CHICAGO (AP) Here in the heart of Cubs country, a person needs
a real good reason to root for the Florida Marlins these days.
Stacey Brownewell has one.
``I tell everyone that Dontrelle Willis lived at my house last
year with our family, and that we still talk about twice a week,''
the high school senior said. ``People don't believe me, but it's
true.''
In April 2002, Willis was far from what he is now, an All-Star
rookie trying to help lead the Marlins past the Cubs in the NL
championship series. Game 2 was Wednesday night at Wrigley Field,
and the personable pitcher set up tickets for the Brownewells.
When Oakland native Willis met the family, he was merely a
20-year-old prospect with the Class A Kane County Cougars, a
Midwest League affiliate based in Geneva, Ill., about 35 miles west
of Chicago.
Like a lot of lower-level minor league teams, Kane County tries
to place its players with host families for the season. The
Adopt-a-Cougar program provides a housing option for young guys who
make only $1,000 a month and might be promoted, released or traded
at any moment.
Galen and Julie Brownewell had taken in several players in the
past Detroit pitcher Gary Knotts was their first in 1998 but
went to a meet-and-greet dinner that spring with no one lined up.
``Dontrelle came right over and introduced himself,'' Stacey
said. ``He had a great smile and you could tell he had a great
personality.''
``He came home with us that night,'' she said.
And moved right into her brother's old bedroom, the one with the
race-car wallpaper, a television and a small closet.
It was a perfect fit, and quickly turned into a friendship
filled with fun.
``Oh, those omelets,'' Willis recalled this week, flashing a
huge grin. ``They taught me how to make them. We used to have them
all the time for breakfast. Those were good times.''
The Brownewells, with Stacey as the team's bat girl, watched
Willis blossom as he went 10-2 with a 1.83 ERA at Kane County. When
he wasn't playing, he spent time with the family at the home in
Warrenville, about 15 minutes from the ballpark.
``He treated the house like it was his,'' Galen said. ``He was a
very respectful person, we loved having him. And he was a real
character.''
Stacey got to see Willis' playful side way before baseball fans
across the country came to know the lefty with a high leg kick and
hat tilted to the side.
``It seemed like we went to the mall every other day. We'd go to
the movies or shopping,'' Stacey said. ``Nobody had ever heard of
him before.''
``He is the most bubbly person ever,'' she said. ``He's like a
brother to me. I love him so much.''
Willis twice came to see her play center field for the school's
softball team. They also tuned into a lot of ballgames on
television, though they never made the drive into town to look
around Wrigley.
``It is so unbelievable. I mean, I'm sitting on the same couch
where we watched major league games last year, and now I'm watching
him,'' she said.
Willis left the family in July 2002, when he was promoted to a
higher-caliber Class A team at Jupiter. Since then, he's stayed in
touch.
``I call a couple of times a week,'' he said. ``They are
kindhearted, generous people.''
So the Brownewells don't even mind that Willis is causing them a
real dilemma. Galen grew up in Illinois, rooting for the Cubs
except when they play the Marlins, as in right now. And Stacey is
surrounded by kids at school who love the Cubbies.
``Everyone is going around this week, 'Who are you voting
for?''' she said. ``I tell them the Marlins and they're like, 'No
way.' But then I tell them I have a really good reason.''
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)