We never had the opportunity to see a World Series together, but Kieron and I went to several Ranger games. Like me, he liked all the homer teams - Cowboys, Mavs, and Rangers, and we had some of our most fun at both Arlington Stadium and The Ball Park at Arlington.
In 1995, the second year of the new Ballpark, we went to go see The Rangers play The KC Royals. So Kieron's 34 and I'm 28...too old to be involved in what occurred that night.
The Rangers won that night and we wanted to celebrate (like the win really mattered) at our favorite post-game spot, The Hyatt right near the Ballpark. We liked to go there b/c typically it was where the Ranger's opponents stayed (and drank after the game).
We had an ongoing competition of who could identify lesser-known pro athletes. Kieron was great at pointing out the non-marquis footballers, but sucked at baseball and was even worse at basketball. As I look back, we both knew this and it was one of the few competitions he conceded to me...t became a joke between us...when it came to football though, not only could he point them out, he could also tell you where they were from and where they played college ball.
So we grabbed a beer and started shuffleboard when the first Royal walked in, Vince Coleman. Coleman was winding down on a good (and volatile) career in 1995. He made his mark with the Cardinals as an outfielder and prominent base-stealer. At the time he was probably two or three years older than Kieron.
I immediately identified him...Kieron second-guessed me but I'm pretty sure he knew. So I upped the ante and said let's go to the bar, where Coleman was. It was still very early and there weren't but three or four others at the bar.
To prove to Kieron it was Vince Coleman I said to him, "hey Vince, how did you play tonight?" Again, this guy was a known jerk, and this was his response: "you went to the game, right?" I replied yes but I just wanted to ask his opinion (seriously, I was trying to prove to Kieron this was Vince Coleman). Coleman said, "we lost dumbass, so you tell me."
I'll write it here that I felt impervious when I was Kieron. Not because he was big and yoked, but because I felt a massive sense of security when he was with me. So, naturally I popped off and said, "my bad Mr. Superstar, I was only asking because when we left you were 0-3 and I was just wondering if u managed a hit in the last inning." Coleman became unglued and literally lunged at me from three stools over. A very minor scuffle ensued... Coleman was my size, which was 4 inches shorter and 30lbs lighter than Kieron, so Kieron easily got between us. But it was the typical "you're so lucky there's someone between us" courage.
Coleman, being the MLB player, convinced the place we were in the wrong so they booted us.
On the ride home he lectured me. "Why start s#@* with a pro-athlete? You've got to be smarter than that." I didn't tell him it was because he was there. Nor did I tell him "now you know it was Vince Coleman."
We attended lots of pro baseball games together but this is the one that sticks out.
With the World Series upon us I've got to get down to his place and watch another inning with him on the tube.
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3 comments:
Michael, I remember the two of you recounting that story and kieron still saying that you didn't know for sure that was the ball player. Your father and I laughed and always enjoyed hearing about your times together.
I miss him too, Michael
sandy/m.
A Kieron story I find myself thinking about often is when I was 5 and he 7. It was my first day of kindergarten and he had been instructed to take me to my class; he, Kathleen and I rode the bus, because our dad traveled and our mother did not have her driver's license (or a car!). We sat next to each other and held hands the entire ride, once we reached Indian Ridge Elementary School in Northbrook, ILL the bus driver told Kieron that I was not supposed to get off that I had to go to another school. Kieron and I tightened our grip and he led me off the bus. The driver proceeded to get me and assured Kieron she would get me to the right place. He brought me back on the bus and I started to cry; he told me everything was going to be ok and not to be afraid. The thing I remember the most was how safe he made me feel and he was only 7. He was the archetypical big brother and I miss him so.
I thought I was creating my own blog. but after a good talk with christine I realized i created my own website with blogs. Anyway, from my mother's email directions I will submit the story i remember the most here.
This story I have belongs to just Kieron and I because nobody was around in what seemed to me like a life threatening situation at the time. I believe I was 11 years old when I would visit Uncle Mike's place and hang out behind their house on the train tracks or in the creek. We liked to explore these areas especially after watching Stand by Me the weekend we visited. Kieron was a trooper when I begged him to go exploring that day with me in the creek. So we went wading through water throwing rocks and shouting to make our voices echo. I was about five feet ahead of him when he yelled at me to stop. He screamed at me to take a step back and asked me if I saw it? I said what? I don't see anything. He picked up a rock and through it in the water and a three foot water moccasin popped out and b-lined to the shore. Kieron then explained that those are poisonous and that a kid about my age died down here from bites not to long ago. So, of course, we picked up some long sticks and treaded on. The water got deeper and the creek got wider. As we are both standing in the middle of a waste deep part of the creek a snake swam by 4 feet away from us. We slammed our sticks down to keep it from coming at us. The snake just went underwater. At this point of the story I was crying and crapping my pants. Kieron picked me up over his shoulder and carried me out. I do not remember anyone believing our story or if we even told anyone. But I do remember Kieron being my hero that day and a role model. I was never really afraid of very much after that and I have him to owe for it. Thanks buddy.
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