Dakota's Photo's & Story Of Kevin
Costner
Little League World Series August
26,2000
This past
Saturday a dream that I thought would never come true, DID come true. I'd
like to share with you what happened to me on Saturday 8/26/00 in Williamsport,
Pennsylvania.
I saw on Thursday
night an email in the Costner@egroup directing us to the Little League website
and the announcement that Kevin was being inducted into their Hall of Excellence
on Saturday. "Mr. Costner is expected to attend" I think it said, and it was
like I'd received an engraved invitation! See, I live in Pennsylvania and the
thought of Kevin being THAT close and my NOT going there never entered my head.
"Honey, what are we doing on Saturday?" I asked my poor unsuspecting husband,
although I clearly knew what I was going to do. We figured it was about a 3-4
hour drive and decided to leave at 7 a.m. All day Friday I tried not to get too
excited, thinking he probably wouldn't even be there. But I couldn't pass up the
chance to get a glimpse.
When Sat. a.m. arrived, to my horror, we had overslept. It was almost
8 a.m. and I thought we should just give up the idea of going, that we'd get
there too late anyway. But my DH, to his everlasting credit and my eternal
gratitude, said "What the heck -- it's a nice day -- let's go." We encountered
detours and road construction and I was sure we'd be too late, but we somehow
arrived at 11:55 a.m. (the ceremony was scheduled for noon). We luckily found a
place to park right across the street and as we paid the guy I asked him "Is he
here? Is he here?" I didn't have to say WHO, of course. "Costner? Yeah I heard
he's in town," was the answer and my heart began to beat just a little faster .
. Oh my God, I'm really going to see him, I thought.
As we crossed the
street I heard someone announcing on the loudspeaker and then I heard lots of
screams and I knew that Kevin had just appeared. Be still my now-pounding heart!
They had a podium and chairs up on the step of the museum for the inductees and
speakers, chairs in front of that reserved for family and friends, and then
there were lawn chairs that people had brought themselves. I managed to weasel
my way through the growing crowd until I was just two people back, behind the
last row of chairs. But no matter how I moved or craned my neck I couldn't see
Kevin. Then the person in front of me to the left moved a little and the person
on the right moved the other way and OH MY GOD there he was, sitting on the end,
maybe about 20 feet away from me. I couldn't help myself: "Oh my God, there he
is!" The woman in front of me (obviously a kindred spirit) turned around and
laughed and said "I know -- isn't he gorgeous?" Ahhhh, sisterhood. : )
He was wearing white
slacks and a sky blue shirt and dark glasses. His hair was (Thank God) longish
again, almost Postman length in the back, and sun-streaked blond. He looked
tanned and relaxed and smiled a lot. The first speaker talked about the Little
League Museum and the Hall of Excellence and how they chose people to be
inducted into it. Then the other two inductees were introduced and each, in
turn, made a few remarks. One was a Dr. Stratta, who is a transplant surgeon in
Tennessee. He told a couple of funny stories like when he was notified that he'd
be inducted into the L.L. Museum he was really quite flattered, until his son
brought him back down to reality. "Dad, they're inducting Kevin Costner and two
other guys -- and you're one of the "other guys"." Dr. Stratta also thanked his
family who were present, saying that his wife assured him she was there because
of him and not because she knew Kevin Costner would be there. Kevin kind of
threw his head back and laughed at these stories, obviously enjoying himself.
Then the next guy,
Billy Hunter, the executive director of the NBA Players Association, got up to
make his remarks. He was dressed in a suit and tie and confessed that he had
been a bit unsure what to wear to the induction ceremony. Then it dawned on him
that it didn't matter -- no one would be looking at him anyway since Kevin
Costner would be there. Kevin laughed again, then kind of put his left hand over
his eyes, and shook his head, laughing. He's obviously used to this sort of
kidding and showed that he has a good sense of humor about his fame, his
reputation, and his affect on people, women especially of course.
At this point, Kevin
was introduced and spoke. I transcribed his introduction and also his acceptance
remarks from the video my DH took and this follows at the end of my story, for
anyone who wants to read it.
