By Jordan Yanco
I admit, I haven’t been keeping up with Meet the Press nearly as much as I should have over the past decade, but the passing of Tim Russert made me curious. The tribute shows and clips made me more curious, and suddenly I wished I’d gotten to know the man before his terrible tragedy.
He didn’t just get the obligatory “1950-2008″ picture, he got so much more from friends and colleagues who appreciated his hard-hitting questions and preparation on the air, as well as his kindness, his faith in God, his consideration, and his friendship off the air.
Watch the last 10 minutes of the Sunday 6/15 Meet the Press tribute round table where they put pictures and Tim sound bytes to Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” and if you don’t start crying, then you obviously have no heart beating in your chest. I immediately bought his two books on Amazon, and am curious to find how how they will attempt to “replace” him.
This proud Buffalo native, son of ‘Big Russ’ and father to Luke reached the pinnacle of American journalism and truly loved what he did. He was taken from our living rooms years before he was meant to be, during an election year he relished, and with so many more contributions he would have gladly offered. This is what makes his passing most tragic of all.