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Meeting the Boys

Thursday May 27, 2004

For those of you who check this site regularly you probably will note that this entry has been backdated to the relevant date. While this action perhaps challenges my internet posting moral integrity, it emphasizes my desire to keep my life's moments in chronological order. So deal with it! Moving on...

"Tonight" I had an opportunity like never before in my life. Sure I'd been to spring training and I'd seen and met athletes in the past, but this was something above and beyond all of those moments in time. Sandye, my wonderful "Love Mom", was at a philanthropic event for Gilda's Club, an organization that raises money for cancer research in honor of the late great Gilda Radner. At this event there was a silent auction that included several Chicago Sports packages. One such package was VIP Sox Tickets with Batting Practice Field Passes. She made a bid that wasn't beaten and a few months later Adam, Wayne, Becky and I were at the Cell (Comiskey Park II) for batting practice.

We arrived at 4:30pm. There was a threat of rain but the clouds seemed to be sweeping away. Armed with coat and sweater just in case, there was no way I was going to let any weather rain on this parade. Luckily as we made our way out onto the field from behind home plate we could see the sun peak its way out of the clouds and there it would remain until nightfall. Time suddenly stood still. Here I was standing on the field of my dreams, the home of The White Sox. And there they were just mere inches away taking batting practice, fielding practice, and even though I didn't see it, perhaps taking Viagra (see Rafael Palmero). There we were, the four of us, in complete awe, not moving, not speaking, just absorbing the moment.

We spent a little over an hour watching and meeting the players, owner, manager, coaches, and staff of the team I have grown to call the Whizzle Stix. In that hour I shook hands and got the autograph of the amazing Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez as well as pretty much everyone else on the roster.

For some this doesn't sound all that special. But for me it was like standing with movie stars. I follow the squad as if my brother was on the team and I live and die by their every game. It was truly something special and would set the tone for an amazing and incredibly whirlwind weekend in Chicago.

Though I do not want to brag about their current standing, in case you are curious, they wreaked havoc on the Rangers that evening, 9-0. Also in case you are wondering Eric Young, or EY as he is known to the fans, gave Becky a baseball during batting practice and when she returned it to him for an autograph she not only got his name, but his number as well. So if the Rangers sneak their way into the post season look forward to his digits being posted here so that we can "congratulate" him frequently on his team's accomplishments.