Tressels, Fickells, Urbans, Days, Johnsons and Days,
It was a perfect day for baseball - Saturday, June 22nd, 2002.
My wife lived in Chicago for her final residency year. We were about to leave her apartment for nearby Wrigley Field when we heard the Cubs-Cardinals game had been cancelled. The sky was deep blue, so we were a little confused.
During pre-game warm-ups, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Darryl Kile, had died suddenly from a heart attack - 90% blockage in two coronary arteries.
A few days earlier, I sat behind the Cardinals dugout at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. After every inning, Darryl Kile talked to three young boys sitting a few rows over, signing baseballs, answering their questions and telling stories. He was gracious, athletic, heroic and only 33.
On Sunday, June 23rd, 2002, I started running...and ran every single day for two years. On that first Sunday that changed my life, I did a mixture of running and walking for 10 minutes before I had to stop from complete exhaustion. I'm not sure how far I went that day; it didn't really matter.
One year and 35-pounds later, I ran the Columbus Marathon in a little under four hours. Even today, 22 years later, I'm overcome by an overwhelming sense of joy watching people cross a finish line. Because I know each of them has a story that brought them there...a story that is better than the resolve of any Oscar-worthy movie or acclaimed novel. I've kept active since then; working out is a near-daily routine.
I think not going to Wrigley Field that late June day in 2002 may have saved my life in 2022. I caught Covid that year and it was not good. I had moments when I thought I might die. The issues continued for months. I experienced long Covid symptoms and decided to do a precautionary heart scan. The results came back, about 30% blockage...an early birthday present just before I hit my 50s.
Heredity is not on my side. Both of my grandfathers passed away suddenly from heart attacks in their early 60s. My Grandpa Winters passed away before I was even born. So, I think about what might have happened had my life not changed in 2002.
Wrigley Field holds a special place for many. It does for me, too. This weekend gives me a chance to tuck away another memory and be thankful.
Touchdowns: Quinshon, Quinshon, Treyvon, Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs
OSU 35 Northwestern 6
Go Bucks! Beat Northwestern! Harry Miller and Tyleik Williams for Heisman!
Stout Pops
