Vern Hamilton, 'World-Class Heckler"
Bill Schenley
Guelph lost one of its biggest sports fans of the last half century on the
weekend with the passing of Vern Hamilton.
Hamilton died Saturday morning at St. Joseph's Health Centre. He was 87.
He was known for his harmonica playing during baseball games at Hastings
Stadium and his heckling of umpires, referees, coaches and players.
"He was probably the best sports fan in the history of Guelph and he was a
world-class heckler," said Bill Craven, a friend for 45 years.
"Walter Gretzky told me on more than one occasion that if they ever had a
hall of fame for hecklers, Vern would be the first one in it."
His favourite heckles usually included the word "phoney," and Craven's
all-time favourite catcall was the time Hamilton called a portly baseball
player a "phoney windbag, beer gut, dumbbell shortstop."
"Vern had no favourites. If Guelph messed up, he'd be on their case too,"
Craven said.
Born in Campbellville, Hamilton moved to Guelph at an early age and attended
Victory public school. He joined the army during Second World War and spent
the war stationed at Camp Borden.
He later worked for years at Harvester International in Hamilton, Craven
said.
For years Hamilton went by the nickname Red because of his red hair. In
later years he got angry when anyone called him that.
He was a fixture at hockey games in Guelph and at junior and senior baseball
games. His last game was this year's season opener for the Guelph Royals.
Jim Robbins, who often drove Hamilton to games in his later years, said when
he returned him to his room after a game Hamilton played a little tune on
his harmonica and said "God bless the Royals and God bless the
Silvercreeks."
Craven said Hamilton never married and had no children. He is survived by
his nephew Harold Hamilton.
Funeral services are to be held tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Gilbert MacIntyre
and Son Funeral Home.
Kent
tones, I say good riddance. Hecklers suck.
J.D. Baldwin
In the previous article, Kent
<ke...@ixnayonthesamspay-deadoraliveinfo.com> wrote:
> I don't mean to be too unkind to a dead man but, in the gentlest
> possible tones, I say good riddance. Hecklers suck.
I have no tolerance for someone who heckles a stage act, because it
interferes with the performance directly, but professional athletes
are plenty babied enough and if a heckler can be entertaining about
it, I say rock on. Sorry I missed Mr. Hamilton's act.
--
_+_ From the catapult of |If anyone disagrees with any statement I make, I
_|70|___:)=}- J.D. Baldwin |am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also
\ / bal...@panix.com|to deny under oath that I ever made it. -T. Lehrer
***~~~~-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Charlene
J.D. Baldwin wrote:
> In the previous article, Kent
> <ke...@ixnayonthesamspay-deadoraliveinfo.com> wrote:
> > I don't mean to be too unkind to a dead man but, in the gentlest
> > possible tones, I say good riddance. Hecklers suck.
>
> I have no tolerance for someone who heckles a stage act, because it
> interferes with the performance directly, but professional athletes
> are plenty babied enough and if a heckler can be entertaining about
> it, I say rock on. Sorry I missed Mr. Hamilton's act.
> --
Heckling is almost a necessity in both baseball and hockey. I can't
imagine either game existing without that type of audience
participation. It's absolutely not the same thing as heckling a
comedian or an actor.
Although heckling a minor-league hockey team also isn't the same thing
as heckling Barry Bonds.
wd42
Bill Schenley
> > > I don't mean to be too unkind to a dead
> > > man but, in the gentlest possible tones, I
> > > say good riddance. Hecklers suck.
J.D. Baldwin wrote:
> > I have no tolerance for someone who heckles
> > a stage act, because it interferes with the
> > performance directly, but professional athletes
> > are plenty babied enough and if a heckler can
> > be entertaining about it, I say rock on. Sorry I
> > missed Mr. Hamilton's act.
Charlene wrote:
> Heckling is almost a necessity in both baseball and
> hockey. I can't imagine either game existing without
> that type of audience participation. It's absolutely not
> the same thing as heckling a comedian or an actor.
> Although heckling a minor-league hockey team also
> isn't the same thing as heckling Barry Bonds.
I don't mind boos, jeers and the occassional one-liner, but "world class
hecklers," as Kent wrote ... "suck."
For the most part, those on the field never hear these douche bags. *I*
hear them. I'm trying to watch a ball game, score the game ... and all I
can hear is this fucker's harmonica, horn, cymbals or big mouth.
While these morons are acting like they are the only one who paid for a
ticket ... I'm thinking about how I can shove my pencil through their eye
socket ... and still make it look like an accident.
So I say, "rock on," too ... *in Hell* ...
Kent
> hear them. I'm trying to watch a ball game, score the game ... and all I
> can hear is this fucker's harmonica, horn, cymbals or big mouth.
Those were the non-gentle tones I was thinking of as the alternative.
> I'm thinking about how I can shove my pencil through their eye socket ...
> and still make it look like an accident.
If you want to brainstorm some ideas, get in touch. LOL
Kent