No, this has nothing to do with any upcoming games. That is why I posted in the everything else section. As we all pass through our lives we learn to accept and deal with loss. Family, friends, it's all just part of the deal. But sometimes a loss occurs that tends to throw for a loss a little harder than normal. This afternoon is such an occasion for yours truly. I grew up in the small mid missouri community of Moberly. Like many of you sports was a center point of my life growing up. When I was in high school I played baseball and was a pitcher for our team. One of my favorite teammates was a guy named Brent Briscoe. He was a live wire, so much energy. Positive energy. Just one of those guys whose glass was always half full, never empty. Some people are blessed with that kind of positive energy and outlook at life. Brent was one of those fortunate souls. We used to laugh some because on those rare moment when we would actually talk about the future and what we really wanted to do with our lives Brent always told us he was going to move to Hollywood and be an actor. Well, that just did not happen much from a town like ours. But Brent was always dead serious, at least about that subject. Well, he graduated from Missouri and went onto New York and did some stage stuff and sure enough moved on to Los Angeles. We all watched proudly and somewhat amazed as he proceeded to do exactly what he said he would all along. No, Brent was not an actor most have heard of. He was one of those actors folks recognize from sight but never really knew their name. He appeared in more TV shows and movies than I can begin to list here. He did well.
A couple of years ago around the christmas holiday I was driving back to my home in Columbia and a huge blizzard came up and slammed our area. I was driving back and stopped to spend the night in Moberly. The roads were just getting too dangerous. The town was getting hammered pretty good. I got bored at the motel and decided to go over to a local joint I knew and hoped they were still open. I walked in and there was no other customers. Everyone else had enough sense to stay at home. I knew the bartender Rocky and he got me a beer and we visited awhile. I got up to go to the mens room and came back out and noticed another guy sitting a couple of bar stools down. I didn't really look that closely at him. After a minute I heard that familiar voice, it was Brent. He had come home from LA for the holidays with his folks. He had gotten bored and decided like me to go grab a cold one. He said, hey SteveO. I about crapped. Last person I expected to see. As it ended up Rocky kept the place open for us and Brent and I sat there and chatted and got caught up until well after normal closing time. It was fun listening to him talk about his friends out there and the stories. He was very close friends with Billy Bob Thornton in particular. He has lived for a period of time with Burt Reynolds when he was going through a divorce with Loni Anderson. It was amazing to hear all his stories. Priceless stuff. But the thing I loved most was the clear fact my friend has never changed. Not one bit. He was still good old Brent from Moberly. That never changed.
I just heard in the last hour that my friend has passed. He developed some heart issues and went rather rapidly. To say I am saddened and stunned does not cover it. Yet once again a harsh reminder that we should never take our life or friends for granted. No day is guaranteed to any of us. There is no more real point to this post. Truth be told I am just venting some. This one hurt. I can only urge all you guys with all sincerity to take some time to call some of those old friends from the past on occasion. Hold onto that rope and don't just let go like so many do. That day will come when you cannot make that call any longer and will never have the opportunity again. And it sucks, big time.
Okay, got that off my chest. Good luck with your action fellas. If you ever see a movie and see on the credits the name Brent Briscoe, You now at least have an idea of who Brent really was. Rest in peace my friend. Life well lived.