WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:04.799 Bill Cunning into great American of course, the living legend Jim Scott that's had 2 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:09.759 some health difficulties recently began in radio in nineteen sixty eight, and as a 3 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.880 boy, as a young man driving back and forth between Deer Park and Xavier. 4 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:17.719 Beginning in January of nineteen sixty eight, I had the opportunity to begin 5 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:24.120 listening to Jim Scott on thirteen sixty WSAI and a few months later I happened 6 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:26.920 to run into him. It might have been at a Kroger store, and 7 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:30.079 I walked up to Jim and said, Jim Scott, I'm Bill Cunning him. 8 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:32.759 I listen to you every day. And Jim Scott said to me, 9 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:34.039 well, Bill, what do you want to be? I said, I'm 10 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:36.520 at Xavier right now. I want to be a lawyer at some point. 11 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:39.799 And Jim Scott said to me, hopefully a good one. And I said, 12 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.799 well, I hope so too. And the year's flown by then. 13 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:47.479 In nineteen eighty three, I had the good fortune of hooking up with Randy 14 00:00:47.479 --> 00:00:51.679 Michaels, who started this radio station's changed to what it is today. And 15 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:57.439 nineteen eighty four, Randy Michaels thought so much about Jim Scott as a morning 16 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:00.159 man, that he bought the radio station in which Jim's Scott was about to 17 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.840 begin work. I think it was ninety four point one and the rest is 18 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:10.680 history. And Jim Scott spent the next thirty one years here, and just 19 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:17.319 for edification purposes, I went online and we played for you yesterday. Jim 20 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:23.159 Scott sign off on April third, twenty fifteen, Jim Scott's day through opening 21 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:26.959 day and he signed off on April third, twenty fifteen. And it's been 22 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:32.840 I can't believe it's been nine years since Jim Scott left the radio here and 23 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:38.920 now he announced several months back he contracted Luke Garriggs's disease also known as ALS, 24 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:45.920 and that he is fighting the fight. I've said before it's awfully unfair 25 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:49.680 when a young man begins life with polio and ends it with Luke Griggs's disease 26 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:55.040 ALS. But Jim Scott is with us now. First of all, Jim 27 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:59.040 Scott, welcome to the Bill Cunningham Show, to your radio station. And 28 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:07.120 secondly, Jim's got how are you feeling at this point? There? Well, 29 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:22.560 presuent boy and and Donna, his wife was out his side and Donna 30 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:23.879 Donald, let me ask you this. Let's go back a little bit on 31 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:30.319 the journey that began about a year or two ago. When did you first 32 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:38.439 think Jim was exhibiting some symptoms? Well, in October of twenty twenty, 33 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:45.159 Jim was golfing and he kept feeling like his left side was weak, and 34 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:52.840 so he was referred to U see neurological and on Opening Day twenty twenty one, 35 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:58.479 Jim was diagnosed with ALS. What happened was he was in the parade 36 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:02.919 and he had to run up for one o'clock appointment, and the doctor said, 37 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.080 I'm sorry to tell you this, but I think you have ALS. 38 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.560 And Jim said, you got to be kidding. It's April Fool's Day, 39 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.680 it's Opening Day, and you're telling me I have a disease named after a 40 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:22.599 baseball player. And that was Opening Day twenty twenty one. Yep. And 41 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:28.120 then and then he really we had a couple of good years and then probably 42 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:32.240 the last oh about a year ago, he lost just lost the use of 43 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:38.240 his left arm. And then about a half a year ago he started walking 44 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.919 with a shuffle or maybe a little more than that, and started using a 45 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:46.280 cane. But Jim learned a golf one arm. He's fabulous one armed golfer 46 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:53.000 and everything, and so it became pretty obvious. So he went public in 47 00:03:53.199 --> 00:04:01.840 August. And then in October Jim contracted als related pneumonia and he was golfing 48 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:06.080 on a Monday, and on a Wednesday, his als just went straight over 49 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:11.759 the cliff. So we've been in and out of hospitals and rehabs and home 50 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:16.439 and everything since October. And Donna, as a caregiver, what is this? 51 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:20.240 Uh, some consider it to be a gift, many consider it to 52 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.839 be a burden. And you've been with him for decades. Well, how 53 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:28.439 has this impacted your life? Donna? And as far as you're car for 54 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:34.279 him, explained, Well, you know, I Jim is one four to 55 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:44.480 seven for me. I I it's who wouldn't And I'm halfway to a nursing 56 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:49.759 degree. But gosh, you know, I will say that I thought I 57 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:57.639 loved Jim as much as I possibly could, But since this happened, you 58 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:02.560 know, I I just it is just like plumbed the depths of my love 59 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:10.199 for Jim, and so were well, I don't know, purchase we're in 60 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:19.439 it together, Yeah, Jim said, thank you, well, you have 61 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:25.360 a great wife, and Donna, as far as every now and then, 62 