told the Rockies staff, the question is
never whos right, but whats right.
C O N T I N U E D F RO M PAGE 2 5
Hurdle asked Karla again, and they
married in 1999. They still were in for
a wild ride. Three years later, the Rock-
ies fired manager Buddy Bell early in
the season, and general manager Dan
ODowd handed the keys to Hurdle.
But four months later, Maddie,
the couples first child together, was
born and sent directly to the neonatal
intensive-care unit, where she stayed
for three weeks. Doctors diagnosed
her with Prader-Willi syndrome, a
chromosomal disorder that can lead to
a number of developmental and behav-
ioral issues, including short stature and
constant hunger. Caring for a child with
special needs can draw a couple togeth-
er or pull them apart, Hurdle explains.
It galvanized us, he says.
What if Karla hadnt said no to the
first proposal? Could the relationship
have weathered the storm? Ive asked
myself that question multiple times,
Hurdle says. I dont have the answer. called up. Ive been sent down. Ive been
Hes not sure he wants to know.
! ! !
I F K A R L A S H O W E D
Clint Hurdle the person he could be-
come, Keli McGregor taught him how
to be that man. Hurdle hasnt met many
men larger or louder than he, and
McGregor was both. A former Denver
Broncos tight end, McGregor was Rock-
ies president from 2001 until his death
in 2010 at age 47 after a rare virus in-
fected his heart muscle.
McGregor was Hurdles closest con-
fidant in Colorado, and helped Hurdle
build a trusted inner circle he now
refers to as his Mount Rushmore of
men. McGregor preached brotherhood
and being a better man. As leaders, he
the game he loved, only to find it again
later, to find himself.
Hurdle looked forward to Coffee
with Keli, the days they would walk
Coors Field, talk and pray. After hear-
ing of McGregors death, Hurdle says,
he walked beneath the Green Monster at
Fenway Park and cried for a half hour.
Hurdle delivered the opening prayer at
the funeral and thanked McGregor for
helping turn his life around.
In Clints life, Keli is probably the
one Clint would love to be able to call
most and talk to right now, says Mar-
cel Lachemann, who was on Hurdles
Rockies staff. He probably does talk to
him, in a different way.
In 2009, two years after the Rockies
rode a 21-1 Roctober run to reach the
World Series for the only time in fran-
chise history, McGregor, ODowd and
the Rockies front office decided to fire
Hurdle. ODowd called it the most dif-
ficult day, and the biggest regret, of his
career. If I had to do it all over again,
I probably should have left with him,
says ODowd, who resigned in 2014.
Heres another saying Hurdle likes
that might find its way into the letter:
Failure is an event, not a person.
Im an alcoholic, he says. Ive many people, some I dont even know,
been married three times. Ive been
in a World Series as a manager, coach
and player. Ive lost all three. Ive been
the cant-miss, did-miss.
There are things there that, sooner
or later, can connect with somebody,
somehow, someway.
Thats part of the reason why Texas
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels
phoned Hurdle in 2009, looking for a
hitting coach. He thought Hurdle, given
his history, could connect with Josh
Hamilton, a former No. 1 pick whose
career had already twice been derailed
by drug and alcohol addictions.
In Hamilton, Hurdle saw his younger
self. They set aside time to speak ev-
ery day, but they spoke more about
the brain than the bat. Hurdle shared
his story and his scars from his
rocket-powered rise to the drinking and
divorces. Hurdle told of having to lose
In 2010, Hurdles lone season in
Texas, Hamilton was American League
MVP. He hit .359 with 32 home runs
matching Hurdles career homer total
in the finest year of his career. That
offseason, Hurdle was hired by the Pi-
rates. Hamilton signed a megadeal with
the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 but has
had two relapses.
With sobriety, theres no finish
line there ever, Hurdle says. I finally
stopped looking for one.
These days, theres only one bottle of
alcohol Hurdle allows himself to keep.
Neil Walker gave a bottle of Johnnie
Walker Blue to every player and coach
in 2013 after the Pirates reached the
playoffs for the first time since 1992.
Walker approached Hurdle at the time
and said: I obviously dont expect you
to drink this. But if you feel uncomfort-
able having it, Ill gladly take it back or
hold onto it for you.
The Scotch sits above Hurdles desk
at PNC Park.
It was given to the team to honor the
20-year void, and Ive got it up there to
honor the blood, sweat and tears of so
Hurdle says. And its a reminder ev-
ery day that the cap can never, ever be
twisted.
! ! !
F O R Y E A R S , C L I N T
Hurdle has sent a daily motivational
email to hundreds of contacts. Among
the recipients are friends from child-
hood, from his playing days, from this
latest chapter with the Rockies, the
Rangers, the Pirates.
He ends each note the same way,
with four words he has borrowed from
McGregor.
Thats probably how hell end this
letter:
Make a difference today.
Love, Clint.
Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-
gazette.com and on Twitter @stephen-
jnesbitt.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2016 65