I’ve always coached youth baseball–except for one year when I coached Saturday morning basketball. One of my baseball players, Bennie...
Day: October 26, 2018
First KissFirst Kiss
In sixth grade I joined the band. I don’t remember why, and I have no recollection why the clarinet was...
My alcoholic, embezzler bossMy alcoholic, embezzler boss
Earl Hilke was a Navy man. You knew that because he swore like the stereotypical sailor. I’ve never before or...
Dean of Central Ohio SportscastersDean of Central Ohio Sportscasters
My grandmother, my dad’s mother, lived in tiny house perched on the side of the hill on Union Street. I...
Winning can mean different thingsWinning can mean different things
We had only won two games during the regular season. It wasn’t for lack of trying. We played hard but...
Runaway car!Runaway car!
My freshman year in high school was the last one at the old high school in town. During band practice...
Change of directionChange of direction
After graduating from OU in 1975 with my bachelor’s in communication, I didn’t really have a job lined up. I...
Preservation HallPreservation Hall
I’ve been to New Orleans twice. The first time for a conference, which was the first conference I ever attended,...
The giveawayThe giveaway
Jay Gardner was the first player I ever drafted. A really good kid, and a good shortstop and pitcher. In...
The Big TimeThe Big Time
One year our league affiliated with the national Babe Ruth Baseball organization. This was for 13-, 14-, and 15-year-olds. But...
The bestThe best
Chris Scheuer was the best baseball player I ever coached. One time, Chris came up to me before the game...
Aunt RoseAunt Rose
On Sundays, my parents and I would go to my Aunt Rose’s house to either just visit or take her...
Almost, but not quiteAlmost, but not quite
The French City Run, a race I named, was a 10K race on what was essentially my training course through...
I can die when I cross the finish lineI can die when I cross the finish line
Running is different than jogging. Running means competing. Jogging means kind of wandering around with no real goal. For about...
A moment to rememberA moment to remember
For thirteen- and fourteen-year-old kids, playing baseball in the summertime is supposed to be fun. The Electric Company team was...
Learning disciplineLearning discipline
Harry Houska had been a champion wrestler and was now the coach of the OU wrestling team. Like most college...
Rockin’ RiverfrontRockin’ Riverfront
When the National League consisted of two divisions, the Reds and Dodgers were big rivals. It was 1975 and the...
Finally!Finally!
John Wagner wasn’t a very talented ballplayer, but he tried hard all the time, didn’t complain, and always showed up....