Father Pushes wheelchair-bound son through marathons; Lee writes story
Posted on June 26, 2007
Saw a report today on Team Hoyt, a father-son racing duo so unique that my own words can’t do it justice. So, let’s have their website tell the story:
Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.
It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can’t walk or talk.
For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.
Without going all Rick Reilly on you (actually, I think he may have written an article about them a couple years ago…), I have to say, that’s pretty cool. But what does this have to do with fiction, you ask? Good question.
It reminds me of sportfiction friend and contributor Lee Klein’s story, “Carry Me Father No More,” which is featured on AGNI’s front page, and which is also pretty awesome. I got to see a draft of this story three years ago in workshop, and it was really good then. Three years of work later, and it’s even better. So, go check it out.
Real fiction-y updates on the way sooner than later– maybe even from someone who’s not me, which is exciting.
Update: Turns out SI did, in fact, write an article about them. The blog I found it on doesn’t name the author, but I’m almost positive it’s Rick Reilly. Anyway, here’s the link in case you’re interested in seeing it.
Filed Under TMC, Nonfictional stuff that doesn't belong here | Leave a Comment
I am so proud
Posted on May 3, 2007
My wife just forwarded me this image:
What a day to be a WVU alum. Sad that this is the first thing that I put up on the ol’ sportfiction site, but as much as it pains me, this is funny. At what point in the recruiting process, during practice, sometime, didn’t the coaches or assistants…somebody…see these two guys names and say, “Yo Johnny, Scooter, your names together make a funny word that has something to do with toilet paper stuck in the ass crack. Don’t stand together.”?
As a native West Virginian, I am both appalled and amused. They’re both defensive backs too, if memory serves. I can’t wait to see the 3-3-5 Dingle-Berry stack defense.
Ugh.
Filed Under Football, Jason, Nonfictional stuff that doesn't belong here, poop humor | 1 Comment
Poo-tee-weet?
Posted on April 12, 2007
Kurt Vonnegut would probably never stop laughing if he saw how many tributes were written to him today, but I can’t help myself– the two people most responsible for my being a writer are, in order, my dad and Kurt Vonnegut. I know I’ll manage quite well without either of them around, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it or pretend that it doesn’t bother me.
It’s probably worth noting that when Anna Nicole Smith– a drug addicted whore with no discernible talents or usefulness– died, she became the top story on every news station for over a month, but when Vonnegut– one of the great American writers to ever live, and one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century– died, he became a footnote on the day’s news.
Take from that what you will.
A Vonnegut quote from 2004:
My last words? “Life is no way to treat an animal, not even a mouse.”
Filed Under TMC, Kurt Vonnegut, Nonfictional stuff that doesn't belong here | 4 Comments
