Judge Smails
Footballguy
So I open up the local paper today and as I'm passing through the obituary pages I get stopped in my tracks. Picture of a kid that I coached for several years starting at 12 until high school. Went to many of his games then too as he went to a different HS than my son. Absolute phenom in baseball. I mean phenom. Led us to LL title when I drafted him at 12, led us to a deep run with all-star team where we honored on the field at Dodger Stadium, and then to another championship the following year in Juniors. Travel teams too. Kid could absolutely mash (high school home run record) as a right handed hitter and was unhittable for most of his career as a left handed flame thrower.
I loved this kid. I mean loved him. He was the hardest working kid I've ever seen. So hard on himself. In his 1st game he went 4-5 and afterward he came up to me and said "coach, what did I wrong on that pitch I popped up on". Driven. Great teammate. Unbelievably coachable for a kid with that kind of talent (he was 6 foot, man among boys even at that age). Had SO much fun on the field, always laughing. I coached for 15 years, and besides my son he was my absolute favorite as a player and a person. His Dad was my assistant coach, and his Mom and sisters formed a cheering section every game. As many of you who have coached know you draft families as much as the player, and this family was the best.
He died last week after a multiple year struggle with heroin. I don't know all of the details. He had signed to go to a 4 year school, something happened and he ended up at a JC near Las Vegas. I heard a few years back that he had gotten into drugs and it absolutely shocked me. Not this kid. No way. I used to see the Mom and Dad at Gold's gym 5 years or so ago, but they stopped coming and we lost touch. I had heard the kid got kicked out of the house, parents got divorced, etc.
I wanted to reach out to him last year but my son couldn't find him on facebook, didn't have his #, etc. I should have hunted down the parents and figure out a way to get to him. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but I know he really looked up to me and I was a positive influence at one of the happier times in his life. This isn't about me - but it is absolutely eating me up inside that I didn't act. Wasn't enough to just think about it - I should have found a way to make it happen. I have so much regret that I didn't get to have one conversation with him to see if I could possibly help him turn his life around.
Have no idea how it started. Whether he got injured, started pain pills, then did the typical oxy/heroin crossover because it was cheaper or if he was depressed that he felt that he didn't realize his dream, his identity, in baseball. I mean people thought this could would be in the pros, and there are several big leaguers from our area now and he competed right with them. I know his Dad put pressure on him, and he was sort of a no-BS type guy. When the drugs started, I heard he did the tough love approach and threw him out. But I'm sure a lot happened before that.
Anyway, I know this stuff happens more and more but it is brutal when it hits close to home. I cried for several hours this morning. The young man is dead at 26. The family is already completely broken and dealing with something no parent/sibling ever wants to face. Now have to think about something to say on Friday that will properly honor his life and spirit with great memories.
I hope he's now at peace. C-Dog - you'll be my first round pick again when I see you in heaven. Oh, and while understanding personal responsibility - #### you heroin, pushers, doctors who prescribe oxy's like candy for cash, "friends" who introduce other kids to it - all of 'em.
I loved this kid. I mean loved him. He was the hardest working kid I've ever seen. So hard on himself. In his 1st game he went 4-5 and afterward he came up to me and said "coach, what did I wrong on that pitch I popped up on". Driven. Great teammate. Unbelievably coachable for a kid with that kind of talent (he was 6 foot, man among boys even at that age). Had SO much fun on the field, always laughing. I coached for 15 years, and besides my son he was my absolute favorite as a player and a person. His Dad was my assistant coach, and his Mom and sisters formed a cheering section every game. As many of you who have coached know you draft families as much as the player, and this family was the best.
He died last week after a multiple year struggle with heroin. I don't know all of the details. He had signed to go to a 4 year school, something happened and he ended up at a JC near Las Vegas. I heard a few years back that he had gotten into drugs and it absolutely shocked me. Not this kid. No way. I used to see the Mom and Dad at Gold's gym 5 years or so ago, but they stopped coming and we lost touch. I had heard the kid got kicked out of the house, parents got divorced, etc.
I wanted to reach out to him last year but my son couldn't find him on facebook, didn't have his #, etc. I should have hunted down the parents and figure out a way to get to him. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but I know he really looked up to me and I was a positive influence at one of the happier times in his life. This isn't about me - but it is absolutely eating me up inside that I didn't act. Wasn't enough to just think about it - I should have found a way to make it happen. I have so much regret that I didn't get to have one conversation with him to see if I could possibly help him turn his life around.
Have no idea how it started. Whether he got injured, started pain pills, then did the typical oxy/heroin crossover because it was cheaper or if he was depressed that he felt that he didn't realize his dream, his identity, in baseball. I mean people thought this could would be in the pros, and there are several big leaguers from our area now and he competed right with them. I know his Dad put pressure on him, and he was sort of a no-BS type guy. When the drugs started, I heard he did the tough love approach and threw him out. But I'm sure a lot happened before that.
Anyway, I know this stuff happens more and more but it is brutal when it hits close to home. I cried for several hours this morning. The young man is dead at 26. The family is already completely broken and dealing with something no parent/sibling ever wants to face. Now have to think about something to say on Friday that will properly honor his life and spirit with great memories.
I hope he's now at peace. C-Dog - you'll be my first round pick again when I see you in heaven. Oh, and while understanding personal responsibility - #### you heroin, pushers, doctors who prescribe oxy's like candy for cash, "friends" who introduce other kids to it - all of 'em.
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