Josh Hamilton's "Homecoming."
The last report I sent out was 2,554 words, yesterday morning. It wasn't until 1,863 words in that I mentioned to you that the first episode of ESPN's new series, "Homecoming with Rick Reilly," would air tonight at 7 p.m., featuring Josh Hamilton. I didn't know the format of the series or the nature of the story they were going to tell, and I'm sorry that I didn't learn more about it in advance so I could pass that along to you. I didn't even know it was actually going to be on ESPN*2*, and I'm sorry about that, too. More than anything, it shouldn't have been buried 1,800 words into a report that probably got deleted halfway through by those of you who managed to stick it out for that long, and I apologize for that. I don't know when tonight's episode of "Homecoming" will re-air, if at all, but I'm not deleting that DVR timer, and every time it does show back up, I will watch it again. Every time. I've read Josh's book, and probably every article out there that's been written about him. But I learned a lot more tonight, and got the chance to put faces and voices and stories to names. One person's absence from the packed auditorium at Josh's high school for the taping of the show stood out. His wife and one of their daughters were there, and so was their pastor, and Josh's parents and more family, high school teammates and coaches and Ashley Pittman, and Johnny Narron and Jerry Narron and other instrumental people in his recovery, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Clay Council. But Josh's grandmother Mary Holt wasn't there, and since the show was filmed minutes from where she lives that makes me less than optimistic that we might see her one day in Arlington. The footage of Mary and Josh sitting together on a couch in her home, talking about what they went through together, was unforgettable, but she wasn't in the auditorium with everyone else. For 22 years the Rangers have had a "Texas Hero" throw out the first pitch on Opening Day at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. There have been police officers and firefighters who have saved lives. A World War II pilot who received the Bronze and Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts. A 10-year-old boy who pulled his unconscious sister from the bottom of a swimming pool. Tom Landry and Jessica McClure and military leaders and an entire platoon. She's not from Texas, but if there were any way to get Mary Holt onto that mound to bring in the next new baseball season, I promise that I will respond with the longest standing ovation I have ever given anybody, anywhere. Sorry I didn't alert you to the "Homecoming" episode any more prominently than I did on Thursday morning, but I had no idea what we'd be getting. When I learn when it will air again, I will let all of you know, in its own email, not buried a million words down. =========================================================== To join the free Newberg Report mailing list so you can get e-mail deliveries of every edition of the newsletter, daily minor league game recaps, and frequent Newberg Report News Flashes, go to www.newbergreport.com and click the "Mailing List" link on the top menu bar. (c) Jamey Newberg http://www.newbergreport.com If you want to be removed from this list, please e-mail me at newbergreport@sbcglobal.net You can read more from Jamey Newberg at www.NewbergReport.com.