RIP - Steve The Mailman

I first met “Steve The Mailman” about 25 years at a local trivia night. He played with a small but very competitive team. We eventually got to know each other and found out that we had a mutual interest in local sports and rock music. We would have countless conversations as the years rolled on….

People sometimes ask why we called him “Steve The Mailman”. It’s simply because he worked as a mail carrier and would show up for trivia every week in his full USPS uniform. For those who didn’t know his name, they would just refer to him as “The Mailman”.

I had a lot of great discussions with Steve over the years. He was a really smart guy. He sat in with our trivia team several times over the years. I used to love the way he would frantically wave his hands and say, "No, No, No!" when we were debating an answer. If we decided to dismiss his answer, he would just shake his head and say something like, “Ok, whatever, You guys are crazy. But go ahead and turn it in.” And when Ray (our beloved trivia host) would announce the answer, Steve’s answer was often the right one. Like I said, he was pretty smart.

In more recent years, Steve would catch me after the Wednesday night trivia contest, usually outside of the restaurant. Walking to my car in almost empty parking lot, I'd hear a semi-distant "Hey, Ken". I would look around and see Steve sitting in his car like a character in a Batman movie. I’d walk over and Steve would say, “I want to get your opinion on something.” From there, the conversation would sometimes go on until 10 o’clock or later. We would talk about sports, music and general life. Sometimes, Tina would text me and ask if everything was ok because it was so late and I wasn’t home yet. I would explain that I was talking to Steve The Mailman and that I would be home shortly.

Steve was very generous too. Through the years, he would bring me random gifts. He might stop by the table before trivia, hand me a book and say, “I saw this and thought you might like it. I’d like to get your thoughts on it after you read it.”

One of the most unique items that Steve ever gave me was a large painting. He explained that he picked it up a recent yard sale and got it for practically nothing. Steve said that “the guy didn’t know what he had”. Honestly, that made two of us! It turns out that it was painted with drumsticks, of all things, by Black Sabbath drummer, Bill Ward. Steve said that he had nowhere to hang it so he wanted to give it to me. The look on Tina’s face was priceless as I walked into the house with the chaotic art piece. It eventually secured a spot in my mancave where it still hangs today. It kind of reminds me of the leg lamp in “A Christmas Story” except in this case, it’s a Bill Ward drum-stick painted “major award”.

Steve also loved live music. He would often go to see classic bands when they came to the Maryland area. One particular concert, attended by several mutual friends, brings back a chuckle. Steve often bought a solo ticket so he could secure a spot close to the stage. In this case, we were at Rams Head in Annapolis. With neatly-positioned tables throughout, the venue is set up more like a restaurant than a concert hall. Well, on this night, Geoff Tate (from the band, Queensryche) was the headliner. Steve was sitting at a table right in front of the stage, literally a few feet from the band. Well, for some reason, Steve decided to order a large salad right as the band was kicking into some of Queensryche’s classic songs. With his head buried in the large salad plate, the band tried their best to look past it. Meanwhile, my friends and I were sitting at a table a couple rows back and taking it all in.

Well, after the song ended, Geoff Tate in his deep signature voice said, "I've played countless shows all over the world. But this is probably the first time I've ever performed with someone eating a salad a few feet in front of me!"

After the show, we met up with Steve and busted his balls about it. Well, shortly afterward, the bass player from the band stopped by. He was a really nice British guy and asked if we enjoyed the show. As the conversation progressed, Steve eventually chimed in. The bass player responded with something like, “Hey, I remember you! You were the guy eating that big ass salad. You were really tearing that thing up!”

My friends and I were laughing so hard we could hardly breathe. Meanwhile, Steve just smiled and shook his head. He was a good sport and took the ribbing in stride.

Through the years, I always appreciated Steve’s generosity and thoughtfulness. But perhaps most of all, I appreciated that he valued my opinion. We didn’t always agree but the conversations were always enjoyable and interesting.

It’s obvious that Steve’s health had deteriorated rapidly over the past year. But he still continued to show up for trivia until the end.

