Friday, June 5, 2009

Grande latte, shot of George Brett

Posted by Scott Wilson on Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 4:38 PM

Approaching my favorite coffee shop this morning, eager to down a working-for-the-weekend triple-shot, I saw that finding a place to park wasn't going to be easy. One groggy three-point turnabout later, I saw the reason for the traffic jam: George Brett.

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There, on the patio in front of Westwood Hills' Hi-Hat, taking his morning cup of pine tar with a posse of middle-aged clubhouse types (each of whom must have driven there in a separate car), was the hall-of-famer Bill James has called the best baseball player he's ever seen.

Even though he wasn't delivering a profanity-laden invective, even under a one-size-fits-all white ball cap, there was no mistaking Brett: those sharp blue eyes, that craggy face, that unsmiling readiness to engage. He was more godfather than buddy, listening to his tablemates' stories instead of talking himself. (In the only part of their conversation I overheard, one of Brett's friends seemed to be outlining his views on when not to submit to a Breathalyzer.)
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Somehow, despite having lived here my whole life, this was the first time I'd seen Brett in person and off the field. I ordered my drink, and for a moment, nostalgia took hold. I thought about the summer of 1980 and Brett's chase for .400. I remembered childhood dinner-table conversations centering on the man -- his press, his hitting, his hemorrhoids. The playoffs, the Yankees, the World Series.

But mostly I thought about the way Brett has, with seeming effortlessness, spent his retirement obliterating decades of good will toward him. At least the last year, and my good will. Plenty of ex-jocks fail to outgrow the self-regard that helps them fill out a uniform in the first place. But KC isn't home to that many living legends, so every man-child tantrum and renunciation of potty training goes down pretty hard.

As I left the Hi Hat, I realized there are two kinds of hometown heroes. There's the kind you can approach with a discreet "thanks for everything" (we should all be too old for autographs) or just raise your latte to. And there's the kind you wanna get the hell away from, before they figure out you're media and chase you with a pecan roll. Thanks for the powder-blue parts of my childhood anyway, George.

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Brett is great

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Posted by morgss on July 14, 2010 at 8:30 PM

This George Brett is impossible not to like--rants, tirades, warts and all. You can't paint this guy ugly no matter how much 'dirt' you sling. Same goes for that other champ, Brett Favre.

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Posted by Gavin Williams on April 24, 2010 at 9:33 PM

Scott Wilson should read the first post. George Brett is a man with convictions which is something most of the wussys in this town lack. He doesn't need to grow a pair he has a pair.

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Posted by kc newshound on June 9, 2009 at 5:55 AM

I felt the same way when I saw Brett at the movie theater on the Plaza. One part of me wanted to turn around (yes, he was right behind me in line) and say thanks for the childhood memories. But the logical half of me said shut up because you don't know if he'll kick you in the nuts and tear your head off. I also wanted to ask if he liked the movie we both saw, Taken. He probably envied the protagonists kick-ass-without-repercussions ways.

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Posted by Josh on June 8, 2009 at 9:10 AM

Brett has always been an insufferable douche nozzle, who walks around like he has a pine tarred bat up his ass. Lenny Dawson on the other hand, Ive run in to a few times over the years, a really nice humble guy.

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Posted by midtown miscreant on June 7, 2009 at 8:14 AM

Listen here, you pint-sized piece of shit.

I'm not about to take any bullshit from some fucking faggot from the Pitch, the same rag mag that fucking shit on me the last time some asshole dug something out of the archives just to smear my good name.

I'll have you know that I'm proud of what I do and what I say, if it's on TV or if it's in the privacy of my own fucking home.

You fucking media nutjob faggots need to get a goddamned life, or in the meantime go get laid.

Fuck all of you.

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Posted by George Brett on June 6, 2009 at 12:23 AM
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