The story below is my fond memory of Chad. It happened while I was waiting to board a flight from Lyon to London. It is such a great memory because the story typifies who Chad was. If you never met him I hope it gives you some insight into the kind of character he was……
I hated Chad, I really did! At least that’s how it was in the beginning….. I remember one day out at King’s Park circa 2004-5ish Preston Powell boasting about the new guy he recruited. According to Preston, the guy was 6’3”, 230 pounds of solid muscle and he played 3rd base at NC State. He told me in that slow southern drawl “you’re not gonna like him at first but he’s really a great guy”. Now, as we all know Preston’s stories tend take on a much larger perspective of reality than is necessarily deserved but in this instance he was right on the mark. Chad came out a couple of weeks after that and all I could think was “is this guy serious?”
When you first met Chad you didn’t know whether to be intimidated, laugh or run away! Part of you was definitely scared because he was a big dude and so abrasive that you knew it was best not to piss him off. On the other hand, he never seemed serious about anything and there was something about that that put you at ease. It was like sticking your face in a fan without a cover- move an inch closer and boy you’re in trouble but man did it cool you down! Over the first year I learned to just sit back and enjoy his goofiness and avoid the combustible side. He was always ranting and raving about something pertaining to the game and it was shear entertainment to sit back and watch.
As the years went on we became friends. Not good friends, but friends. Those of you that know me know I’m like a school girl when it comes to the phone. I’ll just call you up to shoot the shit without really that much to say. Chad was the same way; at least I think he was because that’s the way we were with each other. We’d call each other up once maybe twice a month and gossip about this rule change or that email or whatever. I really became fond of him because I love character’s (who doesn’t) and they didn’t come any bigger than Chadley! What I loved most about our phone calls was that he would call you and just assume that you knew whatever he was talking about without giving the slightest bit of a clue as to what was the purpose of the call. The conversation would start with a machine gun of words like “I can’t believe you’re gonna take that! Brew House has no balls!!” It would take a good minute to decipher what the hell he was talking about.
One night I was in Lyon, France waiting at an airport gate for my flight to London to board. The phone rings and its Chad. I wonder “should I pick this up?” We were just about to board and there was no way in hell this was going to be a brief conversation. On the other hand I couldn’t have been more board so what the hell? I picked it up.
CHAD: You like how I did that?
ME: Did what?
CHAD: Called you out for being a lazy bastard!
ME: What are you talking about?
CHAD: How come the season isn’t starting? There’s no one talking on the rumor mill so I lit you up. You’re not doing your job man! (NOTE: this was 2008 when King’s Park was closed the first half of the year).
ME: Chadley, I don’t run the league anymore and besides King’s Park is closed for reconstruction so there’s nothing we can do.
He continued to rant for another five minutes or so not quite accepting my “excuse” that I wasn’t running the league anymore. In his mind I was guilty and therefore I had to bare the brunt of his current anger. Suddenly I realized there’s about 10 people left to board so I got on line. When I gave the agent my boarding pass she said in a terse French snarl “you cannot board while speaking on the phone”. She was over the top rude and it struck through to my bones. I asked “What are talking about I’ve never heard of that before?” She replied “these are our rules!” as if to say “we are French and you are stupid so shut off your damn phone and get on the plane”. At this point Chad, who was babbling, caught on to my conversation with the agent and said “tell them terrorists to calm down”. That brought a brief chuckle because somehow in Chad’s mind France was part of the Axis of Evil! However, I was pissed. Famously Flynnie pissed! I walked to the side and waited for the last person to board and then I would get on the plane.
I was pacing about trying my damndest to get Chad to shut up. I said like three times “Chadley I’ve got to go” but he was having none of it. “Didn’t order any balls” this and “tell them damn terrorists to shut up” that. He was having an argument with the gate agent by proxy! In retrospect I should’ve just hung up but I was caught in that strangest of paradoxes where I was trying to balance an angry gate agent and Chad Boyd!! I was flustered as each time she kept saying “sir you have to board”. Finally, with my back turned to the gate she came over and grabbed my elbow “Sir you have to board!” That was it, I blew! I yanked my arm away and said (more like yelled) “don’t touch me damnit”. She walked right over and tried to close the door. Realizing she was pissed I followed closely and put my hands on the door to prevent her from shutting it.
At that point I thought I was toast. She was trying to close the door and I was pushing back and explaining my case. I kept saying “I am really sorry but I was talking with a friend who is in big trouble”. It’s pretty funny now to think that that was my excuse. My friend’s big trouble was that King’s Park was closed and he couldn’t play softball. Now it brings an enormous smile to my face but at the time I had to run with that excuse or I was spending the night in Lyon and would miss my meetings the next day. My apologies were deeply sincere “I’m so sorry!!”, “Please forgive me!!” Finally one of the flight attendants had walked up the jet way to ask what was happening.
It took a good ten minutes to sort things out. The captain came up as well as airport security and we had a mini huddle going on, much like waiting at the 50 yard line for the referee to sort out the penalties. I kept saying I was very sorry for what happened but that I was startled when she pulled my arm. She never disputed that that was what happened and we both began to calm down. It turns out that there was no rule that I couldn’t get on the plane while speaking on the phone. The captain asked her why she made me hang up the phone? She really had no answer and in the end that was what got me on the flight. It seems she had a bug up her ass for some reason. Perhaps my loud American voice? I don’t know but something had pissed her off. Finally, they let me on the plane.
What a humiliating walk down the aisle that was! Everyone staring at me and wondering “what did this asshole do to delay our flight?” I was beet red and just slumped in my seat, emotionally exhausted. At some point I had just hung up on Chad.
When I arrived in London, I collected my bags and figured I’d call Chad who surely was waiting by the phone wondering what had happened…..
CHAD: Hey
ME: Jesus Christ Chadley did you hear that whole thing?
CHAD: What Thing?
ME: That fight with the terrorist gate agent.
CHAD: Yeah but if you just did your job man that wouldn’t have happened!!
How do you reply to that? Here I was thinking he couldn’t wait to find out what the hell had happened but in actuality it barely registered in his collective memory! He just wanted to play ball and I was the one screwing that up, even if I wasn’t running the league. I just laughed and said “yeah you’re right, I gotta go Chadley this is costing me a fortune”. I got in my taxi and laughed my balls off all the way to the hotel. Literally! I couldn’t stop laughing. And that was Chad. Was he joking? Was he serious? I don’t know but my life is much better for having known him!!
