Snooze News
Hey all, it's been awhile since I rapped at ya, but I been real busy.
LISTEN! I know I have to update this regularly about things like GETTING MARRIED and ENGAGED and other THINGS that aren't BASEBALL but I HAVE to talk about BASEBALL again REAL QUICK.
So last weekend, Moe Joose, DRoll, and I went to Kansas City to visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame (and Jazz Museum), catch the Saturday/Sunday games between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland [Buckeyes] games, and in general hang out (including beating like 95% of Overcooked 2 on the Nintendo Switch...). While at the game on Saturday, I picked up a "Turn-Ahead-The-Clock" Kansas City Royals hat that they wore earlier this month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first "Turn-Ahead-The-Clock" game between the Royals and Seattle Mariners. Naturally, I've been wearing it while out and about since the weekend.
So tonight I head over to Crocker Park to get a new pair of shoes (black (natch) Vans Authentic Pros). I stopped by a DSW first but saw that they were $5 more than what I had seen on the Journeys website, so I wandered over to Journeys to pick them up there. The associates were in the back when I first walked in, so I was milling around, looking at stuff. Another guy walks in at one point and is looking at some shoes too. After a little bit he says to me, "Hey, man, you a Royals fan?"
I say, "Nah, I'm a Cleveland fan. I was in Kansas City over the weekend to see the teams play and had to pick up this hat though!"
He goes, "Ah that's too bad. I have a few buddies that play for the Royals."
At this point an associate finally comes out of the back, and he ends up getting me some shoes in my size. As I'm waiting for him to come back, I say to the guy, "So I've gotta ask, man, who are you buddies that are Royals?" He lists three players - Alcides Escobar, Salvador Perez, and another guy that I can't remember.
I say, "That's awesome! I love those guys. I had so much fun watching their games during the 2014 and 2015 playoffs. I was so happy to see them win a World Series too. And Salvador Perez! I love that guy - he is so big too. Isn't he like 6'4", 250?"
He goes, "Yeah! He's built like this giant first baseman yet he is their catcher!"
We keep chatting for a bit about the team and baseball in general - he used to be a translator for the team and is friends with a lot of the guys, he says a lot of the Spanish-speaking players speak pretty good English but are afraid their accent is too thick and don't want to say the wrong thing and sound dumb, I tell him I remember hearing that Vladimir Guerrero only spoke through a translator for that reason - and then the associate goes behind the counter to ring me up. A few moments later, I hear the guy on his phone speaking Spanish and he clearly says, "Kansas City Royals." I turn around to talk to the associate again, then he taps me on the shoulder, puts the phone to my face, and it is ALCIDES FUCKING ESCOBAR on FaceTime!
I was FLOORED! I didn't know what to say! I mumbled something like, "WHOA! Hey man! Love watching you play!!" before the associate asked me something and I returned to my transaction. By the time I turned around again, the guy was wrapping up his conversation with Alcides Escobar and hanging up.
The guy and I keep talking baseball for a little while. He says he is from Avon and that he winters in the Dominican. I tell him I'm from Lakewood. He says a few years ago he was actually in a car with Yordano Ventura a few days before he died in a car accident in the Dominican. I told him I was sorry to hear that and that baseball misses him - I loved how fearless he was on the mound. We also talk about Oscar Taveres a little bit, who was a a Cardinals pitcher who died in a car crash a few years before and had been friends with Ventura. He also talked about how he was friends with Miguel Cabrera, and I asked how he was doing because he is out for the season with an injury. He talked about how much he misses playing baseball and he can't wait to get back. I told him I wish Cabrera all the best, and that he would relay that to him and how funny he would find it that a Cleveland fan is wishing him luck. He also told me that Francisco Lindor was eating next door, but I told him I always hated bothering players if I ever saw them out in public so I wouldn't drop in (I think he respected that).
He also APOLOGIZED to me for not taking a screen cap of my Facetime to send to me! I said, "Hey, man, you gave me the best story of my LIFE! I can't thank you enough for that!" We eventually formally introduced ourselves, shook hands, and went our separate ways.
So Julio from Avon, I just have to say I have been on cloud nine all night after our conversation, and I can't thank you enough for that. I wish you all the best in life and the safest, funnest rides on your motorcycle.
So crazy that so many things had to take place for this chance encounter to happen: I decided to get shoes today, wear my new Royals hat, and stop at DSW first before going to Journeys. Life is so random and beautiful.
Live responsibly and lovingly. Be positive and creative. You're beautiful. Peace.
