Krehbiel

By Ben Krehbiel

It was March 1994. Actually it was Wednesday, March 2, 1994.

How do you know what fun really is when it seems like every day of growing up Krehbiel was a blast. I may be guilty of selective memory, but my Junior year in high school could not have gone much better. In my 2nd year at T.R. Miller High School, I did not have lofty expectations at the start of the basketball season. The year before I failed to make the talented varsity team, and started out as the point guard for the JV team. My first game was at Clarke County, and I think I played a decent game until the last 10 seconds. As Clarke County just tied the game, I took the inbounds pass from under our basket and started confidently dribbling up the court seeking an opportunity to win the game. I was even a little more excited because the defender guarding me could not have been taller than 5’5″.  I took a few dribbles towards half court when all of the sudden he popped the ball lose, retrieved it while I dove helplessly to the floor only to look up and watch him complete the layup and execute the easiest buzzer beater in the history of the game. I was devastated, and somehow managed to get a ride home with mom and cried for the two-hour trip. Ok, so that day wasn’t that great.

But after a pedestrian stint at point guard, my coach, Ronald Jackson, decided to put our most athletic, and individually talented forward, Anthony (Rock) Johnson, at point guard and told me to shoot the ball. I remember one of the last JV games at Monroeville it was almost like Coach Jackson stopped the world to figure out ways to let me shoot the ball. I could be wrong, but in my mind many of our timeouts were just Coach Jackson telling me to shoot 3s on the baseline. They must have been playing a zone. I hit 5 threes that game…no idea how many attempts, but I am pretty sure that those 5 threes came in a matter of 6 or 7 shots.  This was only 15 years before the times of Stephen Curry making double-digit 3PT FG made something routine. That Monroeville game was huge for my confidence and helped the foundation for my place on varsity the next year.

So I remember being physically outmatched against much of the team. I wasn’t the strongest. I wasn’t the tallest. I sure as hell wasn’t the shortest, and my speed and quickness led one of my favorite teammates, Ricky Middleton, to affectionately call me ‘greased lightning’. To start the season I was still trying to fit in. For the first 3-4 games of the year I was the 3rd player off the bench, and did not get very much playing time. We started the year very poorly, losing ?4 of our first 5 or 6 games?.  We hosted a “County Tourney” early in the year and my grandparents Ken and Darda came to watch. I’m almost certain I was not a starter. But that was a very special tournament. I remember shooting well the first game and our team won to go against a tough Escambia County High School (Atmore) team. The championship game was back and forth and a tough battle. At some point late 3Q or early 4Q, it was magical for me. I single handedly scored 15 points in a row to lead our team to victory. That was the day I won my teammates over, especially the senior leader, Alan Terrell. He was so pumped after winning that tournament he grabbed me in the locker room and said ‘That’s D1 effort right there.” and for someone that wasn’t quick to hand out compliments, it was a great moment. The next game I think was at an Andalusia 8 team tournament, and I think we lost but I had 20 pts and made the tourney team. Great momentum, although our team, I believe was 3-5 at the Christmas Break.

I remember our first practice after Christmas, which highly likely could have been Monday, December 26th. And while our team showed some nice spurts, we were not playing to our potential at all. Coach Jackson got our attention the first practice back from “break.”  My memory may not be great, but I’m not sure we even touched a basketball. Coach Jackson started us on the baseline, which is how we normally ended practice. He would usually break us into two running groups of about 5-7 players each if it was just varsity practicing, and typically he’d put about 15 minutes on the clock and we would run 5 ‘5 in a minute’s (5 times down in back in one minute), 5 ladders/suicides (baseline, ft line, half court, ft line, full court) and 5 ‘down & back’s in 9 seconds. That was usually our staple. But Coach Jackson always seemed to put more time on the clock than he intended — perhaps to keep us from knowing how much work we should expect or we never really knew what he planned. He didn’t tell us before running how much we were going to run.

