A view from an intern.....

[bigbird]

Interesting read

http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=3576

[Sapper]

Carefull, the hall-monitors might complain that you're posting something less than positive again.

[TinCup]

Nah, some will just make the kool-aid all the more stronger.

Sorry, I know I am still new to OH, but whether you believe this or not, articles like this do not garner any good attention. I doubt you see articles like this about the Red Sox, the A's, the Braves, etc.

[AmaralFan1]

That was one hell of a well written article. Honestly, without even caring about how bad it makes the front office look, that guy has talent as a writer.

Nick

[vatech1994]

Originally posted by Sapper
Carefull, the hall-monitors might complain that you're posting something less than positive again.

Again, I can't imagine why someone would have an issue with your approach.

I admit it though. This article sells it for me. A summer intern wasn't allowed to be part of trade negotiations and other high level activities. And, gasp, Angelos wasn't in the warehouse micromanaging his GMs or his Director of Operations. Obviously the team is in a shambles.

[vatech1994]

Originally posted by AmaralFan1
That was one hell of a well written article. Honestly, without even caring about how bad it makes the front office look, that guy has talent as a writer.

Nick

Agreed

The guy is obviously quite intelligent AND a darn good writer

[spicunited]

I was an intern with the Orioles this summer, and I worked with this kid. He actually quit half way through the summer because of the lack of actual work and experience they would give us. Instead of learning about the business side of baseball, or sports in general for that matter, the orioles hire interns to file papers, follow the mascot around and babysit children during the game.

[vatech1994]

Originally posted by spicunited
I was an intern with the Orioles this summer, and I worked with this kid. He actually quit half way through the summer because of the lack of actual work and experience they would give us. Instead of learning about the business side of baseball, or sports in general for that matter, the orioles hire interns to file papers, follow the mascot around and babysit children during the game.

No offense intended but most intern jobs at most companies are mostly comprised of menial tasks. I interned several places while in school.

I also know that the interns that have worked for me have been asked to do things that aren't very glamorous. However, the interns that showed some mettle were exposed to new ideas and given responsibility as they earned it.

I can't tell you the number of interns and young workers in general that I have witnessed come into a new business and think they should be handed the keys to the president's office if they show up on time most of the time and can write/speak a coherent sentence. It is actually quite comical at times.

Before anyone accuses me of being a old, out-of-touch fogey, I am 34.

[Bascombe]

Yes. That's called being an intern. Why WOULD they give you anything to do? You're a freaking intern?

I was an intern at the Globe reconstruction on the south bank of the Thames -- they didn't ask me to cast productions or to direct plays! Shocking.

[Sapper]

Originally posted by vatech1994
No offense intended but most intern jobs at most companies are mostly comprised of menial tasks. I interned several places while in school.

I also know that the interns that have worked for me have been asked to do things that aren't very glamorous. However, the interns that showed some mettle were exposed to new ideas and given responsibility as they earned it.

I can't tell you the number of interns and young workers in general that I have witnessed come into a new business and think they should be handed the keys to the president's office if they show up on time most of the time and can write/speak a coherent sentence. It is actually quite comical at times.

Before anyone accuses me of being a old, out-of-touch fogey, I am 34.

I agree. I laughed at the previous poster's post a little bit. Shoot, we have some kids sending resume's right out of college thinking they're going to be project managers or something. It floors me sometimes.

[Tony-OH]

Good writer, but he seriously needs to grow up. Although written very well, his asessments and various concerns come off more as a childish rant then some inside information on the running of an organization.

He reminds me of a few people I know, who believe they are smarter than everyone and thus everything should be given to them. What he fails to realize is that success is gained by working hard, making contacts, impressing those contacts, and not by putting down other employees, bosses or tasks as menial.

Of course they are menial, you were an intern for God's sake.

Maybe he has a future as a sportswriter? Of course he'll probably expect Gammons' job because he's smarter. :)

[AmaralFan1]

Originally posted by Tony-OH
Good writer, but he seriously needs to grow up. Although written very well, his asessments and various concerns come off more as a childish rant then some inside information on the running of an organization.

He reminds me of a few people I know, who believe they are smarter than everyone and thus everything should be given to them. What he fails to realize is that success is gained by working hard, making contacts, impressing those contacts, and not by putting down other employees, bosses or tasks as menial.

Of course they are menial, you were an intern for God's sake.

Maybe he has a future as a sportswriter? Of course he'll probably expect Gammons' job because he's smarter. :)

Look at his Alma Mature, he is an Ivy League, of course he expects to be the next Theo Epstein based on one summer in the front office. This of course is not meant to offend any ivy leaguers on the board (brob comes to mind).

Nick

[rolliefingers]

Look at his Alma Mature, he is an Ivy League, of course he expects to be the next Theo Epstein based on one summer in the front office. This of course is not meant to offend any ivy leaguers on the board (brob comes to mind).Yeah, I think the Myth of Theo has run slightly amok in this case. Because Theo was a summer intern for the O's from Yale (ten years before becoming a GM), this kid apparently thought he would be consulted on personnel moves or something. What they don't realize is that Theo probably filed papers until his fingers bled from paper cuts; he just used the contacts he made there to get good jobs later on.

[Ruzious]

I'm not sure what he was expecting - working for some dude in communications. If he got a job working for Flanny or Beattie, then I could see him expecting to get something resembling "baseball experience" - though even that would be unlikely. And basically, I could care less if the folks in communications are lazy. And it's probably a good thing that Angelos' kid doesn't show up for work most of the time.

I'm sure all of us that have been in the workforce for more than a decade know that - rare is the intern that actually does work that requires much thinking. Now, if the O's promised him more than that, then shame on them.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Originally posted by spicunited
I was an intern with the Orioles this summer, and I worked with this kid. He actually quit half way through the summer because of the lack of actual work and experience they would give us. Instead of learning about the business side of baseball, or sports in general for that matter, the orioles hire interns to file papers, follow the mascot around and babysit children during the game. Why can I get this job? I would love to watch the players children!!!!!!!;)

[FutureOwner]

Not sure what makes this kid such a great writer, I guess you guys have been reading too many Vescey columns ;)

My cousin went to South Carolina, supposedly the top Sports Administration school at the time and got an internship working with the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

His job, after having a 4.0 average was...GROUNDS KEEPER.

He swept the "F"ing field for an entire summer and never saw the inside of an office.

Interns are like dogs. Not the cute dogs you keep in your house and let sleep in your bed with you. They are the kind that roam trailer parks and get run over by cars. NO ONE CARES ABOUT THEM.

This article was written by someone who strikes me as a spoiled brat (regardless of where he went to school) who does not understand that he is lower on the totem pole than the guys who make that delicious lemonaid. JC I want a lemonaid right now!

The fact that he quit says a lot about him. You can learn something from any situation you are in. I have a Creative Writing degree, and have worked as a Financial Aid counselor at FSU and am now in sales. I never thought it would help me with my writing, but it has taught me a great many things about people from different walks of life.

They call it experience for a reason. Learn something from it, but dont quit. Thats pretty sorry if you ask me.

[NCRaven]

If the sniveling, cry-baby genre is your thing, I guess this was barely acceptable. But, talent? It is amazing how little the tuition dollar gets you at Yale. Skull and Bones this whiner is not.

[spicunited]

Originally posted by Bascombe
Yes. That's called being an intern. Why WOULD they give you anything to do? You're a freaking intern?

I was an intern at the Globe reconstruction on the south bank of the Thames -- they didn't ask me to cast productions or to direct plays! Shocking.


Not saying I was expecting to be a "manager" or at a high level position as an intern. Why WOULD they give us something to do?? I dont know, maybe because we are there to learn... that is that point of being an intern, especcially when you are getting paid close to nothing. Just because someone is a "freakin intern" doesnt mean that they should sit around aimlessly staring at the walls all day. I wasnt expecting to be in Beatties office consulting him on the next trade, but it wouldve been nice to have some direction and/or somebody higher up that I could look to.

I was also an intern with the Bowie Baysox the year before, and I can personally tell you that they dont have their "freaking interns" sit around all day and do nothing. I got a much better experience of the business side of sports with them, as they actually had me doing something .

And by the way, the writter of the article was an intern in communications, so I dont know why he expected to be involved in baseball operations at all.

[DrungoHazewood]

I have a friend who was a communications intern with the O's about five years ago. She did a lot of the same things. I think her career highlight was occasionally getting to go to the locker room after games and take down statements from players. She'd just quit a similar internship with DC United where her jobs included herding youth soccer teams around the warning track while they waived at fans, helping to shoot T-shirts into the stands at halftime, and dressing up as the eagle mascot for kid's events at local schools.

Anybody who goes into an internship thinking they're going to be working daily with the higher-ups of a professional sports orgainzation on key projects are badly deluded.

Actually I think his points about efficiency are all wrong. These teams are being very efficient by using unpaid volunteers, some from Ivy League schools, to do tasks many normal businesses would have to pay someone with far fewer qualifications to do.

[33rdst]

Originally posted by bigbird
Interesting read

http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=3576

So BB did someone from inside the warehouse turn you on to this aricle or do you regularly read the Yaleherald ?

[spicunited]

Originally posted by DrungoHazewood
I have a friend who was a communications intern with the O's about five years ago. She did a lot of the same things. I think her career highlight was occasionally getting to go to the locker room after games and take down statements from players. She'd just quit a similar internship with DC United where her jobs included herding youth soccer teams around the warning track while they waived at fans, helping to shoot T-shirts into the stands at halftime, and dressing up as the eagle mascot for kid's events at local schools.

Anybody who goes into an internship thinking they're going to be working daily with the higher-ups of a professional sports orgainzation on key projects are badly deluded.

Actually I think his points about efficiency are all wrong. These teams are being very effocient by using unpaid volunteers, some from Ivy League schools, to do tasks many normal businesses would have to hire someone with far fewer qualifications to do.


Couldnt have said it better myself. I did not have as much problem with what the O's had us doing as the writter did, but I think the thing that turned me away from the O's was the fact that they lied about what my actual responsibilities are. I had fun doing things during the game like throwing t-shirts with the bird and talking to fans. And I can definetly voucher that you dont need a Yale education to do what they ask us to. You dont even need a high school education.

[FutureOwner]

Originally posted by DrungoHazewood
I have a friend who was a communications intern with the O's about five years ago. She did a lot of the same things. I think her career highlight was occasionally getting to go to the locker room after games and take down statements from players. She'd just quit a similar internship with DC United where her jobs included herding youth soccer teams around the warning track while they waived at fans, helping to shoot T-shirts into the stands at halftime, and dressing up as the eagle mascot for kid's events at local schools.

Anybody who goes into an internship thinking they're going to be working daily with the higher-ups of a professional sports orgainzation on key projects are badly deluded.

Actually I think his points about efficiency are all wrong. These teams are being very efficient by using unpaid volunteers, some from Ivy League schools, to do tasks many normal businesses would have to pay someone with far fewer qualifications to do.

Elementary My Dear Hazewood,

People who work for free get the jobs you cant pay someone to do!

Chances are, this kid could have gone to a minor league team and had a better opportunity to learn, but just had to be a part of a major league team the way his darling Theo was.

Too bad he wasnt prepared to work the way Theo was.

Im sure his most recent article will make him many friends in MLB.

[tennOsfan]

When I saw this was a Yale guy, expected some real juice on the organization, but I was left with the feeling the guy really didn't know what he was talking about. Yeah, he can write, but the meat of the story wasn't there.

Why should Angelos be in his office much anyway? He probably doesn't even need one. And the intern's shock over doing menial tasks during his ONE MONTH with the organization is, to me, shocking. What did he expect?

In the end, the article did nothing for me.

[johnnybalt]

Don't want to beat a dead horse, but I had an intern of my own for the first time this past summer.
My first words to him were as follows: I want my coffee regular and my shirts medium starched.
Note: I'm exagerrating only slightly.

[birdseed]

Originally posted by FutureOwner
Not sure what makes this kid such a great writer, I guess you guys have been reading too many Vescey columns ;)

Funny you should say that. I couldn’t help thinking the same thing while reading what amounts to little more than a tear-filled tissue left at the bottom of a very deep pity pit. I’ve read more compelling and better constructed posts from the sanitation worker in my fantasy football league. (No offense meant to sanitation workers anywhere. It's just that writing is not a requried skill for that occupation).

This yippin’ Yalie writes like a kid.....an intelligent kid with some talent but still a kid. IMO, he's a promising AA writer that needs a few hacks in AAA. On the other hand, if he aspires to be a sports writer, as Tony suggests, I'd say he is more than ready for the bigs.

Insofar as his boo-hooing about being a flunky - now that's funny. I've had extensive experience with interns and trainees in a variety of business settings and can say unequivocally that unless they’re willing and prepared to do every task thrown at them with enthusiasm and a level of professionalism the exceeds the nature of the assignment, they’re better off grabbing a spatula and working on their burger flippin’ techniques - period. Everything short of personal degradation and physical harm are fair game when it comes to bringing a youngster into the fold. And that in no way is to infer that it’s ok to make interns the court jesters of the office. It’s just that when it comes to seeing the reason behind the menial jobs on their list of things to do - the big picture - they have the worst seats in the stadium.

The first thing I want to see from a neophyte is crust and character. When I get the sense that they understand this age-old business axiom, then and only then do they rate the time and effort required for me to teach them the intricacies of businesses that have taken everyone else a lifetime to learn. And make no mistake about it, the smartest and best suited for the job at hand comprehend this from the get go.

Did anyone else notice that this coddled coolie, anonymous though he or she may be, attempts to lend a measure of credibility to the assertions in the article by insinuating that the O’s front office, and those of baseball organizations in general, are somewhat incompetent? (Considering that this youngster only sites his or her limited experience with the O’s I have to assume that everyone else is guilty by association?) Could this be true? Perhaps, but warehouse attendance records for PA and his son are poor gauges of how an owner should conduct his business – regardless of the assertions of this woeful wannabe.

[AmaralFan1]

Is the Orioles Internship really unpaid? I have read some of the minor league ones are paid.

Nick

[Elbren]

First off, I would just like to say that not ALL intern jobs are crap. When I was 19, I did an internship with a financial company in Bel Air. I was a web designer at the time. I designed the site layout, did the HTML coding/editing, graphics design and even the Perl/CGI programming. They later joined a network of other financial companies that designed a webpage for them on their own site. No, they did not use the site I designed and yes, I did it all for free.

The point is, I got nothing for this work, but I was happy to do it. I used this experience and turned it into a contract with Legg Mason. If you are promised, "real baseball experience", then you should get SOMETHING for your time. Sadly, watching players kids does NOT qualify as, "real baseball experience".

It's also telling when the owner's kid, who is handed a high-ranking job despite having NO "baseball experience", only shows up to work twice a week. Also, how is it that none of you have a problem with the fact that the HEAD of communications is only seen twice in a MONTH, yet most of you were happy to see Tony DeMacio go. A guy who was basically handcuffed and then criticized for draft picks that were not his own.

If any of you find this ok or if this is how you run YOUR business, then please remind me not to do business with you.

I understand that most people here want to see the glass as "half full", but really. How much negative press do you have to read from OUTSIDE of this state to realize that this organization is not improving?

[bigbird]

Originally posted by 33rdst
So BB did someone from inside the warehouse turn you on to this aricle or do you regularly read the Yaleherald ?

Normally read it.

[JohnD]

Originally posted by Elbren
First off, I would just like to say that not ALL intern jobs are crap. When I was 19, I did an internship with a financial company in Bel Air. I was a web designer at the time. I designed the site layout, did the HTML coding/editing, graphics design and even the Perl/CGI programming. They later joined a network of other financial companies that designed a webpage for them on their own site. No, they did not use the site I designed and yes, I did it all for free.

The point is, I got nothing for this work, but I was happy to do it. I used this experience and turned it into a contract with Legg Mason. If you are promised, "real baseball experience", then you should get SOMETHING for your time. Sadly, watching players kids does NOT qualify as, "real baseball experience".

It's also telling when the owner's kid, who is handed a high-ranking job despite having NO "baseball experience", only shows up to work twice a week. Also, how is it that none of you have a problem with the fact that the HEAD of communications is only seen twice in a MONTH, yet most of you were happy to see Tony DeMacio go. A guy who was basically handcuffed and then criticized for draft picks that were not his own.

If any of you find this ok or if this is how you run YOUR business, then please remind me not to do business with you.

I understand that most people here want to see the glass as "half full", but really. How much negative press do you have to read from OUTSIDE of this state to realize that this organization is not improving?


When I was an intern at NewsChannel8 in DC my job three days a week was to cut up highlights to use on that evening's newscasts. That also meant sitting around logging games until they ended, just about when each and every play happened on the tape.

That said, this column was a joke. With that kind of attitude, his Yale degree will get him in the door but won't keep him there for long.

[Elbren]

Originally posted by John-OH
That said, this column was a joke. With that kind of attitude, his Yale degree will get him in the door but won't keep him there for long.

I understand his column was basically a place for him to whine. I just found several parts of it rather telling. Like the fact that the owners son, who is GIVEN a high-ranking job despite lacking the vary "baseball experience" that the writer was looking for, doesn't even bother showing up for work. Also, how is it that every baseball decision has to pass through Angelos and yet he's never in his office? Does that mean he just phones it in??

[JohnD]

Originally posted by Elbren
I understand his column was basically a place for him to whine. I just found several parts of it rather telling. Like the fact that the owners son, who is GIVEN a high-ranking job despite lacking the vary "baseball experience" that the writer was looking for, doesn't even bother showing up for work. Also, how is it that every baseball decision has to pass through Angelos and yet he's never in his office? Does that mean he just phones it in??

That and faxes it in, I wouldn't be surprised. He's a lawyer first and an owner second, that seems pretty obvious.

[bigoriolefan]

This article did absolutely nothing for me. The kid was nieve to think he was going to be doing more than what he did in his internship. Secondly, the article was stupid and about what he wanted to do and a paragraph or two about what he actually did. If he wants to be a good writer, know that people want to know the facts before knowing why he didn't like it. Two paragraphs didn't do it for me.

[birdseed]

Originally posted by Elbren
I just found several parts of it rather telling. Like the fact that the owners son, who is GIVEN a high-ranking job despite lacking the vary "baseball experience" that the writer was looking for, doesn't even bother showing up for work. Also, how is it that every baseball decision has to pass through Angelos and yet he's never in his office? Does that mean he just phones it in??

