Brian The Battler

Brian and his brother Matt would sometimes act Irish and get into altercations. Matt was more traditional in his approach to these and would most often simply duke it out with whomever he decided needed it. Brian, being younger was a different story. His fight career had him deciding on his strategy first and only then going "All In" (before the poker term was coined).

The first instance was when Brian was probably a sophmore in high school. He got into a heated argument with a jock at school and was called out to settle it after school. He called Matt at Xavier and was worried. The other guy would have his friends with him and Brian would not. Matt took on the role of counselor. Told him that these things ususally began with verbal back and forths, leading to shoving and finally wrestling on the ground. His advice to Brian was to understand that getting in the first punch had terrific advantages. He told him to arrive late, walk right up to the guy and blast him and keep on blasting him until it was over.
Brian's mom and I were camly sitting in our kitchen later that day and Brian walked in, went right to the phone and called Matt. He said "Matt, it worked just like you said it would."

Another time Matt was into it with a UC giant at a NCAA tournament game and was losing (when you are getting choked, you're losing!). Brian decided that jumping him from behind seemed like a really good idea. Once again, the other guy was ejected and Brian and Matt stayed.

The really typical episode of Brian thinking about his strategy came in a Hong Kong bar. A group of Brits, Americans, and a Frenchman were drinking shortly after 911. The Frenchman insulted some American girls and, among other things, told them that "America got what it deserved in 911!" Everyone was aghast, but Brian camly spoke to his Brit friend standing next to him and asked him to hold his ($6.00) pint of beer, passed it to him and then and then smoked the guy! Everyone cheered Brian, the manager of the bar kicked the French guy out and praised Brian. Brian was outraged, but didn't want to spill his beer!

The Irish sometimes call someone with strong charm and uncoventionally surprising ways a "darlin' man." We usually don't meet more than one-half a dozen of these people in a lifetime, but, in my book, Brian was one!

Brian's Dad.