On the Yankees beat

Rieber here.

Just talked to Bobby Murcer. He was one of my favorites growing up -- I remember crying when he was traded for Bobby Bonds -- and since I've become a sports writer he's been as nice to me as anyone I've ever met, in this job or anywhere else.

Usually I scoff when people say "what a great guy" someone is. Bobby Murcer is a great guy and I will never scoff at that.

Here's part of a story I'm writing for tomorrow's paper. Let's all take a moment to keep him in our prayers.

By Anthony Rieber
Beloved Yankee broadcaster Bobby Murcer made his first appearance of the season at Yankee Stadium Thursday. The 61-year-old has been battling brain cancer.
Murcer has his hair and his sense of humor back. Actually, he never lost his sense of humor. He joked about his current treatment regimen – steroids.
“I guess I shouldn’t say that,” he said.
Murcer said he is “cancer-free” after a biopsy in March, but added, “I had some setbacks after my biopsy and I’m still not 100 perecent.”
Murcer will announce tomorrow and Sunday’s games for the YES Network and work next week in the network’s Stamford, Conn., studio. He had hoped to call games in spring training and make it to the Bronx for Opening Day, but was unable to because of his illness.
“I haven’t been as strong this year as I was last year,” he said. “But everything’s all right. Just glad to be here.”
Murcer, who turns 62 on May 20, is releasing a book on the day entitled, “Yankee for Life.”