Not so trivial pursuit

[kc hopeful]

George Brett and Denise515.

Happy Birthday to you!

[bkkcoh]

George Brett Story

No. 5 turns 50 today
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN
Columnist

No. 5 turns 50 today.

But don't expect George Brett, once Kansas City's most famous bachelor and night ranger, to get depressed or anything.

"It's just another number on my back," he says. "You add a zero to the five."

And Brett doesn't want anyone else to make a big production over his birthday, either.

"He doesn't like getting presents, for some reason," said Brett's wife, Leslie. "It's kind of weird. But I'm getting him one anyway."

Perhaps Brett already feels he has everything. A beautiful home in Mission Hills, three wonderful children and a loving wife who rescued him in time so he could one day reach the half-century mark.

"He wasn't that wild, was he?" Leslie said, laughing. "No, I can't take credit for saving him. Maybe he saved me.

"He's been a great husband, a great father, just a great friend. We have a lot of fun together."