Well, this very UNmerry Christmas break return seemed a little different, as he put up 60:00 minutes on the scoreboard. I don’t think we’d ever seen that before, but none of us thought that number was very significant because it wasn’t an indication of what the plan was.

While I never recall starting practice with sprints, we started this one, as usual, with the ‘5 in a minute’ sprints. As the clock ticked near the 50:00 mark with the second group finishing their last of five ‘5 in a minute’ sprints, I believe the first running group was preparing to start the typical 5 ladders next. But that command from coach never came, and we just kept running 5 in a minutes (essentially only getting a minute rest while the other group is running). The clock approached 40:00 and everyone was hoping for some change…but it didn’t come either. We continued and as we were getting stretched, Coach Jackson brilliantly said ‘all except 1 in your group have to make time’, and while we were already disoriented from doubling our usual routine and mentally and physically fatigued, after a few more the group worked together to carry the load while letting one person fail to make it…usually rotating that lottery ticket around.

By my memory we ran 15 ‘5 in a minutes’ before Coach Jackson switched to ladders. We had 28 seconds to complete each one. Instead of 5…I’m almost certain we ran 30 of them. If we didn’t complete 30, then I’m sure the last minute or two were down and backs in 9 seconds.  But I’m almost certain we did fifteen ‘5 in a minutes’ and 30 ladders. I’m pretty sure that was the end of practice. I honestly don’t remember if anyone quit.

I also seem to remember coach putting 6 minutes on the clock and told us to run 22? laps around the gym to equal a mile. Today Google tells me it’s 18.33 laps for a mile, but we had to run it under 6 minutes. I think that was the only time in my life I made it under 6 minutes, which makes me question how many laps I actually ran. Probably impossible to count AND run when you hate running.  So we may have started practice out with this and then went to the baseline.

The reason this practice is so significant in my mind for this 1994 season was that we only lost 2 or 3 more games the rest of the season.

** Final Four game (1-11 or 1-13, who knows….1 for Wednesday captures it)

***Lockerroom

This defeat was crushing. After having a string of 7-8 games of shooting very well and being a leader on this journey, the worst game of my life in the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center on this night would be a scar for me for years to follow. In fact, it also is responsible for the venue of the greatest Kansas Basketball team losing their 2nd game of the season in March 1997 to the eventual underdog champions, Arizona Wildcats. So painful.

But after my terrible performance, I remember being benched for significant minutes in the 4th quarter, which was a first for me since cracking the starting lineup early in the season. I felt helpless. When the game was over, I was in shock, because I didn’t cry – which is what I expected after doing so nearly every year of my life watching the Jayhawks in March! But I remember pacing the large lockerroom in the facility.  Ken and Darda even made a return trip to Bama to watch this game. I felt like I let my team down. I don’t remember any significant interactions with my teammates in the locker room. I remember folks being quiet and dejected, changing out of their uniform and backing up their gear.  I just kept pacing…in full uniform. I think it was only Marlon Ried and I remaining. I kept pacing and started to think about what my family may be thinking as I knew they were likely anxious to see me. As this nudge grew, I decided to head toward the locker room door. As I got within 10 feet of the door, it surprisingly swing open, and a monster of a man with Great Presence walked confidently through that door. It was my dad. Even though I had made up my mind to walk out of the lockerroom to see my family, I was unprepared for this. Dad took a step or two towards me as we met in one of the Greatest Embraces in my lifetime. If it were a competition, I’d put it up as the best hug in the history of mankind. It certainly was to me in that moment.  I remember him saying “I’m so proud of you” and “I love you so much” and those words completely disarmed me. My stronghold barrier of toughness was exposed as a façade. I cried uncontrollably in my father’s arms. And felt completely comforted. It’s a hug that I’ll never forget. I also often reflect back on this hug as a glimpse of what I imagine God’s hug feels like. All encompassing, overwhelming, and complete Love.

***HUG

I am nearly positive we left Birmingham and came straight home after that season ending, disappointing loss.

