Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 3, 1993 TAG: 9308030144
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jason Cole Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
DATELINE: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. LENGTH: Long
Terman, who was a psychologist, began his famous study of siblings more than 60 years ago. Among the conclusions were that younger siblings tend to be stronger physically and mentally than the older siblings.
Kirby, a Miami Dolphins rookie running back with a degree in psychology from Virginia and an older brother who has just broken into the major leagues, is hoping that Terman's conclusions are true.
"It could actually be that way," Kirby said. "Especially if your older brothers are your idols and you strive to be better than them. I would tell my mom all the time that I was going to be better than them."
He's also hoping that his brother Wayne's patience won't go for naught. Wayne is a 29-year-old rookie outfielder with the Cleveland Indians. After 10 years in the minors, he finally has gotten his chance and become a starter. If not for Tim Salmon of the California Angels, Wayne might be a top contender for Rookie of the Year.
Terry, who is 23, has taken a faster track to the big time. He is competing for a spot, hoping to break in as the top receiving back when the Dolphins go to their four-receiver offense. Despite playing in a similar offense in college, these are confusing days for Kirby.
"The terminology is completely different," said Kirby, after slowly walking from the practice field. "The routes are about the same, but when we come to the line, the quarterback can completely change the call. I'm OK coming out of the huddle, but when he changes at the line, I'm just spinning through my mind to get the play."
The Dolphins' question on Kirby is not ability. Rather, can he handle the job?
As confusing as his new situation gets, Kirby doesn't complain. After watching your brother toil in obscurity for a decade, what's wrong with a couple of tough weeks?
"What I'm going through right now is tough, but it's nothing like what Wayne went through," Kirby said. "Staying in the minors takes a lot of patience. There's not much money. He almost quit three times, but he loves the game too much."
Actually, baseball almost quit on Wayne, who is hitting .289 in 74 games since being called up on April 30 (five days after Terry was drafted by the Dolphins). He is the No. 2 hitter in the Indians' lineup most of the time.
In 1990, after hitting .278 for the Dodgers' Triple-A club in Albuquerque (a notoriously easy place for hitters), Wayne was let go. He was labeled with the three worst words in baseball: Not a prospect.
Wayne signed with Cleveland's Triple-A team in Colorado Springs and hit .294 in 1991. He followed that with a monster season in 1992, hitting .345 with 11 homers, 74 RBIs and 51 steals.
Still, the Indians had a host of young outfielders (Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Thomas Howard, Glenallen Hill and Mark Whiten) listed ahead of Wayne. Whiten has been traded and Wayne has moved past Howard and Hill.
"When you love the game as much as I do, you'll do anything," Wayne said. "You have to forget what the people say about you in the minors. A lot of people said that I wasn't a prospect, but I didn't pay that any mind.
"My last five years in Triple-A were great years. I had big numbers. But I was watching the Al Martins and Tim Salmons getting called and wondering, `Dang, am I in the right spot?' "
Terry helped keep Wayne from quitting. In addition, there wasn't as much pressure on him. Terry was getting the publicity. In their hometown of Tabb, Va., there are two streets named after Terry.
"I don't worry about that," Wayne said. "Everything hit really fast for Terry. I was in the minor leagues for 10 years. I'm sort of a surprise for the people back home. So many people knew Terry was going to make it, they didn't know about me."
Wayne and middle brother Kenny, 27, were both star football players in high school, too. Both were offered college scholarships, but Wayne preferred baseball. Terry came along and broke all their records at Tabb High and then became a hero at Virginia.
Terry also gained fame in basketball, playing on youth teams that included Alonzo Mourning and J.R. Reid. He also played for two years at Virginia.
Still, as Terry's fame grew, it didn't lead him to lose sight of what his brothers did before him. Although at 6-foot-3 he's taller than both of them, they still look at him as the little kid trying to talk his way into the sandlot football games.
"He was always wanting to play," Wayne said. "He was probably 7 or 8 when we let him play. We were short a guy. He was tough, trying to prove he could play with the older guys."
That, of course, is the essence of what Terman's studies proved. Competition among siblings usually benefits the youngest one.
"We still compete every time we get together," Terry said. "It doesn't matter what it is. It could be basketball or sprints or whatever."
Who wins?
"Nobody," Terry says with a sly grin.
Actually, maybe they both win. Call it the Kirby twist to the Terman study.
by CNB