Lotta Bad News Today

Submitted by Dan Coughlin on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 9:26pm

Just learned of the passing of Mary McCrone, first producer of the Sports Page TV show at Channel 8 which I co-hosted with Mark Schroeder and John Telich in the mid-1990's. She was found dead in Los Angeles the day after Christmas. What a piece of work she was, and I say that with affection and admiration. She was imaginative and dynamic. She discovered Tony Rizzo on radio and opened doors that led him to television on Fox 8. In a previous life she was married to Michael Stanley.

That's just the start.

Bob Nold, baseball writer for the Akron Beacon-Journal in the 1970's, died last week. A wonderful fellow. I remember him as the most accurate reporter I ever went up against. He was a student of the game and a gentleman.

Earlier this week network sportscaster Dave Diles died in Athens, close to his beloved Ohio University. Dave anchored the Progressive College Scoreboard every football Saturday on ABC TV in the 1960's. His son is athletic director of Case-Western Reserve and his grandson played high school football at Chagrin Falls.

Then in today's Plain Dealer I see that Hall of Fame track coach Jim Zickes passed away on New Year's Eve at 77. He taught and coached track at Rhodes High School for most of his working life. Visitation Sunday 2-4 and 6-8 at Misencik Funeral Home in Avon. Funeral Monday morning 10 o'clock Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Avon. In Jim's case, please pass this along to anyone connected with high school sports. They will want to pay their respects.

Now, to our dear friend Dick Zunt. He's still hanging in there at the Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E. 185th St., Cleveland. Cancer has an iron grip on him. He's had a steady stream of visitors from sports and his old Plain Dealer colleagues. Here's just a sampling:

Former Euclid High basketball coach Doc Daughterty, Fox 8's John Telich, Benedictine's Wally Mieskoski and former PD colleagues Eddie Dwyer, Mike Peticca, Chuck Murr, Russ Schneider, Chuck Webster, Mary Schmitt Boyer, Bob Fortuna and John Sheridan. I know I missed some people. I'll check the sign-in book later today. Better get there fast. The clock is ticking on our dear friend.