The Writer's Life 9/23 - Icon

RIP Lawrence Peter Berra, 90, baseball legend and American icon. Even Yankees haters loved Yogi. His accomplishments are staggering. He was a member of 13 world championship teams, 10 as a player. An 18-time all-star, he led the Yankees in RBIs for seven straight seasons, on teams that featured Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. He was a three-time AL MVP. He managed both the Yanks and Mets to pennants, losing the World Series to the Cardinals and A’s. I’ll never forget the ad he did for Yoo-Hoo, which had him climbing a billboard and robbing a batter of a home run, and his spouting: “Mee-hee for Yoo-Hoo.” He was famous for hysterical quotes, many of which he claimed he didn’t say. My favorite: “No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.” He served in the Navy during WWII, and was a gunner’s mate on the USS Bayfield on DDAY. There are nine books under his name. He joins his beloved wife Carmen in heaven. Well done, sir.

Also in baseball: Here are three youngsters making a name for themselves. Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals is batting .342, has 41 HRs, 94 RBI, 118 BBs, 116 runs scored. His OB% is .447. He is only 22... Jake Arrieta, 29, of the Chicago Cubs won his 20th game last night. He has only six losses. His ERA is 1.88. A true stopper, he is 9-1 following a Cubs’ loss. His teammate, Kris Bryant, 23, set a Cubs’ rookie record by hitting his 26th HR.

Having enjoyed the movie on which it is based, I looked forward to watching the premiere of Limitless last night on CBS at ten. It didn’t disappoint, but it looks like it will be limited strictly to an action series. The story involves the taking of a pill that has the brain hitting on all cylinders. Bradley Cooper, the star of the film and one of the producers of the series, made an appearance. Hollywood veterans Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Blair Brown and Ron Rifkin lend support. Jake McDorman, who appeared with Cooper in American Sniper (2014), which I’ve yet to see, is the star.

Given the heavy Jewish presence at my usual nook and in the area of Bay Parkway, I decided to take the floating book shop to Park Slope today, Yom Kippur. Of all the hundreds who passed, only one bought. My thanks to the young mom who purchased J. D. Mason's You Gotta Sin to Be Saved.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/