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:30.920 everyone has known someone with a terrible disease, and ALS is not a good 63 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:34.439 Alzheimer's, whatever it might be. Maybe I'll tell you what this is. 64 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:43.480 This is the atomic f bomb of diseases. It's we had no idea until 65 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:47.600 it really hit in recent launch, the immensity of this disease. So, 66 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:51.720 yeah, and as far as the care and the treatment, I've read up 67 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:56.319 on it in preparation for the interview a little bit. There's a hope that 68 00:05:56.439 --> 00:06:01.040 there's some minor treatment for it, but there is no cure. Hardly anyone 69 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:05.240 comes out the other side. It's generally a one way straight But I have 70 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:10.720 hope in five to ten to fifteen years maybe AI or something else could come 71 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:15.120 up with therapies. And as I understand that, Donna, there's no particular 72 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.759 cause, and one can point to an element that causes this is simply occurs. 73 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:24.639 Is that right? Explain that that's true? And that's why treatment is 74 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:30.000 it is so experimental, because if you don't know the cause, then how 75 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:35.160 can you come up with medicines to treat or cure it? So and yeah, 76 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:42.879 and houses and you talk about your relationship has improved, and sometimes these 77 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:47.240 relationships go the other way in these difficult circumstances. Why do you think in 78 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:51.399 your view the relationship and you always love Jim. I think everyone loved Jim 79 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:55.720 Scott, but as far as you as his wife, you known him in 80 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:00.560 his good times, and it's bad for the last several decades houses impact to 81 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:09.040 your respect and love for him. Well, because Jim, Jim still is 82 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:15.600 Jim. But but his grace and his his gratitude and his will and his 83 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:26.480 willingness and his appreciativeness for every caregiver that we've encountered. He you know, 84 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:31.000 so many of them that they're younger too, and they don't know he's Jim 85 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:35.480 Scott, and they don't know Jim's who Jim Scott is anyway, but he 86 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:44.240 within a day everybody loves him. And and and just watching that and watching 87 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.360 Jim's spirit and his will and his kindness. You know, he always turns 88 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:51.639 the conversation to tell me about you and right, right, and yeah, 89 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:57.319 so like that that that I think that really just is so deep into my 90 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:03.920 appreciation for maybe the Jim got part of Jim. You sent me some photos 91 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:09.480 and last week Neil Lucan Finley Market Parade held the news conference where they have 92 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:13.240 to have pureval and others, in which there was an expectation and hope that 93 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:18.360 Jim could be the honorary Grand Marshal. Of course, Dmitri Young and Pokey 94 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:22.600 Reese are the Grand Marshal's Reds players, but Jim is the honorary Grand Marshal. 95 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:26.319 And you sent me some beautiful photos explain what's going to happen on opening 96 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:30.680 day, which is twenty three days away. The photos you sent me in 97 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:35.000 that car explained what that is and who donated that to you to be used 98 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:39.399 for that day? Okay, Well, ever since Jim found out that he 99 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:43.399 was going to be Grand Marshall, he wanted our very good friend Jim Schwartman. 100 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:50.120 Jim wanted to ride in one of Jim's two nineteen sixty three Pontiac convertibles. 101 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:54.440 And so that's Jim's car. And what he did was he brought it 102 00:08:54.519 --> 00:09:05.080 over and two good who is just yesterday? Yeah, in uh two or 103 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:11.440 three OT occupational therapists and physical therapists, we did a dress rehearsal to see 104 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:15.360 if we can get him in the car because we can't walk anymore. And 105 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.840 so they had two ideas, and the first one didn't quite work, and 106 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:22.799 the second one did. And so Jim is going to be in that car 107 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:30.080 in the Opening Day parade, and we are we don't we don't want to 108 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:33.000 tire Jim out before the praise starts, because one of the things about als 109 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:39.840 is extreme fatigue. So Neil Lucan said, I'll get you a police escort 110 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:45.039 to get through all the closed streets. So we're gonna come swooping up in 111 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.200 that that convertible to a block long, and Jim's going to be in the 112 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:54.799 front seat waving it people because his right arm still works. His waving arm 113 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:56.759 works. So you know, I kind of look at this donna. It's 114 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:01.159 on Opening Day of twenty twenty one. Jim Scott, perhaps as much as 115 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:05.360 Neil Lucan or anyone else, loves Opening Day in the Finley Market Parade. 