inktober52: gauntlet

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In his speech at his first inauguration as Governor of Alabama in 1963, George Wallace said:

It is very appropriate that from this cradle of the Confederacy, this very heart of the great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that today we sound the drum for freedom as have our generations of forebears before us time and again down through history. Let us rise to the call for freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.

The blood of that sentiment and the violence it incited remained on his hands for the rest of his life.

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DCS: narciso elvira

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beisbol

In 1986, Narciso Elvira was pitching in the Mexican Baseball League when his contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. He played his first year with Beloit Brewers, the Single A affiliate. He eventually moved up to the Triple A El Paso Diablos, only to return to the Single A level, this time in Stockton, California.

Narciso’s big break came late in the 1990 season. As a part of the September roster expansion, he was brought in to play in four games for the Milwaukee Brewers. At the conclusion of the season, he was sent back to the minor leagues, never to appear in “The Bigs” again. Narciso bounced around the minor leagues for years. He played ball for one season in Japan, where he pitched a no-hitter becoming the only Mexican to accomplish that feat in the Nippon League. He followed up with a season in South Korea. By 2006, he had returned to the Mexican League, his career going full circle. Narciso retired at the end of 2006 and became a farmer in his native Veracruz, Mexico.

In 2015, Narciso was kidnapped and held captive for 23 days by members of a drug trafficking cartel. After nearly a month, police found him chained to a tree. Unfettered, he remained on his farm and continued to work.

In January 2020, Narciso and his son were driving on a road near his farm. They were accosted by a group of armed men and shot to death. Narciso was 52.

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inktober52: brain

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I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to too.

“I wish my name was Brian because maybe sometimes people would misspell my name and call me Brain. That’s like a free compliment and you don’t even gotta be smart to notice it.” — Mitch Hedberg

Mitch Hedberg was a favorite comedian of a lot of comedians. His offbeat delivery and awkward stage presence set him apart from his contemporaries. He would often correct himself onstage, explaining to his audience that he’d come up with a better punchline to a bit. Other times, audience members would yell out the punchlines before Mitch could finish.

In 2005, Mitch was found dead in his Livingston, New Jersey hotel room. He had overdosed on a combination of heroin and cocaine. His cause of death, however, was attributed to a heart defect. Mitch was 37 years old.

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DCS: mindy mccready

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Guys Do It All the Time

Mindy McCready started singing in church at the age of three. She finished high school with dreams of pursuing a career in music. Her debut album, released when she was 18, sold over two million copies, producing four singles that rose up the Billboard Country charts. Subsequent albums yielded more chart-topping singles. Mindy enjoyed recognition from the country music industry and toured extensively, playing to sold-out crowds.

But Mindy was very troubled.

She attempted suicide on numerous occasions and battled substance abuse and addiction for most of her life. A few months after the birth of her first child, the child’s father was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot.

In 2008, a story broke alleging a long-time sexual affair with major league pitcher Roger Clemons. At first, Clemons denied the affair. He finally admitted to it, claiming that his wife was also aware. Mindy was 16 when the affair began.

Mindy was arrested on charges of using a counterfeit prescription for Oxycontin. Other charges levied against the singer were identity theft and crossing state lines while under probation. She was arrested for violating the terms of her probation on a number of occasions.

In 2013, neighbors in Cleburne County, Arkansas reported hearing gunshots. Police were summoned to Mindy’s home where they found the singer on her front porch, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. She was lying beside her pet dog, who had also been shot. Mindy was 37 years old.

Her final single “I’ll See You Yesterday” was released the day after her death.

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DCS: warren zevon

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the shit has hit the fan

Warren Zevon was often described as the “anti-Jackson Browne,” an allusion to his easy Laurel Canyon melodies coupled with his sardonic lyrics.

On October 30, 2002, Warren was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman as the only guest for the entire hour. He sang songs and openly discussed his battle with cancer. He passed away just under a year later at the age of 56. In between, he enjoyed every sandwich.

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DCS: wilford brimley

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eat your oatmeal

I met Wilford Brimley at a collector and autograph show in 2017. While some of the other celebrities had long lines at their individual tables and were engaging in lively conversation with adoring fans, Wilford Brimley sat alone at a small folding table, its surface displaying a few stacks of color photographs depicting scenes from the actor’s career. He sat fairly motionless, silently surveying the vast conference room that was bustling with activity all over — except in his little corner of the world.