So you figure that 100% of the work required/done by PA as owner of the O's is accomplished at this one particular office? Did it ever cross your mind that:

A - The Yalie was incorrect or exaggerated PA's stealthy work habits?

B - PA, like many other business professionals has more than one office and conducts much of the necessary work of the organization in a different location?

For that matter, are you taking it as gospel that PA's son has no business experience or acumen and that beyond the watchful eye of insightful interns he also does nothing to fulfill his obligations to the organization elsewhere?

Listen, I’m no flag waver for Peter Angelos or the front office, but it’s gonna take a helluva lot more than the flimsy accusations of a crying coed to lead my lynch mob.

[FutureOwner]

Also, the person you are hearing this account of Angelos, his wee Greek son, and the communications director is a completely unreliable narrator.

I guess the guy who is writing a trash column about the organization which didnt make him Assistant GM after the first week is unable to distort facts to support his story.

The truth is, this kid spent a couple of weeks licking envelopes and would know ANYTHING about any of the business being conducted inside the organization.

If he thinks that the FO is working part time he is an idiot. He believes this enough to write it, in print, for others to read and discuss.

My best guess, he will be the next Baltimore Sun columnist. Based on his ability to write a column divoid of style, information or even a legitimate point.

[Mark Carver]

Originally posted by birdseed
B - PA, like many other business professionals has more than one office and conducts much of the necessary work of the organization in a different location?

It's a wonder the Yankees can get anything done with Steinbrenner having his office in Florida...

[Nuclear Dish]

Originally posted by italianstallion
Yeah, I think the Myth of Theo has run slightly amok in this case. Because Theo was a summer intern for the O's from Yale (ten years before becoming a GM), this kid apparently thought he would be consulted on personnel moves or something. What they don't realize is that Theo probably filed papers until his fingers bled from paper cuts; he just used the contacts he made there to get good jobs later on.

Please allow me to clear up, once and for all, the Myth of Theo.

I was an intern with the O's from March-June 1991, then continued as a full-time PR assistant from June 1991 - March 1993. I then worked as a game technician (scoreboards and clubhouse video room, AKA The Kitchen) from April 1993-September 1996.

It was in my second year with the O's that I worked side-by-side with Theo.

He got his internship thanks to his father's close friendship with Larry Lucchino (they knew each other from Yale and had remained close). Needless to say, most of the other interns resented him right off the bat because a) he hadn't earned his spot, but rather had used connections to get it; and b) he entered with a holier-than-thou attitude as a result of his connections.

I didn't really care either way, having been there for a year, and having secured for myself a paid position with added responsibilities. I was in charge of the Weaver Stats (AKA the Manager Stats, which at the time was eons ahead of most teams in terms of stat-keeping. These days it would be thought to be pretty meaningless, as it's nothing more than seasonal and career batter-vs.-pitcher stats.) and I had the ear of Eddie Epstein, who was the head statistician, and Charles Steinberg, who ran Orioles Productions.

Theo did, in fact, do all the menial jobs that the other interns did. One time he and I devised a scheme to swap our comp seats to a completely sold out game with the President of Ray-Ban Sunglasses in exchange for Aviator glasses for us and some of our friends.

As the year went on, Theo began to make waves in the department because he had become close friends with Calvin Hill, who was Personnel Director, and Frank Robinson, who had become the Assistant GM. No one knew why, until it was announced that the O's would be holding an honoring ceremony for Leon Day, the former Negro League great from Baltimore, and it was further announced that Theo would be planning the event.

It seems Theo is a huge Negro League buff, and he used that to his advantage by approaching the two highest ranking African Americans in the organization and using his knowledge to become friends with them. (BTW, this is huge if you know anything at all about Calvin Hill - Theo is the only white guy I've ever known Grant's dad to become friendly with.)

Anyway, with Lucchino looking out for him, and with Hill and FRobby now advocating for him, it was no surprise when Theo no longer had to do the menial tasks of most interns.

And when Lucchino left to go to San Diego and took Charles Steinberg and Eddie Epstein and others with him, guess who found his way into the Baseball Operations Department for the Padres?

Now, please don't get me wrong. I have a lot of respect for Theo and the job he's done. He really has a ton of talent and is a very bright, knowledgeable baseball guy, and he's using it very effectively. But now you know how Theo got his foot in the door and how he kicked that door wide open before he used all that talent and knowledge to walk right through it into the Red Sox front office.

[Sapper]

B - PA, like many other business professionals has more than one office and conducts much of the necessary work of the organization in a different location?

I think PA does most of his work from his secret underground volcano lair.

[vatech1994]

Originally posted by Elbren
I understand his column was basically a place for him to whine. I just found several parts of it rather telling. Like the fact that the owners son, who is GIVEN a high-ranking job despite lacking the vary "baseball experience" that the writer was looking for, doesn't even bother showing up for work. Also, how is it that every baseball decision has to pass through Angelos and yet he's never in his office? Does that mean he just phones it in??

No offense but you are showing a high level of niavete here.

[Tony-OH]

Originally posted by birdseed
So you figure that 100% of the work required/done by PA as owner of the O's is accomplished at this one particular office? Did it ever cross your mind that:

A - The Yalie was incorrect or exaggerated PA's stealthy work habits?

B - PA, like many other business professionals has more than one office and conducts much of the necessary work of the organization in a different location?

For that matter, are you taking it as gospel that PA's son has no business experience or acumen and that beyond the watchful eye of insightful interns he also does nothing to fulfill his obligations to the organization elsewhere?

Listen, I’m no flag waver for Peter Angelos or the front office, but it’s gonna take a helluva lot more than the flimsy accusations of a crying coed to lead my lynch mob.

B-I-N-G-O

You hit the nail on the head. I know a lot of folks don't like PA, and they have the right to be upset all they want, but seriously, if anyone can take anything from this it's that a spoiled, everything probably's been given to him on a silver plate, ivy leaguer quit the first time he had to commit to something in the real world.

I'll take a community college graduate who is willing to work hard over a guy like this everyday of the week.

[bigbird]

Does the OH have any internships available:D

[scrubs83]

bigbird, aren't you too old to get an internship?

By the way I have my own opinions of working for in a MLB front office, since I spent the last year working for the Phillies as an intern.

I thought it was well worth it, but if anyone wants to chat about it, you are welcome to email me.

PS, I would love to work for the hangout.

[Tony-OH]

Originally posted by Nuclear Dish
Please allow me to clear up, once and for all, the Myth of Theo.

I was an intern with the O's from March-June 1991, then continued as a full-time PR assistant from June 1991 - March 1993. I then worked as a game technician (scoreboards and clubhouse video room, AKA The Kitchen) from April 1993-September 1996.

It was in my second year with the O's that I worked side-by-side with Theo.

He got his internship thanks to his father's close friendship with Larry Lucchino (they knew each other from Yale and had remained close). Needless to say, most of the other interns resented him right off the bat because a) he hadn't earned his spot, but rather had used connections to get it; and b) he entered with a holier-than-thou attitude as a result of his connections.

I didn't really care either way, having been there for a year, and having secured for myself a paid position with added responsibilities. I was in charge of the Weaver Stats (AKA the Manager Stats, which at the time was eons ahead of most teams in terms of stat-keeping. These days it would be thought to be pretty meaningless, as it's nothing more than seasonal and career batter-vs.-pitcher stats.) and I had the ear of Eddie Epstein, who was the head statistician, and Charles Steinberg, who ran Orioles Productions.

Theo did, in fact, do all the menial jobs that the other interns did. One time he and I devised a scheme to swap our comp seats to a completely sold out game with the President of Ray-Ban Sunglasses in exchange for Aviator glasses for us and some of our friends.

As the year went on, Theo began to make waves in the department because he had become close friends with Calvin Hill, who was Personnel Director, and Frank Robinson, who had become the Assistant GM. No one knew why, until it was announced that the O's would be holding an honoring ceremony for Leon Day, the former Negro League great from Baltimore, and it was further announced that Theo would be planning the event.

It seems Theo is a huge Negro League buff, and he used that to his advantage by approaching the two highest ranking African Americans in the organization and using his knowledge to become friends with them. (BTW, this is huge if you know anything at all about Calvin Hill - Theo is the only white guy I've ever known Grant's dad to become friendly with.)

Anyway, with Lucchino looking out for him, and with Hill and FRobby now advocating for him, it was no surprise when Theo no longer had to do the menial tasks of most interns.

And when Lucchino left to go to San Diego and took Charles Steinberg and Eddie Epstein and others with him, guess who found his way into the Baseball Operations Department for the Padres?

Now, please don't get me wrong. I have a lot of respect for Theo and the job he's done. He really has a ton of talent and is a very bright, knowledgeable baseball guy, and he's using it very effectively. But now you know how Theo got his foot in the door and how he kicked that door wide open before he used all that talent and knowledge to walk right through it into the Red Sox front office.

Very interesting story, thanks for sharing.

As someone who has had to kick down a lot of doors already to get the Hangout into places where only "full-time" professional media outlets get into to, let me tell you that you have to use all contacts to you advantage.

It sounds like Theo may have had an advantage to get in the door, but by your account, his hard work and ability to find a way to use his knowledge about a subject to his advantage show me the exact desire it takes to make it in any business.

If you don't make your own opportunites in this world, you better be related to someone who's going to give you things on a silver platter. it sounds like although Theo had some "related" opportunites, he made the most of them and created a lot of opportunities by his hard work and intelligence.

I'm probably even more impressed with him then I was before. Thanks again for sharing.

[Tony-OH]

Originally posted by bigbird
Does the OH have any internships available:D

Wow, you're willing to give up that salary and work for free???? :D

I'll have you covering minor league games in no time. :)

Seriously though, we are always looking for people willing to report for us from minor league games, especially Delmarva and Aberdeen. It's great experience for the future sportwriter.

If anyone is interested, e-mail me (you can find it on the contact page) with your background and a writing sample.

[SpiroAlafassos]

Tony & Hangout Gang,

I normally wouldn't publicly post in reference to a former intern, but the story of Josh was brought to my attention this morning and I had to clarify the situation because the matter of wasted internships is near and dear to me.

An internship (in professional sports or otherwise) is the ultimate opportunity to learn from the inside how certain businesses operate. An internship should be used as an opportunity to learn, experience, and most important of all see if the industry is really one that you want to pursue a career in.

Josh interviewed with me and he seemed eager to learn (and yes he did mention he wanted to be the next Theo Epstein)... Without getting into too much detail, I will say that it is unfortunate that Josh felt as though he was overqualified for the tasks at hand, however, that is what interns in my department do. Take fan surveys, assist with special events, stuff lots of envelopes, serve as fan ambassadors, and do research. Never was Josh promised more than that and unfortunately he decided to quit over the phone on my voicemail after only a few weeks.

It was not my job to mentor Josh; it was my job to assign him to work with staff members that would put his time and efforts to good use. The main problem was that Josh didn't have a high level of respect for these staffers (maybe because they were not upper level executives that could readily advance his dream of becoming the next boy wonder GM).

What Josh didn't understand is that Theo Epstein (who worked for me as an intern for two seasons) worked 12-15 hour days for free for two summers... He, like some of the other great interns we've had (and I include the above mentioned Hangouter “Nuclear Dish” in the great intern category), did whatever the organization asked of him regardless of how important or silly the task. He consumed himself with Orioles baseball (even though he was a die hard Red Sox fan) because he respected the Orioles and appreciated the opportunity the club had given him. He spent hours upon hours each day cutting out newspaper articles for our press clipping archives (the most menial of tasks) and his attitude was always: "Hey, at least I'll always be the most up to date when it comes to Orioles news".

Josh missed a very important point about working for the Orioles and in the process decided to throw some unwarranted mud on his way out. Josh was embraced by the organization, but his attitude was; "My time is too valuable to be wasted on things like surveying families about their experience at Oriole Park or helping with the Junior Orioles Dugout Club". The point he missed is that essentially there are no unimportant jobs at a pro sports team, and if you feel that way, it's probably better to quit so that someone that cares can be given the opportunity to do the job.

The organization is made up of a lot of special people who work very hard (behind the scenes) to bring the game to life each season. There is no glory in the trenches (that all goes to the players and deservedly so because fans wouldn't spend their hard earned money to come watch us develop marketing plans and produce FanFest). The only reward for us is the feeling that you have contributed to an organization that you love and believe in.

From the folks in the box office who bust their tails 7 days a week and rarely even get a chance to enjoy games in person, to the people in the stadium operations department who sweat all the details of keeping 40,000 fans happy and safe 81 times a year, to the gang in the Orioles Productions department who have spent their entire Christmas break pulling together footage and music clips so they can hit the ground running in their preparations for the 2005 season, all these people have some things in common. A sense of Orioles pride, humility, and teamwork... a sense that their efforts (no matter how small or large) contribute to our overall goal of presenting the fans of Baltimore with a first class product.

Josh was given a great opportunity that he wasted, it was the same opportunity given to me 13 years ago. Fortunately for me, I embraced my Orioles internship as if it were the only job in the universe and was able to turn it into a respectable career working for a team I grew up worshiping. I just wish Josh would have given it more of a chance.

Thanks for listening... Thanks for caring about the O's so much (trust me, we read all your posts)... Thanks to Tony, John and the gang for doing such a great job with the Hangout... and congrats to all of you on the nice article by John Eisenberg in the Sun... you guys are a testament to how great Orioles fans are... we respect your right to cheer and even more so your right to complain and I promise you that we work very hard every day to do right by all of you... I believe our time to shine will be coming soon, so stay O's proud and have a great 2005!

Respectfully yours,
Spiro Alafassos
Executive Director, Communications
Baltimore Orioles

[mdbdotcom]

I think PA does most of his work from his secret underground volcano lair.
It might surprise people to know that Peter Angelos and Dick Cheney are the same person. Have you ever noticed that they're never seen together?

Okay, maybe I'm wrong.

[vatech1994]

Wow! It was extremely nice of Mr. Alafassos to post re: this issue. If anyone can read this letter and continue to spout crackpot theories about how the front office is filled with bumbling idiots or lazy goofballs, then they just aren't paying attention to reality. This is an example of why I get so upset when people insinuate that the FO doesn't care about their product. It is so obviously not true that to insinuate such is in extremely poor taste.

Notice when this post was written. Anybody want to insinuate again that the FO closed up after the XMas party on the 20th or whatever?

[Tony-OH]

Tony & Hangout Gang,
*SNIP*

Thanks for listening... Thanks for caring about the O's so much (trust me, we read all your posts)... Thanks to Tony, John and the gang for doing such a great job with the Hangout... and congrats to all of you on the nice article by John Eisenberg in the Sun... you guys are a testament to how great Orioles fans are... we respect your right to cheer and even more so your right to complain and I promise you that we work very hard every day to do right by all of you... I believe our time to shine will be coming soon, so stay O's proud and have a great 2005!

Respectfully yours,
Spiro Alafassos
Executive Director, Communications
Baltimore Orioles

Spiro,
Thanks for taking the time to post a reply to the accusations and thanks for the kind words about our site and staff. Unfortunately, the hard work by people like yourself and the folks who work for you are sometimes forgotten amid the seven straight losing seasons.

We continue to appreciate the support of yourself as well as the Orioles. Without your support, this site would have ceased to exist several years ago.

Thanks again,
Tony

[Sports Guy]

While i agree with alot of what Spiro said, if i am not mistaken(and i may be and if i am , i apologize), he is somehow tied to PA. He is either a relative or a friend of the family or something like that.

Anyway, if that is the case, then he obviously is going to paint a rosy picture of the organization, especially publicly(not that that is wrong).

Anyway, i know Chris and I were frustrated the most at the fact no matter how good we were, no matter what we did, no matter how much more knowledgable(in our department) we were compared to other employees, it did not matter one bit. All that mattered is that we were not related to PA or a friend of his, so therefore there was no room for us to advance.

It becomes very frustrated when underqualified people get promotions just because of "who they know". No of course, that is just the way it is in the real world but it pisses you off nonetheless. LOL

I think this kid was obviously dilusional and i would love for him to post here and share his "expertise" with us. :rolleyes:

But nonetheless, i can understand his frustration, although he was obviously completely oblivious to the obvious that you have to work your way up.

[bigbird]

I really don't care if Mr. Alafassos is related to Big Pete or not he still gets my props for taking time to come here and communicate with the fans. Several other teams including the Red Sox have set times where their front office and some players are online talking with fans on their site. What a great PR effort. Again thanks Mr Alafassos for your time and as a fan of 33 years I'm once again hoping when a member of our front office says the sun will shine soon. Hoping 2005 is a great year.

[vatech1994]

I really don't care if Mr. Alafassos is related to Big Pete or not he still gets my props for taking time to come here and communicate with the fans. Several other teams including the Red Sox have set times where their front office and some players are online talking with fans on their site. What a great PR effort. Again thanks Mr Alafassos for your time and as a fan of 33 years I'm once again hoping when a member of our front office says the sun will shine soon. Hoping 2005 is a great year.

OK, who got hold of BB's login credentials? :)

Bird, just playing. Kudos to you for this classy and upbeat response.

[Sapper]

Very interesting story, thanks for sharing.

As someone who has had to kick down a lot of doors already to get the Hangout into places where only "full-time" professional media outlets get into to, let me tell you that you have to use all contacts to you advantage.

It sounds like Theo may have had an advantage to get in the door, but by your account, his hard work and ability to find a way to use his knowledge about a subject to his advantage show me the exact desire it takes to make it in any business.

If you don't make your own opportunites in this world, you better be related to someone who's going to give you things on a silver platter. it sounds like although Theo had some "related" opportunites, he made the most of them and created a lot of opportunities by his hard work and intelligence.

I'm probably even more impressed with him then I was before. Thanks again for sharing.

Sounds like a smart brown-noser to me.

[Sapper]

I really don't care if Mr. Alafassos is related to Big Pete or not he still gets my props for taking time to come here and communicate with the fans. Several other teams including the Red Sox have set times where their front office and some players are online talking with fans on their site. What a great PR effort. Again thanks Mr Alafassos for your time and as a fan of 33 years I'm once again hoping when a member of our front office says the sun will shine soon. Hoping 2005 is a great year.


I have a few comments:

1. This Josh intern guy is a spoiled baby and we all know that.

2. We are all pretty much smart enough to read between a few lines. We know this intern was an idiot. But we also know that this fish is rotten from the head.

3. I find it both strange and slighty gutsy for Mr Alafassos (sounds Greek to me. Any coincidence?) to come onto this forum, which has grown increasingly hostile.