When the ceremony concluded, Kevin was mobbed. He started to sign
autographs and the security people tried to get everyone to back off. He kept
signing as he worked his way up towards the door into the museum where all the
other official people had gone. I'm a bit of a midget and didn't have a chance
to get near him at this point, but even after he went into the building I could
see him through the glass window front. They announced that he wouldn't be
leaving through the front door and for everyone who wanted to get into the
museum when it reopened at 1:00 to line up. A lot of people did. But I went
around the side to find out exactly which door he WAS going to use. It wasn't
hard to find. There was a van backed up to a door at the side of the building
and down one level, with all its doors open, and security people around it. Duh
. . .
So I planted
myself and waited and my husband was there with the camcorder ready to catch
KC's getaway. After about ten minutes, during which time I tried unsuccessfully
to talk two of the security guards into getting my baseball signed, the door
opened and out came Joe, Ann, Lily and Christine. I knew Kevin was next and sure
enough there he was. There were about 15 people standing around on top of this
hill where I was, looking down at the van and now at Kevin. When he appeared,
everyone started screaming and calling to him and he turned and smiled a HUGE
smile and waved. He had taken off his sunglasses and looked so good! I just kept
taking pictures. He went around the other side of the van and was signing some
stuff for the people there. He turned around twice and looked up at all of us on
the hill and smiled and waved each time.
Next to where I was
standing there was a woman with two little boys, maybe ages 6 and 8. They both
had baseballs and were hoping for an autograph. The third time Kevin turned
around and saw these little boys waving their baseballs, I knew we had him. He
came around the back of the van and said "I'll sign two." Well, when I heard
that something snapped in my head. I'll just plead temporary insanity. I started
to walk down the hill and several other people did too, except that I was ahead
of everyone. The security people started yelling for everyone to go back, but
the hill was a lot steeper than I thought and I couldn't stop myself (not that I
wanted to). Anyway I found myself at the bottom of the hill about five feet from
Kevin.
One of the
little boys threw his baseball to Kevin who caught it with one hand and began
signing it. At this point the security guards were trying to get all the people
back up the hill, but they left me alone. After he signed the first ball and
threw it back, I walked over to him and gave him my baseball, the one I bought
at the Field of Dreams in Iowa last June. He signed it for me and handed it
back. On the way home I thought of all the things I always figured I'd say to
him if I ever had the chance, but amid all the confusion and people yelling his
name and security guards around us, I never got a chance. All I said in the end
was "Thanks -- love ya Kevin" and he smiled. He turned then and caught the other
little boy's baseball and signed it, and all the while I just kept taking
pictures like crazy. Then he apologized for not being able to sign any more
things, smiled and waved to everyone, got into the van, and it took off. I
managed to get back up the hill where everyone said how lucky I was to get my
baseball signed and how neat that it was from the Field of Dreams. Then it
finally hit me, what had happened, and I started shaking. I couldn't believe
that I'd gone down that hillside -- I'm usually so shy!
Well, that's my story.
I'm sorry this is so long -- just had to relate every detail. But just one more
thing: For a long time I had a dream of someday meeting him, but never believed
it would happen. Then I visited the Field of Dreams and brought home a baseball,
a baseball that sits in front of me now with Kevin Costner's signature on it and
a wonderful memory surrounding it. Do I believe that dreams come true? I do now.
Absolutely.
*************************
The following is a transcript of
Kevin's introduction and then his remarks. I hope you don't mind the little
comments I've added in ( ). Thanks to everyone for reading my story. Hope you
enjoyed it. And very special thanks to Lhonda, because without her email
directing me to the Little League website, I would have missed the thrill of a
lifetime.
************************
Presenting Kevin for
enshrinement in the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence was the President
and CEO of Little League Baseball, Steven D. Keener:
"This very special
recognition is reserved for former Little Leaguers who demonstrate a committment
to excellence in their chosen profession and who exemplify the values learned as
youngsters in Little League Baseball. On the back of your program you can see a
list of all the previous inductees and a brief mention of their noteworthy
accomplishments. Some of these are recognizable names and some are not. In my
mind, they all should be. They are all outstanding role models whose lives
remind us that great success and solid values go hand in hand.
