Fitzgerald Got His Flowers: Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald Reflects on a Southside Hall of Fame Moment That Hit Different After Larry Fitzgerald Sr.'s Passing
MSR sports columnist Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald reflects on accepting the Southside Hall of Fame induction on behalf of Charles Hallman in February, witnessing Larry Fitzgerald Sr. deliver a passionate speech about his career and his pride in his sons, and what that moment means now that Fitzgerald has passed away at age 71.
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Hall of Fame columnist Charles Hallman was set to be inducted into the Southside Hall of Fame at Sabathani Community Center this past February.
One problem.
He would be out of town on assignment and wouldn’t be able to attend.
As a longtime colleague of Hallman’s, I was asked to accept the award on his behalf. Although my enthusiasm was lacking upon receiving the invitation, I accepted.
I didn’t realize until reading the announcement that Hallman was being inducted alongside former Gophers basketball player, high school coaching legend and businessman Al Nuness; former Minneapolis Laker Bob Williams, the first Black player to suit up for the Lakers; Circle of Discipline executive director Sankara Frazier; and Hall of Fame journalist Larry Fitzgerald Sr.
After representing Hallman and the MSR, I tuned in with amazement as the other inductees told their stories.
Life went on.
Then something happened last week that brought me back to that moment.
The following quote appeared on my laptop during a search: “Give them their flowers while they are still above.”
That phrase, a call to offer recognition and love to people while they are still alive, hit differently when I learned that former Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder colleague Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a pioneer for Black journalists throughout the country, had passed away last week at age 71.
At the induction ceremony, he gave a passionate speech. He spoke about his outstanding career and humbly thanked the community for supporting him from the time his 48-year journey began in 1978 on KMOJ radio.
The most memorable part of his remarks centered on how proud he was of his sons — Marcus Fitzgerald, a 2004 Holy Angels graduate who went on to play wide receiver at Marshall University, and Larry Fitzgerald Jr., a 2000 Holy Angels alum and 17-year NFL veteran wide receiver who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
It was a great moment and a deserved honor for one of the pioneers for Black journalists across the country.
More importantly, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. got his flowers.
Thank goodness I was there to see it.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses at mcdeezy05@gmail.com.