UALR gives emotional lift to announcer

PETE PERKINS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Tragedy affects people in many ways.
After Randy Rainwater's son died last week, the UALR play-by-play announcer spun through many of those ways.
"At first, I couldn't believe it," Rainwater said.
Later, he couldn't believe the response he received.
"People sent literally hundreds of plants and flowers," Rainwater said. "People kept calling, some that I hadn't heard from in 20 years. I can't tell you how many cards people have sent. It's just incredible."
Aaron Rainwater, 20, was shot and killed on Jan. 18, while driving in Cabot with a friend as passenger.
Thomas J. Armstrong, 22, the passenger, has been charged with manslaughter.
When Aaron Rainwater's funeral was held at the First Baptist Church of Cabot on Tuesday, more disbelief came for Randy Rainwater.
Rainwater said he wasn't surprised when he saw UALR Coach Porter Moser approach the church.
"I think I saw Porter first, and then [UALR assistant] Kevin Fricke," Rainwater said. "It was great that they were there. But then I started seeing these 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-8 guys. One after another, here they came, all of the UALR basketball players. I can't tell you how much that meant to me. I was simply awed.
"I mean, I just didn't expect it. Those guys didn't have a dog in the hunt. They didn't have to be there. Most of them didn't really know Aaron. There were so many other things they could've done, but they came there for me. It was awesome."
Thursday, a week after Aaron's death, Rainwater was in Las Cruces, N.M., ready to call UALR's game with New Mexico State.
But first, he wanted to say thank you.
Earlier he had asked Moser's permission to address the team. With Moser's consent, Rainwater walked into the Trojans' dressing room, about 30 minutes before tipoff.
"He just told the team, 'You were there in a time of my most desperate need, and I'll be there for you,' " Moser said. "He said he would be there for us if we needed anything. He said his son went to UALR and would've been proud of those guys for being there.
"Randy asked that we dedicate the game to Aaron."
"We were surprised that he could be emotionally strong enough to be there, to talk to us," UALR senior guard Alan Barksdale said. "We really paid attention. You could've heard a pin drop. After he talked, it lit a fire in all of us. It was important that we come out and play well for him, just for who he is, and what he stands for. It definitely touched us."
UALR defeated New Mexico State 64-60 for its first Sun Belt Conference road victory since 1998.
With Rainwater still at his post on press row, players walked past and hugged him.
"First it was [freshman guard] Nick Zachery, then [senior guard] Laverne Smith," Rainwater said. "After that, it's just a blur."
The game provided an unexpected escape for Rainwater.
"Earlier that day, at the airport in Dallas, I looked at my watch," Rainwater said. "It was 12:15. It had been exactly one week since Aaron died. I just started crying. People in the airport must've thought I was a nut. But, to that point, not a minute had passed that I hadn't thought of Aaron.
"But for whatever time frame, from the minute the game tipped off, for a couple of hours, that was the first time I hadn't dwelled on Aaron. I was able to block everything out, and not have his memory dominate my mind. That really helped.
"But, you know, life goes on. Calling basketball games, hosting my call-in show [Drive Time Sports, on KABZ-FM, 103.7], that's what I do. That's my job."
Rainwater's job will continue tonight, when he calls UALR's game with Louisiana Tech at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
"After few days of absolute agony, of constant mourning, I realized that life does go on, and I had to go back to it," Rainwater said. "Still, nothing can change the way I feel."

This article was published on Sunday, January 7, 2001

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