The town drunk and little league baseball – an unlikely combination

I’ve been told, and not always at pleasant times, that as a writer I sometimes wear my feelings and emotions on my sleeve. In order to remove any dispute about that claim let me say ‘guilty as charged.’ Furthermore, this offering will provide even more ammunition for those who make that accusation.

Today column is one of those instances where I take a couple of points and try to tie them together into a single thought.

As a youngster growing up in Sesser I learned early-on that for some people life is a daily struggle. I learned that by watching my Uncle Paul (Shepard) – a man who literally drank himself to death at age 40 and a man that most people in town would have referred to as the ‘town drunk.’ Looking back I couldn’t argue with that assessment of him; however I also remember seeing pictures and hearing family members tell stories that long before alcohol destroyed his appearance, his looks and his ambition he was a big strapping man with a quick wit, a ready smile and a keen sense of humor. Of course those who remember him stumbling down the street drunk on cheap wine wouldn’t recall those things.

I’ve mentioned Uncle Paul before in my writing and always note that his was a life that somewhere went far off course. I’ve often wondered how he went from being a decorated World War II Navy veteran at age 21 to a person who would gladly accept alcohol in exchange for a few hours work.

Even though I was only 14 when he died I still recall the feelings I had when his name was mentioned, oftentimes as the butt of a ‘drunk’ joke. Looking back it wasn’t a feeling that I had to defend him, after all how can you defend that type of behavior. Instead, it was more a feeling that life is very fragile and the potential is there for all of us to stray far off course.

Oddly, those old familiar thoughts and feelings about my Uncle Paul resurfaced this week when a story about the arrest of a Buckner man was highlighted on every news source known to man here in Southern Illinois.

Unless you’ve been in another state you no doubt heard the story about 27-year-old Jared Floro who was arrested on drug charges in West City.

Apparently under the influence Floro tried to gain entry to a house in West City and then ended up at the home of Steve Mumbower, the village’s police chief, where he walked by a squad car in the driveway. Floro then reportedly told Mumbower that he was in West City to trade some pills for cannabis at a residence in the same neighborhood.

Mumbower then notified other law enforcement agencies and the drug deal went down resulting in the arrest of Floro and Kevin McChesney, 28, of West City.

Before I continue on let me clarify a couple of important points. First, if a person is in possession or dealing illegal drugs they should be arrested, period. Secondly, the police did the right thing in this instance.

When I read the story about Floro I was saddened because I quickly remembered a better day. For 20 years I coached baseball in the Mustang League (boys age 9-10) in Benton. I’ve often said some of the nicest people I’ve met in life came through that association. I’ve given eulogies for three former players who died in car accidents.  As I said, lifelong friendships were forged on Field No. 3 at Benton Community Park.

As I read the story I recalled the two years that Floro played for me. He was a tough competitor, a hard worker and as a catcher was hard-nosed. During that two-year span he made as much improvement as any kid I ever coached.

It wasn’t until the day after I read the story in the newspaper about Floro’s arrest that those old, familiar ‘Uncle Paul-feelings’ came back. As is the case these days in the media, where everybody is trying to one-up everybody else, radio and television jumped all over the story and basically made Floro the ‘butt’ of the joke.

On one morning radio show – one of those where they incessantly laugh too loud and too long at things that are not funny – the hosts were having a hoot at Floro’s expense. Just like those comments I heard about Uncle Paul four decades ago I can’t defend Floro, after all, as I said earlier, how can you defend that type of behavior. All I can say once again is that life is very fragile and the potential is there for all of us to stray off course.

But, the point I want to make today is that alcoholism and drug addiction is not funny and those who battle daily demons are not a punch line to be served up by a sanctimonious media looking for a laugh or a ratings increase.

All those who had a good chuckle this past week at the expense of somebody that is obviously battling those demons should step down from their ivory tower, pause for a minute and remember that very truthful adage that says, ‘there but for the grace of God go I.’