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Kingmania

G-Fafif Jul 18 2013 01:37 PM

A FAFIF reader related a wonderful experience with his slugging idol from FanFest, which we share as a guest post here. We shook hands, I said I was a huge fan since childhood and thanked him for changing his mind and attending the last day of Shea (I decided not to ask him if my e-mail made him change his mind). He said it was a great day, he had a nice time and was glad he did. He signed a picture for me, posed for a couple of pictures, and I thanked him and began moving away. The MLB authenticator guy who was affixing little hologram stickers to all autographed items asked, “Hey, you want your jersey signed?” I hadn’t asked because they said only one item, I didn’t want to be a bother, and frankly I was a little overwhelmed. I said, “Really, you would?” and Dave said, “Sure! I have to sign a No. 26!” I whipped it off and said, “Wow, thanks! I wear this to almost every game and always get a positive reaction.” Dave seemed surprised and pleased by that, so I said, “Absolutely! Everyone loves you!” The MLB guy said “You know, you can’t wash it anymore,” and I said “That’s OK, I hardly ever wash it anyway”, and Dave laughed and said, “Ha, we can tell”. It’s got Shake Shack residue, ketchup marks and other food stains on it from a year or two worth of ballgames. We all had a good laugh and I walked away on Cloud 9…without any of my stuff other than the jersey in my hand. The guy had to call me back first for my bag, and then for my picture. I am generally a fairly cool customer, unfazed by anything. Except this. I was completely agog. When I came off the stage my wife laughed at me for babbling up there and forgetting all my stuff, and when I showed her the autograph she said, “Oh my God, your hands are shaking! What’s with you?!” For a couple of minutes I was a starstruck ten-year-old kid again.

Edgy MD Jul 18 2013 01:40 PM Re: Kingmania

I've already papered the wall of my cube with that post. Get dak bak!

metirish Jul 18 2013 01:43 PM Re: Kingmania

Can't beat that, great stuff.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 18 2013 01:54 PM Re: Kingmania

Hey, that's dak11 from the old days? I though until a few minutes ago that name was for Bob Apodaca, but now realize: David Arthur Kingman. That's great.

Edgy MD Jul 18 2013 02:53 PM Re: Kingmania

I think there's a great paper to be written about the psychology of the giant man in sports. Or in baseball. Or on the Mets. Folks want to feel morally and intellectually superior to a giant, because he makes them feel inferior. Rather than celebrating what he is, in the face of the daily realities and disappointments of the game, he gets demonized for what he isn't. He tries to iron out the rough patches in his game --- the subtler skills --- but it only draws attention to them and gets him mocked more. So he retreats into what he does best --- crude, malicious power. His defense becomes more hopeless as it declines from something he's not good at to something he doesn't care about. Self-sacrificing hustle is missing from his game. Why destroy himself when the pressman seemingly want to see him destroyed? His personality becomes more abrasive or even hostile, as he's living with his guard up and fists ready after taking numerous low blows from aging un-athletic men bent on turning the fans against him no matter what he does. And if he's doomed to be chided no matter what he does, he's unmotivated to change. His only remaining source of defiance and self-image is to keep producing what none of them can --- jaw-dropping power --- at the expense of all else. And, justifiably or ironically, he becomes the demon they've made him out to be. After his career, reporters --- either the same ones who ripped him back in the back or the next generation who grew up believing the characterizations of him to be gospel --- mention that they ran into him , and he's a much warmer guy than they recalled. Of course he is. They don't need him to be their demon any more and he doesn't need to fight back against it. God bless dak and all young fans who maintain their warm connection to the player's struggles and efforts even as cold water comes from all directions. And God bless surly giants everywhere.

G-Fafif Jul 18 2013 02:58 PM Re: Kingmania

Edgy MD wrote: And God bless surly giants everywhere. And the jolly ones, too.

Zvon Jul 18 2013 03:05 PM Re: Kingmania

Great story. Reminds me of when I saw Buddy H at a Surf game (he managed the Ducks, I think). After the game I yelled "Yo Buddy!" as he was heading off the field and he stopped to chat with me. He didn't respond until I yelled "do you still play guitar?" He stopped and turned to me and said "Yea, you play?" I became like a deer in the headlights.