Hopefully, there’s a trivia contest on the other side. If there is, I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Just don’t let them talk you out of your answer. I am going to miss you, brother.

kw

The Camden Yards Bobblehead Debate

This past Friday, the Baltimore Orioles hosted "Tupac Shukur Bobblehead Night" at Camden Yards. I know, you're probably wondering what initiated this. After all, Tupac has about as much in common with Orioles baseball as the World Series. But nonetheless, countless Tupac fans lined up before the game to secure their bobbling treasure.

To break down the significance of Tupac's ties to Baltimore, here's the way I understand it. He lived in Baltimore from 1984 to 1988. During that time, he spent 8th grade at Roland Park Middle School and 9th grade at Dunbar High School. He then transferred to the Baltimore School for the Performing Arts where he studied poetry, acting, jazz and ballet. So, there you have the Baltimore connection.

Now, you're probably asking, "So, what does this have to do with the Orioles?" Great question!

Major League Baseball started a "City Connect" promotion a couple of years ago. One of the highlights of this program is locally inspired jerseys worn by the home team on Friday nights. Since the Tupac bobblehead promotion occurred at a Friday game, it could legitimately fit the "city connect" criteria. 

"But why Tupac?", you ask.

That's another great question. After all, there are plenty of other people with Baltimore connections that are arguably more worthy. Let's take Dr. Ben Carson, for example. With as much as he's accomplished and as much good as he's done for humanity, he would seem like a worthy candidate for a Bobblehead Night in Baltimore. Or what about Thurogood Marshall? And isn't #1 selling author Tom Clancy part of the O's ownership team? Where's his bobblehead? And what about Balimore's own Michael Phelps? Sure, he has plenty of gold medals. But does he have an O's bobblehead?

But let's dig a little deeper...

Since we're talking Baltimore baseball and bobbleheads, what about Babe Ruth? Didn't his father own a bar at the site that is currently Camden Yards? And didn't Babe actually play for the Baltimore Orioles? Yes, I know it's not the same Orioles, but they were still from Baltimore! By the way, Babe went on to have quite the legendary baseball career with the Red Sox and Yankees. But it all began in Baltimore. Give the man a bobblehead!

And since Tupac is tied to the music world, it would be crazy not lobby for a Joan Jett Bobblehead Night. Yes, Joan is a rock and roll badass. But she is also a huge Oriole's fan. Similar to Tupac, she grew up in Maryland (Rockville) at a young age where she developed her interest in music. Through the years, she has been seen at Camden Yards in her Orioles colors, cheering on the team. And she's quite knowledgeable about the team. She talks the talk and walks the walk as an O's fan. She needs a bobblehead!

And we're not done with the O's music connection yet. Can we get a bobblehead for the late, great John Denver? For you youngsters, John Denver was massively successful artist with several #1 hits in the 70's. But the tie to the Orioles, of course, is his beloved 7th inning stretch anthem, "Thank God I'm A Country Boy". The song was first introduced by long-time O's shortstop, Mark Belanger in 1975. The song quickly caught on and has played at O's games for over 50 years. In 1983, John Denver was invited to sing the National Anthem to kick off Game 1 of the World Series. During the 7th inning stretch, he stepped atop the Oriole's dugout and led the crowd in a thunderous rendition of his song. The O's went on to win the '83 World Series in five games. And they haven't been back to the series since. Give John Denver a bobblehead!

So, am I upset that Tupac got his bobblehead? Absolutely not. Anything that brings a little fun to the ballpark is ok with me. While I'm not personally a Tupac fan, there are obviously plenty of people who are. Friday night's attendance was the highest since Opening Day. But I do wonder if Tupac was an O's fan. Or if he ever attended an O's game at Camden Yards. But that's neither here nor there.

If people want to wait in line for hours to get a bobblehead, more power to them. I'll be over at Pickles Pub having a pre-game Natty Boh. (That's actually how I missed out on getting a Adley Rutschman bobblehead last year, But that's another story).

kw