4. I would NOT want to be in Orioles "communications". That must be a tough job, seriously.

5. I think everyone in the FO WANTS to do a good job. I don't think there is a leadership in place at the highest levels that has facilited that effort and allowed it to materialize into PERFORMANCE. That much should be self-evident to everyone, based upon the results and the many. many, many private glimpses we get into the operation through some here and in news reports. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

6. Nothing in here dissuades me from the belief that we will never be a winner till Angelos is gone. I feel sorry for the legions of bright-eyed people who have slunked away dissillusioned and dispirited from the warehouse in recent years.

[mweb]

I really don't care if Mr. Alafassos is related to Big Pete or not he still gets my props for taking time to come here and communicate with the fans. Several other teams including the Red Sox have set times where their front office and some players are online talking with fans on their site. What a great PR effort. Again thanks Mr Alafassos for your time and as a fan of 33 years I'm once again hoping when a member of our front office says the sun will shine soon. Hoping 2005 is a great year.

Does this mean you are no longer going to exercise your option to become a free agent?

[bigbird]

Does this mean you are no longer going to exercise your option to become a free agent?

Nope, not at all. February 1 is the date I start looking if there is no positive move forward. I for one believe once Mr. Angelos gets his deal with MLB things will be ok. Only time will tell.

[Sapper]

Nope, not at all. February 1 is the date I start looking if there is no positive move forward. I for one believe once Mr. Angelos gets his deal with MLB things will be ok. Only time will tell.

Peter G. Angelos has spent his entire life amassing money and power. Why would ha switch gears at 70-something and all of a sudden take guaranteed money and give it away?

There is no monetary incentive at all to field a competetive (expensive in this division) team once a deal is in place.

Revenue guarantees might be the solution to Peter Angelos' and the Stadium Authority's concerns but it in no way guarantees us fans anything. Now if we could get MLB to spot us 20 games each year, that might be a different story.

[bigbird]

Removing the Orioles, Angelos is actually a really good guy. He does a lot of good in Baltimore. I've always thought the decline of the Orioles was to keep baseball out of DC just like I think we're doing squat right now until the deal is struck. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[jwfarrar]

Peter G. Angelos has spent his entire life amassing money and power. Why would ha switch gears at 70-something and all of a sudden take guaranteed money and give it away?

There is no monetary incentive at all to field a competetive (expensive in this division) team once a deal is in place.

Revenue guarantees might be the solution to Peter Angelos' and the Stadium Authority's concerns but it in no way guarantees us fans anything. Now if we could get MLB to spot us 20 games each year, that might be a different story.

Once he gets the welfare package for the Nationals moving in I wonder when he'll try to get MLB to compensate him from the Yankees and Red Sox moving their fans into OPACY at such great numbers. Just wish he'd sell to a serious owner that cares about the Orioles and their success on the field.

[PJ - O's Fan]

sounds Greek to me. Any coincidence

I'm Greek. I've never met Peter Angelos. If I get a job with the Orioles would you assume I must be a relative just by my last name? I guess you're right... Greek people can only get good jobs if they are handed to them by successful relatives. If you had made an inference like that about a black family you would have been tossed...

[Sapper]

I'm Greek. I've never met Peter Angelos. If I get a job with the Orioles would you assume I must be a relative just by my last name? I guess you're right... Greek people can only get good jobs if they are handed to them by successful relatives. If you had made an inference like that about a black family you would have been tossed...


It was directly after another poster who used to work there JUST said that he seemed to recall this guy was a family friend or a relative or something THAT was the context of my comment. I also know from the papers that Angelos is very active in his Greek Orthodox church. I don't run across too many people with Greek names that often. They're not as common as Irish or Italian or Spanish surnames in this country. So it just seems to support the previous poster's recollection. Or...it could just be coincidence, as I said.

So settle down. I don't appreciate your inference that I'm somehow prejudiced or something. That's frickin' ridiculous. Jesus, some people around here need to take a chill. Are you all this easily offended in real life or do you just get a kick out of being delicate on message boards?

[AmaralFan1]

I'm Greek. I've never met Peter Angelos. If I get a job with the Orioles would you assume I must be a relative just by my last name? I guess you're right... Greek people can only get good jobs if they are handed to them by successful relatives. If you had made an inference like that about a black family you would have been tossed...

PJ

I like you alot bro, but their wasn't much malice there. Surely worse has been said on the board. At the same time though, we shouldn't make assumpions. Sapper brings a smile to my face, but I think some people do get offend, so tone down the ethic assumptions.

I am of the same cut as Sapper in the sense that I see the FO as a rudderless ship. PA is looking for welfare (I know where he donates his money politics wise, so it really doesn't suprise me), and it really pisses me off. I guess there isn't much that we fans can do to change it though. The significant drop in attendence should have done the trick, but I guess not.

Nick

[scOtt]

Wow! A rather high-ranking member of the O's organization takes the time to register and post on this site, and you people respond by trying to further your own unknowing, cynical or racist agendas.

Mr. Alafassos, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts here. It was unexpected and shows a lot of class. Please don't judge the Hangout on a few bad eggs.

For me, I am embarrassed to be associated with some of these people, so I am GONE. See ya in the funny pages....

[tennOsfan]

Thank you, Mr. Alafassos, for posting here. That was a very well-written and nice input to this discussion. It might be a good idea to have others in the FO or playing field to post here occasionally -- it might make some us behave a little better if we know we're being read. :o

And while you're reading this, please put your communications skills to work and tell the powers-that-be that we want Delgado NOW! Thank you.

[PJ - O's Fan]

Are you all this easily offended in real life or do you just get a kick out of being delicate on message boards?

I'm sorry if the point I was tyring to make wasn't worded more clearly. I'll try to express myself a little differently:

All I ever hear on this board is how the front office is always silent, how your (meaning everyone's) questions are never directly answered and how incompetent the front office is.

Finally, after a ridiculously stupid article by a spoiled brat, a high ranking Orioles offical takes time out of his busy schedule to talk directly to the fans. This is akin to a chief operating officer of IBM going on a blog to explain why someone's laptop might not be working.

Though I am not offended by these comments personally (after all, every Greek I know has a good job either as a painter or a restaurant owner ;) ). However, if you put yourself in Mr. Alafassos' position and you took the time to write on this board you probably wouldn't appreciate the insinutation that the only reason you have your job is because a friend or relative gave it to you.

This is especially true after he says "Fortunately for me, I embraced my Orioles internship as if it were the only job in the universe and was able to turn it into a respectable career working for a team I grew up worshiping." And especially after he explains that many of the people in his office, surely including him, work 7 days a week and rarely get to actually see the product on the field. Also, if you're good at math you will see that Mr. Alafassos worked his internship 13 years ago (2001), and Angelos bought the team in 1993. So he started working there 2 years before Angelos bought the team...

I was simply (and apparently not very clearly) implying it would be a good idea to not try to offend visiting members of the O's.

Finally, having said all of that (and again, I apologize for not making my point more clearly) I personally feel this notion that Angelos is waiting for a "Welfare check" from MLB is completely ridiculous. I also believe the notion that there is no incentive to win if the MLB gives him some type of settlement is ridiculous as well.

When Angelos bought the team in 93 it was for an unprecendented amount. He went on to field two very expensive teams which both went deep in the playoffs. Peter Angelos is a competator and contributes an incredible amount to the city of Baltimore. Say what you will about the man, but he isn't holding on to the Oriole's just to make money, he wants win. If anything he is simply incompetent.

[JohnD]

(after all, every Greek I know has a good job either as a painter or a restaurant owner ;) ).


Ha, hey me too! In fact one of them does both!

[PJ - O's Fan]

Ha, hey me too! In fact one of them does both!

Now that's a hard worker. :p

[Sports Guy]

You guys are way off here.

THis thread is about a spoiled brat writing an article about the going ons inside the organization.

And while he is obviously not to bright, the fact is that working for the Orioles is an extremely frustrating place to be UNLESS you are a friend or relative of PA.

As i said in my post, i may be wrong about Spiro and his affiliation with PA HOWEVER, the fact that he is greek, it just makes me think i remember that fact even moreso.

Nothing racial here. For those of you who take that racially, you are way way way too uptight and have alot of issues.

[Mark Carver]

As i said in my post, i may be wrong about Spiro and his affiliation with PA HOWEVER, the fact that he is greek, it just makes me think i remember that fact even moreso.

Just curious... as PJ - O's Fan wrote, Mr. Alafassos wrote that started working as an intern with the Orioles in 1991. Peter Angelos bought the team in 1993. So, was he a plant, a spy, for Peter Angelos as at that time the Orioles was own by Eli Jacobs?

Mr. Alafassos working his way up the chain of command was not on his merit, huh?

[AmaralFan1]

(after all, every Greek I know has a good job either as a painter or a restaurant owner ;) ).

My greek neighbor is an International Arms Merchent (I kid you not). He is also a millionaire and refused to move from the house his family has lived in for 40 years. He is one of the greatest people I know. Lol just informing ;).

Nick

[cindyluvsbrady]

You guys are way off here.

THis thread is about a spoiled brat writing an article about the going ons inside the organization.

And while he is obviously not to bright, the fact is that working for the Orioles is an extremely frustrating place to be UNLESS you are a friend or relative of PA.

As i said in my post, i may be wrong about Spiro and his affiliation with PA HOWEVER, the fact that he is greek, it just makes me think i remember that fact even moreso.

Nothing racial here. For those of you who take that racially, you are way way way too uptight and have alot of issues.Sports Guy, I think your a little jealous. :eek: I bet you miss working for the Os!!! I understand, I would love to work for theOs :)

[Mark Carver]

My greek neighbor is an International Arms Merchent (I kid you not). He is also a millionaire and refused to move from the house his family has lived in for 40 years. He is one of the greatest people I know. Lol just informing ;).

Well that's good to know... the next time I need some stinger missiles, I know who to contact.

:D

[weams]

Why can I get this job? I would love to watch the players children!!!!!!!;)


Cindy you are the best and the brightest of us...Happy New Year.

[SpiroAlafassos]

O.K. let's clarify a few things so we can move on from this thread and onto more important topics (like potential player signings :)... First of all Happy New Year!


Now to the matter at hand:

1. Please don't refer to me as Mr. Alafassos (way too many letters to type and it makes me feel old). Spiro is preferred.


2. I am not related to Mr. Angelos in any way (in fact I started at the O's 2 years before he bought the team). The only connections I had at the Orioles before I started working here were the ushers who seated me in the bleachers at Memorial Stadium.

I do, however, support Mr. Angelos and his family's ownership of the team wholeheartedly because he has the Orioles best interest at heart. Whether you approve of his approach or not, as fans we are lucky to have an owner that cares as much as he does. Nobody wants the team to win more than he does (trust me on this one).


3. The theory that everyone in the warehouse has advanced by being friends or family of Mr. Angelos is not correct. While I can understand Rob and Chris’s frustrations with their experience, I can tell them that it is very typical in this industry. It is hard to advance through the ranks when no one above you leaves. Sports teams are notorious for lack of growth opportunity because no one ever wants to leave the industry, making it hard for a junior level staffer to rise above and advance through the system.

Every single person on my staff worked their way up the ranks to full-time positions through hard work, a lot of sacrifice, and dedication.

Now if you felt that your ideas were discounted, I’m sorry for that because there is no excuse for not acknowledging progressive thinking… and if any of your ideas were the impetus for the “Orange Carpet Program” then thank you, because that is one of the most positive programs we have put into play in recent history.


4. And finally, someone mentioned that it was suspicious and slightly gutsy for me to come on here and post on this board. I can tell you that there is no hidden agenda other than to give us an outlet to respond to your comments and ideas. Why should you have all the fun?

Back in 1996 I started what would become the Orioles first ever website complete with fan message boards and minor league updates (so you could say that I was Tony before Tony was Tony). While the official Orioles site may have come a long way since then, the fact still remains that it changed the way fans could communicate with the team and vice versa.

That is why I think this site and any others like it are extremely important to the team and its’ fans… It gives you a community and a voice and it gives us a chance to listen and from time to time respond.

I look forward to having more interaction with you in the future and will ask our staff to do the same.

Until then, enjoy what’s left of your holiday weekend.

Thanks,
Spiro

[cindyluvsbrady]

Cindy you are the best and the brightest of us...Happy New Year.
That was sweet! :)

[birdseed]

.....the fact is that working for the Orioles is an extremely frustrating place to be UNLESS you are a friend or relative of PA.

Did you mean to write........in my opinion working for the Orioles.........? Seems to me that there is a difference.

[SouthernBird]

O.K. let's clarify a few things so we can move on from this thread and onto more important topics (like potential player signings :)... First of all Happy New Year!


Now to the matter at hand:

1. Please don't refer to me as Mr. Alafassos (way too many letters to type and it makes me feel old). Spiro is preferred.


2. I am not related to Mr. Angelos in any way (in fact I started at the O's 2 years before he bought the team). The only connections I had at the Orioles before I started working here were the ushers who seated me in the bleachers at Memorial Stadium.

I do, however, support Mr. Angelos and his family's ownership of the team wholeheartedly because he has the Orioles best interest at heart. Whether you approve of his approach or not, as fans we are lucky to have an owner that cares as much as he does. Nobody wants the team to win more than he does (trust me on this one).


3. The theory that everyone in the warehouse has advanced by being friends or family of Mr. Angelos is not correct. While I can understand Rob and Chris’s frustrations with their experience, I can tell them that it is very typical in this industry. It is hard to advance through the ranks when no one above you leaves. Sports teams are notorious for lack of growth opportunity because no one ever wants to leave the industry, making it hard for a junior level staffer to rise above and advance through the system.

Every single person on my staff worked their way up the ranks to full-time positions through hard work, a lot of sacrifice, and dedication.

Now if you felt that your ideas were discounted, I’m sorry for that because there is no excuse for not acknowledging progressive thinking… and if any of your ideas were the impetus for the “Orange Carpet Program” then thank you, because that is one of the most positive programs we have put into play in recent history.


4. And finally, someone mentioned that it was suspicious and slightly gutsy for me to come on here and post on this board. I can tell you that there is no hidden agenda other than to give us an outlet to respond to your comments and ideas. Why should you have all the fun?

Back in 1996 I started what would become the Orioles first ever website complete with fan message boards and minor league updates (so you could say that I was Tony before Tony was Tony). While the official Orioles site may have come a long way since then, the fact still remains that it changed the way fans could communicate with the team and vice versa.

That is why I think this site and any others like it are extremely important to the team and its’ fans… It gives you a community and a voice and it gives us a chance to listen and from time to time respond.

I look forward to having more interaction with you in the future and will ask our staff to do the same.

Until then, enjoy what’s left of your holiday weekend.

Thanks,
Spiro
You guys just keep doing your best to put the best team possible on the field, and we will continue to provide an outlet for the fans/organization to interact. Thanks for your input, we greatly appreciate it. Now, give em hell Spiro! Who cares if Big Stein has bought himself a pen of aging vets, we'll pound em anyhow just like we did to Pedro all last year ;) Heck the opener last year did ALOT to erase the past few bad seasons. Beating Pedro on opening day gave me butterflies in the stomach again. Then came Cabrera and Newhan, those guys made the season worth wathcing all by themselves. Resist the urge to overpay, it will put us in a position to dominate for a decade when the financial hammer drops on Boston and NY, which WILL happen.

[markpolis]

O.K. let's clarify a few things so we can move on from this thread and onto more important topics (like potential player signings :)... First of all Happy New Year!


Now to the matter at hand:

1. Please don't refer to me as Mr. Alafassos (way too many letters to type and it makes me feel old). Spiro is preferred.


2. I am not related to Mr. Angelos in any way (in fact I started at the O's 2 years before he bought the team). The only connections I had at the Orioles before I started working here were the ushers who seated me in the bleachers at Memorial Stadium.

I do, however, support Mr. Angelos and his family's ownership of the team wholeheartedly because he has the Orioles best interest at heart. Whether you approve of his approach or not, as fans we are lucky to have an owner that cares as much as he does. Nobody wants the team to win more than he does (trust me on this one).


3. The theory that everyone in the warehouse has advanced by being friends or family of Mr. Angelos is not correct. While I can understand Rob and Chris’s frustrations with their experience, I can tell them that it is very typical in this industry. It is hard to advance through the ranks when no one above you leaves. Sports teams are notorious for lack of growth opportunity because no one ever wants to leave the industry, making it hard for a junior level staffer to rise above and advance through the system.

Every single person on my staff worked their way up the ranks to full-time positions through hard work, a lot of sacrifice, and dedication.

Now if you felt that your ideas were discounted, I’m sorry for that because there is no excuse for not acknowledging progressive thinking… and if any of your ideas were the impetus for the “Orange Carpet Program” then thank you, because that is one of the most positive programs we have put into play in recent history.


4. And finally, someone mentioned that it was suspicious and slightly gutsy for me to come on here and post on this board. I can tell you that there is no hidden agenda other than to give us an outlet to respond to your comments and ideas. Why should you have all the fun?

Back in 1996 I started what would become the Orioles first ever website complete with fan message boards and minor league updates (so you could say that I was Tony before Tony was Tony). While the official Orioles site may have come a long way since then, the fact still remains that it changed the way fans could communicate with the team and vice versa.

That is why I think this site and any others like it are extremely important to the team and its’ fans… It gives you a community and a voice and it gives us a chance to listen and from time to time respond.

I look forward to having more interaction with you in the future and will ask our staff to do the same.

Until then, enjoy what’s left of your holiday weekend.

Thanks,
Spiro

Spiro,

Not that I can speak for others here at the OH, but once again, thank you for taking the time to share your views with us.

As you can see, the OH has quite a diverse group of followers with one thing in common - our beloved Baltimore Orioles. Each of us have differing views on PA, F&B and how the organization should be run. (unlike some I'm a PA and F&B supporter) These differences often cause for some heated discussions that sometimes get a bit out of hand.

But for the most part, a lot of great suggestions and ideas are freely exchanged here on the site. So please feel free to take some of these suggestions (free of charge of course) and implement them as you see fit. ;)

Better yet, I am willing to purchase a OH Plus Membership for Mr. Beattie and Mr. Flanagan so they can use the OH's expertise to assist them with the daily operations of the Orioles. :D I truly believe if F&B would have been on the OH that Hudson and Delgado would already be Orioles. ;)

In all serious though, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

BTW, First suggestion - please get the Delgado deal done.

