Who Are You?

My name is Neil, which I abandoned on this board to avoid confusion with another Neill (double L). I'm 46, with a wife who grabs the sports page first (rabid baseball fan, thank goodness), a daughter 16 (crush on Chipper Jones), and a son who just turned 13. My kids are better than I deserve, and I'm grateful every day for their company.

Days, I am research administrator at a big public university, where I edit a magazine and direct research communications. I have also published a novel and have taught creative writing for 5 years.

I've coached youth baseball teams for about the same number of seasons and enjoy every part of it except the politics and the occasional nut-case parent.

To paraphrase a line from one of my favorite movies, I am a member of the church of baseball. Last year I attended 117 baseball games: Bronco, Pony, high school, AAU, Legion, minor league (triple A), college (Div I), and majors. I saw another 100 or so games on TV. I will watch any game, so long as it's baseball.

I am grateful that after 15 years in softball, I can still run the bases without serious pain. Last year, I played one game in our local Roy Hobbs league, filling in for a neighbor who was hurt. My glove was older than several players on the team. My first hard-ball at bat in almost 30 years, I lined a low-and-away slider down the left field line (lefty facing lefty). If the first-base coach (30-ish) had believed that someone my age could actually run all the way to second base, I would have managed a stand-up double. I finished the game 2 for 3 with one assist from right field and no errors, so I promptly retired (final), having the wisdom to quit while I'm ahead.

This board is one of my unbreakable habits. Thanks for the company, everyone.