Thread by @SportsbkConsig

Story time from the book:

As you may or may not know, in addition to working in sportsbooks in Las Vegas for 17 years, I am a softball coach..

The last tourney I coached before Covid was with Coach Vern..here is a fitting tribute to him..he was one..

bluecollarmg.com/post/thank-you…

of those people who had that "thing" that you know when you see it..

The big straw hat, the shades, the beard, and all the sayings and "Vern-isms" that were unique to him..

He knew everybody..players, coaches, umpires and tournament directors, and they knew him..

He made..

connections that went beyond the field, and the lessons taught were for life..

Coach Vern had the love of the game, but he had the love of people..

A fiery competitor on the field, he was always there to relate, listen and let the girls know "you do you" off of it..

As the..

girls got older, he was there to tell them what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear..

In other words, he was a coach..

In September, I had a stroke, and the Consig kids were home because of Covid..the lessons they learned on the field helped them stay calm..

slow the situation down, keep me calm, and got me the help I needed..I was lucky and able to make a full recovery..

One of the first calls I got in recovery was from Coach Erik, my guy who I have been coaching with for 5 years..a fellow girl dad x3, birthdays one day apart, and

someone who loves the game and coaching kids the same way I do, and the same way Coach Vern did..

Four days before my stroke, Coach Vern and I exchanged texts regarding the news of his diagnosis..we told each other things and shared things that were very dear to both of us..

I told him how much he meant to me and that my family, along with the entire softball community in Las Vegas, would be praying for him..

A week later, he was one of the first texts that I received to check on me after my stroke..

We hadn't seen each other for months, but..

didn't matter..

He was fighting his fight, but the texts continued..

"Who do you like this weekend?"

The last time I saw Vern was at a tournament in Las Vegas at Majestic Park. He had lost a lot of weight, but there he was in his trademark straw hat..

I ran over to..

say hi before our game, as he was leaving the fields..

"COACH VERN!"

He stopped, turned and looked back.

I ran up to him.

"Dave, so good to see you. How are you feeling? Glad to see you on the field."

Imagine, this guy had cancer everywhere, chemo going through him, and..

he asked about me.

"I'm fine, Vern. More important, how are you?"

In a hushed voice, but still with that twinkle in his eye, he said, "I am tired, and this chemo is kicking my ass. But, you know the deal, control what you can control, right? That's what we tell the kids..

and that's what I am doing. The struggle is real. But I am not done fighting."

Tears started to well up behind my Nike sunglasses. I took a deep breath and asked "You staying for our game?"

"Bruh, I would love to, but I gotta go. I am beat. But go get a dub and tell..

the girls I love them."

We grabbed each other and held on for dear life. He was always known for the big, strong bear hug, but this one was different. I could feel it. I didn't want to squeeze too hard, but I didn't want to let go.

"I love you, Vern. You do you. We will..

hold it down for you here."

He whispered back, "I love you too. You are a good coach and a better man. Keep doing that podcast, I love listening to it and those Sportscenter shoutouts. Be good. And take care of those girls."

And we let go. I looked at him, him at me..

we nodded, and off I went to the dugout..

Tears were streaming down my face..I could not talk..

I sat down with the lineup card, on a bucket, at the end of the bench..

Jordyn, the corner infielder of the Rebel Crew, came up to me and asked "You ok Coach Dave? Was that..

Coach Vern?"

I nodded..

"He ok?"

I shook my head side to side..

Could not talk for what seemed like hours but was probably seconds..

"Jordyn, I don't know..I just don't know..call everybody together in the outfield please"

I wiped the tears away and gathered myself..

"Listen, I just wanted to tell you all that I love you. And no matter what happens, I want to tell all of you thank you. Thank you for this team, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life, and it has been awesome, whether we win or lose."

Pause.

"Lastly, pray for..

Coach Vern and his girls Madi and Kayla. Reach out to him. Text him. Even if he doesn't respond, text him. He will know. And tell your parents, your siblings and anyone else special in your life that you love them."

I don't remember whether we won or lost the games that..

day, and it doesn't matter..

That was the last day I saw Coach Vern in person..

Coach Erik kept me abreast of his condition throughout, and I texted Vern whether he texted me back..

I think he knew how I felt about him, and I know how I felt about him..

I can only hope he..

is on some nice field on a sunny day, wearing that hat, shades down, calling pitches and talking to the umps between innings..

I hope he hits that 3 teamer too..

Yes, the struggle is real, but please remember my guy Coach Vern and his girls today..

You really never know but..

you can be in the moment..life, bruh..

Rebels on me, Rebels on three...1-2-3 REBELS 👏👏👏

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