Barry Kiel

[Jack Mac @JackMac]

I think the first blog I ever wrote was Freshman year of high school.

Nothing serious.

I forget what it was about. Probably sports.

Anyways, at this point I was focused on playing college sports.

Thanks to a nasty concussion in 2012, my plans were derailed.

[Chris Castellani @Castellani2014]

Now that we’ve swept, I can give my opinion on whether these Rockies are worse than last year’s White Sox.

I think as a group, they’re SLIGHTLY less awful, though may finish with a worse record because the NL West is brutal.

I think the Rockies at least have some pride. Those White Sox did not.

[Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 @cmclymer]

Kris Kristofferson died yesterday at 88.

A surprising number of folks don't know that as a young man, he was an Army officer, a helicopter pilot, and a graduate of Ranger School.

He understood patriotism and service, which is why it pissed him off when fake patriots co-opted the flag to push their rightwing bullshit.

The actor Ethan Hawke once wrote a profile on him, which included witnessing this incident firsthand:

STANDING BACKSTAGE AT THE BEACON Theatre in New York, leaning against a crumbling brick wall in the dark, I could barely see Kris Kristofferson��standing to my left. Willie Nelson was in the shadows to my right. Ray Charles was standing beside Willie, idly shifting his weight back and forth. A bit farther along the wall were Elvis Costello, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Shelby Lynne, Paul Simon and respective managers, friends and family. Everybody was nervous and tight. We were there for Willie Nelson’s 70th birthday concert in 2003.

Up from the basement came one of country music’s brightest stars (who shall remain nameless). At that moment in time, the Star had a monster radio hit about bombing America’s enemies back into the Stone Age.

“Happy birthday,” the Star said to Willie, breezing by us. As he passed Kristofferson in one long, confident stride, out of the corner of his mouth came “None of that lefty shit out there tonight, Kris.”

“What the luck did you just say to me?” Kris growled, stepping forward.

“Oh, no,” groaned Willie under his breath. “Don’t get Kris all riled up.”

“You heard me,” the Star said, walking away in the darkness.

“Don’t turn your back to me boy,” Kristofferson shouted, not giving a shit that basically the entire music industry seemed to be flanking him.

The Star turned around: “I don’t want any problems, Kris – I just want you to tone it down.”

“You ever worn your country’s uniform?” Kris asked rhetorically.

“What?”

“Don’t ‘What?’ me, boy! You heard the question. You just don’t like the answer.” He paused just long enough to get a full chest of air. “I asked, ‘Have you ever served your country?’ The answer is, no, you have not. Have you ever killed another man? Huh? Have you ever taken another man’s life and then cashed the check your country gave you for doing it? No, you have not. So shut the fuck up!” I could feel his body pulsing with anger next to me. “You don’t know what the hell you are talking about!”

“Whatever,” the young Star muttered.

Ray Charles stood motionless. Willie Nelson looked at me and shrugged mischievously like a kid in the back of the classroom.

Kristofferson took a deep inhale and leaned against the wall, still vibrating with adrenaline. He looked over at Willie as if to say, “Don’t say a word.” Then his eyes found me.

“You know what Waylon Jennings said about guys like him?” he whispered.

I shook my head.

“They’re doin’ to country music what pantyhose did to finger-fuckin’.”

/end text/

Full essay here: https://t.co/PUdrXat98z

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@cnjhudson Typical sports guy! Love it.

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@sheldonjkrause @LSJNews Welcome, Sheldon! Glad to have you on the team.

[Joe Rexrode @joerexrode]

@KnowWhere_Man Damn

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@JLEdwardsIII @TheAthletic Congrats, James. Very well deserved. I’m sure there’s more to come.

[Yo Adrian @Yo_Adrian85]

@Justin_Rogers This virus is crazy

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@jared_webby @LSJNews Welcome, Jared! Looking forward to you joining us in Lansing.

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@annabelaguiar @LSJNews Welcome! Looking forward to you joining us.

[Nathaniel Bott @Nathaniel_Bott]

Here's the updated story from MSU hockey's 2-0 shutout win over Arizona State, with added analysis and reaction
https://t.co/172SvV0mEi

[Nathaniel Bott @Nathaniel_Bott]

Michigan State ties Arizona State 1-1 in it's season opener, rapid analysis here with more to come:
https://t.co/hLH8E06iT1

[Graham Couch @Graham_Couch]

We're increasing our MSU hockey coverage this season. All of our content will be for subscribers only.

Here's @LSJNews sports editor @BarryKiel5's column on what we plan to deliver for you. https://t.co/AMur9FinLF

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@folsombrandonj @LSJsports @freepsports @ByChrisThomas We’re excited for you to join the team, Brandon.

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@CTRoch @stephanieangel Hey Chad. It’s been a long time. A few extra gray hairs since the Danville days. Hope you and Cathy are doing well.

[LSJ Sports @LSJsports]

We're celebrating the best of high school sports. Won't you join us? https://t.co/lppK17HCdC

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@Lynn_Henning Congratulations, Lynn. I’ve enjoyed your work for many years. Enjoy your retirement.

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@joerexrode Good column. Couldn’t agree more.

[Barry Kiel @BarryKiel5]

@EmilyCWaldon I enjoy reading your updates every day. Keep up the great work.