It was just a normal Saturday morning six weeks ago when Chuck Blair hopped on his Harley Davidson Road Glide motorcycle en route to buy some gas and then meet some buddies from his bike club.
Blair, the bearded bear of a man who coaches the Homestead High baseball team, is a member of BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse), a world-wide organization that empowers young victims of abuse.
"Kids who might be scared to testify get a little more brave when they have 15 or 20 bikers in court with them," Blair said. "It's a good cause."
Blair never arrived at his destination. An elderly man driving a 2005 Acura blew through a stop sign, Blair said, and the Homestead coach chose to lay his bike down on the pavement rather than plow into the car. The result was a broken ankle, a broken thumb and three busted ribs for the coach.
Blair missed eight games and has coached recent games, including Friday's 20-9 SCVAL playoff loss to Wilcox, from a wheelchair, situated in front of the Mustang dugout.
"I probably slid about 45 yards," Blair said of the accident. "I knew I was going to be OK, but I was sliding along the ground and looking through my helmet, watching the road go by. It was surreal."
Assistant coach Kyle Bonvechio has been a big help to the Homestead coach, Blair said, especially when the Mustang mentor was laid up for three days in the hospital.
Blair has been told by umpires that according to the Americans with Disabilities Act -- he's temporarily disabled -- he could actually coach third base from his wheelchair, but he's afraid a defensive player may dive into his chair and get hurt. In recent games at Wilcox, Blair has positioned himself behind a gate in front of the dugout.
Blair said the senior citizen who failed to stop was cited for failure to yield. The bike? It took a cosmetic beating, but still runs. As for Blair, he has no plans to ditch the Harley.
"I've been riding for 20 years," said Blair, a 1981 Archbishop Mitty grad who has coached at three high schools, in travel ball and for a high-powered Palomino team. "My wife Robyn understands, but my 80-year-old mom wants me to get rid of the bike."
Blair will probably jettison the wheelchair before he gets rid of the iron horse. The Mustang coach managed to deliver the lineup to the umpires Friday with the aid of a walker, so perhaps by the time the section playoffs roll around, he'll be fully ambulatory.
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com and followed on Twitter @PrepCat
