John Idzik has to be the only NFL general manager to receive a letter of recommendation from Captain Kangaroo.
Idzik was a ballboy of sorts at Jets training camp when his father, John, was offensive coordinator under Walt Michaels from 1977-79. It was there he befriended a Jets fan from Long Island named Bob Keeshan, who played the part of Captain Kangaroo on television as well as Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show.
Keeshan’s daughter, Laurie, attended Dartmouth, and when he found out Idzik had applied there, he wrote to the school on the boy’s behalf.
“Captain Kangaroo was a Jet fan,” Idzik’s mother Joyce told The Post. “He also was very fond of Dartmouth College, and he heard Johnny had applied there. He said, ‘I’m going to send you a letter of recommendation because my daughter went there.’ ”
Her son was accepted at Dartmouth. Asked what he told her about Captain Kangaroo, Joyce Idzik said, “He was a fun guy.” Apparently with some clout.