[SouthernBird]

If it is between Delgado or Beltran, I say give Beltran the BIG contract he wants. Don't backload it though so if something doesn't work out he would be easier to trade away later for a Pitcher or 2. But what do I know, I am just a fan and Hi-Tech Redneck from Nashville ;) Which BTW is building a shiny new minor league park, complete with a surrounding condo/appartment complex and shopping mall on the river....cough..cough...baseball out of Canada...cough ...cough. Hint , hint.

Nashville is known for giving nice big fat tax breaks to organizations who come here, just ask Michael Dell, or The Titans. Come on, you know you want a farm team in Music City :D
My VP at Comcast is on the Nashville Sports Authority, I'll get the meeting setup for ya and put in a favorable word for the organization;)

I would like to add Spiro, you are my kind for guy for coming on here, you have a pair my friend, yes you do! Knowing that you are the type of guy to REALLY followup on what the fans are doing speaks volumes about your interest in the team doing well. Bravo!

[Sports Guy]

O.K. let's clarify a few things so we can move on from this thread and onto more important topics (like potential player signings :)... First of all Happy New Year!


Now to the matter at hand:

1. Please don't refer to me as Mr. Alafassos (way too many letters to type and it makes me feel old). Spiro is preferred.


2. I am not related to Mr. Angelos in any way (in fact I started at the O's 2 years before he bought the team). The only connections I had at the Orioles before I started working here were the ushers who seated me in the bleachers at Memorial Stadium.

I do, however, support Mr. Angelos and his family's ownership of the team wholeheartedly because he has the Orioles best interest at heart. Whether you approve of his approach or not, as fans we are lucky to have an owner that cares as much as he does. Nobody wants the team to win more than he does (trust me on this one).


3. The theory that everyone in the warehouse has advanced by being friends or family of Mr. Angelos is not correct. While I can understand Rob and Chris’s frustrations with their experience, I can tell them that it is very typical in this industry. It is hard to advance through the ranks when no one above you leaves. Sports teams are notorious for lack of growth opportunity because no one ever wants to leave the industry, making it hard for a junior level staffer to rise above and advance through the system.

Every single person on my staff worked their way up the ranks to full-time positions through hard work, a lot of sacrifice, and dedication.

Now if you felt that your ideas were discounted, I’m sorry for that because there is no excuse for not acknowledging progressive thinking… and if any of your ideas were the impetus for the “Orange Carpet Program” then thank you, because that is one of the most positive programs we have put into play in recent history.


4. And finally, someone mentioned that it was suspicious and slightly gutsy for me to come on here and post on this board. I can tell you that there is no hidden agenda other than to give us an outlet to respond to your comments and ideas. Why should you have all the fun?

Back in 1996 I started what would become the Orioles first ever website complete with fan message boards and minor league updates (so you could say that I was Tony before Tony was Tony). While the official Orioles site may have come a long way since then, the fact still remains that it changed the way fans could communicate with the team and vice versa.

That is why I think this site and any others like it are extremely important to the team and its’ fans… It gives you a community and a voice and it gives us a chance to listen and from time to time respond.

I look forward to having more interaction with you in the future and will ask our staff to do the same.

Until then, enjoy what’s left of your holiday weekend.

Thanks,
Spiro

Spiro...I apologize for lumping you into that group of guys related to PA or guys who know them. As i said, i was not sure, just was going off of memory. Anyway, again sorry.

BTW, i was not implying that you have your position because of what i thought was your relationship with PA. However, i did believe that is why you got the oppurtunity because so many in the organization hold that distinction. Anyway, thanks for posting your thoughts and ideas and i look forward to reading your posts on here some more, if you choose to post again.

BTW, make sure they know you are posting on here because i heard through the grapevine that they frown on that. :D

Spiro, one last thing.....You talk how hard it is to move up and trust me, i knew that(as did Chris) going into the job. However, i was promised things and told things by my bosses that they never followed through on. It gets pretty frustrating when you are told that you should expect a promotion and then they just never mention it anymore and basically blow you off. No excuse for that. I know one thing, i wish i could have had an exit interview.

[Sports Guy]

Sports Guy, I think your a little jealous. :eek: I bet you miss working for the Os!!! I understand, I would love to work for theOs :)

Cindy, let me tell you something. Working for the O's was a lifelong dream. Always wanted to do it. I met alot of friends there and worked under some good people. I would have loved to have moved up.

However, i hardly miss it. I hardly miss working 60-70 hours a week for 7 an hour and routinely see people get promoted and not on merit. I could not stand to work for an irganization that is so unorganized and does everything so last minute.

I certainly did not leave there the way i wanted but i am better off for it. I am now basically part owner of a very successful diamond and jewelry business and am essentially my own boss. I live 5 min from work and don;t have to be in until 10 in the morning. I do not have to fight traffic, where suits or anything like that and i will eventually be making very good money.

So trust me when i say, i am hardly jealous.

[HeyPenny]

Spiro,
My biggest problem with the Orioles internship program (I have not been an intern with the organization, for the record) is that it can only be executed by the wealthy.

You talk about Epstein putting in 12-15 hour days without pay, like it was so generous and hard-working of him - what kind of person can work for two years, 12-15 hours a day, sometimes 7 days a week, without getting paid for it?

The answer: The kids of rich guys who went to Ivy League schools with some of the current executives. Epstein worked that much because - in addition to drive - he could.

I guess that is a good way to weed out and narrow down the field of candidates - but you're likely missing out on some quality people in favor of someone who was born into more money. Some people would give anything to work for the O's, and gladly work for free. But the reality is that those people are also going to be living out of a cardboard box for awhile.

[Sapper]

You guys are way off here.

THis thread is about a spoiled brat writing an article about the going ons inside the organization.

And while he is obviously not to bright, the fact is that working for the Orioles is an extremely frustrating place to be UNLESS you are a friend or relative of PA.

As i said in my post, i may be wrong about Spiro and his affiliation with PA HOWEVER, the fact that he is greek, it just makes me think i remember that fact even moreso.

Nothing racial here. For those of you who take that racially, you are way way way too uptight and have alot of issues.

Thank you. I agree completely. This was essentially the point I was getting at. And frankly I'm a little offended that people would try to call me racist here just to shut me up.

[Sapper]

Just curious... as PJ - O's Fan wrote, Mr. Alafassos wrote that started working as an intern with the Orioles in 1991. Peter Angelos bought the team in 1993. So, was he a plant, a spy, for Peter Angelos as at that time the Orioles was own by Eli Jacobs?

Mr. Alafassos working his way up the chain of command was not on his merit, huh?

That's a VERY good point. I didn't catch that.

[Sapper]

4. And finally, someone mentioned that it was suspicious and slightly gutsy for me to come on here and post on this board. I can tell you that there is no hidden agenda other than to give us an outlet to respond to your comments and ideas

Spiro,

I believe I said strange and slightly gutsy.

But in any case I think its cool that you came here. I don't expect you to say anything negative about the organization but based upon recent results and public information on personnel issues over the year, my impression is not one of a well-run organization. I really hope you guys can prove me wrong and shut me up.

I'd ask for a job (paid of course) too, but I know a lot more about building and blowing things up than running a baseball team. :rolleyes:

Fellow hangouters, I think its valuable to have someone like Spiro around (and Spiro, don't take what I say here personally, there's very little filter between my brain and my mouth sometimes) but we have to remember that you're going to likely just hear the "rosey scenario" in most cases. No dig, that's just his job.
Sapper

[cindyluvsbrady]

Cindy, let me tell you something. Working for the O's was a lifelong dream. Always wanted to do it. I met alot of friends there and worked under some good people. I would have loved to have moved up.

However, i hardly miss it. I hardly miss working 60-70 hours a week for 7 an hour and routinely see people get promoted and not on merit. I could not stand to work for an irganization that is so unorganized and does everything so last minute.

I certainly did not leave there the way i wanted but i am better off for it. I am now basically part owner of a very successful diamond and jewelry business and am essentially my own boss. I live 5 min from work and don;t have to be in until 10 in the morning. I do not have to fight traffic, where suits or anything like that and i will eventually be making very good money.

So trust me when i say, i am hardly jealous.you are a very serious person. I know I would love working for the Os!!!!

[Sports Guy]

you are a very serious person. I know I would love working for the Os!!!!

You KNOW it huh?

LEt me ask you something...What is appealing about this:

1) Tons of hours, low wages and little chance of moving up

2) Can not meet the players. No big deal to me but i am sure that is what you would want.

3) After going through the season and busting your azz for them, you get laid off for a few months because they wait too long to get there offseason started.

What exactly is appealing to you?

[cindyluvsbrady]

Meeting Players!!!!!!! :)

[cindyluvsbrady]

You KNOW it huh?

LEt me ask you something...What is appealing about this:

1) Tons of hours, low wages and little chance of moving up

2) Can not meet the players. No big deal to me but i am sure that is what you would want.

3) After going through the season and busting your azz for them, you get laid off for a few months because they wait too long to get there offseason started.

What exactly is appealing to you?You sound like a bitter person. :( that is a tough way to live :( .

[Sports Guy]

Meeting Players!!!!!!! :)

Ok, since i guess i as not obvious enough when i said you can not meet the players, let me try again:

YOU CAN NOT MEET OR APPROACH PLAYERS!

If you do and they find out, you will be FIRED. That is one of the first things they talk about in the initial interview. And it is a good policy because to many people like you would try to work there to meet players and not properly do your job.

[Sports Guy]

You sound like a bitter person. :( that is a tough way to live :( .

If telling the truth means i am bitter, so be it.

[cindyluvsbrady]

If telling the truth means i am bitter, so be it.That expains alot about you. :(

[JohnD]

Would the two of you just please freaking stop it now?

[cindyluvsbrady]

Yes John!!!!!! :)

[cindyluvsbrady]

Ok, since i guess i as not obvious enough when i said you can not meet the players, let me try again:

YOU CAN NOT MEET OR APPROACH PLAYERS!

If you do and they find out, you will be FIRED. That is one of the first things they talk about in the initial interview. And it is a good policy because to many people like you would try to work there to meet players and not properly do your job.LOL :D that might be a problem for me!!!!!

[jwfarrar]

Rob, would you stop pulling Cindy's pigtails. ;) You two are so cute. :D

[Nuclear Dish]

Sorry to have missed out on all the fun. It took me a while to figure out that the down time on the site also ruined my link to the site in the favorites.

Hey Spiro! It's Brian Klaff. I didn't know you were the Director of Communications! My God, that's a long road you took, but that just goes to prove the point I'm about to make. You were a Baserunner, when I was interning, and for anyone who isn't aware, that's an even longer path to take. What happened to John Maroon? That was the last I heard about the PR department there. And where is Rick Vaughn these days? Is he still with the Devil Rays? Are you in touch with Charles any more? What ever happened to Vince and Pete? Either of them still with the team?

OK, let me get to the point:

I can vouch that Spiro is not related to PA. I knew him way back when, and he was the hardest damn worker among the group of interns he entered with. Thus he was the only one that I recall staying on beyond his year as a Baserunner. For those who don't know, Baserunners are the gophers who run copies of all the press kits for the media room, work the pre-game marketing presentations, staff the media room and scoreboard room, accompany the bird mascot around the stadium, and occasionally serve as ball boys/girls on the field.

Spiro, I remember one fateful game when you were ball boy and the ball went right between your legs!

Baserunners are usually college kids, and there is a difficult screening process to become one. For Spiro to have made it through that process means that he was more than qualified, and his career path since then only serves to bear that out.

As for me, I was never a Baserunner, nor was Theo Epstein. I was a high school intern, which was reserved for students from two schools: Gilman, which has had a program with the O's since the early 70's (Charles Steinberg himself was a Gilman intern), and Beth Tfiloh, from which I was the first such intern because I wowed Charles in my interview. Beth Tfiloh's program no longer exists, having petered out after about 5 years.

Theo, as I mentioned, got his internship through his connections. However, he performed many of the Baserunner tasks in addition to working full days.

The comment that only the wealthy get internships is bogus. The people who get internships have one of 3 traits: 1) they attend a local university and make it through the screening process; 2) they attend Gilman and make it through the screening process; 3) they have connections and make it through an interview process.

If you aren't wealthy but are a local college student, you can apply and have a shot to be a baserunner just like anyone else.

Oh, and Cindy, you should know that although the official policy is that interns can't have relationships with players, it certainyl happens a lot. Steve Finley's wife used to be a Baserunner.

[jwfarrar]

Oh, and Cindy, you should know that although the official policy is that interns can't have relationships with players, it certainyl happens a lot. Steve Finley's wife used to be a Baserunner.

Oh, now you've done it. ;)

[Nuclear Dish]

Ok, since i guess i as not obvious enough when i said you can not meet the players, let me try again:

YOU CAN NOT MEET OR APPROACH PLAYERS!

If you do and they find out, you will be FIRED. That is one of the first things they talk about in the initial interview. And it is a good policy because to many people like you would try to work there to meet players and not properly do your job.

That's just not true. I had tons of interaction with players in my days there. A lot of that was a result of my position, which dealt with PR and video. I was good friends with Arthur Rhodes, Harold Baines and Brady Anderson, and I remember doing a clinic in Wheaton with Spiro and Sam Horn. Hell, I even babysat for Glenn Davis one time and another time video taped his daughter's ballet recital at Loch Raven High. And I once arranged for Glenn Davis and David Segui to swap a pickup truck for a Lexus (Segui wanted a lucury car, Davis wanted a truck and had a Lexus to spare). And I had fights with Billy Ripken (which almost came to blows) and Mike Mussina (he never spoke to me again).

I know that a lot of the Baserunners used to go clubbing with the players after games. Mike Devereaux was notorious for going to the Baja Club with the Baserunners. There were plenty of rumors about the relationships between him and certain interns.

However, I will agree that this was discouraged. And the organization certainly expects all employees to respect the professionalism of all employees, including players. This means that a player is entitled to his personal space and not to step over the line between professional and personal relationships unless there is mutual agreement.

[Nuclear Dish]

Excellent story. Thanks for sharing it.

I had always wondered how Theo E ended up following Lucchino to SD.

Speaking of the other Epstein you mentioned (Eddie), is he as good as I've heard? I believe he made it as far as Ass't GM in SD before leaving that job. He then went on to co-write a book with Rob Neyer. Do you still keep in touch with any of those guys? (I'm guessing no). I remember reading once that he'd make an excellent GM, and always wondered why he never did that.

You add a lot to this board, hopefully you plan on sticking around for a while.

Thanks 1970. I actually was a member of the board last year (as theklaffer), forgot to send in a check for my Plus Membership and fell out of touch with it during the season, and recently decided to get back involved. I just paid for my Plus Membership, so I should be hanging around this time.

As for Eddie Epstein, he was a real character. Definitely one of my all-time favorite personalities in sports. He has a great sense of humor, a terrific statistical mind, and was also as friendly as can be. I wish I had allied myself with him more closely at the time - I might have been more successful in my pursuit of baseball as a career.

When I was there, as I mentoned, I did the Weaver Stats, which, at the time, were kept in Lotus 1-2-3. The managers never used them after Weaver (Frank Robinson hated them) and the only people who ever used them were the broadcasters, who loved pointing out that Cal was 1-for-8 with 3 Ks against a certain pitcher, as if that really meant anything. I was in close contact with Seymour Siwoff and the guys at Elias, since they were the only guys officially keeping this stuff at the time. They actually relied on me to correct some of their stats a couple of times. Thank God MLB has switched from them to Stats, Inc. as their official statkeepers.

Eddie was responsible for the higher level stats for the O's. His biggest job was arbitration hearings. He had the unlikeable job of proving that the players weren't as good as they thought they were so the team didn't have to pay them so much. Fortunately for him, we rarely went to arbitration in those days (thank you Roland Hemond).

Eddie was one of the first guys to tinker with comprehensive stats to measure a player's true value. He taught me about OPS and the value of SLG and OBP years before people like Neyer made it popular. I remember Eddie had come up with his own stat that was similar to Runs Created that he used to give him a starting point when measuring up a player for a hearing. One of his complaints, though, was that no arbitrator would understand the stats he could use to undermine a player's high opinion of himself.

His other big complaint was that he was underused. He followed Lucchino to SD, and I think after that he got tired of the beauracracy. He felt that baseball execs are judged a lot based on their pedigrees (i.e., what kind of player or name they have). He also felt that he never got a chacne to be a GM. He got out too soon. Had he stayed in the game, he might have found a place where his opinion was truly valued these days. Hell, if Bill James and Voros McCracken can be integral parts of the Red Sox, the likelihood is the Eddie Epstein could catch on and have a real use with the A's, Blue Jays, or Dodgers.

(BTW, funny story. My first year, Eddie took me to the Single-A all-star game, which was held in Frederick. We had great seat behind home plate, and sitting next to us was Brad Pennington, who was pitching for the Keys, but had failed to make the game. When Eddie introduced me, I was shocked to be sitting next to one of the O's top pitching prospects, and remarked, "the Brad Pennington?!" Eddie got a good laugh from that, and I'll bet it made Pennington's year. One of the few times I ever fawned over a player, and it turned out to be one who became a complete nothing!)

I believe Eddie has started an independent company in Texas that does baseball consulting, although I may be wrong. At one point he worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers in Dallas as a consultant, specializing in baseball (what a job!!!).

I wish I could say I was still in touch with him. Definitely one of my best memories of my time in baseball.

And no, unfortunately I've fallen out of touch with all the guys I worked with. I stayed in touch with Charles Steinberg until he left SD for Boston, and I was in touch with Rick Vaughn (former PR director with the O's, then the Skins, and then VP of Comm. with the D-Rays) for a few years. Oh, and I went to Hopkins with Rany Jayerzeli (also of Rob Neyer fame).

[bigbird]

O.K. let's clarify a few things so we can move on from this thread and onto more important topics (like potential player signings :)... First of all Happy New Year!




Spiro,

Again, thanks for taking the time to post here. As a long time fan it is appreciated. The question I have is, will the Orioles make any impact improvements to the current roster this off season? The management is sending mixed signals to Joe the Fan. One time we hear the plan is continuing and we'll make the necessary moves to be on the heals of NY and Boston. Then we're told the front office is content to enter the season with the current roster and will "hope" players improve. Next it's "we'll spent the resourses we have available to improve the team", which is followed by the players available are not an upgrade over the talent we have.

Are we planning to make moves this off season to improve or not?

