A 30-second head start may be a bit generous. However there is a need to have flexibility built into the hunt. One never knows. In addition some individuals are a bit aggressive in an attempt to be first out the door to get the prized eggs. In fact, a woman going to church asked me if anyone ever gets hurt in the hunt ? So, at this time, the supreme rule maker is considering a 10-15 second head start for qualified hunters.
senior pat
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
LA Dodgers
Hi Family,
Well, I have to say that I just experienced a night I will never forget, particularly for someone like myself who is such a big baseball fan. I had to write a short story for the LA Weekly about Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa, who was the shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the 1980 World Series and we lived in Pennsylvania at the same time. So I drove over to Dodger Stadium via Sunset Boulevard, received my press credentials, and then went along for the ride.
I was quickly ushered to the field, where Bowa was waiting for me. He had been kicked out of the game the night before for refusing to stay within the coaching box, and he's kind of sensitive about being labeled a hot head. So he wasn't very talkative at first. Then I mentioned I was a Phillies fan when they won the World Championship--or champ-een-ship, as Grandpa would say--and Bowa suddenly smiled a smile he probably hadn't smiled for some time. He just lit up. When I asked him about his former teammate Bake McBride, I really won him over. We ended up chatting very cordially for another ten minutes or so.
I then headed over to the dugout, where Joe Torre was holding his regular press conference. Joe was exactly as you expected him to be--very cool, very articulate, just right on the money. I hung out on the field for the rest of batting practice, got my picture taken on the field, and one of the media liaisons gave me a BP baseball, which was later signed by Andre Ethier and James Loney--two stars for the Dodgers.
After BP, I walked into the locker room, hung out with the players, and watched some of the Mets vs. Marlins game on the big TV. From there, I went up to the "Vin Scully Press Box" for dinner, where I sat at a table with a bunch of old-time baseball scouts straight out of central casting. They were talking old baseball stories and whatnot, I was eating lamb and mashed potatoes, and I suddenly looked up and saw the real Vin Scully looking at me. Vin, as you may or may not know, is a Fordham Ram, as well as a Hall of Fame announcer. Anyhow, I instantly smiled and said hello, and he greeted me back. Vin then told a funny baseball story, everyone laughed, and I left to meet my friend and pick up our tickets at will call.
As soon as I got the ticket, I realized it was going to be the best seat I ever had in my life. It read: Baseline Box Club, Row 4, VIP, Seat 1. In other words, I was four rows from the field, a few yards above third base. To top it off, we were given access to the the exclusive Dodger Club, where we were treated to a free, all-you-can-eat buffet. This is always a good thing in the mind of a McDonald, and I took full advantage: root beer float, Dodger Dogs, peanuts, a little more ice cream, a couple of Cokes, etc.
The Dodgers ultimately lost the game to their much hated rivals, the San Francisco Giants. If you remember, the rivalry was really started in New York, and the Giants was Grandpa's favorite team before they left for the West Coast. Interestingly enough, I've attended three, Dodgers vs. Giants games going back to 1975 or so, and the Dodgers have lost every single one of them. Weird.
But, it was a night that I will never forget. I kept saying thank you to the Big Blue Dodger in the Sky, as former manager Tommy Lasorda would put it. And with some personal stuff making me feel a little funky just hours before, the night couldn't have been more perfectly timed.
Best to everyone!
Love,
Patrick
Well, I have to say that I just experienced a night I will never forget, particularly for someone like myself who is such a big baseball fan. I had to write a short story for the LA Weekly about Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa, who was the shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the 1980 World Series and we lived in Pennsylvania at the same time. So I drove over to Dodger Stadium via Sunset Boulevard, received my press credentials, and then went along for the ride.
I was quickly ushered to the field, where Bowa was waiting for me. He had been kicked out of the game the night before for refusing to stay within the coaching box, and he's kind of sensitive about being labeled a hot head. So he wasn't very talkative at first. Then I mentioned I was a Phillies fan when they won the World Championship--or champ-een-ship, as Grandpa would say--and Bowa suddenly smiled a smile he probably hadn't smiled for some time. He just lit up. When I asked him about his former teammate Bake McBride, I really won him over. We ended up chatting very cordially for another ten minutes or so.
I then headed over to the dugout, where Joe Torre was holding his regular press conference. Joe was exactly as you expected him to be--very cool, very articulate, just right on the money. I hung out on the field for the rest of batting practice, got my picture taken on the field, and one of the media liaisons gave me a BP baseball, which was later signed by Andre Ethier and James Loney--two stars for the Dodgers.
After BP, I walked into the locker room, hung out with the players, and watched some of the Mets vs. Marlins game on the big TV. From there, I went up to the "Vin Scully Press Box" for dinner, where I sat at a table with a bunch of old-time baseball scouts straight out of central casting. They were talking old baseball stories and whatnot, I was eating lamb and mashed potatoes, and I suddenly looked up and saw the real Vin Scully looking at me. Vin, as you may or may not know, is a Fordham Ram, as well as a Hall of Fame announcer. Anyhow, I instantly smiled and said hello, and he greeted me back. Vin then told a funny baseball story, everyone laughed, and I left to meet my friend and pick up our tickets at will call.
As soon as I got the ticket, I realized it was going to be the best seat I ever had in my life. It read: Baseline Box Club, Row 4, VIP, Seat 1. In other words, I was four rows from the field, a few yards above third base. To top it off, we were given access to the the exclusive Dodger Club, where we were treated to a free, all-you-can-eat buffet. This is always a good thing in the mind of a McDonald, and I took full advantage: root beer float, Dodger Dogs, peanuts, a little more ice cream, a couple of Cokes, etc.
The Dodgers ultimately lost the game to their much hated rivals, the San Francisco Giants. If you remember, the rivalry was really started in New York, and the Giants was Grandpa's favorite team before they left for the West Coast. Interestingly enough, I've attended three, Dodgers vs. Giants games going back to 1975 or so, and the Dodgers have lost every single one of them. Weird.
But, it was a night that I will never forget. I kept saying thank you to the Big Blue Dodger in the Sky, as former manager Tommy Lasorda would put it. And with some personal stuff making me feel a little funky just hours before, the night couldn't have been more perfectly timed.
Best to everyone!
Love,
Patrick
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