Yours, etc.,
<3dane
xoxo
LISTEN! I know I have to update this regularly about things like GETTING MARRIED and ENGAGED and other THINGS that aren't BASEBALL but I HAVE to talk about BASEBALL again REAL QUICK.
So last weekend, Moe Joose, DRoll, and I went to Kansas City to visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame (and Jazz Museum), catch the Saturday/Sunday games between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland [Buckeyes] games, and in general hang out (including beating like 95% of Overcooked 2 on the Nintendo Switch...). While at the game on Saturday, I picked up a "Turn-Ahead-The-Clock" Kansas City Royals hat that they wore earlier this month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first "Turn-Ahead-The-Clock" game between the Royals and Seattle Mariners. Naturally, I've been wearing it while out and about since the weekend.
So tonight I head over to Crocker Park to get a new pair of shoes (black (natch) Vans Authentic Pros). I stopped by a DSW first but saw that they were $5 more than what I had seen on the Journeys website, so I wandered over to Journeys to pick them up there. The associates were in the back when I first walked in, so I was milling around, looking at stuff. Another guy walks in at one point and is looking at some shoes too. After a little bit he says to me, "Hey, man, you a Royals fan?"
I say, "Nah, I'm a Cleveland fan. I was in Kansas City over the weekend to see the teams play and had to pick up this hat though!"
He goes, "Ah that's too bad. I have a few buddies that play for the Royals."
At this point an associate finally comes out of the back, and he ends up getting me some shoes in my size. As I'm waiting for him to come back, I say to the guy, "So I've gotta ask, man, who are you buddies that are Royals?" He lists three players - Alcides Escobar, Salvador Perez, and another guy that I can't remember.
I say, "That's awesome! I love those guys. I had so much fun watching their games during the 2014 and 2015 playoffs. I was so happy to see them win a World Series too. And Salvador Perez! I love that guy - he is so big too. Isn't he like 6'4", 250?"
He goes, "Yeah! He's built like this giant first baseman yet he is their catcher!"
We keep chatting for a bit about the team and baseball in general - he used to be a translator for the team and is friends with a lot of the guys, he says a lot of the Spanish-speaking players speak pretty good English but are afraid their accent is too thick and don't want to say the wrong thing and sound dumb, I tell him I remember hearing that Vladimir Guerrero only spoke through a translator for that reason - and then the associate goes behind the counter to ring me up. A few moments later, I hear the guy on his phone speaking Spanish and he clearly says, "Kansas City Royals." I turn around to talk to the associate again, then he taps me on the shoulder, puts the phone to my face, and it is ALCIDES FUCKING ESCOBAR on FaceTime!
I was FLOORED! I didn't know what to say! I mumbled something like, "WHOA! Hey man! Love watching you play!!" before the associate asked me something and I returned to my transaction. By the time I turned around again, the guy was wrapping up his conversation with Alcides Escobar and hanging up.
The guy and I keep talking baseball for a little while. He says he is from Avon and that he winters in the Dominican. I tell him I'm from Lakewood. He says a few years ago he was actually in a car with Yordano Ventura a few days before he died in a car accident in the Dominican. I told him I was sorry to hear that and that baseball misses him - I loved how fearless he was on the mound. We also talk about Oscar Taveres a little bit, who was a a Cardinals pitcher who died in a car crash a few years before and had been friends with Ventura. He also talked about how he was friends with Miguel Cabrera, and I asked how he was doing because he is out for the season with an injury. He talked about how much he misses playing baseball and he can't wait to get back. I told him I wish Cabrera all the best, and that he would relay that to him and how funny he would find it that a Cleveland fan is wishing him luck. He also told me that Francisco Lindor was eating next door, but I told him I always hated bothering players if I ever saw them out in public so I wouldn't drop in (I think he respected that).
He also APOLOGIZED to me for not taking a screen cap of my Facetime to send to me! I said, "Hey, man, you gave me the best story of my LIFE! I can't thank you enough for that!" We eventually formally introduced ourselves, shook hands, and went our separate ways.
So Julio from Avon, I just have to say I have been on cloud nine all night after our conversation, and I can't thank you enough for that. I wish you all the best in life and the safest, funnest rides on your motorcycle.
So crazy that so many things had to take place for this chance encounter to happen: I decided to get shoes today, wear my new Royals hat, and stop at DSW first before going to Journeys. Life is so random and beautiful.
Live responsibly and lovingly. Be positive and creative. You're beautiful. Peace.
Yours, etc.,
<3dane
xoxo