October  31, 2018  (Brad)

Josh had been doing very well as my replacement as sales manager at TPI.  In many respects I thought he was doing a better job than I did.  He was putting to good use his 15 years of manufacturing experience at TPI and refused to sell windows that were tough to build, not hesitating to tell small customers the windows they had been buying are obsolete, and moving them into mainstream  models.  Sometimes bordered on being an ass, but sales didn’t suffer and it greatly simplified things for a young unmotivated Conecuh county Alabama workforce.

Our time together as I trained him turned us into work buddies. I knew he had a quick temper but never realized the problems he was facing.  After a year and a half into the job it culminated with an explosion in his Dad’s office….(his daddy’s office…for this is the Deep South  and that’s the vernacular used…. always sounded very immature to me, but I continually hear it from men of all ages)  Jason, the company President was in the office as well, the only voice of reason I overheard.  The explosion really elevated and I was wondering what the hell had happened.  It culminated with Josh screaming  “I quit, all I ever wanted was to feel loved” followed by threats to kill them…Josh left the building yelling and slamming everything as he hit the door.

A minute or so later his brother Brent came running into the office shouting “Josh is in his truck with a gun and shaking something awful.”

As I walked down the hall to go check on Josh, I nervously smiled to myself with a quick prayer…Lord, I’ve often joked about being bullet proof since the installation of a defibrillator in my chest, I pray that isn’t tested today.

Approaching Josh’s converted low rider pickup, he held a pistol under his chin and was shaking uncontrollably.  Not remembering all the details, I cautiously neared his truck and said something trying to soothe him.  He responded, “step back, I don’t want to get this mess all over your clothes”.  I was at a complete loss what to say, and silently asked God for guidance.  Josh mumbled, “I really fucked up this time”.  He kept repeating it while he slowly rocked in his driver’s seat, still shaking.  I objected with something like,  “Josh, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but nothing is unfixable”.  He was adamant it couldn’t be fixed.  “Josh, God loves you and it’s no problem for him to fix if you let him.”  I reached thru the open door of the truck and put my hand on his shoulder and kept saying “Jesus loves you” because I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Still shaking he lowered his pistol somewhat, but his shaking kept it waving around.  He asked me to get his cell phone off his desk so he could call his son.  I asked for his gun but he ignored my request.  He assured me he would stay in the truck.  I went to his office and got the phone.  As I returned less than a minute later, I noticed a gun clip on the ground below the step sill of the truck.  I fumbled the exchange when handing Josh the phone, dropping it on the floor of the pickup.  As I bent down to retrieve the phone, I picked up the gun clip with my off hand and slipped it into my pocket.  Josh was still shaking violently and couldn’t press the right keys to make the call.  I was grateful not thinking it was a good idea anyway, and thankful he didn’t ask me to make the call.

With the gun clip secured in my pocket, I  was a little more bold in my movements around Josh.  When the waving of the pistol pointed in my direction I’d ask him to watch where he pointed it.  I  again put my hand on his shoulder and repeated he was going  to be alright, that I loved him and Jesus loved him.  He was sobbing.  After awhile, he seemed to calm and said he was going to leave.  I told him I couldn’t let him go with the gun.  He had another request.  His key ring was somewhere in his office and it had all his keys on it.  He couldn’t remember exactly where it was, but I told him I wouldn’t take him into the office until he gave me the pistol.  He handed me the gun and unsteadily got out of the truck.  I slipped the pistol into the back pocket of my jeans and steadied him as we walked to the office.

Thankfully, the office workers made themselves scarce, and with Josh’s office near the front door, we found the key ring and exited without confronting anyone.  Josh had calmed enough to remove his work keys from the ring and handed them to me.  He crawled back into his pickup  and  drove off painfully slow.  I kept thinking I shouldn’t have let him leave but was clueless on what to do.

