I’ll need to use past tense some to tell this story, like when you get with a guy and say, “Remember that tournament game over at Stevens Field? Like 30 years ago? It was 21-to-20 or something we beat you guys? Uh, yeah, Vincent, we won that game … ”
And then you go on and talk about the wingnut twins – yeah, they were on your team, Vin – and their habit in the batter’s box of banging the barrel of the bat against their foreheads, every time, both of ‘em.
Then you talk about the poker games at Pat’s and John’s, and how it was a tough crowd there, and maybe not coming right out and saying Vince wasn’t equipped for the trash talk, but he wasn’t. He took his lumps and laughed and watched the Huskies win a national title – at the Lemon Road house, right, Vin?
You talk about watching the Saints win a Super Bowl, and the Seahawks lose one, and how he was watching the big games at Doug’s when the Hawks finally won one and then lost another.
And then you talk about how, even in a fantasy universe, he didn’t want to root against his guys … how he always picked Brees, if he could, for Danny’s fantasy league in PeEll USA, and how he always ended up with Colston or Graham and it‘s like, Vinnie, why do you always take whatever sorry-ass running back the Saints throw out there?
You talk about music, the Allmans and Buffett, and how I had to remind him he gave up his own tickets to see Bonnie Raitt at the Gorge as a wedding present for Greta and me. He said, “I did that? What was I thinking?”
You go on to talk about the dozen years or so in a row he went home for the Jazz Festival in New Orleans, which also meant golf with Wild Bill on nice courses in Mississippi and Louisiana. Yes, Vinnie, you did tell me all the acts you saw.
Yeah, golf, countless rounds, most of them at Tumwater Valley, but also at the venues of the Grey Goatee Golf Association. Nobody loves the Howl at the Canal better than you, Vincent.
You talk about all those times with that jerk on the golf course … Vin, you could just tell me to shut up and grow up, but all you ever say is, Take it easy, Bartski.
Then you talk about how he did get mad at me when I brought him home from a birthday round at Vicwood that night in July – like, 14 years ago? – and he saw the cars lining Lemon Road by his house. Yeah, I was in on the surprise, Vin, and we got you good. You’re still mad at me?
Eventually, you come around to talking about the cancer and how the doctors said it was one of the rarest kinds the world has ever seen. Like that was going to make you feel better, Vin. Well, it didn’t kill you. You’re still right here, still in present tense.
Finally, you talk about the big stuff. Hey, Vinnie, the 3GA opener is April 3. I’m putting you in The Commissar’s foursome, if that’s okay.
Vince Caronna died Tuesday, March 8, at home with his family. He was 64. Here are some related Vinnie links:
Vinnie Strong: The better story to tell
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