 through 10.
So here are the top five things that impacted Jim's life:
# 1 Family and Friends
# 2 Family and Friends
# 3 Family and Friends
# 4 Family and Friends
# 5 Family and Friends
Need I say more? So let's get started with the bottom half of the top ten lists.
Things that impacted Jim's life #10 Food
Jim and I spent a number of years in the Indian princess and guides programs. Jim was always the grill master for our tribes, making sure that all kids and Dads got their fill of great grilled brats, burgers, hot dogs, etc. before he would think of enjoying anything for himself. There never seemed to be any leftovers, and that may be because Jim never met a sausage that he didn't like. We were at so many high school sporting events. Jim started judging the schools on the quality of their food. In case you re interested here are the top two spots – Downers Grove North - Girls Invitational track meet – phenomenal brats. Barrington HS – Football games – unbelievable BBQ pork sandwiches.
Syd Kinston, teammate from Wake Forest who went on to play for the Packers, said that when the Packers were in Chicago, that Jim and his Dad would treat Syd and a number of players to a post game feast. Syd said that so much food came out, that he was full after the appetizers.
He went on to say the Kennedys were just getting started. Things that impacted Jim's life
#9 Beverages
Bill Ard – related a beverage story that followed the finish of spring football at Wake Forest. Jim and some of the guys decided it was time celebrate the end of spring football. Jim had “the car” and he always had a way to round up some money. So he made a trip to a local beverage center and returned with several kegs of the Schlitz Malt Liquor – -- known as The Bull. Bill went on to say that The Bull had more kick than Clemson football team ever did. Apparently The Bull kicked so hard that night, that following day it was like the Ebola virus hit the entire Wake Forest football team. It is believed that this is the event that changed Jim's beverage of choice to Miller Lite.
How about a quick Quiz on Miller Lite and Jim Do you know anyone who likes Miller Lite more than Jim? Do you know anyone who would take a wagon to reportedly help the kids trick or treat – but in reality it was to make sure that there was enough Miller Lite for the parents? Did you know that they did not allow Miller Lite at Indian princess or Indian guide campouts? -- Neither did Jim! Did you know that the evening that the Kennedys & Hansons introduced Amy to Larry Dahl they decided that it would be great time to play the Miller Lite - PassOut game? Now those are True friends!
Things that impacted Jim's life # 8
Trans Am and Suburban
Jim headed off to Wake Forest with a Trans Am and that car came up in many of the conversations with his teammates. As one of them said: “Trans-Am was the car of choice and even better Jim would let us borrow it!!!”
One day Jim & Syd had started their laundry when a couple teammates snuck in and stole their clothes and then spread them all over campus.
Jim and Syd discovered what was happening, so while their clothes were getting spread around campus they went to the two guys apartment and took their clothes. Jumped in the Trans AM and headed down Interstate 4 tossing out clothes over a 5 mile stretch. You have to love teammates.
As for the suburban, it showed up following the addition of Meghan, Matt, and Patrick to the Kennedy family.
And it served on so many trips to Wisconsin.
It also served as a community transportation vehicle. I saw it in action at Indian Guide and Princess outings.
As one dad described it - Jim made sure everything got to where it needed to be. Jim was always willing to bring anything (grill, charcoal, property box, even the life sized Winnie the Pooh for our Kickapoo tribe) but most importantly, Jim was the Dad who would make sure any child whose father could not make it to the campout or meeting did not miss out; they went with Jim.
Jim and the suburban seemed to have no capacity limit and the only thing bigger than the suburban was Jim's heart.
Things that impacted Jim's life
#7 Football - Coaching
Players described Jim as their favorite teammate in all their years of playing football and for the three Wake Forest Players that included their 15 years in the NFL.
Before I go on, let me give you a little background on Wake Forest Football.
Jim was one of the first recipients of the Brian Piccolo scholarship at Wake Forest.
Leading up to Jim's junior year the team had gone 7 years without a winning record. During that 7-year stretch they complied a record of 16 wins, 62 losses, and a tie.
In Jim's junior year, they were 8-3 and earned their first bowl bid in 42 years. Probably their biggest game that year was beating University of Georgia at Georgia – They went into the game a 25-point underdog.
