Annette and nine more

Annette Funicello passed away this past year. She was for me, and for millions of guys my age, our first television crush. She heads my personal sad list of 10 people whom we lost in 2013. All of these individuals had an impact on my life, as I am sure they did for many of you.

Annette was for me and any other red blooded American boy in the late '50s and early '60s, the most beautiful girl we had ever seen. The "Mickey Mouse Club" show was a regular daily event for most of us. I suspect many of you remember all the Mousketeers.

Stan "The Man" Musial played his last innings this year too. In what I think of as the "Golden Age" of baseball, Stan was a quiet and much overlooked All Star.

In an era that boasted famous players such as Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Duke Snider, Musial quietly went about his business of being perhaps the best all around player of that era. One little remembered part of his life, was when he was chosen by President Johnson to be the director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness.

Tom Clancy left us this year, but he also left us with a wealth of great novels. My personal favorite was "The Hunt For Red October." This suspense thriller set during the depths of the Cold War era, was also made into a hit movie.

Clancy's books gave all of us a unique insight into our country's mechanisms of defense and espionage. His accuracy and attention to details, were acclaimed by many military leaders.

Roger Ebert was one of our greatest film critics. I first got to know and enjoy his movie reviews when he was part of the Siskel and Ebert show. Their legendary "thumbs up or thumbs down" critiques became a part of our modern day language vocabulary.

After Siskel's death, Roger kept on with his own review show. Over the past few years he had battled severe cancer, which had caused him to loose almost all of his face and ability to talk. Not letting that slow him down, he used some new technology that permitted him to digitally voice his reviews. Many times I went to watch a relatively unknown movie just because Ebert said it was a gem worth one's time.

Improvisation is a word that should have Jonathan Winter's picture beside it in the dictionary. Winters made me laugh for decades, and often he had only his voice and facial movements, to elicit some new comic character.

When he visited the Tonight Show, his antics often forced Johnny Carson into uncontrollable laughter. My own personal favorite character from his long career, was his part in the television series "Mork and Mindy," where he played the part of their son. Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters, it makes my sides sore just thinking about the laughter they would cause for me.

David Frost was an Englishman that America trusted as one of our own. He was part showman and part journalist. Frost had an uncanny ability to get people to divulge some of their best kept secrets.

He is always remembered for his interview with former President Richard Nixon. It was the only time ever, that Nixon actually admitted to his actions in the Watergate scandal, and also told Frost of his regrets. If you've never seen the Frost-Nixon movie, you have missed a significant American story.

The White House Briefing Room lost Helen Thomas in 2013. In an era when news was mostly the venue for men, Ms. Thomas carved out her own place in the history of American journalism.

No president wanted to have to face her withering questions, but her prominence was such, that they could not afford to duck her in a press conference. It mattered not what party you were from, Helen was always willing to ask the tough questions for which all of America needed to have answers.

I came to the game of golf late in life, in my early 30s. Despite my poor ability, I have loved this game as I do no other. One of the individuals that caused me to hold the game in such high regard, was the television golf host, Ken Venturi.

In a business where correct grammar is considered a requirement, Venturi never earned a passing grade. Still, there have been few golf commentators such as Ken, who could tell you in his own words, what was going on during a tournament. The Bing Crosby and the Masters are not the same without him.

The NFL exploded as a television giant in the late '60s and early '70s. The first mega star commentator was Pat Summerall. In the broadcast world of the NFL, there are only two giants to which you can compare yourself. Pat Summerall and John Madden head that list. Summerall had that special knack of broadcasting the game, but also giving you a personal insight that made the NFL seem real.

George Jones was once given the name attachment, "no show Jones!" George was an amazing talent, but like many gifted singer/song writers, he battled his own demons. In his early career he missed many concert dates due to his struggles with alcohol.

Perhaps it was his weakness that permitted George to write and sing songs that touched the hearts and souls of so many. As I wrote in a recent column, there is a saying among country performers and fans when they want to hear real country, "play me a George Jones song!" I hope he and Tammy are up there singing a duet together again.

For all of these who meant so much to me, I close with the verse that the Mousketeers sang so many times ..."Now it's time to say goodbye to all our company M-I-C, see you real soon, K-E-Y, why? because we love you, M-O-U-S-E."