Monday, July 14, 2008

Max Kellerman's Monday Musings Vol XVIII - Of Murcer, Mets and Maturity

Today's Max Kellerman and Brian Kenny show was notable for its solemnity and maturity. This is not to say that the show is usually sophomoric, but there was a seriousness that is not usually found on sports talk radio shows.

The most serious topic was that of the untimely passing of Bobby Murcer. Growing up a Met fan, my only memories of Bobby Murcer were seeing his likeness on my baseball cards and reviewing his stats in The Sporting News. Brian and Max had numerous stories about him which reflected both his career as a player and broadcaster. One particular story that hit home with me was the story that Brian Kenny told about being invited by Bobby M to watch a Yankee game with him. Brian related then when he was 38 (the same age I am now) Bobby said "young man come in and watch the game with me." He related talking strategy with Bobby and positional plays and players. He also used an expression that I am not reproducing correctly, but the gist was that when he replays the greatest moments of his life, this would be one of them.

There was plenty of Met discussion, including a conversation with David Wright. David was able to dodge some of the more pointed questions and talked about how much he likes the team ("they are a great group of guys and we can win together"). A surprising moment was when Max said that he would lead with a discussion about the Mets because they were winners this weekend. Hey, you just can't argue with nine in a row. Still when a caller asking about what the Mets need to get on the back pages (which papers does he read?) Max and Brian started talking about dynasties and such.

An interesting point related to the maturity of Mike Pelfrey. Max observed that sometimes players need to mature before they hit their stride. He made a good point that when Pelfrey broke in as a 21 year old he was much younger than the other players, but now that he has matured, his performance has refined.

Of course, this concept has its roots in Torah thought as well. We know that a person is not responsible for his/her actions, both positive and negatively, until the person reaches the age of maturity (bar or bat mitzva). To this end, a person who is under age cannot gift objects to another (the transaction is void) and is not subject to heavenly punishment for his misdeeds.

I recently read a story about the Steipler Rav (O"h) that underscores this point. The Steipler was seen entering a bar mitzva celebration and speaking with the bar mitzva boy. No one present at the hall knew that there was a connection between this distinguished Rabbi and the family. Additionally, the conversation was a private one solely involving the boy and the Steipler.

It was later learned that a number of years prior, the boy had entered the Steipler's shul on Yom Kippur, carrying a large book. The Steipler approached the boy and gently chided him, saying that Yom Kippur was a day for praying, not a day to be studying Torah from a scholarly text. The boy then showed the Steipler that the book was in reality a large machzor - the traditional prayer book for Yom Kippur.

Although the Steipler Rav had apologized to the boy that very day for suspecting him of acting outside the solemnity of the Yom Kippur day, he was still concerned that he could not receive true mechila (forgiveness) from the boy, because the child was not yet thirteen at the time. Having learned that the child was celebrating his bar mitzva, the Steipler made a beeline for the celebration so that he could obtain proper forgiveness from the boy, now that he had matured and was capable of granting mechila as an adult.

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1 comment:

Magdeburger Joe said...

I like your approach of connecting a matter of secular interest to Torah. Although I am more inclined towards music and politics, I can smell the suds when you talk about beer. I will be sure to visit your site again. A hat tip to J Blog Central for turning me on to your site and others

magdeburger joe of magdeburgerjoe.com and rudi stettner.com