1/In 1985, just 21, I was going to Shea or Yankee Stadium once a week for UPI. The great Milton Richman introduced me to Dave Winfield one day and reaching for something to ask I wondered, who is the toughest guy you face. Winfield mentioned that he had some success but didn't

2/like trying to hit Phil Niekro's knuckleball. Niekro was on the team. So I wandered over and generally had a conversation about being tough to hit throwing the slowest pitch in the majors. He was 46. On the way to the Hall of Fame. I can imagine how dumb and awkward my

3/questions were -- I was just graduating from college and had so little experience in the field. Niekro, though, was his reputation. He just couldn't be nicer. He treated me like a pro, though that was only true in job, not ability. Somehow, that was the only conversation I ever

4/had with him. Yet, his kindness has always stuck with me. It's what I think of today upon hearing of the passing of the greatest knuckleballer ever. In his memory, starting with myself, let's be kind to someone today for no other reason than it is the right thing to do. #RIP