[cindyluvsbrady]

That's just not true. I had tons of interaction with players in my days there. A lot of that was a result of my position, which dealt with PR and video. I was good friends with Arthur Rhodes, Harold Baines and Brady Anderson, and I remember doing a clinic in Wheaton with Spiro and Sam Horn. Hell, I even babysat for Glenn Davis one time and another time video taped his daughter's ballet recital at Loch Raven High. And I once arranged for Glenn Davis and David Segui to swap a pickup truck for a Lexus (Segui wanted a lucury car, Davis wanted a truck and had a Lexus to spare). And I had fights with Billy Ripken (which almost came to blows) and Mike Mussina (he never spoke to me again).

I know that a lot of the Baserunners used to go clubbing with the players after games. Mike Devereaux was notorious for going to the Baja Club with the Baserunners. There were plenty of rumors about the relationships between him and certain interns.

However, I will agree that this was discouraged. And the organization certainly expects all employees to respect the professionalism of all employees, including players. This means that a player is entitled to his personal space and not to step over the line between professional and personal relationships unless there is mutual agreement.
I am so jealous of you!!!! WOW friends with Brady!!!!! I would die!!! :D

[Orioles Jim]

I am so jealous of you!!!! WOW friends with Brady!!!!! I would die!!! :D

Chicks dig steroids apparently. I don't know what's with your obsession with Brady but personally I think that he was on the juice and he only had one good season. Don't get me wrong I don't hate him, but why is it Cindyluvsbrady and not like Cindyluvscal or someone who were actually good consistently.

[Nuclear Dish]

I am so jealous of you!!!! WOW friends with Brady!!!!! I would die!!! :D

Brady was a great guy. Lots of fun. I went to a couple football games with him. One time, we were driving to DC in his big ol' Linclon Continental and he taught me the Radio Game (where you hit the scan button and have to name the artist first by the time it changes stations again) and royally kicked my a$$ at it. He knew classic rock, hip hop, country, it made no difference to him. It was 10-0 before I even caught on.

And for those who have heard the rumors about Brady being a switch-hitter, I can attest that I never knew of him seeing anyone other than the hottest of the hot girls. I remember being introduced to his French model girlfriend one time. Just smokin'! Then again, I can't tell you what went on behind closed doors.

I also can tell you that he was a complete workout freak, and I never saw him take anything other than powershakes. I honestly believe that his sudden power surge was the result of his devotion to weights. Then again, I can't tell you what went on behnd closed doors.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Chicks dig steroids apparently. I don't know what's with your obsession with Brady but personally I think that he was on the juice and he only had one good season. Don't get me wrong I don't hate him, but why is it Cindyluvsbrady and not like Cindyluvscal or someone who were actually good consistently.
I am NOT a chick!! :mad: Brady did not take steriods :mad: He had alot of good seasons and WHO are you to tell me who to love or what my name should be!! :mad: I love alot of players...not just Brady. :mad: You better watch what you say....I dont appreciate your insults.

[Nuclear Dish]

Have you told this story before?

Maybe last year. I can't recall. Why do you ask?

[Orioles Jim]

Brady was a great guy. Lots of fun. I went to a couple football games with him. One time, we were driving to DC in his big ol' Linclon Continental and he taught me the Radio Game (where you hit the scan button and have to name the artist first by the time it changes stations again) and royally kicked my a$$ at it. He knew classic rock, hip hop, country, it made no difference to him. It was 10-0 before I even caught on.

And for those who have heard the rumors about Brady being a switch-hitter, I can attest that I never knew of him seeing anyone other than the hottest of the hot girls. I remember being introduced to his French model girlfriend one time. Just smokin'! Then again, I can't tell you what went on behind closed doors.

I also can tell you that he was a complete workout freak, and I never saw him take anything other than powershakes. I honestly believe that his sudden power surge was the result of his devotion to weights. Then again, I can't tell you what went on behnd closed doors.

If he was obsessed with working out then how come he sucked all those other years?

[cindyluvsbrady]

Brady was a great guy. Lots of fun. I went to a couple football games with him. One time, we were driving to DC in his big ol' Linclon Continental and he taught me the Radio Game (where you hit the scan button and have to name the artist first by the time it changes stations again) and royally kicked my a$$ at it. He knew classic rock, hip hop, country, it made no difference to him. It was 10-0 before I even caught on.

And for those who have heard the rumors about Brady being a switch-hitter, I can attest that I never knew of him seeing anyone other than the hottest of the hot girls. I remember being introduced to his French model girlfriend one time. Just smokin'! Then again, I can't tell you what went on behind closed doors.

I also can tell you that he was a complete workout freak, and I never saw him take anything other than powershakes. I honestly believe that his sudden power surge was the result of his devotion to weights. Then again, I can't tell you what went on behnd closed doors.Thank you for the wonderful Brady story. :)

[Orioles Jim]

I am NOT a chick!! :mad: Brady did not take steriods :mad: He had alot of good seasons and WHO are you to tell me who to love or what my name should be!! :mad: I love alot of players...not just Brady. :mad: You better watch what you say....I dont appreciate your insults.

I wasn't saying that YOU were a chick, I was just saying that a lot of girls like Brady Anderson, and furthermore, a lot of girls like guys that take steroids. I argue that he did not have a "alot of good seasons" because he never hit over .300 and he only had over 20 HR's three times. I was not telling you what your name should be, I was just asking a simple question. I was not insulting you, I was asking you why you like him so much. My gosh all I said was that I didn't know why you liked him so much. You made it sound like that I was accusing you of cooking and eating baby Jesus this morning. Chill out.

[cindyluvsbrady]

I wasn't saying that YOU were a chick, I was just saying that a lot of girls like Brady Anderson, and furthermore, a lot of girls like guys that take steroids. I argue that he did not have a "alot of good seasons" because he never hit over .300 and he only had over 20 HR's three times. I was not telling you what your name should be, I was just asking a simple question. I was not insulting you, I was asking you why you like him so much. My gosh all I said was that I didn't know why you liked him so much. You made it sound like that I was accusing you of cooking and eating baby Jesus this morning. Chill out.
I will always defend Brady!!!CHICK is disgusting way to describe ANY woman.

[Orioles Jim]

I will always defend Brady!!!CHICK is disgusting way to describe ANY woman.

It's nice to know that you will always defend Brady. But you didn't answer my question. Why do you love him so much? Hehe I don't call women a chick to their face, I'd be an asshole, it's just something that we say "chicks dig..." I'm not sure if you remember the old commercial where Greg Maddux says "chicks dig the long ball." It was not a sexist remark. You sound like my mother.

[Nuclear Dish]

If he was obsessed with working out then how come he sucked all those other years?

Let me turn this around on you:

Why wouldn't he have continued to hit 50 HR per season if he were on the juice? What was to stop him at that point in time? It's not like there was any kind of scandal brewing.

Honestly, I can't explain Brady's great season. I have often questioned whether he might have done something like steroids during the time I knew him, but I cannot ever recall him doing anything but pwershakes, which used Creatin. Maybe he used Andro, I don't know. Maybe he did steroids. All I can tell you is that if he was doing them, he did it entirely behind closed doors, out of the sight of any of his acquaintances.

[Orioles Jim]

Let me turn this around on you:

Why wouldn't he have continued to hit 50 HR per season if he were on the juice? What was to stop him at that point in time? It's not like there was any kind of scandal brewing.

Honestly, I can't explain Brady's great season. I have often questioned whether he might have done something like steroids during the time I knew him, but I cannot ever recall him doing anything but pwershakes, which used Creatin. Maybe he used Andro, I don't know. Maybe he did steroids. All I can tell you is that if he was doing them, he did it entirely behind closed doors, out of the sight of any of his acquaintances.

The reason he stopped is because steroids are horrible for your body and I think he knew that and got off them quickly. This was smart. Giambi kept on them IMO and now he is having tons of problems with his body. When Bonds was a rookie his hat size was 7, now it is 8. Your dome doesn't just expand massively for no apparent reason. Forehead enlargening is a sign of anabolic steroid usage.

[Nuclear Dish]

I have to say, this has been an unbelieveable thread. What started out as a former O's intern bashing the organization in a college paper has now included the O's Dir. of Comm. chiming in, a discussion on fraternizing with players, a description of Theo Epstein and Eddie Epstein, and a debate on Brady and steroids! Anything else we can throw in to make this any more intrguing?!

[ledzepp8]

If he was obsessed with working out then how come he sucked all those other years?How come he sucked all those other years? While he wasn't a hall of famer, he had a very solid career. He was a lead off hitter...they don't tend to hit over 20 homeruns. And batting average is such a useless stat...look at his OBP and OPS. While not a high as some players now...he played in a different era. He was a great centerfielder and always a threat to run on the bases. So he was no Ricky Henderson, but he was a solid player and a great Oriole.

[Nuclear Dish]

The reason he stopped is because steroids are horrible for your body and I think he knew that and got off them quickly. This was smart. Giambi kept on them IMO and now he is having tons of problems with his body. When Bonds was a rookie his hat size was 7, now it is 8. Your dome doesn't just expand massively for no apparent reason. Forehead enlargening is a sign of anabolic steroid usage.

I suppose it's possible, but you and I have no proof to back that up. It's a theory as good as any, I guess. But you could also just as easily postulate that it was a freak concurrence of better pitch selection, peak physical shape, and luck.

Given that I knew him personally and never saw any evidence of foul play, and given that I am an O's fan and therefore try to see things for the team as optimistically as possible, I choose to go with the latter theory.

[Orioles Jim]

I suppose it's possible, but you and I have no proof to back that up. It's a theory as good as any, I guess. But you could also just as easily postulate that it was a freak concurrence of better pitch selection, peak physical shape, and luck.

Given that I knew him personally and never saw any evidence of foul play, and given that I am an O's fan and therefore try to see things for the team as optimistically as possible, I choose to go with the latter theory.

Freak is an understatement, miracle because he is a messiah is more like it. I'm not guaranteeing that he used steroids. It was a contract year so it's possible that he just lived in the gym for one year and then after he signed a huge contract with the Orioles he started drinking jolt cola and eating munchies everynight and didn't touch a barbell.

[Orioles Jim]

How come he sucked all those other years? While he wasn't a hall of famer, he had a very solid career. He was a lead off hitter...they don't tend to hit over 20 homeruns. And batting average is such a useless stat...look at his OBP and OPS. While not a high as some players now...he played in a different era. He was a great centerfielder and always a threat to run on the bases. So he was no Ricky Henderson, but he was a solid player and a great Oriole.

Batting average is not a useless stat. RBI may be, and Win-loss record for pitchers may be as well, but the average of amount of times you get a hit is a very good statistic.

He only got over .400 in OBP once so I can't say I'm too impressed. Melvin Mora has had an OBP over .400 in the last two years. It's not horrible, but again not something I'm overly impressed with.

Having hit 50 bombs and then never getting over 25 HR again is depressing after we gave him a huge contract. That is why I have always had this tension towards him.

[Nuclear Dish]

Freak is an understatement, miracle because he is a messiah is more like it. I'm not guaranteeing that he used steroids. It was a contract year so it's possible that he just lived in the gym for one year and then after he signed a huge contract with the Orioles he started drinking jolt cola and eating munchies everynight and didn't touch a barbell.

See, it's comments like that that make me discredit your opinion. I even went so far as to suggest that it's possible Brady was doing something inappropriate, despite all my personal knowledge to the contrary, and you still had to go and belittle the possibility that he was on the up-and-up.

Brady was always a workout guy. He never stopped working out. If you saw him today, he'd probably be just as stacked as he was then. He was also the fastest man I've ever seen in person, and I believe a lot of his excess speed came from his leg workouts. The man had absolutely huge thighs. I saw him outsprint every guy the O's culd put up against him, and I heard firsthand accounts of Brady outrunning some of the fastest guys in the track & field circuit too.

I really don't think he used stuff, but again, it's possible. I know he never quit working out. And the contract year stuff certainly plays into both our hands as a further motive for a great season, whether he used steroids to gain a better contract, or whether he simply used the motivation to further what was already a great season.

[Nuclear Dish]

Batting average is not a useless stat. RBI may be, and Win-loss record for pitchers may be as well, but the average of amount of times you get a hit is a very good statistic.

Disagree. Batting average is overrated. OBP is much more accurate in terms of a player's true ability.


He only got over .400 in OBP once so I can't say I'm too impressed. Melvin Mora has had an OBP over .400 in the last two years. It's not horrible, but again not something I'm overly impressed with.

That's misleading. Starting with his great year in '96, Brady had an OBP over .390 in 3 of 4 seasons. That's quite impressive. An OBP over .400 is fairly uncommon, so Mora's accomplishment is more impressive. Nonetheless, it takes nothing away from Brady.


Having hit 50 bombs and then never getting over 25 HR again is depressing after we gave him a huge contract. That is why I have always had this tension towards him.

I can understand your bias better now. Still, it's not like Brady failed to perform. He had very good seasons in 2 of the following 3 seasons after his great year, and then a pretty good year in the 4th season. The problem was that it was a 5-year deal, and he was more or less useless the final season. But the O's had too much loyalty and were too afraid of pissing off Cal to trade him away when we should have, which was after the 3rd year, when he had 24 HR and 81 RBI.

Look, Brady was a solid OF for 9 seasons for us. That has to count for something. He was one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game for nearly a decade. No one is going to make the claim that he belongs in the HOF. But his place in O's history is well-established, 50-HR season or not.

[Orioles Jim]

See, it's comments like that that make me discredit your opinion. I even went so far as to suggest that it's possible Brady was doing something inappropriate, despite all my personal knowledge to the contrary, and you still had to go and belittle the possibility that he was on the up-and-up.

Brady was always a workout guy. He never stopped working out. If you saw him today, he'd probably be just as stacked as he was then. He was also the fastest man I've ever seen in person, and I believe a lot of his excess speed came from his leg workouts. The man had absolutely huge thighs. I saw him outsprint every guy the O's culd put up against him, and I heard firsthand accounts of Brady outrunning some of the fastest guys in the track & field circuit too.

I really don't think he used stuff, but again, it's possible. I know he never quit working out. And the contract year stuff certainly plays into both our hands as a further motive for a great season, whether he used steroids to gain a better contract, or whether he simply used the motivation to further what was already a great season.

It was a joke, move on. I do accept the possibility that he just trained extra hard for one year and the next years he had less of a work ethic because there was no incentive to be better except for pride.

What you have said about Brady and his way of life is very interesting and I have found it to be a good read. I thank you for that.

[Orioles Jim]

Disagree. Batting average is overrated. OBP is much more accurate in terms of a player's true ability.


Batting average may be misleading but it is not a useless stat. Ledzepp said it was useless, but I think you and me can agree that it is vital.



That's misleading. Starting with his great year in '96, Brady had an OBP over .390 in 3 of 4 seasons. That's quite impressive. An OBP over .400 is fairly uncommon, so Mora's accomplishment is more impressive. Nonetheless, it takes nothing away from Brady.

I think that Mora is better. I said that I was not overly impressed with his OBP that's all. I would rather have Mora over him.



I can understand your bias better now. Still, it's not like Brady failed to perform. He had very good seasons in 2 of the following 3 seasons after his great year, and then a pretty good year in the 4th season. The problem was that it was a 5-year deal, and he was more or less useless the final season. But the O's had too much loyalty and were too afraid of pissing off Cal to trade him away when we should have, which was after the 3rd year, when he had 24 HR and 81 RBI.

Look, Brady was a solid OF for 9 seasons for us. That has to count for something. He was one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game for nearly a decade. No one is going to make the claim that he belongs in the HOF. But his place in O's history is well-established, 50-HR season or not.

I think that he should have repeated that year every year or at least gotten 30 HR for each of those five years. We signed him for five years expecting him to get the same production each year. He failed us. While he was a very fast runner at one point, he did lose a step over his career.

[BustaJ2632]

I have to say, this has been an unbelieveable thread. What started out as a former O's intern bashing the organization in a college paper has now included the O's Dir. of Comm. chiming in, a discussion on fraternizing with players, a description of Theo Epstein and Eddie Epstein, and a debate on Brady and steroids! Anything else we can throw in to make this any more intrguing?!

I gotta agree. Since we've talked a bit about Theo, and since we're doing some changes around here anyway, it might be fun to create a "boneyard" page of the OH like they have at Sons of Sam Horn, for all the classic threads. You know, like when the O's sign Delgado and Beltran, when they win the World Series, etc. And this should be the first one in there. I didn't read it until just now, and it's been the most entertaining read on the Orioles Talk page all offseason ;) .

As a note on the original topic, I interned at the Ripken Foundation for the past two summers. I got the position because one employee there happened to be the wife of my high school physics teacher. They haven't had anyone my age, let alone younger than me, since I started, and they generally have had 6-10 interns working all the time when I've been there. The first summer, I didn't do much that was "glamorous." I had to compile a box score and write a short game summary for each game of Cal's streak for a fund raiser they were doing. I only got about halfway through, but I was always around and making myself available for other less-than-awesome tasks. By my second summer, the woman who had recommended me was no longer with the Foundation. Nonetheless, they asked me back and had me do a report on the health of youth baseball and what we as an organization could do about it. It was basically meant as a guideline for the Foundation's future operations, and was a big project that took the whole summer to compile. I know that the Ripken Foundation and Ripken Baseball is much smaller than the Baltimore Orioles organization, but this guy should understand that it's going to take more than a few weeks telling people that he's going to be the next Theo Epstein to actually get a serious opportunity. Connections are a great start, but that won't keep you around...a willingness to help out is what does it. Now, I am an intern with Maryland Media Relations down at College Park, a job I got in part thanks to a letter of recommendation from John Maroon at the Foundation. I'm back to menial work, spending my time in the office cutting out articles and handing out stat sheets to reporters at women's basketball games. But hey, you gotta start somewhere.

Rob and Chris, that wasn't really meant as a commentary on your frustration. I'm just a college kid and, while I am hoping to get some great experience with these internships and am not ruling out working at either organization as a career, I'm not worried about that yet. You guys were in a different position in your lives, I assume, and I can definitely understand wanting to move on from something that you feel is a dead-end job.

I know this has been covered, but I have a friend on the grounds crew who's been there for 3 years. For at least the past 2, he has occasionally played golf with BJ Ryan, talks all the time with a lot of the relievers (he is often assigned to the bullpen during games, so he's around them a lot anyway), and is on such friendly terms that he feels comfortable putting them down (he told me last season of making fun of Rick Bauer only to see Bauer sent down to Ottawa the next day, so he felt bad). Anyway, maybe it's different since he's on the field as part of his job, but he certainly hasn't experienced any repercussions from his friendships with the players.