When I reached out to Wake Forest they provided me an email address for Coach John Mackovic. I sent him a short email with a subject line of Jim Kennedy. Ten minutes later he was calling me on the phone.
Here are comments from Coach Mackovic. “Whatever was asked of Jim he did it, and coaches knew he could be counted on to get it done.”
It was part way into the season when Jim became the starting tight end. The Coach said he took some heat for that decision. As the current tight end was leading the league in receptions and yardage. Jim performed great and the change was a key piece of why they had such a great season.
Coach Mackovic said that several years later Jim paid him the one of the 3 best compliments he has ever received as a coach.
He said, Coach, you got our team to believe we were better than we really were.
I spoke Fred Lussow - Varsity Football coach at ForestView High School.
Fred shared that Jim would always complete his assignments even if there were major obstacles. So as a coach he never had to worry about staying on Jim to get the job done.
Coach Scherrer was Jim's 7th grade junior high basketball coach. Jim said this first school experience of sports became a life lesson for him that influenced him in all of his future roles in youth sports both as a coach and program coordinator. He said Coach Scherrer put him on the team even though he had no hand eye coordination for the game. He gave him opportunities to play and learn the skills needed for basketball.
For many years Jim served as a coach and coordinator for the Mount Prospect Youth Football and Junior Knights Basketball. Based on his experience from 7th grade his focus for youth sports was not on the win loss record. I'm not saying that he did not like to win. But the primary focus was teaching skills and giving kids opportunities. He wanted to get everyone ready to play at the high school level.
Things that impacted Jim's life
#6 Smile & Attitude
In the past few days I heard so many comments related to Jim's great smile & his positive attitude. The following are comments I heard last night or were shared with me during contacts with teammates, coaches, and friends.
1) Any time we think of Jim we have to smile -- that was his unique gift to his family and friends. He had a way of making people smile because he was consistently smiling and laughing -- internally and outwardly.
2) We have so many memories -- and that is what makes friendships and life so special – those memories with Jim and Donna are all laced together with smiles and laughter.
3) Incredible guy, very funny, witty – hilarious guy.
4) Coach Mackovic - Good outlook –Always upbeat – He did not clown around at practice but on the other hand he was always close to the action.
5) Jim was the eternal optimist's eternal optimist.
6) Jim never had a bad day!!
Coach Lussow and Coach Hedstrom went to NWCH shortly after Jim was admitted to the hospital in 2010. Coach Lussow said they were both uncertain what they could say or do to provide encouragement. After the visiting they both walked out recognizing that Jim had pumped them up about how great things were and were going to be. .
7) Simply put Jim is good guy and a "man's man."
I was going to finish with that last line but this morning the phone rang. It was Syd Kiston. Syd was the player that was moved to right guard to get Jim into the starting line at Wake Forest. He wanted me to share one more thing.
He said: “Jim is one of those unique people that is not only a wonderful guy and friend, but someone that touches you and makes your life better.”
(start of paste)
Donna, Meghan, Matt, & Patrick – thank you for letting me share some thoughts and memories - morning coffee will never be the same.
~
Eulogy from dear friend, Tom Munz
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Good morning! For those of you I have not met, I'm Tony Fini, one of Jim's brother-in-law's. Typically in situations like this it would be Jim who would stand up and provide us with some witty comments and observations. I always marveled at his ability to capture the room. It was always a tough act to follow, but I'll to do my best to carry-on the tradition.
In preparing for today's service, I tried to think of how I could honor Jim without falling into a pile of sobbing tears, which wasn't easy. You see, these last 30 years, I've been able to observe Jim in variety of different situations that often made me laugh, made me think, sometimes make me scratch my head, and earlier this week made me cry.
Through the years I'd like to think that I was able to get a handle on the type of a man Jim was, so let's see if I can quickly net it out for you..
Whether you knew him as James, Jim, Jimmy, JK, James Martin (when he was bad), coach, Dad , Uncle Jim or Doctor Kennedy, you knew a person that was larger-than-life, a very strong personality. Jim was definitely a glass half full type of guy. He was a fighter (in more ways than one), and did I mention he could be stubborn?