I was headed towards the exit when I passed Mr. Brimley and his small collection of photos, so I backtracked on my steps and perused his offerings. There were a couple images from John Carpenter’s 1982 gory re-imagining of The Thing and a few from Ron Howard’s 1985 age-aware fantasy Cocoon, along with several standard studio head shots that were representative of different ages of Mr. Brimley’s life. He didn’t utter a word as I scanned the top of his table. He didn’t even look at me. I selected a full-color head shot of the actor sporting a pastel plaid shirt and a large white fedora. His stare into the camera did not betray any sort of emotion. Any expression was obscured by his trademark mustache which completely covered any indication of a mouth. The figure that sat behind the table was identical to the photo I selected for inscription. Maybe he was wearing a different shirt.

I passed my chosen photo to Mr. Brimley, along with a twenty dollar bill. “I’d like this one, please.,” I said. “Okay,” he replied and picked a black Sharpie from a lineup of pens arranged on his side of the table. He uncapped the marker and wrote something like “Good Luck” or “Best Wishes” and below the sentiment wrote his name in larger, swashier letters. He stashed the twenty in an envelope and handed the signed picture back to me. “Thank you.” he said and I replied with the same. I walked away, picking up where I left off in my path to the exit. The entire conversation that I had with Wilford Brimley consisted of ten words. Three of them were spoken by Mr. Brimley and two of those words were merely repeated by me.

When I got home, I glanced through the photographs that I had collected at the convention that day. I met Danny Lloyd, who played Jack Nicholson’s son in The Shining. As a six-year-old, he wasn’t told that he was starring in a horror movie. After abandoning his acting career, Danny is currently a biology professor at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He often attends conventions to meet fans and overcharge for his signature. I also met Louise Fletcher, who was awarded the 1976 Oscar for Best Actress for her riveting portrayal of sadistic “Nurse Ratched” in Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Miss Fletcher was gracious and charming and seemed to be bewildered by the crowds. That afternoon, I talked, at length with Danny Lloyd and Louise Fletcher. I thought about my non-conversation with Wilford Brimley and I quickly “googled” his name.

Now, I was kicking myself over a missed opportunity.

Wilford Brimley dropped out of high school and joined the United States Marines. He served for three years in the Aleutian Islands. Upon his discharge, he worked various jobs, including as a blacksmith, ranch hand and animal wrangler. He also employed his size and bulk to work briefly as a personal bodyguard for eccentric businessman Howard Hughes. Wilford’s friend, actor Robert Duvall, suggested that he enter the movie industry, putting to work his knowledge of horses. Wilford became a stuntman and animal wrangler. On the sets of Westerns, he would shoe the horses. He made his stunt debut in Bandelero! with James Stewart, Raquel Welch and Dean Martin. He also performed stunt work in True Grit starring John Wayne. In 1979, he appeared as a bona fide actor in The China Syndrome and The Electric Horseman. His career took off, with roles in some of Hollywood’s best remembered films alongside some of Hollywood’s top stars, like The Natural, Absence of Malice, Brubaker, The Thing and dozens more. He also made numerous appearance on network television, with guest roles in Kung Fu, Walker, Texas Ranger, an eight episode run on The Waltons and even a comedic turn in the final season of Seinfeld. In director Ron Howard’s Cocoon, a film about aging and eternal youth, Mr. Brimley held his own among costars who were twenty years his senior. Despite being only 51, he very convincingly fit right in. He was later tapped as a memorable product spokesperson for Quaker Oatmeal and Liberty Medical Supplies.

Not content with his life endevours thus far, he also was an accomplished singer and harmonica player. He released an album of jazz standards and performed a stirring —and surprising — rendition of “Oh! Suzanna” on Late Night with Craig Ferguson in 2011.

I really wanted to go back to the convention and hear accounts firsthand from Wilford Brimley.

After a two-month long illness, Wilford Brimley passed away on August 1, 2020 at the age of 85. I’m glad I met him, even if we only shared ten words between us.

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