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Sports  North Colonie Youth Baseball honors Chris Greklek - Baseball (Albany County, Colonie, Latham, Loudonville) Posted on: 07/01/09 Rob Jonas, Sports Editor email: jonasr@spotlightnews.com Chris Greklek knew that the North Colonie Youth Baseball Association was dedicating a new plaque at the Boght Baseball Complex last Friday. He just didn’t know his name would be on it. Greklek, a former NCYBA board member and team manager, became the first Mission Plaque honoree following a two-year stretch in which he battled multiple myeloma. “This was quite a surprise,” said Greklek. “I’m just glad to be part of it, as I am for being part of this organization for the past seven years.” The trick to surprising Greklek was not telling him why he needed to be at the ceremony, said NCYBA Commissioner Bob Burke. “It was pretty hard, but his tenure on the board ended on Jan. 1, and we voted on (the honor) soon after he left,” said Burke. Greklek’s wife, Amy, was also in on the surprise. “I was contacted by the board a couple of weeks ago to make sure he’d be here,” said Amy. “She kept asking me, ‘What’s this thing on Friday?’ so I would remember it,” said Greklek. The Mission Plaque unveiled at the Boght Baseball Complex displays the attributes the NCYBA instills in its players – “Leadership, confidence, respect, teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship and friendship which will carry on into adulthood if but only a distant memory.” It concludes with this statement: “If, at the end of a day, each player leaves these fields with a smile on his or her face, then we have accomplished our mission.” Burke said the board couldn’t think of a better person to honor as the first recipient than Greklek. “He would come to all the meetings (when he was sick), and he was always a positive person. You’d never hear him complain,” said Burke. Greklek said he was appreciative of having his name on the Mission Plaque. “You’re teaching more than baseball (when you’re a youth coach) because these kids aren’t going to be playing Major League Baseball,” he said. “These qualities listed on that plaque are ones that these kids should learn because that will help them throughout life.” Greklek was fortunate to be present for the dedication. He wasn’t diagnosed with multiple myeloma – a blood cancer – until it nearly killed him. “The doctors told him, ‘Go directly to the hospital,’” said Amy. “By the time he got there, he was already losing kidney function. Once he was hooked up to the machines, I wasn’t worried.” “I didn’t realize how bad it was until I got to what doctors called the ‘end stage,’” said Greklek. “It wasn’t until 11 to 12 months (after being diagnosed) that my doctor told me how bad it was.” Up to that point, Greklek had been the picture of health. Not only did he coach baseball, but he also competed in triathlons and graduated to sixth-degree black belt in tae kwon do. “I did a lot of physical activities, and that came to a halt for a while,” said Greklek. By the time he finished his treatment, Greklek’s frame shrunk four inches. “I used to tower over my wife. Now, I’m the same height as her,” said Greklek. Greklek is now looking forward to resuming his physical activities including returning to the triathlon circuit. “I’m getting a new (racing) bike, and I can’t wait to get on it,” he said. “He needs to do that. It’s a part of who he is,” said Amy. And from now on, Chris Greklek is a part of what NCYBA is. “I’m very grateful to be part of that,” he said.You can contact jonasr@spotlightnews.com with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below. Comments powered by Disqus |
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