Thanks, Spiro, for taking the time to come chat with us. I appreciate your views on the team. I mentioned SoSH before, and we all know how Curt Schilling posts there on occasion. He might offer an insider's look into the team and yes, they didn't have a lot to complain about this year when all was said and done but, from what I've read, he never was too critical of the team either. People who expect you or anyone else from the organization to come on here and blast the Orioles' way of doing things just aren't thinking, IMO. I have nothing to complain about in terms of this offseason so far, anyway. At least, that's just me. Thanks again, and I hope we see you back here every once in a while!

...and uh...you know...if you want, come on over to the Community section and vote in the Greatest Bands Tournament:D :cool:

Sam Angell

[Mackus]

Batting average may be misleading but it is not a useless stat. Ledzepp said it was useless, but I think you and me can agree that it is vital.
Batting average is not useless, but it is far from vital. If you were going to rank players using only one stat and form a team from those rankings, you'd form a much better offensive team by going on OBP than batting average.

[Nuclear Dish]

I think that he should have repeated that year every year or at least gotten 30 HR for each of those five years. We signed him for five years expecting him to get the same production each year. He failed us. While he was a very fast runner at one point, he did lose a step over his career.

I don't think this is realistic. The guy had never had more than 21 HR in a season, has one great year, and you expect him to produce 30 every year for 5 straight?

I don't think the O's ever expected it. Yes, he got big bucks, but not at the level of a 30-HR hitter. He got his bucks because:
a) he was coming off a career year;
b) he was a great leadoff guy who got on base nearly 40% of the time and stole 20-30 bases a year;
c) he showed a little power for a leadoff guy, hitting 18-25 HR a year;
d) he played a terrific LF and a better-than-average CF;
e) he could be counted on to be in the lineup every day (he played about 150 games each year);
f) he was Cal's best friend and we didn't want to risk pissing off our HOFer; and
g) he was a fan favorite, and they didn't care to alienate the fan base.

All of those contributed to both the length and the value of his contract. All management expected from him, and had a right to expect, was the continuation of items b) through e). They more or less got that for 4 of the 5 seasons.

Oh, and if you have an issue with him not living up to his end, reconsider whether it was management's poor decision more than his own fault. The guy was going on his Age 33 Season when they signed him to a 5-year deal. That means that in his final year of the deal, he was 37, an age that very few players who aren't superstars perform very well in.

[Nuclear Dish]

I gotta agree. Since we've talked a bit about Theo, and since we're doing some changes around here anyway, it might be fun to create a "boneyard" page of the OH like they have at Sons of Sam Horn, for all the classic threads. You know, like when the O's sign Delgado and Beltran, when they win the World Series, etc. And this should be the first one in there. I didn't read it until just now, and it's been the most entertaining read on the Orioles Talk page all offseason ;) .

As a note on the original topic, I interned at the Ripken Foundation for the past two summers. I got the position because one employee there happened to be the wife of my high school physics teacher. They haven't had anyone my age, let alone younger than me, since I started, and they generally have had 6-10 interns working all the time when I've been there. The first summer, I didn't do much that was "glamorous." I had to compile a box score and write a short game summary for each game of Cal's streak for a fund raiser they were doing. I only got about halfway through, but I was always around and making myself available for other less-than-awesome tasks. By my second summer, the woman who had recommended me was no longer with the Foundation. Nonetheless, they asked me back and had me do a report on the health of youth baseball and what we as an organization could do about it. It was basically meant as a guideline for the Foundation's future operations, and was a big project that took the whole summer to compile. I know that the Ripken Foundation and Ripken Baseball is much smaller than the Baltimore Orioles organization, but this guy should understand that it's going to take more than a few weeks telling people that he's going to be the next Theo Epstein to actually get a serious opportunity. Connections are a great start, but that won't keep you around...a willingness to help out is what does it. Now, I am an intern with Maryland Media Relations down at College Park, a job I got in part thanks to a letter of recommendation from John Maroon at the Foundation. I'm back to menial work, spending my time in the office cutting out articles and handing out stat sheets to reporters at women's basketball games. But hey, you gotta start somewhere.

Rob and Chris, that wasn't really meant as a commentary on your frustration. I'm just a college kid and, while I am hoping to get some great experience with these internships and am not ruling out working at either organization as a career, I'm not worried about that yet. You guys were in a different position in your lives, I assume, and I can definitely understand wanting to move on from something that you feel is a dead-end job.

I know this has been covered, but I have a friend on the grounds crew who's been there for 3 years. For at least the past 2, he has occasionally played golf with BJ Ryan, talks all the time with a lot of the relievers (he is often assigned to the bullpen during games, so he's around them a lot anyway), and is on such friendly terms that he feels comfortable putting them down (he told me last season of making fun of Rick Bauer only to see Bauer sent down to Ottawa the next day, so he felt bad). Anyway, maybe it's different since he's on the field as part of his job, but he certainly hasn't experienced any repercussions from his friendships with the players.

Thanks, Spiro, for taking the time to come chat with us. I appreciate your views on the team. I mentioned SoSH before, and we all know how Curt Schilling posts there on occasion. He might offer an insider's look into the team and yes, they didn't have a lot to complain about this year when all was said and done but, from what I've read, he never was too critical of the team either. People who expect you or anyone else from the organization to come on here and blast the Orioles' way of doing things just aren't thinking, IMO. I have nothing to complain about in terms of this offseason so far, anyway. At least, that's just me. Thanks again, and I hope we see you back here every once in a while!

...and uh...you know...if you want, come on over to the Community section and vote in the Greatest Bands Tournament:D :cool:

Sam Angell

Excellent post. Thanks, Sam. Your experience is exactly what an internship is supposed to be about. There are certianly people who don't have good experiences with their internships, but it sounds like you are making the most of yours.

And thanks, too, for answering my question about what happened to John Maroon. I barely worked with him, but he was the last guy I knew to be in the head PR position with the team. It's good to know someone I worked with (Spiro) is still in charge.

[Sapper]

I will always defend Brady!!!CHICK is disgusting way to describe ANY woman.
Yeah. Cool it man. Some chicks don't like to be called chicks!

[Orioles Jim]

I don't think this is realistic. The guy had never had more than 21 HR in a season, has one great year, and you expect him to produce 30 every year for 5 straight?

I don't think the O's ever expected it. Yes, he got big bucks, but not at the level of a 30-HR hitter. He got his bucks because:
a) he was coming off a career year;
b) he was a great leadoff guy who got on base nearly 40% of the time and stole 20-30 bases a year;
c) he showed a little power for a leadoff guy, hitting 18-25 HR a year;
d) he played a terrific LF and a better-than-average CF;
e) he could be counted on to be in the lineup every day (he played about 150 games each year);
f) he was Cal's best friend and we didn't want to risk pissing off our HOFer; and
g) he was a fan favorite, and they didn't care to alienate the fan base.

All of those contributed to both the length and the value of his contract. All management expected from him, and had a right to expect, was the continuation of items b) through e). They more or less got that for 4 of the 5 seasons.

Oh, and if you have an issue with him not living up to his end, reconsider whether it was management's poor decision more than his own fault. The guy was going on his Age 33 Season when they signed him to a 5-year deal. That means that in his final year of the deal, he was 37, an age that very few players who aren't superstars perform very well in.

He was mediocre I'd say after he got his big contract. Yes he was old at his fifth year so I shouldn't have said I expected him to do that well but I would expect him to at least get 20 HR each year and for a lead off hitter to have a .300 average is not asking too much and he never did that.

I appreciate that he provided good chemistry and that is nice. I am not saying that he was horrible all those years, it was just dissapointing.

[Orioles Jim]

Yeah. Cool it man. Some chicks don't like to be called chicks!

ROFLMAMO you never cease to crack me up. Your bashing of Angelos and everything, it is very amusing.

[Sapper]

The reason he stopped is because steroids are horrible for your body and I think he knew that and got off them quickly. This was smart. Giambi kept on them IMO and now he is having tons of problems with his body. When Bonds was a rookie his hat size was 7, now it is 8. Your dome doesn't just expand massively for no apparent reason. Forehead enlargening is a sign of anabolic steroid usage.

When I joined the Army, my hat size was 7. When I got out it was 7 3/4. I definitely did not juice.

[HeyPenny]

If you aren't wealthy but are a local college student, you can apply and have a shot to be a baserunner just like anyone else.


Brian,
You clearly didn't read my post. I said that the INTERN program is for rich kids with connections, because, as I said, who can afford to work for 2 years, 12-15 hour days, 7 days a week with no pay? Plenty would like to, few actually can.

[Orioles Jim]

When I joined the Army, my hat size was 7. When I got out it was 7 3/4. I definitely did not juice.

I am having a tough time believing this.

[Sapper]

I am having a tough time believing this.

Well, there was that time they tested that secret formula on us. One guy's skin turned green and got really pissed all the time afterwards. Well, I would too if my skin turned green but.....

[Cokeman]

I have to say, this has been an unbelieveable thread. What started out as a former O's intern bashing the organization in a college paper has now included the O's Dir. of Comm. chiming in, a discussion on fraternizing with players, a description of Theo Epstein and Eddie Epstein, and a debate on Brady and steroids! Anything else we can throw in to make this any more intrguing?!

I think Sapper just answered that question. :D

[Orioles Jim]

Well, there was that time they tested that secret formula on us. One guy's skin turned green and got really pissed all the time afterwards. Well, I would too if my skin turned green but.....

That could be the reason. Maybe they gave that secret formula to Bonds too. ;)

[Nuclear Dish]

Brian,
You clearly didn't read my post. I said that the INTERN program is for rich kids with connections, because, as I said, who can afford to work for 2 years, 12-15 hour days, 7 days a week with no pay? Plenty would like to, few actually can.

I wasn't rich when I got my internship, though. (Unfortunately, I'm still not. :( ) I got it through my high school, and I got the job not because of any connections, but because I was able to get in the door for an interview and won them over.

And, FYI, most of the high school interns work co-op hours, which is something like 9:30-3:30, 5 days a week.

The other interns are usually college students during the summers. Rich? Not necessarily, but perhaps well-off enough to be able to afford to spend a summer without pay in the hopes of pursuing a dream career.

And the Baserunners are interns too. They aren't paid, if I recall, and they work from about 3 PM to 1 AM on all home dates.

[HeyPenny]

1. You were in high school. Money didn't mean jack to you then. Epstein was not in high school, nor are any of the other interns

2. Baserunners are NOT interns, and they ARE paid, $7.00 an hour. Theyr'e college kids, and a college kid can afford to work for a cheap hourly wage and still make ends meet. People out of college, like many of the interns, have bills to pay.

Did you really work there, or have things just changed that much since then? I say this in jest, as you clearly worked there. (Though some of these hanging out with players stories seem a bit odd, can't believe players ask employees out to fooball games and to play golf..)

[Orioles Jim]

I agree, that was a great post by Sam (BustaJ). It really showed a lot of maturity.

As for Brady. His career year was NOT a contract year. The following season (when he hit 18-73-.288 / .393 / .469 was his contract year.

For proof of this, I offer this link. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/anderbr01.shtml)

At the bottom in the transactions section, you will see "December 7, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles." That was obviously following the '97 season - his career year came in the '96 season. What made me realize this is the memory of Pat Gillick wanting to trade him to the Yankees straight up for Bernie Williams following the '96 season, but being vetoed by PA (as I recall)

Bernie Williams, that would have been nice.

[Nuclear Dish]

One other thing about the internships. I have no knowledge of his personal situation, but I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if Theo had been paid during his internship with the O's. There are such things as paid internships, they just don't pay well. I have a friend who was recently a paid intern with the Toronto Maple Leafs until the lockout hit. It led him to a full-time position with the CFL.

A lot of the key to internships is finding the right spot with the right terms that best suit you. I once turned down a paid internship with a small newspaper outside of Tampa because it wasn't right for me at the time. I may have made a huge mistake in hindsight, but I was only doing what was best for me then.

But really, when you thnk about it, internships are often about overlooking your present situation in the hopes of it leading to something bigger in the future.

[BustaJ2632]

One other thing about the internships. I have no knowledge of his personal situation, but I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if Theo had been paid during his internship with the O's. There are such things as paid internships, they just don't pay well. I have a friend who was recently a paid intern with the Toronto Maple Leafs until the lockout hit. It led him to a full-time position with the CFL.

That's a good point and I should mention that my internship with the Ripken Foundation was paid. Didn't think to say that in my first post. It wouldn't have really been enough to live on if I weren't still living with my parents, but it suited me nicely as a freshman/sophomore in college.

[Nuclear Dish]

1. You were in high school. Money didn't mean jack to you then. Epstein was not in high school, nor are any of the other interns

Point taken. But there are definitely other high schoolers who get internships with the team, usually from March until May.


2. Baserunners are NOT interns, and they ARE paid, $7.00 an hour. Theyr'e college kids, and a college kid can afford to work for a cheap hourly wage and still make ends meet. People out of college, like many of the interns, have bills to pay.

I was never a Baserunner, so I really have no clue if they are/were paid or not. If you say they are, I'll accept that. I only knew 2 guys who interned with the team who weren't HS or college kids. Both were fresh out of school, and one ended up getting a job with the team after his internship. I am pretty sure he wasn't rich, as he lived in a not-so-nice part of town. However, since he was just out of school and living at home, he probably didn't have too many bills to pay.

But I don't know of too may people who are more than a couple years out of university who are looking for internships in any case. Do you?


Did you really work there, or have things just changed that much since then? I say this in jest, as you clearly worked there.

Then what's the point of asking? Yes, I worked there from 1991-1996. I expect that Spiro can back me up on that, and if that's not good enough for you, check the media guide from 1992 and 1993 (or was it '93 and '94? I can't remember.) My name is in one of them in the staff section as a game technician (or game staff or something), and in the other at the back under a special thanks box for the work I did in compiling the guide.


(Though some of these hanging out with players stories seem a bit odd, can't believe players ask employees out to fooball games and to play golf..)

I never played golf with a player. I hate golf and would have royally embarrassed myself. :o

Brady and I went to a Hopkins football game together with his French girlfriend. I also went to the Saints-Dolphins exhibition game at Memorial Stadium before the Ravens came to town with a group of employees from the team that included Brady (hanging out with the office staff).

As I mentioned, I went to Baja Beach Club with Devo on more than one occasion. I hung out in Cleveland one night with Sam Horn when the team was on a road trip. And as I mentioned, I babysat for Glenn Davis and videoed his daughter's recital. He gave me a crisp new $100 bill at the end of the season as a special thank-you bonus for being so nice to his wife and kids.

Players are not so different from everyone else, especially when they are single and have disposable cash and are looking to have a good time. They make friends with people they are around frequently, and that includes other players and often game staff. In my case, I knew all these guys because I worked the video room off the clubhouse for nearly 2 years. Brady and Devo frequently hung out in there because HTS always sent their intern babes (sorry Cindy, but they were always major babes) to the room to collect out-of-town highlights. Sam Horn used the room to set up dates (yes, he was married, but that never stopped him). Rhodes just liked to the quiet and the comfy black leather couch. Baines just liked to get away from the rowdiness in the clubhouse. McLemore was a video animal who was always studying his tapes. I got to know all these guys real well. And in a rain delay, the place got even more crowded, with guys like Moose and Cal occasionally making an appearance.

[AmaralFan1]

I am sitting at fanfest in 2001, and I am probably the youngest person every to hold an orioles press pass (16 years old for those interested). So I strike up a conversation with Brady who is wearing a light tan colored leather jacket and I go "Hey Brady, the jacket is kind of queer. So Brady, a cool guy in his own, goes to me "Hey Nick (reading the name on my press pass) I think the jacket is kind of cool. At that, Brady flips up the collar on the jacket. Moments later, after Brady walks away to be with his girlfriend who is apparently the lead singer of a band, a girl my age runs up to me and asks if she can have the bottle of water Brady was drinking from on the stage (deerpark for those diehard Brady fans). So me and an usher give her the bottle, and the whole Brady experience is over. That was a great fanfest, and still, the only time I have acctually met Tony. On an interesting note, Tony gave me an Orioleshangout Tshirt, which I have worn through many pivital moments in the last 4 years. If anyone really wants to know, I will make a post about it.

Nick

[Tony-OH]

Chicks dig steroids apparently. I don't know what's with your obsession with Brady but personally I think that he was on the juice and he only had one good season. Don't get me wrong I don't hate him, but why is it Cindyluvsbrady and not like Cindyluvscal or someone who were actually good consistently.

Jim, grow up, OK. If you have nothing constructive to say, and claiming Brady was juiced and can't understand why Cindy liked him is not constructive, then don't post.

What you just did is comparable to trolling and is not allowed. Don't do it again and you might want to consider apoligizing to Cindy.

[Tony-OH]

It was a joke, move on. I do accept the possibility that he just trained extra hard for one year and the next years he had less of a work ethic because there was no incentive to be better except for pride.

What you have said about Brady and his way of life is very interesting and I have found it to be a good read. I thank you for that.

You hijacked this thread, offended a long time poster, and just don't get it. You are out of here for a week. You can reapply to John-OH on January 8th. If you continue to act like you do, then you are out of here for good.

This was a perfectly outstanding thread until your hijinx. You were one fo the main reason the Politics board was shut down and I'm just tired of seeing you pull down the the board with your continued immaturity. Perhaps you should wait until you grow up a bit before you post on this site.

[jeff ballard]

Sorry to have missed out on all the fun. It took me a while to figure out that the down time on the site also ruined my link to the site in the favorites.

Hey Spiro! It's Brian Klaff. I didn't know you were the Director of Communications! My God, that's a long road you took, but that just goes to prove the point I'm about to make. You were a Baserunner, when I was interning, and for anyone who isn't aware, that's an even longer path to take. What happened to John Maroon? That was the last I heard about the PR department there. And where is Rick Vaughn these days? Is he still with the Devil Rays? Are you in touch with Charles any more? What ever happened to Vince and Pete? Either of them still with the team?.......


As for me, I was never a Baserunner, nor was Theo Epstein. I was a high school intern, which was reserved for students from two schools: Gilman, which has had a program with the O's since the early 70's (Charles Steinberg himself was a Gilman intern), and Beth Tfiloh, from which I was the first such intern because I wowed Charles in my interview. Beth Tfiloh's program no longer exists, having petered out after about 5 years.
Theo, as I mentioned, got his internship through his connections. However, he performed many of the Baserunner tasks in addition to working full days.