The next time I saw Josh was in December in Church at a faith based rehab center.   He greeted us warmly. The center of his problems turned out to be a drug addiction few were aware of, but those closest to him suspected.   He proclaimed his salvation and appeared to be doing well.  It will be a continual struggle, and we pray he will keep Christ as his center.  At Christmas time,  Josh walked away from the rehab center, saying he couldn’t take it anymore.  While our concern grew,  I was told he got a job with the gas company in Evergreen,  got divorced, and moved in with his mother.  Continued prayers.

I haven’t thought much about that Halloween day last year, but in recounting these events,  I’m thankful to God for many things.  Only working a few days a week in semi-retirement, I’m thankful I was at work that day.  I’m so grateful to God that he kept me calm.  I’m grateful Josh couldn’t make the call to his junior high age son, because I’m afraid had he I would have so regretted getting his phone. I’m grateful he showed me instantly how to secure the gun clip without notice, wonderful fumbilitis. And I’m even grateful for my lack of knowledge of semi-automatic pistols…. Being clueless that a gun without the clip can still have a bullet in the chamber.

Mostly for chases enjoyment—-

Pierce had one helluva day in the arctic temperatures that are the DAC yesterday….

It seriously affected his body and mind physically it was so cold.

Said it was the worst thing in his life and it’s not even close…

But I shared all that to share this…

After what was shortened to about 6 laps of constant movement/swimming…it was brick time!

For the girls, it seemed Justin threw the brick all the way to the depths of about…5 feet…for their retrieval.

Pierce steps up, and of course it lands on the incline closer to 10ft depth. Pierce is probably in a delirious state, but dives in for it. On his first attempt…he is able to get there and grab it (although he said “I was closer to drowning than failure”) and bring it in.

So I think he’s blessed if those 2 hours were the worst of his life, but they can’t be overstated.

When he said the drowning/failure line, I thought of you Chase.

I think the DAC is now responsible for 2 “mug worthy” coffee mug quotes.

“This job has taught me more the value of a minute than the value of a dollar”

December 8, 2017

This week was Taylor’s last week of 8^th grade basketball. After winning two games all year, both against non-league Leavenworth school Patton early in the season, we had the KVL post season tournament. Of the 8 teams, we were last because we didn’t beat any league teams during the year. Taylor was really the only player with any basketball experience, and we were super proud of her ability to get teammates involved – Taylor has a natural ability to see people before they are open, and often times we go from ‘having no chance to score’ to at least having an opportunity to score because of where Taylor passes it. Unfortunately most of the time the recipient has problems even catching the ball, but that doesn’t stop Taylor from her efforts to make the right play. Erin and I spent most of the season pleading for Taylor to shoot more – or at least be ready to drive/shoot those times you get the ball back in the flow of the offense..which most of the time means throw it to the wing, and back to Taylor, ha!

We lost the first two games of the league tournament but actually played well against the #1 seed. There were some good signs of effort that we haven’t seen consistently in some of the games we may have competed more.

Well the last game of the season, against Clark Middle School (Bonner) for 7^th place in the league – or ‘not last’ – we started out the game not catching a break. There was only one referee and he was closer to 80 years old, and while he had great spirit, he missed two unforced turnovers on Clark that ended up turning into 4 points in the first quarter. We were down from the start, and Erin and I were frustrated Taylor didn’t try to score more—although she did have several good drives that we thought she was fouled on, but no call, and no finish on those attempts. Taylor did score 2 in the first half and had a super fun assist at the buzzer of the first quarter when she passed to Abby on the block who finished. I believe we were down 4-8 after the first quarter, and then 6-14 at halftime. Giving up 14 points and expecting to win is about our limit over the course of the season, as our offense struggles to score, so it was dire at halftime.  The third quarter had several ‘in and out’ shots from us and it was an offensive struggle with LTMS scoring a free throw as the only scoring of the quarter. LTMS 7, Clark 14.