When Jim came into a room, Jim came into her room! More often than not with a smile on his face, a firm handshake or hug and some wisecrack to offer.
Jim loved sharing a joke, with spot on accents included. He wasn't shy to share his views on current events, sports, conspiracy theories, or the how he might run the world if he were King.
Jim deeply loved his family and friends, many of whom are here today, some that have passed, and other's that could not be here today. Jim always wanted the best for everyone. More often than not when a young footballer or basket baller couldn't seem to get it right, Coach Jim had a way of making it all better by simply putting his arm around you and reassuring you that everything would be okay. He would do the same for us grown-ups as well.
Of course, this is the same guy that never met a Miller Lite, Absolute and Tonic, Margarita, or Bratwurst he didn't like. As I look around the room, there are many stories that can be shared and some that probably shouldn't, about a person who truly loved life and the people he met along the way.
I could go on for hours about Jim and some of our escapades, but in the interest of time let me end with one last thought. If you've ever been in Jim and Donna's home there's a sign above the stairs going down from the living room to the family room which I think sums up Jim's life-
the sign says “live, laugh, love”. I think it truly defines the life that Jim and Donna have shared during their many years together.
Whether it was dancing on a table with their rendition to Meat Loaf's “dancing by the dashboard lights,” or a very scary impromptu version of YMCA with his Italian brother in law (if I recall, Jim was the Sailor and I was the cop or was it the other way around? – hopefully there aren't any videos or pictures of that floating around), Jim always believed in having a great time and enjoying the moment whether it was with family or friends. Laughing and loving were mandatory in the Kennedy household, but living, yes living, that was something Jim excelled in.
Today we say good bye to the body, but our memories are forever. Jim it has been a pleasure and an honor to be in your company. Safe travels, my friend. By the way, after you get done telling some of your best jokes, can you put in a good word with the man upstairs for our beloved Bears? You know, between beers….
~
Eulogy from Jim's brother-in-law, Tony Fini
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
On behalf of my mother and father, my brother Patrick, and my sister Kathleen I would like to say a few words about their son and our brother Jim.
We loved him since before he was born - and after he was born we adored him. My sister Kathleen remembers that when he was just an infant we used to line up to take turns sitting next to the bassinette so we could look at him. To put a finer point on it, there were scores of baby pictures of our older brother Pat and some photos of me and some of our sister Kathleen but there were probably about 6,000 pictures of Jim. We couldn't get enough of him.
He was indulged but not spoiled. He adored his older brother Pat and wanted to do everything Pat did. He even wanted to dress like his older brother. So in 1965,when Pat was 18 and going off to college and Jim was 6 you can be sure Jim was probably the only first grader at Sunset Elementary school in tan corduroy levis, a light blue oxford cloth button down shirt and a maroon v-neck sweater.
Our father played high school and college football as did our older brother Pat so it was they who taught Jim about the basics and the drive necessary to be successful in the game, but it was his sister Kathleen and I who taught him to be tough. Until he was about 5 we used to dress him in the most outlandish outfits, lots of weird hats and as I remember, for some reason we always had him with a cigar in his mouth like our dad. But enough was enough and the last time we did that was probably the last time Jim ever took any guff from anyone.
Jim was tough - but tough on the inside. On the outside he was bright and charming, so quick and funny – he got along with everyone. He had his father's tenacity and his mother's compassion.
Now let me go back for a minute to the he was indulged not spoiled thing. That may have been an overstatement. Ok, he was spoiled. As a matter of fact, our grandmother, who lived with us, used to get up at 5 in the morning to bake chicken because Jimbo liked chicken sandwiches for lunch and God forbid if you came home from school and there were 2 chocolate puddings on the kitchen counter and you went for one of them.
“ Those are for Jimmy”
Both of them?
“Just leave them alone”.
OK
Of course in high school he was a basketball and football star and after winning the Brian Piccolo Football Scholarship he was off to Wake Forest to play ball there. Our parents were so proud of him. They loved going to his games.
