KEY POINTS:
Former Black Sox softball pitcher Paul Algar's playing future is under threat after a vicious beating with a crowbar cracked his skull and left him unconscious.
Algar says he is lucky to be alive.
The 42-year-old, who has been playing and coaching in the United States, was attacked after a night out at a pub in Titahi Bay, Porirua, while on holiday.
About 2am on Saturday, Algar went outside the pub on to Whitehouse Rd.
"This guy had been a thorn in my side all night; he was being a little cheeky and that," Algar said yesterday from his bed in Wellington Hospital's neuropsychiatric ward.
"He was in his car and he got out with a crowbar and came up and dealt to me."
Witnesses told police that after Algar fell to the ground, the man hit him several more times with the crowbar before jumping on him and punching him.
He stopped only when an onlooker yelled at him. Algar was taken unconscious to hospital with a skull fracture, multiple lacerations and severe bruising to his head and face.
His attacker drove off.
Algar was grateful to the person who yelled at his attacker.
"Definitely. If I was unconscious, what would he have kept doing?"
He woke up in Wellington Hospital some time later.
He felt lucky to be alive and had no idea how many times he was hit, but judging from the lacerations on his head, it was at least four.
He expected to be released from hospital today or tomorrow.
Algar said he had done nothing to provoke the man, although there had been some words over a game of pool, and had "never seen him before in my life".
In the United States, Algar plays top-level softball in Wisconsin for Circle Tap.
His wife and family have already returned to the United States. Algar was due to follow them next week.
Now he will have to wait for medical clearance before he can make the trip and will miss softball games he was scheduled to play in New Zealand.
He was concerned the attack could affect his softball career.
"It's in the back of my mind - depending on the severity of the injury - that I may not be able to start the season with my team. But I think definitely I'll be able to participate in some of the season."
He works as a pitching instructor as well as playing softball.
Algar last played for the Black Sox in 2003 and won a World Series with the team in South Africa in 2000.
He said teammates, including Black Sox great Mark Sorenson, had been in to visit him in hospital and he had received many well wishes.
"It's a tightknit family."
Detective Slade Sturmey of Porirua asked anybody with information to contact Porirua police.
The attacker was described as Maori, aged 35-40, about 180cm tall, with black, dreaded hair below his shoulders, of slim build with a distinctive tattoo around his neck, and wearing dark jeans, a dark top and a distinctive white taonga/necklace around his neck.
Mr Sturmey said the man was seen with a female companion drinking in the bar that night.
- NZPA
