All,
It started out like any other day...they always do. I had pitched to 10 batters in the batting cage 2 hours prior to our game, not unlike I have a dozen other times. My only worry was heat exhaustion due to the fact it was near 90 and I had heat exhaustion 2 weeks earlier pitching batting practice on a much cooler day. Then it happened. Tim Hill, one of my nicest players, hit a line drive. It rose up and skimmed the top of the batting cage net, making me think that it would just drop harmlessly. I found out I was wrong a split-second later as the ball introduced itself to my nose, eye socket, and all the blood above my neck. I went down and my first sight was two full hand fulls of blood, to which my players started yelling for help. I was bleeding from both nostrels and two new holes in my nose. I decided this was the time for me to influence my ballplayers, 14 fine young boys using this summer to jump-start their journey to manhood. As a mentor and a coach, my reaction would influence their path to adulthood in away no one else could. I could say, "If you ain't bleeding, you ain't trying!". I could bounce to my feet and yell, "Now that's how I want you guys to hit today! No mercy!". I could also get up and say, "Stepback in the batter's box....you still have one more pitch left. Who care's about this scratch!". But I did none of these. Instead, I rolled into a fetal position and screamed for my mommy, my wife, and a priest as I was sure I was dying! By now, the blood was all over my hands, the grass, my clothes and was showing no signs of stopping. I did attempt some humor, which my players laughed and thought maybe I was OK. But when I looked at them face-to-face and they all gasped and looked away, I knew my face was changed forever. Anyway, I made my way up to the office to phone Reagan, making sure to bleed on the phone, phonebook, and nearby computer keyboard (I had to check my email since I figured I would be at the doctor's office for awhile!). Reagan told me to go to the Carlisle doctor as her office was jam-packed. After regaining composure, I cleaned off the phone, phonebook, and keyboard (and checked for new emails), and then went to the doctor. You would think a local baseball coach with his nose split in two and blood pouring out would be first in line...but no, I spent 5 minutes in chairs and then 30 minutes in a room before the doctor saw me. He claimed I did this on purpose just to see him again (Since my health was back in line, I hadn't seen him in weeks!!). Anyway, my nose was not even broken, just a small crack. Isn't that sad, not even one of my best hitters can break my nose with his hardest hit!!
Well, I made it back to the game...we were in the 2nd game. We won the first 9-5 without me and were down 5-0 in the 2nd inning of this one. They vowed to win and win they did, 6-5. All of this made me of reasons this was good for me:
*My glasses fit much better now since my nose is double its regular size.
*I get more looks from women. I think b/c I have a rugged look with my face and its 23-day growth facial hair (you can see it too!). Reagan says its because I look "freakish".
*My players responded with 2 wins...good coaches win, great coaches go to great lengths to win! I struck fear in their players as I jokingly told two of their players, "Watch out for the 2nd baseman, he hits this hard!", then showed them my face. Onestarted to cry.
Anyway, almost all of this is factual (not all of my Emus are completely true). To prove this, I have included 3 pictures of my face, 2 hours later, 12 hours later, and 24 hours later. The one thing I am excited about is that I finally figured out what Grandpa George meant when he said "Get your nosehard!". Once all repaired, I think my nose finally will be! Enjoy the summer!
Love&Prayers,
Coach Ben Barry
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment