From Ken Matson
I first met James the first summer of 1994. He was maybe 13 or 14
years
old and I was struck at how comfortable he felt among people twice
his age,
playing a game that had clearly captured his imagination. It was
obvious to
everyone that he was unusual, that he loved to play ultimate, and that
he was
quickly going to better than us old fogeys. All of us at
SB enjoyed
James enthusiasm and youthful brashness both on and off the pitch.
With all
the trash talk, and playful taunting, he did have a caring heart, and
genuinely
felt the bond with his Ultimate friends that is a hallmark of the game.
I
remember I gave him a hat of mine that he repeatedly admired, not
expecting
anything in return. The next day, James gave me a necklace
that he had
made for me in exchange for the hat. A small thing, but I will
always
remember him for that touching gesture.
I played again with James the next summer and he continued to
progress and
make the ultimate field a fun place to be with his skill,
enthusiasm, and
positive outlook. For those of us who knew him in his early days of SB,
it was
indeed gratifying to see him go on to higher levels of
competition. I am
deeply sorry that he is gone, but glad that I had the privilege of
knowing him
and having shared in a game that we love.
Ken