PuckI met Puck in 1984. He was a rookie with the Twins, I a third-grader at St. Rose of Lima. My brothers and dad and I waited on Grand Ave. in St. Paul under a hot sun along with hundreds of others. I knew he was short and fat and had chubby cheeks, looking more a teddy bear than ballplayer. I didn't know he charged $400 for the appearance, half what his teammates asked, and I didn't know he stayed hours past his allotted time to make sure every one of us got a handshake and autograph. And, more importantly, a smile.
That's my first image, and my next image, and every image forever after. Puck, grinning so wide his cheeks creased, smiling like he'd just robbed a few of mom's cookies and wanted to share with his friends.
Everyone was Puck's friend. You couldn't look at his big goofy grin and not think this guy's one of us. He was black in Minnesota, not an easy life, but one look at his smile and he wasn't black anymore. He was Puck, and he was your pal.
He would have been cute and cuddly and our friend even if Kirby Puckett didn't patrol center field like Superman or hit homers straight into heaven to win big games.
But he did. The man with the lovable name and teddy-bear mug played like no one before or since. He was always first to arrive at the ballpark, last to leave, with mischief and hustle and heroics in between. Every day of his major-league life, from the day he led off his career with four hits in one game in Anaheim to the day his eye went dark and he'd never swing at a pitch or snag a deep fly to left-center again.
In 1987 I was in sixth-grade at St. Rose. Kirby was in his fourth big-league season with the Twins. more to come.
letter from ManabuHow are you?
You know I stay in Hunan province, China.
I am teaching Japanese in the University.
I teach conversation, composition for freshmon, junior.
Common knowledge, Freshman can't speak Japanese.
But, I don't worry this situation.
I graduated the Japanese teacher's school.
Now, I am convined of how to teach Japanese.
I am happy!!
As I work, I learn Chinese.
My Chinese is not very well, But I can exchange with Chinese.
I hope I stay in China next year, also.
In the future, I want to get job that have to do with language.
Daniel, You always said `I love you.
But, I say potato(American pronounce).
You say pot(e)to(British pronounce).
I say tomato.
You say tom(e)to.`
I know It is kind of American jock.
So, now I must say that we always satied with together.
I miss you .
But I went to Beijing.
You went back to America.
I went back to Okinawa.
You came back to Guangzhou, China.
I come back to Changsha, China.
You went back to America.
Yo! Brother!!
Today, It is my birthday.
Way I am 30 years old !!
Ooh, my god !
Holy shit !!
Mother-fucker !!!
`Time flies`
Okay, I can image your American life.
I guess that you have good job, beautiful girlfriend.
I hope I can get good life like you in the future.
Anyway, It's spring festival Tomorrow.
Happy new year!!!
I hope Everything goes well for you.
Ciao !
yours sincerely, manabu
Driving in Zhuzhou v. driving in La Crosse, Healthy cookiesMy column comparing being on the roads in my Chinese home and my Wisconsin home:
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2006/02/19/news/00msimmons.txtShe moved to a farm from Chicago, got breast cancer, went broke and started baking macrobiotic cookies. Two years later, they're a business phenomenon:
http://www.rivervalleynewspapers.com/articles/2006/02/19/business/00laxbiz.txt
New school copsOne takes over for his dad. The other is new to public schools after graduating from the local Catholic high school. "No nuns here," he noted.
http://lacrossetribune.com/articles/2006/02/02/news/z1cops.txt
