Bob Frisk had a way with words, including the words of others

Bob Frisk was something else.

In more than five decades working for the Daily Herald, he never ceased to amaze colleagues with his work ethic, his dedication to high school sports and his unwavering support of those around him.

His annual “Quote & Unquote” column was also amazing.

I remember reading it every late December and thinking, how does this happen? How is he able to track all these quotes from the previous 12 months?

I went back to read several of the columns, and found this from his 1995 edition: “I go through magazines and newspapers daily. I write down quotes I hear on television and radio. That takes a discipline I didn't know I even had until I started this annual exercise several years ago. I file all those quotes in a desk drawer at home and then pick a date in late December to go through every quote again.”

Discipline, indeed.

When I began this column several weeks ago, one of my goals was to revive Bob’s “Quote & Unquote” column. At least it was a goal until I fully understood the discipline necessary to do it properly.

So instead, for this year, I’ve decided to pay tribute to Bob, who died in 2020 at the age of 83, by republishing some of the quotes he brought to life through the years.

A year from now, if I can manage a bit of Bob’s discipline, maybe I’ll unveil the top quotes of 2024.

For now, here’s some of the Bob’s best ...

Jayson Williams, New Jersey Nets forward, on being courted by the Chicago Bulls, in 1995: "The Bulls had me in for a four-hour psychological test, and the next day they went out and signed Dennis Rodman."

The Cubs' Bob Patterson, on the pitch the Reds' Barry Larkin hit off him for a game-winning homer, in 1996: "It was a cross between a changeup and a screwball. It was a screwup."

Mike Shanahan, coach of the Denver Broncos, when asked whether he was surprised at any of the Broncos' final roster cuts, in 1997: "No. I made them."

Ron Turner, Illinois football coach, after a loss to Wisconsin, in 1998: "If we simplify anymore, we'll have one running play and one passing play."

Bernie Bickerstaff, Wizards coach, after his NBA team lost by 30 points to the Cavaliers, in 1999: "Sometimes you're the pigeon, and sometimes you're the statue."

Bob Burns, caddie on the PGA Tour, on what he told Fulton Allem when an angry Allem asked for something to break during a terrible round, in 2000: "Why don't you break par?"

Cheryl Miller, Hall of Fame basketball player, in 2001: "If your five starters are best friends and aren't winning, you had better start some of their enemies."

Allen Iverson, NBA star, on why he never got started on a weight-training program, in 2002: "I've been trying to, but I can't get the weights out of my car."

Barclay Tagg, trainer of Funny Cide, after the horse finished third in its bid for the Triple Crown, in 2003: "I don't know what happened and he still won't tell me."

Chuck Mills, former Wake Forest and Utah State head coach and Kansas City Chiefs' assistant, in 2004: "My halftime speeches always worked better when my players were better than the other team's players."

Antoine Walker, long-range shooter, when asked why he fires up so many 3s in NBA games, in 2005: "Because there are no 4s."

That’s just a sampling of Bob’s offerings over the course of a single decade.

Something else I found while looking up his past columns was a similar note at the end every year.

“Did I make you smile?” he’d write.

Yes, Bob, always.