Scott's Thoughts

My Not-So-Little-Anymore Little Brother

Steven Coleman was a shy 11-year old boy when I met him back in September of 2003. His mother, Anita, had enrolled him in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program a couple years prior after her divorce. Steven still got to see his dad, Clinton, on a fairly frequent basis. But Anita wanted a man in his everyday life to play ball, take him to an occasional movie and just do "guy" stuff. I guess she thought I fit that bill.

This was Steven and I's first meeting 8 years ago ... and, unfortunately for me, about 40 pounds ago.

I truthfully don't know how much impact, if any, I've had on Steven's life. He's always been such a great kid. He's always been a great student. Always been a great athlete (he was all-conference in swimming and baseball the past two years ... and he was just an awesome basketball player when he was younger as well). Aside from all that though, I remember him always being so grateful for everything we did.

As I look back on our eight years as a "match", we really did get to do some pretty cool stuff. Steven and I went to our share of ballgames (sat in the All-You-Can-Eat seats one time, at which we each consumed about fifteen hot dogs all together ... maybe that's why the Royals don't offer those anymore). When I worked for the radio station, I used to bring Steven to meet-and-greets. I think he got autographs from Dante Hall, Buck O'Neil, Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and Gary Pinkel, among others.

My life sure has changed since I met Steven. I was single when we were first matched. I met LeAnn almost exactly a year after I met Steven. Trust me, I made sure to bring Steven around LeAnn when we first started dating. The great young man that he was sure helped to mask some of my inequities.

As LeAnn and I have started our family, Steven has remained a part of our lives. Though I wish we could see Steven more than we actually do. The distance from Kansas City North to Belton, plus the fact that Steven is a good-looking kid who always has girls chasing him, keeps us from hanging out as much as we used to. But he's a great role-model for our boys.

Like I said above, I don't really know just how much of an impact I had on Steven's life. He was going to turn out great with or without me. I know we've gotten to do a lot of awesome things together (like watching Mizzou beat K-State, the Chiefs beat the Broncos, Miguel Olivo beat A.J. Pierzynski). Personally, I've gotten to enjoy watching Steven play football, basketball, baseball, run track and swim the freestyle. I've encouraged him to continue his education past Belton High (which he is, starting this summer at Longview and then hopefully continuing on in a couple of years). So I like to think I've been good for Steven. But one thing is without question: Steven has DEFINITELY been good for me. 

And I hope we can continue to be good for each other long into the future. For even though our match has officially ended with BBBS, I want to be a part of his life for as long as he wants me to be. We will no longer get together once a week (or, as it has been the past few years, once every other month or so). But I look forward to watching Steven graduate from college (just as I watched him graduate from high school on Saturday). I look forward to being at his wedding and I look forward to visiting him and his wife in the hospital to see their bouncing baby boy or girl (you've got a few years before you need to do that though, Steve!).

So, in conclusion, thanks for being such a big part of my life these past eight years Big Steve! You've truly been a joy to hang out with and call my brother. Keep being the great young man that you've always been. And don't EVER hesitate to give me a call if you need some advice, someone to talk to, or, more importantly, someone to catch a ballgame with.

Steven graduated from Belton High School Saturday. The white cord on his gown means he was on the Honor Roll. I couldn't be prouder!