Hey big B, 

I still think about you all the time.  You may me gone from this world, but I know you're still with us. There's constant reminders of our time together each and every day...every Laker game, every  Dodger game, every time I go to a Mexican or Chinese restaurant on Rededa Bl and of course every time I hear Hall and Oates (shhhh, me and Big B secretly liked them).  Although you're not here on earth you will always be with me in my thoughts and in my heart. 

About twelve years ago, Bryan invited a couple of us to attend a  Kings hockey game with him at Staples Center in downtown L.A. I had never been to a live hockey game before, but had been to many Lakers game so i was excited to hang out with my friend for an evening and watch some NHL hockey.

The game was at 7pm as I remember, Bryan said he would pick me up at 5:00pm. He arrived about 5:45pm, lol (Bryan time). There were four of us going, but Bryan only had two tickets. The game was sold out so I was worried how we would all get in. Bryan said dont worry, I will take care of it.

I thought we would park in one of the parking garages near the arena, but ever aware to save money Bryan found street parking and paid a homeless gentlemen to watch his car. The homeless gentlemen was standing next to that car when we came back to the car three hours later.

Bryan talked some "ticket guys" into buying his two tickets for four tickets that they held, and Bryan somehow still made $25.00 off the exchange, lol. I still to this day can not figure how he pulled that one off. We sat in the same general area as the two original tickets he had. If you have ever attended a sporting event with Bryan you might know what I mean.

The Kings put on a sorry display of hockey that evening and trailed big entering the third period, though dismayed Bryan put on a happy face for the rest of us and we had a great time. Bryan was a hockey expert and explained all of the strategies and penalties to me, since I was a novice hockey fan. 

Bryan had friendly exchanges with every fan in our section even the Philadelphia Flyers fans which says a lot about his endearing personality.

During the third period I yelled out something dumb, "Come on Kings put the ball in the net"!! Every fan within earshot stared at us. Bryan laughed and said sit down! 
 Bryan gave me that look that only Bryan can give you when you have said something dumb. "Come on Finley its a puck, not a ball, Jeez!"  
Bryan and I would laugh about that often over the years, and if we were officiating a tense game together, one of us would say, "come on Finley put the ball in the net!" We would both immediately start laughing as the players around us would wonder what the heck was so funny.    

It makes me smile that the he would be able to witness his beloved Kings finally bring  home the Stanley Cup Trophy during his lifetime. I know beside Michelle nothing else made him happier than his beloved Kings.  


Now come on Arizona Cardinals  its your turn!  

Although unheard I thank you
For always being there
Even when you were bedridden
You always seemed to care

You meant so much to so many of us
you were special and that's no lie
you brightened up the darkest day
and even the greyest sky

Many tears I have seen and cried
They have all poured out like rain
I know that you are happy now
because your no longer in pain.

For years on, we will remember you
And what you used to say
You made each of us smile
And live to the fullest each day

They say in time it gets easier,
this I hope is true

I was not ready to say goodbye
Your frailties just over took you,
So on this day we remember you
and take a second look

Our friendship is forever
Until death did we part
Although your away physically
You’re always in our hearts

                                                                  "Time is Meant to Heal"            
                                               -KIM THOMPSON

A couple years ago, I worked a PCBL game with Bryan at Hoover High School in Glendale. I won't candy coat this story .... we didn't hit it off the first time we were thrown together. Bad day, bad game .... whatever it was, we just didn't click.

Two years later ... I had just lost my job and found myself re-enlisting in the high school unit; which I had not been part of since the 90's. It was that night that at the 1st ump meeting that I would meet my new assigner ... Mr. Bryan Rodgers. I new he looked familiar to me, but still hadn't placed him .... right up to the moment that I walked up to introduce myself and he said, " I know who you are ... we worked that horrid day at Hoover together."

Great, I said to myself. He remembers me .... I was probably a jerk to him that day ... and I'm gonna get 2 or 3 games the entire season because of it! I'm sure I looked a bit puzzled, just as he said to me, " Don't sweat it, Scot. It was just one of those days."

