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Complete Forecast for  Jul 24 2008

By CHASE COLSTON
Staff Writer

There's a story about a boy, two weeks removed from his ninth birthday and asleep on his couch. He wakes up to find his dad sitting in his recliner, waiting for the little boy to end his dreams of playing professional baseball so the two can have a father-son talk. His eyes glazed, glaring with an obvious sadness, he tells the little boy his hero died that morning.The little boy sank his head back into the pillow, his eyes seeking refuge into the darkness so no one could see the tears streaming down his face.

His hero was a baseball player. He never saw this player play live, never met him or even saw him in person. He never really had a reason to call him his hero, but he studied his career and read about his life almost obsessively.

That day, Aug. 13, 1995, he felt like he lost his hero, but his hero never would lose his biggest fan. Having that connection meant he would never have to say good-bye.

His hero gave him a new appreciation for sports. He got lost in the passion, the desire, the dedication, the triumph and the heartbreak involved in every pitch, every shot and every pass. He felt all these things when he read about his hero and watched his old game film.

No matter how much the little boy tried to be like his hero - wear his number, mock his batting stance or practice as hard as he could to make his dreams come true - he wasn't meant to be a baseball player. But he wanted to be the next best thing.

Let's fast forward almost 13 years. The little boy, all grown up, sits at an old wooden desk facing a similar situation.

I racked my brain trying to think of the best way to say good-bye to East Texas. I tried to think of all the best memories, the best sports moments around the area to throw into this thing so we could have a final moment together.

But I realized I can't, and I won't say good-bye.

As I take the step from the Tyler Morning Telegraph to The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, I will take all the things I can't fit onto newsprint with me. My brain and my heart can hold more than a newspaper any day.

People still ask me why my hero is Mickey Mantle. The only answer I can offer is this: I love his passion and his dedication to the game he loved. Was he perfect? Absolutely not. Neither am I, but I hope to always carry those same attributes Mantle had into my field, and my batter's box.

It's been a fun ride, East Texas, these past four years, eight months and 25 days. We've grown together, watched many an outstanding sports moment together and I won't forget it.

And I won't say good-bye.

The Beatles said it best: All you need is love.

Love people. Love yourself. Sports fan or not, carry with you the passion, the dedication and the desire to pursue your dreams. Young or old, don't stop loving and don't stop believing in what you can accomplish.

You just might be someone's Mickey Mantle.

I won't say good-bye, East Texas. I'll be checking in on you and visiting from time to time. You are a mentor and a hero to me, and I will always see this as a step to get a little bit closer to my dreams.

Thanks for the memories, the moments, the phone calls, the e-mails, the home runs, the touchdowns and the 3-pointers at the buzzer.

I'll never forget you, and I'll never say good-bye.

Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine.

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Chase Colston graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler last weekend and moves on to The Oklahoman to work on the sports desk as a page designer. To reach him, e-mail chase.colston@yahoo.com.