WE MISS YOU HARRY

I keep hearing him in my head. Every memory. Can't turn it off...and don't ever want to. Sharing brief moments with Harry the K was a gift. One that I will forever treasure. I watched hours of coverage in the past 24 hours. Sad, but at the same time, it brought many smiles to my face. One word is constant when Harry is talked about, and it is a word that I, too, have always used to describe him...genuine. You meet people in the public eye and many don't want to be bothered. Some will put up with it, and then complain after the fact behind your back. Harry was consistently gracious. To everyone. He would genuinely listen. He would have a genuine conversation. That is something that you just felt.

Philly is tough on people in the public eye. Especially, those involved in sports. Love you one day and then hate you the next. Just part of the process. I can not think of one figure who has not had to deal with both sides...except Harry. No one had anything bad to say about Harry, and Harry had nothing bad to say about anyone. Maybe that is karma working in it's truest form.

I am eternally grateful to the Phillies organization for providing me with opportunities with Harry...especially my friend John Brazer, Phillies director of Fun & Games. Everytime I interviewed Harry down at Spring Training, I would purposely get the name of the stadium wrong. Kurt Russell stadium, Russell Crowe stadium, Keri Russell stadium, Snake Plissken, etc. Harry would always correct me, "That's Jack Russel Stadium, Couzin Ed." It was just something stupid, but year after year, it just became a thing. Yesterday, I received a text from John that said "That's Jack Russel Stadium, Couzin Ed." It was hard to fight back the tears. Still is.

I searched through all my files for memories of Harry, but unfortunately only found 2 saved interviews. Or, should I say, fortunately. I loved to hear him laugh...which was easy to do because he was always in a good mood. If we all could just be a little more like Harry.

If you would like to hear the audio, both interviews are posted below.

Click below to hear Harry talk about Tug, Merril Reese, and how back in day he would speed up road games that he had to re-create on the radio.

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