The man walks through the airport. Christmas is three days away. He has a sturdy chest, stout shoulders, and a steel chin. His eyes are the same as they have been for a long time.
Villa Pittsburgh should be angry. He was a member of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s, so he should have a lot of blood in him. Both the Raiders and theSteelers dislike each other. Everyone is aware of this.
Villapiano is not the same as the other ones. He was in the middle of the play that created the animosity. It doesn't matter what happened in front of him.
Franco Harris is thought of as a villain by a lot of Raiders fans. He doesn't think he's angry. It's not for Harris. The most meaningful story to come out of the most famous play in NFL history may have been the friendship between two men who were on opposite sides. Villapiano and Harris have eaten together many times over the years. They brought their children with them and shared stories with them. They have been together for a while. They share memories.
Harris will call Villapiano and say, "Hey Phil, what were you doing 30 years ago?" and Villapiano will growl and shout out, "We were getting screwed!" It's how they say they love you.
Three days before Christmas, Villapiano arrives in Pittsburgh. He is at the game to watch the game between the Raiders and theSteelers. He is going to see the number being retired. He is here to pay respects to his friend.
In front of the statue of Harris at the airport, Villapiano said he came to be with his friend. He bends down and signs the book that was put in front of the statue.
He wrote in a swooping script. You were the greatest. I will never see you again.
Franco couldn't remember what they said about the part that mattered.
They could agree on the first paragraph. Terry Bradshaw threw a pass in the direction of Frenchy Fuqua on the last play of the game.
Villapiano will tell you that there was illegal touching when the ball hit the ground and that Harris didn't catch it because the ball grazed the ground. According to Villapiano, there were about five incorrect penalties and they won the game. He nodded his head in agreement.
Ask Harris about what he remembers when the ball floated in his direction and the details would fall away. A few months ago, sitting in a chair in downtown Pittsburgh, Harris talked about how the play was called "60 option" and why he ran toward the ball from his blocking position.
A small grin came at his mouth when he got to the point where the magic occurred.
He said his mind was blank after he took a couple steps to the ball. I have brain fog and I can't remember anything. He said that he found it interesting that his mother had put on an Italian music album before the play. He said that Ave Maria was playing. They tell me that.
Harris and Villapiano have a common Italian heritage. Villapiano's parents were at the banquet when Harris won an Italian American athlete award. Harris' mother and Villapiano's father were both from the same region of Italy. Villapiano's dad, who spoke the same dialect of Italian as Harris' mom, helped her relax and enjoy her son's night, even though she was nervous about speaking in her broken English.
Harris looked at it. He pulled Villapiano close after seeing him. He asked if you knew what your father had done. My mother felt like a million dollars because of him.
They kept in touch. They went to events after football. They were in the same kitchen. Harris sent Villapiano to a Temptations concert and cheered as he sang "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch." Villapiano brought Harris to the Raiders' legendary tailgate, introduced him to the most passionate Raiders fans and then inducting him into the Black Hole.
The call was the anchor. No matter where they were or what they were doing, it didn't matter. They talked on the 23rd. It was a lot simpler in the cell phone era. Half the country club would listen in when Villapiano was golfing when the call came. It was part of their routine before that.
He called my mother's house. My mother was told to ask me what I was doing in the afternoon. My mother would be asked by him. My mother would tell Franco to call again. The way he would do that was hilarious.
Phil Villapiano is going to bed in Arizona on Tuesday, four days before Christmas. He is going to Pittsburgh the next day. He is looking forward to the event. He woke up with a start. It feels like something isn't right. He wakes up at 3 a.m. He looked at his phone and saw a message from his daughter asking him to call her as soon as possible.
She tells him thatFranco died. Harris died in his sleep, according to reports. The villa is backpiano. I talked to him this afternoon. He's on his way off.
"Dad, he just passed away," she said.
Villapiano is not sure what to think. He's not sure what to do. This weekend is a celebration of Franco Harris and the play that brought them together.
Villapiano flies to Pittsburgh even though he got on the plane. The concourse has a man walking through it. He stopped at the statue to sign the book. He went to his hotel and had a drink in the bar, where he heard people talk about Franco Harris. He talked about his friend. He knows.
He doesn't know what the weekend will bring or what it will be like to not have his friend by his side.
He doesn't know what will happen on Friday.
"Franco's son, Dok, doesn't know this, but I'm calling him then," Villapiano said. I called him because I want this to continue. I want this to continue.
Joshua Vorensky is a feature producer for the sports network.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
