Not too long from now I will be saying goodbye to an old friend that I have known for the past 41 years. This friend has been probably the best friend I have ever had. He helped me through some dark times and celebrated with me in some of my happiest times. He provided an outlet when I needed to let off some steam and brought me down when I got a little full of myself. When I think back this friend was at some of the happiest moments of my life. He was there when I threw a no hitter in college ball. He was there when we won the District Tournament, at Belmont University, when I was at Union. He was also there when we lost back to back games, at Harding University, and had to go home when we had one of the best teams in the country that year. This friend saw my parents cheering, from lawn chairs and grandstands, at every game they could get to. They were so sad when it was over. He sat with my grandpa and me when we listened to the Reds games, on radio, and would talk about what kind of player he was, in his day. The days that I got a new glove and would hold it to my face to smell the leather, he was there. When I would leave my glove out in the rain and Dad would scold me, yes he was there also. When the Reds swept the Phillies and Johnny Bench and Tony Perez hit back to back homeruns to finish them off it was my neighbor Ollie, his son Larry and him jumping up and down so much that it felt like the stadium was going to collapse. The love I have for this friend is so strong but it is time to part. The friend, I talk about, is the game of Baseball, itself. I remember the day the man from the Sharonville Youth Organization came to the door with the little yellow card. He was signing kids up for tee ball and I was 5 years old. Little did I know that I would soon fall head over heals, in love with Baseball and everything it stood for. It taught me discipline and hard work. It taught me life is not fair and just because you work hard it doesn't mean you will win. As I got older it taught me how to teach others the game and how it is supposed to be played. I guess we will always be friends but not in the capacity we have been. My son graduates this year and I will hang it up, but not without some reservation. I've learned never to say never but I think this is it. Goodbye old friend it was a fun ride!!!!!