The comment that only the wealthy get internships is bogus. The people who get internships have one of 3 traits: 1) they attend a local university and make it through the screening process; 2) they attend Gilman and make it through the screening process; 3) they have connections and make it through an interview process.

If you aren't wealthy but are a local college student, you can apply and have a shot to be a baserunner just like anyone else.

Oh, and Cindy, you should know that although the official policy is that interns can't have relationships with players, it certainyl happens a lot. Steve Finley's wife used to be a Baserunner.

Brian Klaff!, long time no see .....Interesting posts but you should know the Beth Tfiloh line didn't end with your stint with birds......During the spring of '98 (around the same time brian's brother was coaching our beth tfiloh varsity baseball team to our winningest season ever; 3-13) I called the Orioles out of the blue in an attempt to land a spring internship for my senior year internship program. I had no connections besides being a lemonade vendor the previous year. But for some reason Bill Stetka and John Maroon took the time to meet with me and took on my free labor in the PR department.

I was there for only about 6 weeks and did many of the same things that others have described (press clippings, answering fan mail, updating the oriole record books). It wasnt always neccesarily the most brain taxing work but I loved every second of it and felt as Spiro described fortunate to be playing a role (albeit a small one) with the team I always loved. I just loved coming to work every day and having the chance to catch a glimpse of how baseball franchise is run. I worked under some great people including Kevin Behan who is making quite a name for himself now with the Birds and who was then merely a paid intern.

The point is I just wanted to corroborate (sp?) Brian's posting because I got the internship with absolutely no connection and from my impression there are lot of people in that warehouse that had similar opportunities that they made most of us and are now reaping the benefits of their hard work and dedication (i.e. Spiro, and Behan).

[cindyluvsbrady]

Jim, grow up, OK. If you have nothing constructive to say, and claiming Brady was juiced and can't understand why Cindy liked him is not constructive, then don't post.

What you just did is comparable to trolling and is not allowed. Don't do it again and you might want to consider apoligizing to Cindy.
Thank You Tony!!!! :)

[FutureOwner]

And I had fights with Billy Ripken (which almost came to blows) and Mike Mussina (he never spoke to me again).

Nuclear,

I would love to hear some elaboration on these fights, especially with Mussina. We know how the Billy Ripken fight cam about, he is, of course, a F*ck Face.

Ive got to hear this Mussina story.

[Nuclear Dish]

Nuclear,

I would love to hear some elaboration on these fights, especially with Mussina. We know how the Billy Ripken fight cam about, he is, of course, a F*ck Face.

Ive got to hear this Mussina story.

I've posted this before, but I'll quickly summarize:

It was the night before the big strike in '94, and I was working the video room. There was a rain delay and more players than normal had congregated in the room. There were about 10 guys, and they were all sitting around discussing the impending strike.

I was most definitely pro-player in the dispute, and I was sitting around listening to the guys talk about how awful the owners were.

Mussina, as you may recall, was the player rep. All the players looked up to him and accepted everything he said as gospel. But he made some kind of overblown comment about the owners that was exaggerated by tens of millions of dollars and made them sound like they were slaveowners. I chimed in with something like, "I'm all for your side, Moose, but that's taking it a little too far."

Mussina's angered response was typical of his ego: "What the f*** do you know? I graduated from Stanford with a degree in economics in 3 and a half years!"

To which I came back with, "Excuse me. I'm graduating from Hopkins with a degree in economics in 3 years!"

The rest of the players oohed and aahed and Moose was completely red-faced and embarrassed. He never spoke another word to me again for as long as I worked there (about 2 more years).

[Nuclear Dish]

Brian Klaff!, long time no see .....Interesting posts but you should know the Beth Tfiloh line didn't end with your stint with birds......During the spring of '98 (around the same time brian's brother was coaching our beth tfiloh varsity baseball team to our winningest season ever; 3-13) I called the Orioles out of the blue in an attempt to land a spring internship for my senior year internship program. I had no connections besides being a lemonade vendor the previous year. But for some reason Bill Stetka and John Maroon took the time to meet with me and took on my free labor in the PR department.

I was there for only about 6 weeks and did many of the same things that others have described (press clippings, answering fan mail, updating the oriole record books). It wasnt always neccesarily the most brain taxing work but I loved every second of it and felt as Spiro described fortunate to be playing a role (albeit a small one) with the team I always loved. I just loved coming to work every day and having the chance to catch a glimpse of how baseball franchise is run. I worked under some great people including Kevin Behan who is making quite a name for himself now with the Birds and who was then merely a paid intern.

The point is I just wanted to corroborate (sp?) Brian's posting because I got the internship with absolutely no connection and from my impression there are lot of people in that warehouse that had similar opportunities that they made most of us and are now reaping the benefits of their hard work and dedication (i.e. Spiro, and Behan).

You're going to have to give me more than that to go on to identify you. Nathan? Frankie? Ian? Complete guesses. I'm not even sure I have the right era of BT. I know Nathan worked as a vendor.

I know I wasn't the last BT intern. B. Lazarus followed me, and continued working games for a couple years after that too. There was at least one more after that. If you got in on an interview, all the more power to you.

[birdseed]

When I joined the Army, my hat size was 7. When I got out it was 7 3/4. I definitely did not juice.

Hmmm. So, can we therefore assume that serving in the armed forces, like being a professional athlete or working in some other testosteronesque type careers can......go to your head? :rolleyes:

[Sapper]

Hmmm. So, can we therefore assume that serving in the armed forces, like being a professional athlete or working in some other testosteronesque type careers can......go to your head? :rolleyes:

I definitely don't suffer from being shy about expressing my opinions (usually as if they were facts). :)

[hammondsOs]

Kind of entertaining read, but sounds like the kid is cocky

[Nuclear Dish]

Kind of entertaining read, but sounds like the kid is cocky

Which kid? The original intern in the thread?

If you were referring to me, I certainly was a cocky kid when I had my internship/job with the team. But when things didn't work out in my baseball career, I learned that I was nothing more than another promising flameout, whether because of natural selection or because of an unfair "Old Boys Network" that unfairly rewarded those with better connections. These days I look back on it as if I had my shot, I didn't take full advantage of it, and the doors ultimately closed. It taught me some good lessons in life.

[jeff ballard]

You're going to have to give me more than that to go on to identify you. Nathan? Frankie? Ian? Complete guesses. I'm not even sure I have the right era of BT. I know Nathan worked as a vendor.

I know I wasn't the last BT intern. B. Lazarus followed me, and continued working games for a couple years after that too. There was at least one more after that. If you got in on an interview, all the more power to you.

Hey Brian, it's Jon Minkove, I came along well after those guys. I hope all is well north of the border.

[Tank]

I am sitting at fanfest in 2001, and I am probably the youngest person every to hold an orioles press pass (16 years old for those interested). So I strike up a conversation with Brady who is wearing a light tan colored leather jacket and I go "Hey Brady, the jacket is kind of queer. So Brady, a cool guy in his own, goes to me "Hey Nick (reading the name on my press pass) I think the jacket is kind of cool. At that, Brady flips up the collar on the jacket. Moments later, after Brady walks away to be with his girlfriend who is apparently the lead singer of a band, a girl my age runs up to me and asks if she can have the bottle of water Brady was drinking from on the stage (deerpark for those diehard Brady fans). So me and an usher give her the bottle, and the whole Brady experience is over. That was a great fanfest, and still, the only time I have acctually met Tony. On an interesting note, Tony gave me an Orioleshangout Tshirt, which I have worn through many pivital moments in the last 4 years. If anyone really wants to know, I will make a post about it.

Nick

I need a OH t-shirt.

[Sapper]

I am sitting at fanfest in 2001, and I am probably the youngest person every to hold an orioles press pass (16 years old for those interested). So I strike up a conversation with Brady who is wearing a light tan colored leather jacket and I go "Hey Brady, the jacket is kind of queer. So Brady, a cool guy in his own, goes to me "Hey Nick (reading the name on my press pass) I think the jacket is kind of cool. At that, Brady flips up the collar on the jacket. Moments later, after Brady walks away to be with his girlfriend who is apparently the lead singer of a band, a girl my age runs up to me and asks if she can have the bottle of water Brady was drinking from on the stage (deerpark for those diehard Brady fans). So me and an usher give her the bottle, and the whole Brady experience is over. That was a great fanfest, and still, the only time I have acctually met Tony. On an interesting note, Tony gave me an Orioleshangout Tshirt, which I have worn through many pivital moments in the last 4 years. If anyone really wants to know, I will make a post about it.

Nick

Sorry to nitpick but: A "pivotal moment" is defined as a "turning point". I am unaware that we've turned anything around in the last 4 years.

[Marylandline]

Sorry to nitpick but: A "pivotal moment" is defined as a "turning point". I am unaware that we've turned anything around in the last 4 years.

Do you think he might mean a pivotal point in his life?

[hammondsOs]

Nuclear-

No you aren't cocky. I am the same way with internships and the good experience. This past summer I interned with CNN in Washington DC and it was a great experience. Got to meet some great TV talent (Wolf Blitzer) and some celebrities (Angelina Jolie). Not enough sports related work though, which I am aiming to pursue. I haven't read all the posts so I don't know if you already posted about it (other than your , but did you like your internship with them? What did some of your duties include?

[Sapper]

Sorry to nitpick but: A "pivotal moment" is defined as a "turning point". I am unaware that we've turned anything around in the last 4 years.

Alright, who's the wise guy that gave me negative rep points for this post. Some people are so touchy! :mad:

[brooks#5]

... On an interesting note, Tony gave me an Orioleshangout Tshirt, which I have worn through many pivotal moments in the last 4 years. If anyone really wants to know, I will make a post about it.


Would love to hear it---

By the way, this has been one of the best threads - kudos to all who shared their experiences and insight--

[AmaralFan1]

Lol I didn't give you negative points Sapper, don't worry.

I will do a thread about the shirt on the community board. It has an interesting history.

Nick

[yuds]

Just to continue about this Hangout shirt thing, you guys (Tony, John, etc) really need to set up a way where the rest of us can get hold of these. They'd be a hot commodity!

[Nuclear Dish]

I want one. And one for my 4-year old. He may not post (yet), but right now I need to get him as much O's-related content I can, so he doesn't develop an attachment to the Jays.

Poor kid is so confused about who to root for. Everything up here baseball-wise is Jays, Jays, Jays. Then I sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with him, and I'm sure to sing "Let me root, root, root for the Orioles". He owns an O's hat, and has an O's pennant in his room, but he goes to Jays games.

Has anyone dealt with a similar issue?

[BustaJ2632]

I want one. And one for my 4-year old. He may not post (yet), but right now I need to get him as much O's-related content I can, so he doesn't develop an attachment to the Jays.

Poor kid is so confused about who to root for. Everything up here baseball-wise is Jays, Jays, Jays. Then I sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with him, and I'm sure to sing "Let me root, root, root for the Orioles". He owns an O's hat, and has an O's pennant in his room, but he goes to Jays games.

Has anyone dealt with a similar issue?

Before this thread takes another twist down the parenting road, I gotta ask if they still play that "OK Blue Jays" song at the 7th inning stretch. We stayed at the SkyDome Hotel for a couple games against Anaheim in 1998, and that song was just...ughhh it's still stuck in my head.

You gotta diamond...
And you got nine men
You got a hat, and a bat, and that ain't all
You got...*something I can't remember*

chorus:
OK! (OK!)
Blue Jays! (Blue Jays!)
Let's! (Let's!)
Play! (Play!)
Ball!

OK so that's as far as I get. But I swear that's off 6-and-a-half year memory of 2 unmemorable games in July or August. That song will drive me to the grave. It makes Country Boy sound like Beethoven's fifth. ARGHHHH

[Tank]

Just to continue about this Hangout shirt thing, you guys (Tony, John, etc) really need to set up a way where the rest of us can get hold of these. They'd be a hot commodity!

Agreed. I'd pay money for one.

[Nuclear Dish]

Before this thread takes another twist down the parenting road, I gotta ask if they still play that "OK Blue Jays" song at the 7th inning stretch. We stayed at the SkyDome Hotel for a couple games against Anaheim in 1998, and that song was just...ughhh it's still stuck in my head.

You gotta diamond...
And you got nine men
You got a hat, and a bat, and that ain't all
You got...*something I can't remember*

chorus:
OK! (OK!)
Blue Jays! (Blue Jays!)
Let's! (Let's!)
Play! (Play!)
Ball!

OK so that's as far as I get. But I swear that's off 6-and-a-half year memory of 2 unmemorable games in July or August. That song will drive me to the grave. It makes Country Boy sound like Beethoven's fifth. ARGHHHH

Honestly, I haven't been to enough games to know. I think they play it, but not in the 7th inning stretch any more.

I think I'm buying a ticket package this year (10-games, 9 of which I hope to use to see the O's - it would be 10, except they require one to be the home opener, which is TB, I believe), so I'll certainly let you know.

[markpolis]

I want one. And one for my 4-year old. He may not post (yet), but right now I need to get him as much O's-related content I can, so he doesn't develop an attachment to the Jays.

Poor kid is so confused about who to root for. Everything up here baseball-wise is Jays, Jays, Jays. Then I sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with him, and I'm sure to sing "Let me root, root, root for the Orioles". He owns an O's hat, and has an O's pennant in his room, but he goes to Jays games.

Has anyone dealt with a similar issue?

I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old, both girls. I live in LA. They were both born in LA. Neither of them know the first thing about baseball, but you can bet your life they are big Baltimore Oriole fans.

I've taken both of them to Angel and Dodgers games, but of course only when they are playing the Orioles. They know the Orioles are "daddy's team" and nothing else matters. Their classmates and friends root for the Angels and the Dodgers, but when it comes "push to shove" they know it's the Orioles all the way. Unless, of course, they want to sleep outside with the dog. :cool:

[AmaralFan1]

Nuclear,

First off, what is up with the screen name. I have been wondering what a Nuclear Dish is since you posted. I love it.

Anyways, when I was 3 my dad started taking me down the Baltimore Washington Parkway to see Orioles games just so I would know who to root for. In Wales (where I grew up for the first three years of my life), my dad strang an wire up on the roof of our farm house so that we could get the Orioles on the Worldband radio. Ofcourse now that DC has a team, I will probably see more Nationals games and may even intern for them.

As for the shirts, they use to sell them on the website a few years ago I think. I love the damn thing and still wear it almost once a week as an undershirt (its turned colors since I got it from washs and other stuff). The front had a little Orioles Hangout seal on it, and the back says in big bold black letters "I Hang at the Orioleshangout.com."

Nick

[Sapper]

Pic of Theo Epstein and Renteria from Boston official site:

Pic (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2004/12/17/6VIhT365.jpg)

[AmaralFan1]

Theo = Younger version of Johnny Knoxville.

Nick

[mweb]

I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old, both girls. I live in LA. They were both born in LA. Neither of them know the first thing about baseball, but you can bet your life they are big Baltimore Oriole fans.

I've taken both of them to Angel and Dodgers games, but of course only when they are playing the Orioles. They know the Orioles are "daddy's team" and nothing else matters. Their classmates and friends root for the Angels and the Dodgers, but when it comes "push to shove" they know it's the Orioles all the way. Unless, of course, they want to sleep outside with the dog. :cool:

As sad as this is to say, your daughters would probably be better off being Angels fans. They have a very bright future with Moreno as the owner and a good GM and manager.

[Sapper]

As sad as this is to say, your daughters would probably be better off being Angels fans. They have a very bright future with Moreno as the owner and a good GM and manager.

My 4 girls have never known a winning Orioles. The oldest was just an infant the last time the Orioles had a winning season.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Agreed. I'd pay money for one.
Me Too! :)

[cindyluvsbrady]

I want one. And one for my 4-year old. He may not post (yet), but right now I need to get him as much O's-related content I can, so he doesn't develop an attachment to the Jays.

Poor kid is so confused about who to root for. Everything up here baseball-wise is Jays, Jays, Jays. Then I sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with him, and I'm sure to sing "Let me root, root, root for the Orioles". He owns an O's hat, and has an O's pennant in his room, but he goes to Jays games.

Has anyone dealt with a similar issue?
My youngest son was a yankee on his 1st baseball team :eek: It was HORRIBLE the coach was a true evil yank and brainwashed the kids. My child thinks hes a yank fan but I think he just says it to torture me. :( That coach is an evil man.

[Nuclear Dish]

Nuclear,

First off, what is up with the screen name. I have been wondering what a Nuclear Dish is since you posted. I love it.

Anyways, when I was 3 my dad started taking me down the Baltimore Washington Parkway to see Orioles games just so I would know who to root for. In Wales (where I grew up for the first three years of my life), my dad strang an wire up on the roof of our farm house so that we could get the Orioles on the Worldband radio. Ofcourse now that DC has a team, I will probably see more Nationals games and may even intern for them.

As for the shirts, they use to sell them on the website a few years ago I think. I love the damn thing and still wear it almost once a week as an undershirt (its turned colors since I got it from washs and other stuff). The front had a little Orioles Hangout seal on it, and the back says in big bold black letters "I Hang at the Orioleshangout.com."

Nick

Well, this is going to take this thread into yet another tangent.

Ever heard of APBA? Strat-o-matic? Well, APBA, IMHO, is the better of the two classic tabletop baseball games. It is played with two dice, 4 double-sided boards, and a set of player cards. I spent the vast majority of my youth playing the game, and I am joined in my passion by such luminaries as George H. Bush, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, David Eisenhower, Joe Torre, Harold Reynolds, Jim Kaat, Curt Schilling, Ed Koch, and OH's own Glenn_Gulliver and Calsmanystances.

In any case, APBA player cards often include a lot of biographical data, including date of birth, place of birth, and then first, middle, last names and a player's nickname. This led to me collecting a wealth of obscure info on players that few others could possibly ever know. For example, how many people here knew that former Braves 2B Glenn Hubbard was born on Hann Air Force Base in Germany? Or how many people knew that '70's 1B Tony Solaita's real first naem is Tolia and he was born in Nuuuli, American Samoa (yes, that's 3 consecutive u's and it's not a typo). Or how many people here know that Eddie Murray's middle name is Clarence?

The nickname could be as pedestrian as "Robbie" for Roberto Alomar, as simple as "Junior" for Cal, or as obscure as "Tired" for Eddie Murray.

