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