God, I feel so incredibly terrible.
A few moments ago I dialed a phone number I have for Rick Kane, the former Detroit Lions running back who played in the NFL from 1977 through 1985. I wanted to speak to him for my book project.
“Hello …” the woman said.
“Yes, I was trying to reach Rick Kane.”
“What?”
“I’m trying to reach Rick Kane, the former running back for the Lions …”
A lengthy pause.
“That’s my husband … (Tears, followed by a tone of angry disbelief) he died Christmas day.”
I didn’t know what to say. “I’m so sorry,” I uttered. “M’am, I had no …”
Click.
Had I taken eight seconds to look at his Wikipedia page beforehand, I would have known.
Awful.
All-time awful.
