Jesse and I went to our first Bats game tonight. We got there a little late - bottom of the third.
As is our custom we always enter War Memorial Stadium through the portal right behind home plate so I can say hello to Lem Cox who's box seat has been in the same place for years. Lem ran for City Council a few terms back and lost by about 40 votes and has great insights into Greensboro's soul. We spoke shortly about Greensboro politics then Jesse and I turned to make our way to the cheap seats behind the third base concession stand.
As we were relocating I noticed a familiar face in the concourse. "Bill Morris?", I asked of the towering black-clad man who I knew just had to be my favorite ex-News & Record columnist. I re-introduced myself.
For many years Bill lived on Church Street in Fisher Park. I always knew when the Bats were in town without reading the schedule while he lived there. I am pretty sure he attended every Bat's home game and walked by our house every game night on his way to the stadium. We always waved and howdeed. I asked him where he is living and what he is writing. The last I had seen of him was shortly after the release of his nicely acclaimed novel Motor City back in 1992.
Morris lives in NYC and writes a column called "Best of New York" (cigar stores, philatley hangs, etc) for the New York Daily News. "Just something to pay the rent", as he described it. He quickly added that he recently placed a piece in the NYT, however. Although I might be wrong, I believe the weekly "At The Movies" feature by Billy "Bob" Morris in ESP Magazine is also him - at least the picture next to the column looks like him - I should have had him clarify.
I believe that Lorraine Ahern immediately succeeded Morris all those years ago, and I do enjoy her columns, but Bill was one of my favorite N&R reads for a long time. I was glad to run into him and tell him so.
Oh, yeah... the Bats lost... again... 3-4. Yuengling beer and the pitching radar are great additions to games this year.
10:59:04 PM 
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