Sports….. has there ever been an entity that embodies such well entrenched polar opposites? Sport is unable to exist with out competition, yet it is impossibility for a side to quench its first for victory with out teamwork.
Issues on and off the field, show how divisive a polity we are….yet alternately unify us even if its just for the duration of a finite quest for a common goal. Yesterday while history was made, I took time to reflect upon a history I'm lucky to have.
Birthdays are supposed to be joyous occasions. Free food, gifts, knowing the limelight is guaranteed to be shined upon thee for at least 1/365 of the year, are all causes to appreciate the earth revolving around the sun.
March 24, 1991didn't encompass such happiness. While it has literally been a life time since that day for me, the actions of that date remain as vivid as your last second is to you. Without going into particulars, I was banished from my house by the "guardians" who held sway over such decisions, ordered for me not to grasp tennis shoes layered with shoe polish, for the one barking my orders of evection had "brought them". So with only socks adorning me during a winters evening, I set out from my my former home in Garfield for and unknown destination.
Some times you can't see the years of positive that are to derive from bad days. It can arguably be said that being jettisoned from 5317 Kincaid was not only a life altering but life saving event for me. What is completely undisputable is that change of residence at age 13 placed me at the side of most influential man in my life. James L Collier.
Mr. Collier the Grandfather never hailed by such a term, nor called granddad, who instead was assailed by love when ever his grandchildren referred to him by the forename of Pop Pop, is a testament to the nostalgic references of how men used to be. Hardworking, stoic, family orientated. Although my proximity and relation most certainly crafts a subjective view, I would place every article of my objective intelligence that given the same opportunity others would formulate the same opinion of him.
While the antidotes of intelligence, jewels of wisdom and life lessons generously given by Mr. Collier came via a myriad of diverse scenarios (you have a lot of time to learn while building a wall or fence), the vast majority of them attained from Pop Pop usually came right before and well after 11pm.
Situated in his favorite chair angled perfectly to digest the nightly news, grasping a newspaper he didn't mind if you read, long is you placed it back in alphabetical sectional order, Mr Collier proceeded to hold court in the den of his castle, only seemingly missing a cobb pipe for atmospheric perfection.
While the news of the day was often quite proficient in providing the evenings subject matter, some themes seemed where never absent for to long of a time.
"Do you know about the battle of the bulge?" I would state I heard of it, but once his oration began, I realized I hadn't heard enough and attentively would listen to details, would unbeknownst to me ignite my affinity for history. There's something about a man relaying his experiences of freezing in Russia during the worlds greatest conflict that causes his audience to be highly attentive. His WWII recollections often made me want to pin medals on Patton's chest myself, while grasping the tragedy of war when he would convey "Russia paid with Blood".
The mantra that I HAD to vote, even if I didn't LIKE politics, was as omnipresent as the air that sustained my life, for people DIED so I could have the ability to vote, so at the very least I should honor their memory.
Being informed about the "Crab in the Bucket" mentality, while with a pained look in his eyes inquiring as to why "all these young people are killing each other".
The vexing complexities of life often create a need for diversion and that's where sports played a role for us. Sometimes the scant truth and hilarity of conspiracy intruded Pop Pop speech. On the Neil O'Donnell Super Bowl XXX interceptions "It's hard for me to believe it but it looks like he was paid off"
On other nights I was shepherded to the era of transistor radios affecting concurrent racial and national pride. "You could hear Max Smelling scream towards the heavens" he would say after Joe Louis ravished him with a vicious shot to the kidneys. Some evenings where devoted to the unspoken lesson of how everything is connected, and even sports is not safe refuge, as exhibited by the life and trails of Jack Johnson.
Mr. Collier's favorite sport by far was baseball. It only seemed fitting for hew grew up during a era where football on the professional level was almost nothing more then a traveling sideshow, while baseball epitomized Americana. It was no surprise then when he sat me down one day and asked the 13 yr old version of myself who my favorite ball player was.
Easy question, easier expedient reply "Barry Bonds"…
Contrary to popular demographic beliefs, as a youth I was an avid baseball fan. The cards, taking a glove to the game all the while knowing world peace would occur before I snagged a foul ball, along with delectable..abet or exceedingly expensive ball park hot dogs, made sojourns to Three Rivers pleasant experiences.
Bonds was the young star of the Pirates major league show during the early 90's, and all it took was one walk off home run to have me sign up for the fan club. While I admired the pitching wizardry of Doug Drabek, the defense combined with enthusiasm of Jose Lind, and the centerfield mastery preformed by Andy Van Slyke, none of them could compare to Bonds.
For some reason tho I couldn't articulate it then I identified with Bonds, besides he made R.J Reynolds look like a bat boy.
Pop Pop was respectful of my choice, but not overly impressed. He would bellow out with all the confidence the truth provides, "He's good, not great yet, let me see him doing for a few more years". He would remark "Then I can put him up there with the greats!!!" The "Greats" where comprised of an inarguable lineup of excellence. Willie Mays , Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, where just a few of those which ranks Bonds had failed to ascended to in his eyes..
A Few of The Greats
There was no debating his exclusion, especially when in the wise elders eyes "anybody can do it during the regular season, you haft to do it in the playoffs when it counts!!!"
Bonds much to my and the whole city of Pittsburgh displeasure failed miserably when it "counted" during the early 90's. It often seemed like the Braves where throwing invisible pitches as Bonds failed again and again during his playoff plate appearances.
Not soon after the 92 season ended, Bonds wasn't resigned by the Pirates. Many designated him a greedy athlete not worth the money, some looked at who was signed and what players where given their walking papers, and gleaned some reality lessons.
After Bonds moved to San Francisco, my interest in baseball started to wane I still followed the Pirates, but some where along the line the monotony of being the real life "Major League" squad, and losing every year wore me down. Ironically such futility causes me to wonder why no body ever speaks about "The Curse of Barry", for they haven't had a winning season since he departed for the west coast.
I continued to follow Bonds tho, and during every conversation I had with Pop Pop he would always ask me "What u think about how your boy Bonds is doing?" I would reply honestly, knowing full well the bludgeon of post season follies was sure to come. Without those past conversations, 2002 wouldn't have been so special.
Watching Bonds make it to the World Series that year and post un godly numbers, was a joy to behold. Temporally putting off my studies to witness at greatness at work was only trumped by hearing Mr. Collier state, "Your boy did it, he came through when it mattered, he is one of the greats."
Bonds's team eventually would lose that years October classic, but another piece of baseball immortality seemed to be inevitable occurrence. The all time Home Run record.
Now if you asked Pop Pop who really owned said record, he wouldn't name a pudgy earth shattering orphan, or a stolid slugger, no he would say Josh Gibson. Personal beliefs aside, he confided to me his rooting interest for Bonds, that was founded not just for his achievements on the diamond, but more so due to the pressures he faced off of it.
"Do you think he's gonna break the record?" I think so would be my reply I hope so to" would be his immediate follow up.
James Lee Collier passed away earlier this year, causing the pain of loss that only selfish love can create, for the many who where graced by his presence. His departure preceded the history made on August 7th 2007 by Barry Bonds, but his existence within my persona made a day a I longed to see even more majestic.