116 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:11.440 He marched in it for decades and five. This will be his fifty fifth 117 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:16.799 parade. Fifty is fifty six in a row Opening Day parade. No, 118 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:20.480 this will be fifty five. He missed it because he was in New York 119 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:26.000 at w NBC one year and then there was a COVID, but no parade, 120 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:30.519 but he's walked fifty four of them. In this one he'll ride, 121 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:37.039 and it's twenty three days from now. How important is it for Jim to 122 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:43.200 do whatever is necessary through rehab or whatever to make sure that twenty three days 123 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:48.120 from today, almost at this exact hour, he'll be riding in the Finley 124 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:50.919 Market parade. How important is Jim to make that? I should let him 125 00:10:50.960 --> 00:11:05.799 answer that. Go ahead, Jim, Oh for the the can you interpret 126 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:11.440 that a little bit? He still has his wit? She said, I'll 127 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:15.519 tell you how important it is every night I go sleep in a convertible? 128 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:20.759 Uh? Is are there humorous? Because you know when you hear this done? 129 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:24.519 Are there humorous? Are there funny? Are there human elements of this 130 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:30.240 disease in this journey that you can share with some others about moments that brought 131 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:35.559 you closer together? Well, there are some funny ones, and I almost 132 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:45.519 can't share them because they have to do with bodily functions that you know. 133 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:54.480 It's as as him is like lost control of everything, of everything you got. 134 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:58.759 Sometimes you gotta laugh. Yeah you have to. I mean you have 135 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:09.679 to. And and I've become like an extreme caregiver, and you know, 136 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:13.039 you gotta laugh at stuff, sure so, but I can't tell you the 137 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:16.200 stories because they all involved well, you know, Donna, the World War 138 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:20.399 two was a serious business, but there was some humor that came out of 139 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:24.480 it. And at the end of the day, you have to realize there's 140 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:28.480 millions and millions of tries date residents, many of whom have never met Jim 141 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:33.480 uh, but they're hurt by the fact that this is the way things might 142 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:37.080 end for him in the next few weeks or a few months. And it's 143 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:39.600 it's a sadness. But you know, two things each of us share is 144 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:43.360 that we're born on a day and we die on a day. And what 145 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:48.960 happens in between those two events describes and the fines a person's contributions. And 146 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.720 I know of no one in the tri State or in America who's contributed more, 147 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:56.919 cared more for those who are in need, for those that are hungry, 148 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.399 for those who had Pulley or other diseases, for those that now have 149 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:07.120 als, and that Jim Scott was an ambassador throughout decades of individuals that were 150 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:11.799 in need, whether it was ringing a bell for the Salvation Army, or 151 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:16.480 playing golf for the Arthritis Foundation, the American Art Association always with the Grippo 152 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:20.759 Bag and a good friend of yours doctor Allan Cordell, and others Jeff Beckham 153 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:24.919 Oins, a trucking company, still have a Grippo's bag signed that they take 154 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.279 with them to play golf because it reminds them of their time with Jim Scott 155 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:33.720 and he will not be ever forgotten. He's a living legend. And Jim 156 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:39.759 Scott. Lastly, do you understand, Jim, how you're held in love 157 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:41.919 and awe by many in the Tri State and we feel like we owe you 158 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:46.159 more than you can give to us. Do you understand, Jim Scott how 159 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:58.559 much you're loving respected in this town. I love them, even me, 160 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:03.879 He even loves me. Well, well, you tell Jim I'll be there 161 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:09.440 about three point thirty today to check in on him and say hello. And 162 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:15.559 uh, Jim Scott, stay strong. The Pontiac Convertible in nineteen sixty three 163 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:18.559 is waiting for you, and uh, God willing, we pray you'll be 164 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:22.840 with us on Red's opening day and Jim's good. Thank you for all the 165 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:26.679 contributions you've made to the people of the Tri state. Got love you, 166 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.799 God bless Jim's got Donna, thank you very much and I'll see you in 167 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:35.759 a couple hours. Okay, thanks, thank you, thank you, God 168 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:37.840 bless you. Thank you. All right, let's continue with more and Uh. 169 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:43.679 I'm going to continue to support Jim every which way that I can, 170 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:50.240 in small ways. And it is so unfair that a person that has fought 171 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:56.399 so long and so hard to make other lives more livable at the toward the 172 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:00.000 end of his days, has contracted Luke Errick's disease. But as you can 173 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:05.960 and see, Donna and Jim's love for each other has deepened. And before 174 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:09.519 you go to bed tonight, say a prayer for Jim Scott and for his 175 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:13.639 UH and for the peace that only the Lord can provide. Let's continue with 176 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:20.840 more. Go Cunningham News Radio seven hundred Wow. Rocky here with a reminder. 177 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.240 If you miss a part of the Eddie and Rocky Show, you can 178 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:26.639 always catch the podcast on the iHeartRadio app and hear what you missed. Also, 179 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:30.559 if you listen to a podcast while you're in bed, it feels like 180 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:33.279 Eddie and I are snuggling with you. That's kind of nice. 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