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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