This week my dad and I were stunned to see Kingman, Arizona resident Keith Carmickle nearly fall to his death while trying to catch a foul ball during Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing on our TV screen, considering the recent death of baseball fan Shannon Stone, who fell to his death while trying to catch a ball thrown to him by North Carolina native Josh Hamilton, who plays for the Texas Rangers.
Realizing that he nearly died, Carmickle has decided to do something positive with his fame — or infamy as some see it –following his appearance on “Good Morning America.” From AZcentral.com:
But the man who appeared Wednesday morning and the brother who saved him were different men than they were Monday night.
When Carmickle watched the tape of his near-fall, he was shaking his head and his eyes were wide.
He talked about getting caught up in the moment and using “bad judgment.” He said he knew he was lucky to be alive. He said he was blessed. He said he never doubted for a moment that his brother would hold on to him and pull him back.
“That’s a brother’s love,” Keith Carmickle said. And Kraig nodded.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Carmickle brothers were still in New York City, and they were tired.
They had their hotel, courtesy of the show, for one more night. And they had just posted their two home-run balls on eBay.
All the money, they said, will go to the Shannon Stone Memorial Fund for the family of the Texas man who was not as lucky as Carmickle.
“I’ve learned, yes,” Carmickle said Wednesday by telephone. “I’ve learned a lot.”
A very nice gesture.
