His players were sharp. Fundamentally sound. Hard-nosed. They made few mental mistakes. They pitched with accuracy. They used their brains at the plate. He also made sure they used them in class.
And, yes, they won.
Big time.
In Brent Hall's three seasons as Crystal River baseball coach, he took the program to new heights, winning 25 games his first season and 30 the next, when the Pirates reached their first final four since 1946. They nearly made it again in 2003, losing in the region final.
Hall was 83-15, but The county chose not to renew his contract, ousting him last year after a Times investigation revealed some of his practices and subsequent investigations from the school system and Florida High School Athletic Association scarred the program.
The Times articles described the coach's use of a Cadillac provided to him free of charge by the father of a player, failure to report the donation of a $20,000 sprinkler system, spending of more than gender equity allowed and using players to get customers for his personal business. And there was more.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hall?
It seemed that way, though Hall repeatedly denied breaking any rules. The damage, however, was done, and despite being defended by many players and parents his number was up at Crystal River.
At last check, Hall was a representative for the charitable foundation of county native and Major League Baseball player Mike Hampton. Hampton hopes to build a community and athletic facility featuring practice and competition fields, a training complex for baseball players, cheerleaders and gymnasts, a day care program, an aquatic complex and a passive park area with walking and fitness trails. Hall is one of the project's point men.
But almost a year after coaching his last Pirates game, he remains an enigma.
Did Hall go too far? Did he get what he deserved? Or was he falsely portrayed as the villain, hung out to dry by parents whose children saw little playing time, and by those jealous of Hall's success? The truth, the whole truth, is something we may never know.
His supporters, and there remain many, see Hall as a victim, incapable of doing any wrong.
His opponents see a man who spun rapidly out of control, abused his power for profit, not only bent the rules and pushed the envelope but put the rules in a shredder and delivered them to the mailbox by himself.
Could they both be wrong?
Hall is neither God nor the Prince of darkness. He is someone, like most of us, a mortal prone to making mistakes. When people mention the good and only the good, they must be reminded of the bad. And those who bash and only bash him, should be told of the good. It would be wrong to ignore either side.
And naive.
I haven't spoken to Hall since things went down. We weren't what I'd call close, but once spoke quite often.
During the investigation I stayed out of the way, and thus the two of us had little contact. Today, we have none at all, and that's a shame because to be honest I always kind of liked the guy. Every person must live the way he or she sees fit, but without trying to preach to the man, I hope some lessons were learned.