Although he was very successful at football Jim's biggest successes in life were not on the field. After graduating from Wake he met Donna and then his life really was special. Those two were a match made in heaven. He adored her. She adored him. They shared the same whacky sense of humor, but more importantly they shared the same values.
Jim's legacy is his family. His wonderful wife and their three amazing children: Meghan, Matthew and Patrick. He taught them to be courageous, decent, hardworking and kind and he taught them that “family isn't everything……it's the only thing”.
Jim lived for his family and no man leaves a finer legacy than that.
~
Eulogy from Jim's sister, Mary
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
We are Jim's children, Meghan, Matt and PJ. We would first like to start off by thanking everyone for their support over the past few days and throughout the past 4 years. I would also like to thank everyone for being here today to celebrate the life of the most incredible man we have ever known.
Anyone that ever had a chance to listen to my dad speak at an event like this knows he had a special gift for public speaking. We decided to try and give it a shot.
While sitting around the past few days, the three of us have talked about how we would describe our dad to someone who didn't know him. One simple, yet descriptive word that came to mind is, “Coach”. Our dad was known as an athletic coach by many people in this room, and he was loved for his incredible gift of working with young athletes. The three of us bonded with our dad in various ways. Whether it was during car rides to games, unforgettable post-game talks, or a victory hot dog at portillos. He loved each of his athletes, and truly put more effort and time into coaching than most other things in life.
However our dad was not only an athletic coach. He coached his family and friends in life. Whether it was showing us how to be tough by walking off a sprained ankle, or inspiring us with one of his "talks" or letters when our athletic careers came to an end, (some sooner than others) or simply helping us see the good in difficult situations, he led the fullest life in the most pure and positive way. He taught us how to be selfless, kind, and positive in each and every situation.
Our dad also coached us on how to fight. His 4 year battle with stage 4 cancer exemplified his ability to remain positive, courageous, and focused during the most difficult of times. My dad never used cancer as a crutch...unless of course it was his turn to get the next round of beers. He immediately became immobile and his throat even more parched. He completed 65 treatments and put together an impressive track record of outliving any estimates of time left the doctors gave him. They finally stopped guessing all together because they realized our dad had something that could not be measured by any medical instrument. His will to live and his "never give up" attitude were nothing short of amazing and something we can all take a page from.
Our dad was also a coach in love. (This was section was clearly written by Meghan.) Our dad taught us how to love by his example of how he loved our mother. Their love was more pure than anything we have ever seen, and we are forever grateful he was our coach in this area of life. (Even if it has taken PJ and I longer to catch on) Our dad truly loved his family, his friends, and his life more than words can describe.
While going through some of his things, we found the rough draft of a book our dad had started after he was diagnosed. He titled it, “The Luckiest Man Alive”. If that isn't a firsthand example of his love for life, even under the worst circumstances, we don't know what is.
We know our dad is not physically with us, but he will live on forever through the three of us. Whether it's through the way he's influenced our meticulous organizational skills, our positive outlook on life, or our ability to convince people that "of course that table is strong enough to dance on". He will remain a major part of us forever. We are so blessed that he and our mom raised us the way that they did.
With that being said, he will also live on through all of you. We have heard from many people, that our dad truly had an impact on their life. So next time you take a sip of a Miller Light, an absolute and tonic, or find yourself in a physical altercation at a Bear's game, remember that Jim Kennedy is a part of you. He loved each and every one of us, and would want all of us to know that while he was a big part in shaping who we are today, we all played a role in the man he was, and the man he will be remembered as.
We love you, Coach.
~
Eulogy from Jim's children
http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/dignitymemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=james-kennedy&pid=172172798&page=1>
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/12118296/stuart-scott-espn-anchor-dies-age-49>
>Goes without saying, very sad news when this happens to anyone, period.
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>Scott was one of my favorites at ESPN.
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>Some of his best sayings/expressions...(if you've never heard him say these, look them up on YouTube, he had a special way of delivering these)
>
>Boo-yah!!!
>As Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow
>They Call Him the Windex Man ‘Cause He’s Always Cleaning the Glass
>Like gravy on a biscuit, it’s all good!
>Just call him butter cuz he’s on a roll
>Call him carwash cuz he’s automatic