To this select group
today, we add a gentleman who is known around the world to millions. And we add
him to this distinguished group not because of his celebrity status but because
of the example he sets for other Little Leaguers to follow and for the
inspiration that he can provide to millions and millions of young people.
As a pitcher in the
Santicoy Little League of Ventura, California he learned the importance of team
work. He learned that team members back each other up. He learned that every
person on the team has a job to do. And he learned that the most important
lesson in life is giving it your best shot every time you step onto the field.
Today he is a proud Little League parent who gives freely of his time so that
his young son Joe can experience the same benefits from the Little League
program that he enjoyed as a child.
These lessons he
carried into the film industry and in time he provided us with classics like
Field of Dreams (applause) and Dances With Wolves (more applause), as well as
some of the most popular films of the last decade.
It is my pleasure and
my privilege today to enshrine into the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum
Hall of Excellence Little League graduate and Academy Award winning actor Mr.
Kevin Costner." (screams and applause)
Then Kevin stood up and
approached the podium. I felt he spoke pretty much spontaneously, since all he
had was a little index card in his hand, not a written speech. His remarks were
warm and sincere and he spoke with a lot of emotion in his voice, especially
when he talked about his parents.
"Thank you." (more screaming & Kev smiled) "I'm very flattered,
especially with Billy Hunter and Dr. Stratta. I'm always amazed who I end up
getting to sit next to -- people that I actually think have accomplished
something.
When I look
out and see everyone, it's a little bit like my academic career -- I don't feel
completely prepared. And in thinking about how I was going to dress, I just
needed to look no farther than the real Hall of Famer that exists here, George
Brett -- Stand up, George." (applause) (BTW -- Mr. Brett was dressed very
similar to Kevin, light slacks and blue short-sleeved shirt.) "So if I can't BE
one, I know how to LOOK like one and ACT like one." (laughter & applause)
And what to say? I
thought maybe just to look into my heart a little bit about what Little League
was for me. I know we're just a small part of today's events and this week's
events, but baseball and Little League was such a huge part of my life as a kid
and now as a father. The memories are, in fact, so thick that I have to brush
them away from my face.
I was the kid that before I could play chased every foul ball so that
I could get a piece of gum or a Coke at the snack bar. I was the kid that before
I could play, after my brother played, was out on the field running the bases,
with a bat or without one, imagining myself hitting the game-winning run. I
would ask my father who taught us about baseball to wear his metal cleats on the
cement so that I could hear them click. The memories are so thick . . .
I was the kind of kid
who would forget my glove overnight at the ball park -- my jacket, my bicycle --
because I had so much fun there. My Dad would look at me and ask me two
questions: Did I have a head? and Did I ever use it? (laughter & applause)
I played on two All
Star teams myself and my dream was to come to Williamsport, but I never got any
closer than Saturday on TV with Jim McKay. That was a thrill, and I rearranged
whatever schedule I had as a 12-year-old to watch that game. But my Little
League career was over at 12. What happens after 12 is that the bases get really
far when you're 13, and the throw gets really far, and your Little League career
is over.
But the thing
that probably is the most dominant feeling, the most important thing to me
during my time in Little League was my parents. My mother would always have the
team over to my house, she always baked, the pool was ready, the game was
forgotten, there was a life. And the sacrifice -- I know what my parents did and
now I understand it even more as a parent -- how they would postpone their own
vacation in case my dream would come true to come here. That doesn't seem like a
lot, but when you're a parent you realize that it is. They gave everything so
that we could play. And there was an organization there to receive me, kids from
affluence, kids from the inner city, kids from the country. Thank God for Little
League baseball, how it has managed itself, and for this day. This is no longer
Saturday afternoon on TV for me, this is real. My children are here with me --
Ann, Lily, and Joe -- would you stand up please? (Applause as all three stand in
the audience and Kevin beamed like a proud Dad.)
Thank you for receiving
us. This is an honor, this is truly an honor. I didn't quite know how to receive
it when I got it in the mail, I wasn't sure what to make of it. But I'm so glad
I was thought of and I'm so glad now that I came and accepted it. Thank you very
much."
Dakota's Photo's
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