School’s Out…
Forever
6/11/03
Kim Carlson was the finest high school athlete I ever saw. I was a
sophomore when he was a senior, but he was a grown man to me. A
three-sport star, at 6’2” with blond hair and blue eyes, by the time he
was 15 years old he was head and shoulders above everyone else,
figuratively and literally.
A quarterback with a rifle-arm and nice touch, he was also the
consummate field general. In other words, when he spoke people listened.
As a shooting guard on the basketball team (they didn’t call them #2 in
those days), he had a feathery smooth release and oozed confidence that
could be felt around the gym.
He played shortstop on the baseball team, and his fluid movements and
graceful actions were an extension of his natural athleticism. I have no
idea how hard he worked, I wouldn’t have been smart enough to pay
attention, it just all seem to come so easy for him.
In addition, his senior year he was All-County in all three sports,
leading every team he played on to league championships as well as
success in the CIF playoffs.
As another school year comes to a close, the record will show that Novi
High School fielded 56 teams in 23 sports, with over 700 student
athletes participating these past 9 months. Some will go on to play in
college and maybe beyond. Others will try and fall short. Most will move
on to a new life, cherishing memories from the heat of battle they will
take with them for the rest of their days.
All of them will replay the experiences in their minds, and then they’ll
determine how they react.
I am sorry to report that Kim Carlson passed away last year of alcohol
related liver failure. He never went on to stardom after high school,
and never really replicated the un-mitigated success he’d had as a prep
athlete.
For a short time, he was on top of the world, but in reality he was only
human like we all are… Sometimes, blessed, and sometimes cursed.
(c) 2003 Novi
Information Network
www.novi.org
___________________________________
Bernie Fratto is a freelance writer, radio personality, and
motivational speaker. His passion for sports comes in part from
his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand. "Behind
every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings"
said Fratto. "These athletic endeavors often serve as a
metaphor for the game we call life."
Bernie is also the voice of Novi Wildcat Hockey
and host of Wildcat Face-off, a local
radio program dedicated to youth sports in Novi.
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