PG

No check necessary I speak the truth.

Itsinthegame

Very professional, but very down home and easy to talk with. Great combination. And not just Jerry either, Tyson, and Jason, and a bunch of others as well.

I am a true believer that if you surround yourself with positive people your life improves. If nothing else the postitive attitude makes it SEEM better.

When folks can show our children how easy it is to be businessmen and still maintain your integrity - they teach them a lot more than just baseball. Sure is nice when they teach them about baseball while they are at it.

After our son returned from the NY/PENN league last Fall, we hosted a dinner for the coaches, teachers and friends located locally who have been so influential in his formative years. It was wonderful.
Unfortunately it did not include those who took him under their arm when he set off for college in TX and summer ball in New England. It is the efforts of that group that recognized, challenged and crystallized his skills and mental make up and this thread is a wonderful opportunity to say "thank you!"
In the NECBL, opportunites were provided by Harry Ayotte and his great family and then by Chuck Paiva and the great ownership group of the Newport Gulls. Chuck worked tirelessly to help our son because he saw something and wanted others to see it. On June 8, 2004, when pick number 747 of the MLB draft was announced, we received 2 phone calls within the minute. One from the scout for the Blue Jays, the second from Chuck. When you talk about summer baseball, the experience, friendship and support that Chuck Paiva provided was unbelievable.
But, little doubt that the biggest influence in our son's baseball experience came from two people in the baseball program at Trinity University. Tim Scannell, the head coach is the first. Tim knows how thankful we are. He took a risk, he worked tirelessly and he succeeded. Perhaps the greatest attribute of Coach Scannell is the way he has transitioned himself with our son so that he is still recognized as the "Coach" but is now a "best friend."
The other Trinity coach is Bob Meccage. Bob was a giant of a man who, in his mid 40's, moved to San Antonio and became a volunteer coach. His love for baseball and his players was unmatched. Bob coached for no salary and when our son was a freshman, Bob convinced him he could play with any middle infielder in the Big 12 and worked tirelessly before and after practice, hour upon hour,during his freshman year to develop his skills. When I watched my son's very first college game at Emory, I remember telling my wife that I did not even recognize him because he had changed and improved so much.
My very last memory of this treasured man is him engulfing my son in his huge arms and hands in a bear hug following the opening game of the 2002 NCAA regional. I later learned
that in that hug he told my son how proud he was of him and that it was the best game he had ever seen him play. When I awoke the next morning, May 17, 2002, anxious to be at the field, I was jolted to reality and learned that our treasured friend and coach passed away during the night. As the team sat in the chapel and told stories about Bob, one player confided that through some of his struggles and missteps, Bob gave him a card with a poem about... the dash. With your indulgence, I will include it here. It says everything anyone would ever need to know about this beloved and generous man and his life, and what he meant and means to our son.

"THE DASH I read of a man who stood to speak At a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning...to the end. He noted that first came her date of birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth... And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own The cars...the house...the cash, What matters most is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard... Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what's true and real, And always try to understand The way other people feel. And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we've never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile... Remembering that this special dash, Might only last a little while. So, when your eulogy's being read With your life's actions to rehash... Would you be proud of the things they say About how we spend our dash?"

God so very much blessed our son when he provided him the opportunity to be part of the dash in life of Bob Meccage.

Beautiful infielddad. I will save this. Thank you.

Tremendously beautiful and moving.

Several tears after reading that. Thanks infielddad, a classic story.

Infielddad, I was told to bring a tissue before I came to read your post. They were correct. Thank you for sharing those beautiful thoughts.

Wonderful post, and a few tears shed here, too.

Infielddad,

Thanks for sharing that eye opener. What an important reminder "THE DASH" is.

I am putting this up on my wall....thank you!

The power of words, when assembled as elegantly as infielddad in his post, is truly amazing. Thanks for giving us this message as we enter the holiday season, when we truly have the opportunity to appreciate the people in our lives that mean so much to us.

Infielddad, thank you for this,,,,,,what an impact your post had on me.

.
IFD...

Respect. Values. Priorities. Perspective. Love. Community. Appreciation. Truth......smile

and a big....Thanks!

Infielddad, in my families' experience this site has been valuable beyond words.... there have been many posters from whom we have learned the ins and outs of recruitment.....but there are a few.....who have shared beyond the basics of recruitment.....who have lifted us up....given us more hope......shared experiences that we can relate to....take comfort in....you are one of them.....and your recent post, once again......makes us very appreciative that you post here.....thank you.

quote:

"THE DASH I read of a man who stood to speak
At a funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own
The cars...the house...the cash,
What matters most is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash,
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how we spend our dash?"

infielddad,

Thanks for the post. I remember hearing "The Dash" quite a few years ago in a sermon.

Glad it's still around. If we had a "two thumbs up" Graemlin I'd post it.

IFD-Thanks, appreciate you sharing your story.

Fungo-Thanks for rearranging it. Will print and
share.

I would like to think I was a positive influence on my son but I do know for a fact that his HS Principle and his AD were definite positive influences on his life.

They were his "confidantes" during his HS days and I am forever thankful to them for their efforts.

IFD,
Thought about your post again this morning, "The Dash" and it was odd but I found it made me reflect not only on the story but on the title, "The Dash" and with that a saying that my dad (who truly inspired me) tried to instill in my life was "to stop and smell the roses along the way" . When I take that along with what you wrote it made me think..........

these past few years it seems to me that I have been dashing around (like a lot of my friends) and not taking the time to smell the roses and enjoy their beauty and just recently I notice the roses I have are no longer my little "buds" they have been blooming for sometime......it isn't too late to slow down, enjoy the magic of the blooms and with that then maybe that dash we have become used to won't be just a relection of the time that was rushed but time that was well spent, enjoyed,shared and remembered.

Thank you for this at this time in my life.

HSBBW friends, I am deeply, deeply touched by each of your comments. I have longed to perpetuate the life, memory, and impact Coach Meccage had on so many. One committment I have made for my "dash" is to assimilate a story about Coach Meccage as told by the players at Trinity who loved him so much during life and cherish his values in death. Your comments suggest I am overdue in that pursuit.
Oldbat-never, I am having trouble typing through the tears. Thank you.

IFD,
I plan on asking my son tonight about who is/was, up to this point in his baseball life, his biggest influence. I think I know who it is/was (a prior coach) but am curious to see what he says and what he tells me about this person and what influenced him the most, then I think I will tell him to pick up the phone, or a christmas card and thank that coach while he still can.

Again, thank you for the post!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good to have these types of "heartchecks" every once in awhile.....

infielddad

Great post. The true measurement of a life well lived - when someone misses you when you are gone.

oldbatnever

I too had another meaning of the word dash that came to mind, similar to your own. Dash, as in a dash of spice. After all, those little dashes of something special, like smelling the roses, are what make the dash inbetween life and death so much more special.