Jim Nantz on Sports, His Father, and Alzheimer's

Your father and my father

I was so moved by your book because unfortunately, I felt as though you could have been writing about my father. My father recently passed away from another terrible disease called CGBD and he was a sports fantatic as well. I have kids and would have loved for him to share all of his sports experiences with them. My father would have loved your book and my brother, who works for MLB, probably feels the same way you do in that there are so many experiences, journeys, he would have loved to take with my father regarding baseball, golf, etc. I still grieve everyday for my father and what he could have offered not only myself and my family, but the world. Just like your father, he was an optimist, a fair and generous person and always knew the difference between right and wrong. He appreciated everyday and always had the best advice to give. He was my rock and the one person who's judgment I knew to take without question. Golf was the one game that he could not master but all sports fascinated him. I know you appreciate what you have and although your book made my cry a lot, it was somewhat cathartic and know that my father would have been proud of me for reading it.

Jim Nantz

Jim,

Just finished your book, really enjoyed it. A real tribute to your father! I'm sure he is smiling from heaven. Enjoyed all te stories and will recommend this book to all of my brothers. Also enjoyed your Master stories, just terrific. Your a Class act. You've done your father/family proud!

Tribute to your father

Mr Nantz,

I just finished your book and what a wonderful, interesting life you have had. I grew up in a sports family also. All four kids were on the AAU Swim Team and my younger brother swam with Rowdy Gaines. As they progressed to U of Florida Rowdy was swimming and my brother was golfing. My father and mother were an avid golfers and my brother started as soon as he could hold a cut off club. I admire you that you could write such a beautiful story of your family life growing up and then into your career life. I too am a full time care taker for my mother who turned 85 in June. Altho it is not alzheimers, she can not do much for herself and needs full time care. Thank you for sharing your story, it really has helped me, I know I'm not alone in my struggle.

The Long Good-bye

I am touched by this wonderful tribute to Jim's father. I too, am all too familiar with the affects of Alzhiemer on a parent. My mother passed in 2001 of 'Frontal Lobe/ Leweybodies Alzhiemer and my father just recently passed from affects of Vascular Dementia. The end results are the same. I kept them both home for as long as I could until the agonizing decision had to be made for each to be placed in a facility.To lose my mother was the hardest thing in my life and then to have to witness it all over again with my father, was unbearable. Today, there are still no real answer to these diseases. My hope is that we can continue to find the medicines that will soften it's blow, not only on the loved one but the families involved. I am still grieving my dad's passing and still praying for those who are going through what many of us have gone through.

Jim Nantz

I JUST READ THE JIM NANTZ BOOK ABOUT HIS CAREER AND HIS FATHERS ALZHEIMERS. THE BOOK ITSELF WAS VERY INTERESTING, FOLLOWING MR. NANTZ YOUNG LIFE, COLLEGE YEARS AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN SPORTSCASTING. I LISTEN TO HIM OFTEN BECAUSE I LOVE FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL & MY HUSBAND WAS AN AVID FAN OF GOLF. MY HUSBAND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMERS 4 YRS AGO BUT WE REALIZE IT HAD BEEN WORKING ON HIM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. YOU REALLY DO GO THRU A DENIAL AND PRAY TO GOD IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE ALZHEIMERS. HE IS NOW TOTALLY BED BOUND AND I MUST FEED HIM THRU A TUBE SO THAT HE CAN GET THE NOURISHMENT HE NEEDS. I HAVE HIM AT HOME AND CARE FOR HIM ON A FULL TIME BASIS. HE WAS AN ELECTRICIAN FOR 42 YEARS, A HUNTER, A FISHERMAN AND LOVED LOOKING FOR ARROWHEADS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BUT GOLF HAD BECOME HIS PASSION. HE ALWAYS SAID HE WAS NOT VERY GOOD BUT HE DID LOVE TO PLAY AND WATCH THE GAME AND LOVED LISTENING TO YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS CALLING A GAME. TODAY HE CAN BARELY SPEAK AND ONLY KNOWS ME SOME OF THE TIME. I TOTALLY RELATED TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THE PROBLEMS THIS AWFUL DISEASE CAUSES. THANK YOU FOR WRITING YOUR STORY. IT REALLY HAS HELPED ME READING WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THRU AND HOW MUCH YOU MISS HIM EVEN THO HIS HEART IS STILL BEATING.

Thank You

Mr. Nantz...

My wife & I would like to compliment you on your tribute to your father (CBS News Sunday Morning) last week. It was wonderfully poignant and heartwarming. Thank you and best wishes to you and your father.

My Ride Across America to fight Alzheimer's......

If you've ever seen "The African Queen" you will understand my saying my Dad was the living embodiment of Humphrey Bogart's characterization of Charlie Allnut - he loved his independence, loved his cigarettes, love his boat, loved his liquor, and loved a special lady that came into his life. Don't ask him to tolerate anyone's pretense. Don't ask him to wear a tie. But he would give you the shirt off his back. I think Dad was in love with a few things and indulged in them without apology or ever having those delights in his life impose themselves on anyone. It never stopped him from missing a day's work. It never stopped him from being there to help a friend that he could help.

My Dad was dedicated to his wife Mary- the similarity between her and my wife in personality and their "just roll my eyes" attitude toward their respective husbands was a bit eerie.

My Dad was gone from my life at about the age of seven when my parents, after trying to stay together, could no longer.

For reasons that I don't need or want to go into at this time, situations came to be that my Dad no longer saw me. From that that point, I never had any exposure to my Dad that was not clouded by the bitterness of my parents divorce. My family split into two camps -- one devoted or dependent on my mother, the other allied to my father. Neither camp was ever set in stone -- so for the next nearly 40 years my five brothers, three sisters, and I tried to fit into one, both, or neither camp.........

My father and I never saw each other again as father and son until a few months prior to my wedding -- some 21 years later. I had been raised to think my father was solely responsible for any ills that befell my mother, myself, and the siblings I grew up with (the oldest five children were on their own). When we did finally meet, Dad did not bad mouth my Mom, but simply stated his case taking full responsibility for the mistakes he had made.

It was refreshing to hear someone say they had made a mistake, that they weren't always right -- and that the old adage "there's his story, her story, then there's the truth" is deadly accurate.

Also, my Dad had not been absent from my life - just absent from my view. Seems he knew everything about me and what I had been doing with my life. He had copies of every report card and had actually been to a play or two I had been in....... somewhere in the back row, Dad saw what I was up to.....

I had to reassess everything I was lead to believe and to carve a new truth for my life and a relationship with a man that for most of my childhood I was told to refer to as "Mr. Blais" and never "Dad".

My Dad soon after that meeting retired and moved to be near his brother in Mississippi. So my interaction and communication was limited to an occasional phone call. It was difficult to see this man as my father. I know he always had seen me as his son. I don't know if the distance I placed between him and me hurt him or if he was just happy to have another child return to his fold. I always felt the recognition that he had sired me and that he cared for me......... seeing him as "Dad" for me proved difficult.

I became a teacher - one of the purest joys in my life - in late 1989. It may seem odd but in all the re-establishment of contact with my Dad, we never discussed what he was doing for a living. Before my parents were divorced, my Dad had been a truck driver for a horse transporting company - and he had always picked up pocket money as a mechanic. I had always believed he had quick driving and gone into the auto shop full time..... This turned out to only be partially true. Unbeknownst to me, my father had left his job as a driver and become the auto shop teacher at the prestigious Landmark School in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with the Headmaster of the Landmark School who held a luncheon for me. In attendance were several teachers who had been colleagues of my Dad's. Indeed the Headmaster himself had worked with my Dad for many years....... Turns out the Auto Shop program was - for the most part - conceived and built under my Dad's supervision.

Those who know me know I am remarkably unlike the any of my family members - this always made me feel like an outcast. But as I met and grew to know my father I began to see that if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I most assuredly fell from my Dad's tree but never knew it.

I look a lot like him. We both love/loved coffee, crossword puzzles, jazz, waking up early, and redheads. We fold our arms the same way...... we both love/loved our wives the same way. We love/loved lending a hand - particularly if the person we were helping was a child. And with all these similarities, I had very little exposure to him growing up.

Just as I was getting to know Dad, he had a massive stroke that the doctors said should have easily killed him, yet three days later he walked out of the hospital. However, while his body made a miraculous recovery, his mind took an awful turn. He began to forget things, his short-term memory and ability to focus greatly suffered.

Then Mary's health declined and within a year, she had been claimed by breast cancer. At that point, Dad gave himself permission to not remember anything.... and the Alzheimer's that seemed to be borne out of his stroke expanded exponentially.

Anything more that I was able to learn about my Dad was through the scattered recollections of relatives, friends, and strangers.....

So, as my father's son, I'm taking to the highways - in his name and in opposition to that which claimed him. I hope to know him better and honor the man who was so much at the heart of who I am as a human being.

I will ride for him........... starting August 31st I will bicycle Across America in honor of my Dad and against the disease that claimed him.

Who will join their stories to mine? Who will add to the effort?

RE: CBS peice on your father.

Jim,

I always thought you were a class act and respected your sports insight. Now I view you on a different level that goes way beyond sports. A man doesn't grow without a firm foundation. Obviously your father gave you the mortar to build a solid life. As a father myself and a man of your age, my greatest honor would be to have my daughters think of me the way you expressed yourself about your dad. May God bless you and your family and have a very happy fathers day.

Brian

Always by my side

Jim, the book is an excellent in sight into what sons of fathers with Alzhwimers go through. I was given a copy of your book by my son to read. More than once I have been driven to tears relating to your words and images of your Dad. They are very much the same as my images of my Dad and hopefully will be the same images of my son when he speaks of me. I am greatful to my son for sending me the book and I can only pray the God bestowes his blessings on you, your family and your father.

Cognitive Stimulation Coaching

Mr. Nantz, I am the CEO of a company dedicated to the improvement of cognitive function for people suffering from memory loss due to dementia (including Alzheimer's Disease). In addition, we provide counseling for families of those who have loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. We work with the largest geriatric medical practice in the U.S.

We are passionate about providing assistance to those touched by this disease - patients, family members and caregivers. Although it is not a cure, our therapy has had significant results and an impact on changing the trajectory of the disease. If you ever have an interest in learning more about what we are doing and the vision we have for the future or a population we believe can be better served, I invite you to contact me. We are changing lives for the better.

Steve Barone

President & CEO

Memory Bridging Inc.