In this age of hot takes, trolls and all-important reader engagement, it feels good just to tell a story that can make a difference.
That's why my heart warmed this week when Barry Toone took my call. Toone is a Salt Lake City attorney and a 1997 Notre Dame Law School grad who follows the Irish, “a little too much for a guy my age.”
Toone had seen my story last week on former NCAA statistician Steve Boda. It was Boda’s wish to donate his vast collection of Notre Dame football game history to the school upon his death.
Boda never lived to see his wish come true. He died Nov. 18 at age 90 in economic distress. In fact, he had sold the collection of ND files to a local collector on consignment for $3,000.
That collector confirmed Wednesday what Toone told me earlier in the week. The attorney purchased the files for approximately $11,100 through eBay.
Collector Ron Brown told me that after he gets his $3,000 back, plus an 18 percent consignment fee, there will be about $5,000 left for Boda’s estate. That’s important because, according to a caregiver, Boda died still owing for his own cremation and hospice stay.
“I was just frustrated frankly [by] the school and the lack of what I felt any kind of genuine response to this guy’s life,” Toone told me. “It seems like he threw everything into this. To be honest, it was kind of an emotional knee-jerk reaction on my part.”
The purchase isn’t official until money actually changes hands between all parties, but it is Toone’s intention to donate the files to Notre Dame. That would close a circle that began in 1933. That’s the year Boda began charting Notre Dame games off the radio while living in an Indiana orphanage.
“It was one of those moments where you read [the story] and you think, ‘How can this possibility be under the radar like this?’ Toone said. “My only reservation is this story shouldn’t be forgotten.”
To be fair to Notre Dame, an Irish spokesman said the school is extremely interested in obtaining the files. Brown said he was contacted by several potential buyers once the story ran.
That’s what’s humbling. While we chase the latest player assault or outrage over the latest $7 million coach, it’s good to know the simple story of a man’s life can make a difference.
“Steve was really hurt that nobody wanted to buy it at the initial $20,000 asking price,” Brown said. “The contract we had, I had the ability to sell it for what I want.”
Apparently, the sweet spot came not when the price dropped but when my story was written.
I remain humbled.
