Memories of a Sports Celebrity-my cousin Keith

My only brush with a true sports celebrity was with
my cousin Keith Iovine from New Orleans, La.

My Uncle Mike was a college professor in biophysics
at LSU after a stint here in the northeast at Cornell.
He was also one of 10 Master Glassblowers in the USA.
This craft was passed on to his son Keith who was good
but that was not his passion.

Keith pursued his passion -track from a young age. My
uncle never missed a track meet. He always urged his
son to be his best even if it wasn't the same respected
work he taught his son.

Keith was a young man of normal height. Many track
stars are 6 feet tall or taller. Keith was all of 5'9" or
5'10". When attempting to qualify for the Olympics
or win a high school or college meet he had to be that
much faster than his opponents because of his smaller
stature. As more information surfaces on the internet I
discover more times, meets and accomplishments that
are attributed to Keith.

Being the son of a college professor would have been an
easy choice to just coast in school and attend LSU where
his tuition would be covered. No-not Keith's style.
Keith wanted to apply to the top track schools in the USA.
I know he was disappointed to not get into his first choice
whether it was Kansas or Nebraska I'm not sure. I know
he got in to the University of Arkansas -his 2nd choice.
By attending a premier track college Keith could set his
sights on th Olympics. He had already won many high school
competitions throughout the USA.

My only day and evening that I spent with my cousin was at
the NCAA Track Finals held in 1984 at Syracuse University.
Keith was 21 and a Junior at Arkansas. To him it was his last
try outs for the Olympics. If he didn't make it this time he
thought he would be too old to compete at the age of 25.
This competition would pick 5 members for the US Olympic Team.
I watched several events before Keith was running. I could not
believe the strengh, endurance and speed of these athletes.
Many competing were between 6 and 7 feet tall.

Keith was usually in the 1500 meter relay and a 500 or
1000 meter individual event. Can't remember if his relay
team wasfirst or second place. I can only recall that in his
individual event he explained to me his time had to be under
3:50 but his best time was 3:52. He knew he could do it -
he was so close in all his competitions during the academic year.

I was in awe of my cousin as he ran in his individual event.
You could see he was so much shorter than his competitors.
But he was 'in the zone'. He was so free and majestic in his strides.
He was like a flash oflight passing in front of my eyes. I don't remember
his time but it was off by .001 or .002 of the time he needed. A couple of
his Arkansas team members were ahead of him.

At the end of the NCAA Track & Field Indoor event my cousin was
the 6th highest in points. They chose the top 5 to represent the
U.S. Olympic Team.

His disappointment was only slightly evident as we left the SU campus.
I was not ready for the paparazzi as my calm and confident cousin kept
me close to his side. These reporters had been following Keith's career since
1980. Keith may still hold the high school record for 1600 meter of 4:12
set in 1982. I'll never forget the first name basis Keith had with sports
writers from The Boston Globe, LA Times, Chicago, etc. He gave concise and
detailed answers to their questions. They knew of his loss and all wished him
well-knowing they were going to still keep tabs on this runner's career.

Later that evening I took Keith to a local pub for a beer since competition
& training had now been completed. He explained how it was so lonely
as a Track Athlete. He said it's NOT a team sport but a dog eat dog sport.
It's about the individual not the team. He could never count on his team mates
-only sometimes in the relay event. He was always annoxious about the
next event. He never knew who he could confide in. He did have faith in
his coach and his college program. He said he wasn't sure where he would go
next. He didn't think he would be able to compete in the next Olymics at the
age of 25. We spoke of his missing his dad who died a few years previously.
He & his dad shared such a bond -I could see a part of him wished his dad was
still in the stands as he raced.

It was a great memory to have spent time with a humble athelete who was
always seeking the next goal and learning from his past mistakes. I didn't see any
any self pity- just greatness in the making. He knew he wasn't the best but just
wanted to be the best he could be.

I never saw Keith again. Once he completed college he went to Florida - he
spoke to my dad. Then he ventured to California. After Hurricane Katrina
a woman who was his friend in California contacted my aunt looking for
Keith's Mom and sisters. That was when we learned Keith had died
in October,2002 at 39 years old of an undetected heart condition.

Recently while online I discovered Keith was an 1988 Olympic Qualifier
in the men's 1500 meter. Guess he decided to try again!

We never know what we learn from a chance encounter with a distant relative
or someone in our daily walk. From Keith I learned to stay grounded in the
world of the media, to honor your family relationships and to set new goals
daily.