The Day that Changed 3 Major Leaguers Lives Forever (1400 hits)
Category: SportsRating: 1.53 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Im the A-Train, not AmTrak, the A-Train (err...bob...) (View user info) at 2004-06-06 02:01:33 EDT
March 12th, 2000 is a day that will never be forgotten for major leaguers Morgan Ensberg, Keith Ginter, Aaron Miles and Mike Rose.
During the Spring Training of 2000, Ensbery, Ginter, Miles, Rose and another player were part of the Houston Astros' minor league affiliates and were invited to spring training at the Astros' spring facilities in Kissimmee, Florida.
The 12th was like any other day. After a three-hour workout, the 5 went to dinner at a local Sizzler's and returned back to their two hotel rooms at around 7pm. Rose, Ensberg, Ginter and the other player decided to watch a movie while Miles took a nap in the adjoining room.
However, at 9:30, two masked gunmen broke into the rooms with 9mm handguns. The gunmen bound the player's hands and feet then placed them under the bed covers. While they were tied up, the two gunmen stole their cash, valuables and jewelry (you figure minor leaguers don't make enough cash to buy a 3 fucking carat earring, but nope apparently they do). However at one point, Ensberg and Rose slipped free from their bonds and called 911.
One of the gunmen decided to flee as the cops arrived. He jumped over the 2nd floor balcony, breaking his leg on the process. See the problem with that was, you can't exactly run when your leg is broken in 3 places.
So he was fucked, but what about the 2nd guy? His fate was much worse
A standoff ensued between the police and the 2nd gunman. At one point, Miles, who was held at gunpoint and not tied up, heard the gunman say, "I'm not going back to prison, not again".
"I had visions of me getting shot, collapsing, thinking of my family...", reported Miles.
Soon, Miles saw his opportunity to end this. As he saw his captor move his gun from behind to beside Miles' face. He grabbed for the weapon and a struggle ensued. During this, a police officer entered the room and hit the gunman six times.
However one bullet was unaccounted for. The seventh bullet the pierced the gunman's skin entered in the stomach, not the back and legs, like the policeman's shots.
This was the bullet that paralyzed the gunman...and it was fired from Miles. Not on accident, it was on purpose.
Miles made a choice and his permanently affected the life of another.
He fired the final bullet, the one that did the most damage...and he has had to live with it ever since...and will continue to for the rest of his life.
Since the incident, Ginter, Ensberg and Miles have become starting players on various teams. Ginter for the Brewers, Ensberg with the Astros, and Miles with the Rockies. Mike Rose is still haunted by the night and is sputtering out of baseball entirely while the other player is still in the Astros system.
Miles, Ginter and Ensberg still talk to each other so that they don't forget.
But they all know, that they will never.
User Reviews
Submitted by Slapshot99 (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:20:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
OH YEAH..............TAMPA BAY Lightning CUP BOUND........FLAME FUCKOOS
Submitted by Slapshot99 (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:19:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
This was a great ESPN story.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-06-06 14:40:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Jaydeath, i doubt he regrets it but cmon, of course he thinks about.
so would anyone.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-06-06 14:08:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2004-06-06 13:29:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Good stuff, bob.
Submitted by JayDeath (user info) at 2004-06-06 12:51:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Yeah, but do you really think Miles regrets what he did? If someone had a gun to my head and I had an opportunity to put him down, I wouldn't hesitate and I wouldn't lose wink of sleep afterwards.
Submitted by Tom (user info) at 2004-06-06 12:16:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Check my paint skillz, yo.
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2004-06-06 11:23:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MickGinny (user info) at 2004-06-06 11:18:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
baseball post= auto+2
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2004-06-06 08:35:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
So?
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2004-06-06 03:04:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
and I enjoyed it.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2004-06-06 03:03:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because I rarely read anything all the way through. I just -2 it. This kept me interested through its entirety.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-06-06 02:59:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
that better have not been you before justin.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2004-06-06 02:25:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because of the Kissimmee Astros
Submitted by Sideburns (user info) at 2004-06-06 02:22:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck Aaron Miles. And fuck the Phillies.
If they win NL east, I'm going to throw some bows.
Submitted by A-Rob (user info) at 2004-06-06 02:20:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nicely Done-
I enjoyed this... Thanks.
Submitted by Sideburns at 2004-06-06 02:11:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
for calling me gay, fucker.
be happy i'm too nice to log in.
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-06-06 02:06:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow, that was a totally random story.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-06-06 02:01:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thats better.
god i cant use paint for my life.