Scott Pitoniak - "Why do the great ones get let go!"

So last week, people thought I was writing that D&C lay-off post about Scott Pitoniak. I wasn't. In fact it was really for one of my friends who works in lay out. I thought Scott was untouchable. Turns out he wasn't. I want to take the time to talk about how sad this is. Granted Scott wrote on his facebook status that seeing the support he recieved from his friends over the social network was like attending your own funeral. In some perspective it is.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a journalist... a sports journalist. I was never going to play for the Cleveland Indians or skate on Mario's line with Sid the Kid at wing. I was never going to grow taller than six foot to play for the Cavs. I watched 10NBC sports with Rich Funke and later Mark Gruba who I grew up and wanted to be like. I read the occassion D&C (we subscribed to the Daily Messenger at home) to read Bob Matthews column but most importantly for Scott Pitoniak.

Scott was what I wanted to be in a journalist. His writing style and tone for most articles was what I wanted readers to understand. The overall message from his articles that sports were fun. You played sports to escape the harsh realities of life, like kids do. The excitement of the game, the comraderie of team work was what I felt sports were like. Reading his article about a local high school athlete or a reflection on a great game twenty years ago focused on the pure essence of what sports are.

One column I saved, especially since I wanted to do this, was when Scott took over the role of Spikes at a Red Wings game. At the time I was reading too much George Plimpton (read Open Net, great reference to Don Cherry's Rochester days) and was jealous Scott beat me to the punch, filling in for a mascot. I was going to ask the athletics department at Fisher to let me play the Cardinal (unofficial dubbed Carl by Founders Hall).

Junior year at Fisher, I enrolled into the sports writing class, taught by Scott. Not to sound like a preteen girl at an 'NSYNC concert, I was overjoyed. Every class was like learning from the master of sports journalism. I never wanted to let him down. Yes I do understand that it sounds like I had the biggest man crush on him, but let me finish the story. I was so thrilled that by the end of the class, he thought so much of me, he would let me use him as a reference. Granted my dream is to go into television broadcasting, but it was like getting the blessing from God himself.

I have nothing but admiration for the man, the D&C will miss him. Hopefully, more books penned by Scott will come out. Pick up his recent book about Yankee Stadium, it's a great read. I also recommend it if you are like the rest of us at Sal's 401K and abhor that damn team.

Sal Sez: "Scott, you've come a long way babe!"