When I entered puberty I developed boils under my left arm which I guess was nature's way of announcing that I was becoming a man. I could have developed boils in other places but I was content to have my left arm immobile for a week. I was fourteen and had to stay home from school for a few days and as luck would have it I had a typewriter ( not electric in those days) which kept my right hand occupied. I was a fanatical Dodger rooter in those days and since I had nothing else to occupy myself I typed out what I thought the finish of both major leagues would .be. The season was just starting. it was early April. I had my thoughts about each of the sixteen teams and I typed out my comments and prognosis as to where each team would finish the season. My mother, God love her, read my article and although she was hardly a baseball fan (Bach and Brahms were her love) suggested that I send the article with a a note to the sports section of The New York Post, telling my age and the fun I had writing the article. I frankly thought she was insane insisting I send the article in but I did so. A few days later my Dad whose office was in New York City was suddenly flooded with phone calls from friends, relatives and business associates wanting to know who the hell was Josef Behrens. Lo and behold the editor of the sports section read my articles and not only printed everythingi in full with my letter, gave me a byline no less, published a three column article with a headline reading "Dodger fan, 14, does experting". Needless to say, my proud father brought home as many of the New York Post he could carry and , of course, I was completely floored. After all these years it remains one of the great thrills of my life. Dad had the article framed and it sits (proudly I might add) in my closet and if you don't believe this crazy little story you are cordially invited to my home to see for yourslf that this story is true. Incidentally I picked the Yankees to win and they did; I picked the Dodgers but they lost to the Cardinals the last week of the season. Oh well, win some, lose some.
