Sports Memories and Friendships
I was looking through some old stuff last night and got to thinking. I have coached a lot of teams in a lot of different sports at many different levels. I have coached in state playoff games, and I have coached games where only 10 people were in the stands. I have a lot of great memories. I coached my son in 4 sports (only a couple of games in soccer), coached many of you and your kids in sports. I have way to many memories to put them all here but a couple I would really like to share.
I was a nickname giver. One day this left hander strolled into practice and I put the kid at first base. He gobbled up ground balls right and left and handled throws pretty well. At the time, the Reds had a player who played some first named Leon "Bull" Durham. I looked at this kid and immediately started calling him "Bull" We became friends immediately and have been for over 25 years now.
My wife rarely missed games when my son played. I will never forget watching a video of a bunch kids running right while Tucker was running Red 38 Sweep Naked Bootleg Left for a TD. It was at Greenup Co High School's field and Tina couldn't understand why I was jumping up and down high fiving Tucker when the play was over until we told her while watching the tape.
There were 2 times while coached Upward Basketball that I cried during a game. Both were from the joy of seeing a kids first basket ever made in a game. Tessa Fletcher jumped up and down and grinned and ran over and gave me a hug. Josh Stepp gave me a little grin and ran up the floor like it was no big deal.
I could type all day about these sports memories. I think back and they just flood like they were yesterday. I have many as a broadcaster as well. I have made a lot of friends, a few enemies and have so many memories (mostly good, some bad) from the sports arena. I was in the booth with Makayla Brooke Colley during her first football broadcast. Now she is well on her way to ESPN. I know James Collier and I worked a few games together that were some of his first on the air. Now he is a well known play by play guy in West Virginia High School Athletics. I am very proud of those 2. I was able to meet my childhood broadcasting idol, Marty Brennaman and actually become friends with him. (That still blows my mind). I was able to call a Boys Sweet 16 Championship game with my son, I work today with the best in the business making great memories each and every day.
If you have a sports memory I would love for you share them with me. Whether I was involved in the memory or not. What is it about sports that you remember and how did it affect your life. Whether as a coach or player or broadcaster, umpire, fan? There is just something about sports that I love. God bless y'all on this rainy Sunday afternoon.
I was a nickname giver. One day this left hander strolled into practice and I put the kid at first base. He gobbled up ground balls right and left and handled throws pretty well. At the time, the Reds had a player who played some first named Leon "Bull" Durham. I looked at this kid and immediately started calling him "Bull" We became friends immediately and have been for over 25 years now.
There were 2 times while coached Upward Basketball that I cried during a game. Both were from the joy of seeing a kids first basket ever made in a game. Tessa Fletcher jumped up and down and grinned and ran over and gave me a hug. Josh Stepp gave me a little grin and ran up the floor like it was no big deal.
I could type all day about these sports memories. I think back and they just flood like they were yesterday. I have many as a broadcaster as well. I have made a lot of friends, a few enemies and have so many memories (mostly good, some bad) from the sports arena. I was in the booth with Makayla Brooke Colley during her first football broadcast. Now she is well on her way to ESPN. I know James Collier and I worked a few games together that were some of his first on the air. Now he is a well known play by play guy in West Virginia High School Athletics. I am very proud of those 2. I was able to meet my childhood broadcasting idol, Marty Brennaman and actually become friends with him. (That still blows my mind). I was able to call a Boys Sweet 16 Championship game with my son, I work today with the best in the business making great memories each and every day.
One of my best friends in this world is Rick Bentley. We met through, you guessed it, sports. I was broadcasting the state baseball sectionals in Pikeville and Rick was doing some work for the ADI. I was by myself and he was sitting beside me giving me some stats during the broadcast. I eventually threw a headset on him and we have been "brothers from different mothers" ever since. We are truly brothers in Christ and there are times that my brother gets me through the day.
If you have a sports memory I would love for you share them with me. Whether I was involved in the memory or not. What is it about sports that you remember and how did it affect your life. Whether as a coach or player or broadcaster, umpire, fan? There is just something about sports that I love. God bless y'all on this rainy Sunday afternoon.
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