Over the weekend, we heard countless people from President George W. Bush on down speak fondly of NBC television's Tim Russert. The longtime newsman died at work on Friday. He was 58.

I can say firsthand that when you hear people say good things about Tim, they mean it.

I had the pleasure of meeting and briefly working with Tim at Turner Field the week of the 2000 All-Star baseball game. He brought the "Meet the Press" show to town for a program on the state of Major League Baseball. He was elated to take a break from Washington politics and the 2000 presidential election and do something fun.

He was a great fan of baseball —- the Red Sox in particular —- a board member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and he loved parks such as Turner Field with its classic look. He was like a kid in a candy store as he spent the better part of a day exploring the "Ted."

When he was handed a dinged-up batting practice baseball that home-run legend Hank Aaron signed, he could not have been more pleased.

"Meet the Press" that weekend was broadcast from the Chop House deck overlooking the field.

It was a lot of work setting up and tearing down the set in time to meet schedules. But Tim was the kind of guy for whom you would do anything. He was grateful and gracious, and when he said "thank you," he meant it.

At the end of the day, he handed me a "Meet the Press" baseball cap. I asked him to sign it.

"This won't mean anything to anyone outside the Beltway," he said as he scribbled away.

Well, the cap may not, but he sure did. My brief encounter with Tim is fondly remembered and shared. I'm sad he's gone and the country will miss him.

> Tim Wells lives in Gwinnett.