Taylor was far more offensively aggressive in the 4Q. I believe early in the quarter she hit a jumper from near the free throw elbow, and then the next possession she got fouled on a shot and went to the free throw line and swished both free throws to get us within 3 points. I believe with under 2 minutes left she found herself open at the top of the key and banked in a 3 pointer to tie the game!! It was so exciting to ‘have a chance’.  Clark ended up getting fouled on the next possession and made both free throws for their only points in the second half. Taylor came down and shot the ball to tie the game, but it rimmed out, and we got the rebound and scored to tie the game. We played strong defense and ended up going to overtime.

After a few back/forth exchanges without scoring, Clark was trying to apply a lot of pressure to Taylor, but she used a screen on the right side of the court and drive past her defender on the baseline and swished the go-ahead basket with about a minute left in overtime! We held them scoreless and got a put back to go up 20-16 and we held on for the improbable victory! The girls went crazy and I believe it was our first league win in about 3 years. What a finish! Taylor had 11 of the 20 points.

A mom from Clear Creek/MTMS (Lauren Payne’s mom) commented how super impressed she was with Taylor’s attitude and effort playing with so many girls that haven’t ever played before. That she’s so encouraging and helpful and positive. I will say Taylor’s attitude was much better than her parents in the stands 😉 – what a way to finish the season.

In my 5th grade Social Studies class, Mrs. Mueller decided to immerse the class into understanding the American political process as a class project. She divided our class into two groups that she labeled ‘Conservatives’ and ‘Liberals’, and I’m convinced none of us knew the meaning behind either label. Upon first glance, I instantly found myself excited for the classmates and friends in my group, including my very best friend, Colton Walle. Each group was instructed to work within the ’party’ to identify a presidential nominee, and I was selected to represent the party.  Mrs. Mueller then said that the nominee was to name a running mate for the upcoming mock election that would encompass the entire 5th grade. The conservatives identified Georgie Porter as the nominee and he chose Jes Condray to join him. I remember having very little time to make a decision among the approximately 12 people in my party, and it was a no-brained to choose Colton…however, at the last minute I changed my mind and selected Erin Willoughby, in hopes of securing the female votes in the election.

That decision paid off, as I remember the victory as 59-3 in our favor. The very next recess, I remember riding the political high from the secured victory and I approached my vice presidential running mate with a wave of nerves near the basketball court, and I ultimately asked her ‘Will you go with me?”  This was a significant moment in my life. THE FIRST TIME I built up courage to ask a girl in person! Until this moment, the practice I was most comfortable with was passing notes/circling yes-no….But I had done it. Asked the question. Only to realize that I didn’t get an answer as quickly as I was expecting. The delay seemed to be an eternity, but realizing the weight of what I had just done, I saved myself AND Erin by saying ‘Don’t worry about it’, retracting my offer before the inevitable rejection that would have followed.

Just 4 years later, as my family was moving from Brentwood, Tennessee to Brenton, Alabama, my parents — presumably due to a level of guilt for moving our family once more — allowed Ty and I to attend the last 6 weeks of school in Minneapolis, Kansas, and live with my grandparents Ken and Darda.  It did not take me long to reconnect with Colton, and I remember specifically asking him what the girl landscape was at the high school. He told me he knew one girl liked me, but I was more interested in Erin.

We spent some time together in groups of friends, including several ping-pong matches with Jes Condray and Angie Rupert. But I do remember one occasion where several of us played some version of hide and seek on the golf course at dark. My crush continued. It took 5 years later for the story to continue.

In November of 1996 my roommate, Corey, told me someone left a message. He said ‘Aaron called’. That’s how I heard it anyway. When I saw he had listed a 913 area code, I knew…Erin! I called her back and we spent some time catching up, and I learned that Erin asked my grandma, Darda, how I was doing and grandma told her to call me and find out, giving her my number. Erin and I exchanged e-mail addresses and continued to stay in touch over the next few months. In March, I decided to

**never charged my phone bill until 2 weeks left/etc