SPORTS
John Hall - Chapter 18 “Bags Still Empty”
by John Hall, Excerpted from his Memoir “So What!” K
nock him down, drag him out and drag him back in again, Pat Haden never gives up in either the best or worst of
times. It is a badge of honor he can wear with dig-
nity and his usual warming smile as alma mater USC’s Athletic director. No easy job, and that’s the point. Patrick Capper hangs in whatever the odds. In the previous chapter in this romp down
memory lane, I pretty well established the fact Haden was my all time favorite and most frequently visited subject in over 50 years of writing newspaper columns here, there and everywhere they allowed me in the door. One great example is the way Patrick put
it himself in a farewell luncheon he personally hosted when he at last retired from the Rams in June of 1982. It was perfect. Some day they can chisel it
on his tombstone. He never packed his bag early.
“I can call my football career a success for
two reasons,” he said. “One, I always tried my best. Two, I never quit. I hope I can say that after I retire from my next career, too. Some athletes pack their bag early. I can honestly say I never did. I think that’s important.” Retiring from the Rams after seven seasons
with the NFL club, Haden did the inviting and paid for the whole deal himself at a very special luncheon at Cozza’s bar-restaurant in Anaheim around the corner from Rams Park where the club headquartered before leaving Southern California. “I guess you all know I have an announce-
ment to make’” he said at the top of the show. “What I’m going to announce at last is my true height. I’m 5-4.” Definitely, Patrick Capper with the great
sense of humor no matter what. Having a laugh at his own expense. He was listed in all the guides as 5-11 and 185 pounds, but many writers insisted he was much smaller.
Come Play With Us!! RSC Tennis John Hall in his momento-filled garage. When he got serious in saying goodbye on
the mike, he choked up while saying thanks for the memories, and sportscaster Jim Hill did, too, Everybody in the house did as well. But Hill, in particular. “You really hit me,” Hill told Haden later.
I was also 29 when I retired from football.” “I didn’t expect that to happen,” said
Haden. “ I didn’t think it would be this diffi- cult. I promised myself I wouldn’t crack up.” At one point when his voice broke, he stepped back and bowed his head for a moment, then clapped his hands like a quarterback coming out of a huddle and moved forward again. “Excuse me,” he said. “I’ll try to continue
without the dramatics.” Two things were so typical of Haden. Be-
fore the formal session, he went around the en- tire dining room thanking each individual for showing up. And then he thanked everyone again when he started the program, including his parents, his wife, the coach, the owner, the club’s PR director and the secretary in the PR
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typical. As Haden finished speaking the first time, Times sportswriter Rich Roberts sud- denly got to his feet and started clapping, Soon, everybody in the room was up and applaud- ing. The clapping went on and on for several minutes. I’ve never seen anything like it. The media turnout was tremendous al-
though the hard news had been delivered well in advance. It was a mark of the respect the en- tire fraternity had for Haden and his unpacked bags along with his sense of humor and intelli- gence.
After he’d laughed and cried and spoken
for 25 minutes from notes he’d made that morning, he answered questions for another 30 minutes and then while everyone was eating lunch, he did individual interviews with the TV and radio crews. It was a once in a lifetime event. For sure,
he didn’t pack his bag early and I don’t think he ever will.❂
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