No football players, no baseball players, although, I did play Little League baseball & Pee Wee football. One year I even made the all-star team as a left fielder. I don't think I was very good in football. I stumbled around on the field a lot. Still, I do remember making a interception on a hot humid evening as my team's left-side linebacker.
My all time highlight was in Little League when I was moved to pitcher. I wore a long sleeve t-shirt and between each pitch, I'd stop to hitch up the sleeve on my pitching arm. Games I pitched were the longest ever. I'd spend lots of time staring a hole in the catcher's mitt. Anyway, in my greatest game as a pitcher I gave up 10 runs, not too good, but we won the game when I hit a grand slam homer. We won 14-10. I remember rounding the bases, trying to be cool, and all my teammates jumping up and down in joy at home plate to welcome me. I broke out into a wide, shit-eating grin. Highlight reel!
Still, during those years my head was filled with imagery from another world, the world of r&r. My hair was getting longer and longer. And I refused to go to the barbershop. Rebellion! These posters were foundational to my psyche. If I was looking for a clue to "who I am," - hey I have an existential crisis every morning - this might give me a bit of a hint...
