Paul Splittorff, 1946-2011

I have been a Royals fan since I was too young to pronounce my W's (my favorite 2B was Frank "Right"). As I sat in front of the TV for nearly every Royals road game, I learned before I was even in Kindergarten that the answer to my mom's nightly question--"what inning is it?"--was always "8th". A lower number meant she would make me go to bed, but a game in the 8th was close enough to ending that I could stay up a little later to see the conclusion.

I say this just to establish that Paul Splittorff has always been a part of my summers, from his days as a pitcher to the last 24 years as a broadcaster.

He epitomized hard work and getting the most out of one's talents.

He is known as extremely generous with his time and knowledge.

And the next time I hear someone say something negative about him will be the first.

I didn't realize how much I'd miss him--his voice, his contributions, his presence--until he was gone. Word spread of his grave illness last week, but it didn't hit home until now.

He was a Royal from day one (drafted before the Major League team even existed)--a link to the glory days.

I can think of no finer, more honorable ambassador for a baseball franchise than Paul Splittorff.

May he rest in peace.

Chris Utter, 1975-2009

Well, I figured my first post this week was going to be about the move and how excited we are about our new place. It's not about that.

It's partially because we're having severely mixed emotions about that.

But mostly, it's because I lost a friend and classmate.

Christopher Allen Utter, 34, of Kansas City, KS, died Saturday, June 27, 2009. Graveside Services will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, July 2, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call 5-8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Rd., Kansas City, MO 64137. Christopher was born February 18, 1975, in Kansas City, KS. He was a Funding Coordinator for Advacare Medical Equipment. Christopher had a huge part in the softball community in the Kansas City area. He is survived by his wife, Nicolette C. Utter, mother and step-father Debra and Howard Swafford, grandmothers Erma Leach, Maxine Swafford, sister Stacy and her husband Troy Ray, step-sister Angel Simpson, step-brother Joel Swafford, niece Jesslyn Buie, nephews Frank Buie, Donovan Christopher Buie, and Wesly Allen Butler, and his 3 furry cats: Al, Josie, and Cleo. Condolences may be expressed at: www.porterfuneralhome.com. Arrangements: Porter Funeral Home & Crematory, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS; (913) 621-6400.

Chris Utter was big, kind, funny, strong as an ox, and one of the most well-liked people in my class.

He was a tremendous athlete, somehow managing to participate in baseball AND track even though they happened concurrently.

He was sort of quiet, but in that mischievous way that always made you feel like he was one step or one joke ahead of you.

He drank from 2-liter bottles of Dr. Pepper with the label ripped off (to use the coupon that was perpetually stamped on the side).

He was friendly to everyone, not just those who enhanced his social status.

I'm still trying to get my head around this, especially the circumstances under which he died. It makes no sense to me. I simply don't understand.

May you rest in peace, Chris.