He seemingly wiped the slate clean between us and, when I needed it the most, assigned me 25 games over the next 2 months. I felt his respect for me; and it made me think twice from now on before I draw assumptions about anyone. Bryan was the bigger man and I have appreciated him ever since.

Though we didn't know each other very well, I can say without hesitation that Bryan Rodgers made his mark on me; and I will never forget him.

Scot Sweet 

I will never forget the first time I met Bryan and will now cherish the last time I saw Bryan.

Back in 1987, I got the call to ump on the plate at a baseball playoff game at Hueneme High School in Ventura County along with Paul Schultz and some skinny 19-year-old kid named Bryan Rodgers.  Although the game was a blowout with South Hills winning 16 - 4, Bryan later would always reminded me of how we umped future major leaguer Jason Giambi that day. 

On the afternoon of November 17, 2013, I drove over the Byran's home to exchanged checks after umping a winter high school league at Thousand Oaks High School.  Bryan was very special to me because, for one reason, he would call and ask me to umpire special games and at short notice.  I always appreciated his confidence in me.  To be honest I didn't like how Bryan looked and expressed my concern and support for his better health.  We reminisced again about a few things.  Before I left, I told him that I would say some prayers for him.  The ten to 15 minutes I spent with Bryan for the final time will be etched in my memories of time spent with Bryan Rodgers.

Bryan was the crew chief in 2003 when we were sent to Bishop for a Semi final baseball game.  Bryan drove.  Of course, we got a late start.  We picked up our 4th man in Palmdale and raced up Highway 395 to Bishop.  I sat in the back seat terrified at the speeds we reached.  Miraculously, we got there on time and even stopped off at McDonalds before going to the school.  We had to dress in back of Bryan's SUV just outside the left field fence.  Bryan worked the plate and was perfect even though it was a blowout game.  (That year Bryan was chosen to work the CIF Southern Section Division I game on the plate in Anaheim Stadium.)  We drove home at a more leisurely pace.  I don't know how Bryan saw through the windshield with so many bugs plastered all over it from the drive up.

Bryan always wanted to go to Europe and one summer while I was in France visiting my family for several months, Bryan calls me on the phone to tell me he bought a ticket to Paris. He was so excited. I could not believe he actually saved up the money to go.

So I leave the south of France and head for Paris to meet him. Where is the first place we go but EuroDisney where we learned that the Europeans, especially the Italians, don't know how to stand in line for a ride. Well we were in line at the Pirates of the Carribean and there was a whole family of Italians who thought it would be funny to cut in line. Bryan and I saw them coming, along with the British couple in front of us. We stood our ground and when they tried to cut in front of us we let them know that was not going to fly. What flew were the granny and the kids. Hair pulling, punches flying and there we stood so damn proud of ourselves for letting them have what they deserved. Helll we all paid to get in and they were going to stand in line like the rest of us. A classic Bryan bodyguard manuever.

The train to Germany was the best where we found ourselves sharing a sleeper car with a German family. Bryan and I had the top bunks on either side of the car. Bryan couldn't sleep due to jet lag, so he was up there rattling the New York Times that he had found in Paris. (He was so thrilled) and I was mortified that he was making so much noise. "Bryan", I said, "SHHHHHHHH, what are you doing making so much noise? This nice family is trying to sleep."

The Bryan stories are endless and priceless...........

I love you Bryan. You were always there for me, think or thin and you never judged me or condemned me for being different from everyone else with my European heritage and upbringing. You were my bodyguard, my friend and my basketball mentor. I mentored you in volleyball, so we can call that even.

You will be missed by me and so many others who's lives you touched. May we meet again in heaven on the other side of this coin.

http://youtu.be/wtxanSrNdN8


One of the few people who assigned basketball that I'd go from one end of LA county  to the other. Too young, too soon, too good a man. 

Madhurendra