"Nuclear Dish" was the nickname given in one or two seasons for Billy Ripken. In all my years with the O's, I was never able to confirm that it was actually a nickname he had been given, nor could I ascertain the origins of such. However, given that I had experienced Billy's explosive temper, I thought it was an appropriate nickname. The guy could go nuclear on the flick of a switch.

Thus, in looking for a creative handle for the board, I decided that I would be known as Nuclear Dish, as a tribute to APBA, my stint with the O's, and one unforgettable incident with my least favorite Oriole.

(You know the irony is that up until my run-in with Billy, he had been a great guy. He even confided in me one time about how hard it was to be Billy Ripken, AKA Cal's Little Brother. It's an interesting story if anyone is interested to hear it.)

[cindyluvsbrady]

Please Tell The Billy Ripken Story!!!!!!!

[Nuclear Dish]

My youngest son was a yankee on his 1st baseball team :eek: It was HORRIBLE the coach was a true evil yank and brainwashed the kids. My child thinks hes a yank fan but I think he just says it to torture me. :( That coach is an evil man.

Most little leagues inthe Boston area have banned the use of Yankees as a team name. There are a few in the Baltimore area to have done the same. I whole-heartedly support such policies.

Thank God I was never on a team called the Yankees. I'd probably have quit and gone off to play tennis.

BTW, does anyone remember that horrific article that came out in Boston last year (i'm 90% sure I saw it posted on this board) about teenagers who were becoming traitors and becoming Yankees fans?! They were tired of the culture of losing, and they were teenagers looking to antagonize their parents, so they became Yankees fans. Can you think of a worse fate than for your kids to become avid Yankees fans?!

I wonder what happened to those kids now that Boston won the Series?

[Nuclear Dish]

Theo = Younger version of Johnny Knoxville.

Nick

Excellent!!! LMAO.

[Nuclear Dish]

I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old, both girls. I live in LA. They were both born in LA. Neither of them know the first thing about baseball, but you can bet your life they are big Baltimore Oriole fans.

I've taken both of them to Angel and Dodgers games, but of course only when they are playing the Orioles. They know the Orioles are "daddy's team" and nothing else matters. Their classmates and friends root for the Angels and the Dodgers, but when it comes "push to shove" they know it's the Orioles all the way. Unless, of course, they want to sleep outside with the dog. :cool:

Unfortunately, my son is currently into rooting for anyone that Daddy isn't rooting for. I'm sure it's just a phase.

He also likes to root for teams based on their colors, thus he will root for the Ravens as long as they are wearing purple (and not those horrific all-black unis), but he's not especially fond of Orange and Black.

And I'm most proud that his favorite color is Carolina Blue (and he doesn't even know that the term "Light" blue exists. "Light" blue, to him, is Carolina Blue).

I'll give him another year to grow out of the whole Jays infatuation. After that, it's hardcore Orioles brainwashing.

[Nuclear Dish]

Please Tell The Billy Ripken Story!!!!!!!

Well, basically, one time Billy and my "supervisor" Red (who shortly thereafter left the O's for the Buffalo Bills) and I got to talking in the video room when no one else was around.

It started out innocently, talking about his childhood and some of his memories of following around his dad. But at some point, Billy nearly broke down in tears, talking about how hard it is to be Billy Ripken.

He said, Fred is the first born, and he'll therefore always have a special place in the family. Plus, Fred had some issues (if you know what I mean) at various times, and he was therefore given some extra attention.

Ellie is the only girl, so she of course , is lavished with attention from both parents as well. Plus she was a great athlete, and it only made her all the more perfect in her father's eyes.

And Cal is Cal. He's the embodiment of everything his father ever wanted to be. He's the perfect synthesis of talent and hard work leading to a HOF career. In other words, Cal, Jr. was the Oriole Way incarnate. Senior loved Cal for it, and when Billy didn't measure up to that level as a player, he always felt second rate.

Moreover, Cal was also the embodiment of what Vi wanted for her kids. He went from an Aberdeen country boy to a big-city debonair gentleman. He had become a society person, and he had brought his mother along for the ride. Plus, he had married a beautiful, tall, well-spoken blonde in Kelly, which was the epitome of his arrival as a socialite. This meant that Billy was (at least in his own eyes) second to Cal in his mother's opinion as well.

And then Cal went and had the first grandkid. At the time, Cal only had Rachel and not Ryan yet. And Billy made a comment that was just amazing to me in terms of its insight into his self-esteem.

He said, "I have to have the first grandson. If I don't, I've got nothing. I need to be the one to carry on the Ripken name and have the first shot at producing the next generation of major leaguer. If Cal gets that too, he'll have everything, and I'll be left with nothing."

Then he told me that the problem was that his wife (I think at the time, he had been married for about 5 years), wasn't ready for kids. This drove him absolutely crazy. I was far from surprised when I heard a while later that he was getting a divorce (I don't know if it ever actually happened).

We asked him whether being the youngest counted for anything, but he seemed to resist that possibility.

Then, he and I had our run-in about 3 months later. I've told this story on the board before. I don't want to rehash it unless there are enough people who never heard it that it's worthwhile.

But needless to say, once that incident occurred, I began actively rooting for Cal to have a boy. And he did, in fact, have Ryan before Billy had any kids.

I'm sure Billy has found his place in life, but for at least one moment in that video room, he let on to what his true feelings were about his family situation.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Most little leagues inthe Boston area have banned the use of Yankees as a team name. There are a few in the Baltimore area to have done the same. I whole-heartedly support such policies.

Thank God I was never on a team called the Yankees. I'd probably have quit and gone off to play tennis.

BTW, does anyone remember that horrific article that came out in Boston last year (i'm 90% sure I saw it posted on this board) about teenagers who were becoming traitors and becoming Yankees fans?! They were tired of the culture of losing, and they were teenagers looking to antagonize their parents, so they became Yankees fans. Can you think of a worse fate than for your kids to become avid Yankees fans?!

I wonder what happened to those kids now that Boston won the Series?
I hope they are in jail! :mad:

[cindyluvsbrady]

About Billy...............I always felt sorry for him. I sensed he must struggle with CAL being such a big deal. I always cheered loud for Billy when he was an O. It is sad he feels that way. :( He has middle child syndrome.

[Nuclear Dish]

About Billy...............I always felt sorry for him. I sensed he must struggle with CAL being such a big deal. I always cheered loud for Billy when he was an O. It is sad he feels that way. :( He has middle child syndrome.

Yeah, except he's the baby. I'd agree if he were in fact a middle child.

Billy played hard, and I always appreciated his effort. I felt sorry for him too until he chose to go off on me with a string of expletives the likes of which I've never again heard in my life. TWICE.

Ever since then, I have chosen to think of him as a poor-hitting, decent-fielding 2B who should probably not be put in a position in which he could be misconstrued as a role model.

[Tank]

I wanna hear the Billy Ripken vs. Nuclear Dish story...

[cindyluvsbrady]

Yeah, except he's the baby. I'd agree if he were in fact a middle child.

Billy played hard, and I always appreciated his effort. I felt sorry for him too until he chose to go off on me with a string of expletives the likes of which I've never again heard in my life. TWICE.

Ever since then, I have chosen to think of him as a poor-hitting, decent-fielding 2B who should probably not be put in a position in which he could be misconstrued as a role model.
That is AWFUL he behaved that way! :mad: Please please dont tell me Cal or Brady EVER did anything like that. :eek: I would die....Im serious. :(

[BustaJ2632]

From what I've seen at the Foundation, I think Bill has found his calling running the baseball camps. He puts a lot of work in, grunt work that you might expect to be given to...well...an intern. I have really enjoyed my time around Bill. We always hear about how Cal emulated Cal, Sr., but I think Bill has really followed in Cal, Sr's footsteps with the hands-on work he put into the camps and everything that involved kids. Not that Cal didn't get involved when he could, but I was jsut struck by how Bill dove right into the day-to-day operations on the field (and also in the office, where he was not averse to doing things like building a new shelf). He's not as clean cut as Cal, but then again, he didn't have quite the media explosion around him either...This was one of my favorite stories:

I was helping last summer with a book signing, in the back room of our offices. Cal and Bill had just put out a book about baseball coaching, and they were signing boxloads of them to be sent out. There were three or four of us in there helping to get it done fast. I'd pile books up, their assistant would hand them the books, they'd hand them to another intern who packed them, and I'd move the boxes to the corner. It was a well-oiled machine I tell ya ;) .

Anyway, we were just talking about random stuff, and Bill had just gotten back from a vacation at Myrtle Beach. At one point, he turned to Cal and said, "Hey Cal...what do you think about a relationship with Hooters Air?" Cal turned and laughed...well we all laughed. It really threw a wrench into the works. But anyway, after a few seconds Cal jokingly said something like "Well...talk to John [Maroon], maybe if we don't make it public." Bill then went on to describe the benefits, how it really was a comfortable flight and how much of an advantage their in-flight magazine had over other airlines. He had us all cracking up the whole rest of the time we were in there. I don't know if they ever did talk to John, or what may have happened there. After all, it wasn't made public :D .

[Nuclear Dish]

I wanna hear the Billy Ripken vs. Nuclear Dish story...

Some background: the video room was originally set up such that the guy doing the player tapes had his back to the clubhouse entrance and the out of town highlights guy was adjacent to the door. (After this incident, it was changed so that the player tapes were done adjacent to the clubhouse and the out of town stuff was done with the back to the clubhouse.)

More background: In addition to videotaping each player's at bats on his own tapes, the video room records 13 camera angles constantly so that the team always has the best camera views for their highlights tapes.

More background: I had mentioned that HTS always sent their babes in to the video room to collect out of town highlights to run to their truck to show on the air. There was one such babe in the room on the night in question.

More background: In order that there wasn't static between a player's at bats, the video machines rewind 5 seconds and plays before beginning to record the current at bat at the cued moment. This means that the tape must be popped into the machine, cued up and allowed to do its rewind and 5 second play before the first pitch. This doesn't always work out. Therefore, it was common that you made special effort to get it right when it was a guy who usually checks his tapes, but could be a little slower on the draw with guys who never checked their tapes or guys who never swung at the first pitch.

Final background: Billy NEVER checked his tapes AND rarely swung at the first pitch. And even if he swung, he wasn't much of a hitter, so there was as good a chance of it being a swinging strike or foul ball as there was of it being something worthwhile.

OK, now the story: Bill comes up, I cue up his tape, but I'm a little slow this time, and I miss the first pitch. Of course, he swings at the first pitch this time, and not only swings, but hits a double off the wall. When he gets back to the dugout, though, the rest of the team starts teasing him that he swung so hard that he went down on one knee and he STILL couldn't manage to get it out of the yard.

Billy has no recollection of going down on one knee. He got up and ran so hard, he never even noticed. But he's getting teased for it, so of course, he wants to see it. So he comes into the video room and asks to see his tape.

Remember, my back is to him when he enters the room. I tell him, "Bill, I'm really sorry, but I think I missed it." His response (which I'm sure had a lot to do with having been teased) was a string of expletives that were enough to make my blood boil. But I kept my composure, and as he's walking out the door, call out, "Wait, Bill, I think I have it on Camera 10 (which was our running HTS feed without the graphics)."

A few minutes go by, and I cue up Camera 10 to the point of his at bat in case he returns. Then I go back to taping the current at bat.

After a little while, Billy returns to the room, and says, "Listen, I'm really sorry I said those things in front of you."

Billy was a Ripken, which meant he had been taught that you don't speak like that in front of a woman. He was apologizing to the HTS babe, but, again, my back was to him, so I assumed he was saying it to me.

So I responded, "No problem."

Billy's answer: "Not you, you &*%$#.............." It went on for a good 30-40 seconds before I had had enough and stood up to face him.

At that point, my "supervisor" Red stepped in between us and told Billy to go back to the clubhouse to cool off. He then told me to go to the press lounge and get something to eat. Once I was gone, he showed Billy his at bat, and Billy was satisfied. But we never spoke again after that.

The next day, they changed around the video room so that the players could be seen better when they entered to view their tapes.

[Nuclear Dish]

From what I've seen at the Foundation, I think Bill has found his calling running the baseball camps. He puts a lot of work in, grunt work that you might expect to be given to...well...an intern. I have really enjoyed my time around Bill. We always hear about how Cal emulated Cal, Sr., but I think Bill has really followed in Cal, Sr's footsteps with the hands-on work he put into the camps and everything that involved kids. Not that Cal didn't get involved when he could, but I was jsut struck by how Bill dove right into the day-to-day operations on the field (and also in the office, where he was not averse to doing things like building a new shelf). He's not as clean cut as Cal, but then again, he didn't have quite the media explosion around him either...This was one of my favorite stories:

I was helping last summer with a book signing, in the back room of our offices. Cal and Bill had just put out a book about baseball coaching, and they were signing boxloads of them to be sent out. There were three or four of us in there helping to get it done fast. I'd pile books up, their assistant would hand them the books, they'd hand them to another intern who packed them, and I'd move the boxes to the corner. It was a well-oiled machine I tell ya ;) .

Anyway, we were just talking about random stuff, and Bill had just gotten back from a vacation at Myrtle Beach. At one point, he turned to Cal and said, "Hey Cal...what do you think about a relationship with Hooters Air?" Cal turned and laughed...well we all laughed. It really threw a wrench into the works. But anyway, after a few seconds Cal jokingly said something like "Well...talk to John [Maroon], maybe if we don't make it public." Bill then went on to describe the benefits, how it really was a comfortable flight and how much of an advantage their in-flight magazine had over other airlines. He had us all cracking up the whole rest of the time we were in there. I don't know if they ever did talk to John, or what may have happened there. After all, it wasn't made public :D .

See, I believe this 100%. Bill was always such a great guy. Great sense of humor, great person to be around. But he had a serious temper, and it got the best of him the day he went off on me. It was unfortunate, but it happened.

I also can see him being very involved in hands-on work with the camps. But I just hope none of the kids ever bait him into showing that temper, because it if ever happens, things are going to turn ugly.

[Sapper]

About Billy...............I always felt sorry for him. I sensed he must struggle with CAL being such a big deal. I always cheered loud for Billy when he was an O. It is sad he feels that way. :( He has middle child syndrome.
It seems silly that someone even with his level of talent and access should be sad, but I can easily see that living in Cal's shadow must be very difficult. It's all relative (no pun intended).

[Tony-OH]

Unfortunately, I was once "drafted by the Yankees" in little league. Back then, the age groups were 8-9, 10-12, 13-15 for the Pony League. Our 8-9 year-old team names were Triple-A names and I happened to be on the Red Wings.

The following spring, all the nine-year olds had to go to a "try out camp" where all the coaches would get to watch us play a little. Then, the "major league" teams drafted the 10-year olds they wanted and the rest went to the "Instructional Leagues".

With a lot of 11 and 12 year olds, most teams didn't want 10 year olds but four us were "drafted". Reportedly, and of course I can't vaerify all of this since I'm working off 20 year + of memory here, I was draft first overall by the Yankess because they needed a catcher. The second kid went to the Orioles. Now, this couldn't have bugged me more because the Orioles parents went out and bought real Orioles jerseys with the cartoon bird hat and all. I was stuck with a blue hat with a white "Y". Plus I was a dreaded Yankee.

Adding to the fun later, two years later I think I was the first kid ever to be traded in little league when I was sent to the Red Sox for a kid who pitched, I was mainly a catcher although I pitched occasionally.

This of course set up my big little league moment. It was Saturday afternoon, which was special game for me because it meant my Dad would be at the game. We were playing the Yankees and the kid I was traded for was pitching against us. I don't even remember why, but my coach decided I was going to start against them.

I remember my Dad coming out to warm me up between innings and I remember concentraiting more than I ever had. I was throwing as hard as I could and as usual, that meant a lot of walks and strikeouts. Heading into the fifth inning, we were down 2-0 when I came up with two-outs and two guys on.

Using my newly adopted Dan Ford emulated stance stance (extremely closed), I took the pitchers fastball and connected deep to left. I knew when I hit it that it was long gone. Sure enough, it cleared the left field fence by about thirty feet. As I trotted around the bases, I picked up the coach who traded me as I rounded second. I gave him my best "you should have never traded your first round pick" stare. In fact, I stared at him all the way until I almost reached home plate where my teammates waited for me. As I made those last few steps, I saw the old coach smile a little. Even he had to enjoy the irony of it all.

I finished off the game and we won 3-2.

The next year I was drafted #1 overall by the Phillies in the Pony League. Again, they needed a catcher and it didn't hurt that the 21-year old coach was my sister's boyfriend at the time. This time I didn't get traded and finished my three-year pony league career with three All-star team selections and an average over .500.

As time goes by, being on the Yankees has started to fade, but beating the Yankees remains strong.

In one small piece of irony, this past spring, my sons played on, you guessed it, the Yankees. Luckily I was in Afghanistan and only saw the videos. :) Seeing my boys in the Yankees in person would have been too much. :D

[cindyluvsbrady]

From what I've seen at the Foundation, I think Bill has found his calling running the baseball camps. He puts a lot of work in, grunt work that you might expect to be given to...well...an intern. I have really enjoyed my time around Bill. We always hear about how Cal emulated Cal, Sr., but I think Bill has really followed in Cal, Sr's footsteps with the hands-on work he put into the camps and everything that involved kids. Not that Cal didn't get involved when he could, but I was jsut struck by how Bill dove right into the day-to-day operations on the field (and also in the office, where he was not averse to doing things like building a new shelf). He's not as clean cut as Cal, but then again, he didn't have quite the media explosion around him either...This was one of my favorite stories:

I was helping last summer with a book signing, in the back room of our offices. Cal and Bill had just put out a book about baseball coaching, and they were signing boxloads of them to be sent out. There were three or four of us in there helping to get it done fast. I'd pile books up, their assistant would hand them the books, they'd hand them to another intern who packed them, and I'd move the boxes to the corner. It was a well-oiled machine I tell ya ;) .

Anyway, we were just talking about random stuff, and Bill had just gotten back from a vacation at Myrtle Beach. At one point, he turned to Cal and said, "Hey Cal...what do you think about a relationship with Hooters Air?" Cal turned and laughed...well we all laughed. It really threw a wrench into the works. But anyway, after a few seconds Cal jokingly said something like "Well...talk to John [Maroon], maybe if we don't make it public." Bill then went on to describe the benefits, how it really was a comfortable flight and how much of an advantage their in-flight magazine had over other airlines. He had us all cracking up the whole rest of the time we were in there. I don't know if they ever did talk to John, or what may have happened there. After all, it wasn't made public :D .
Thats a great story. The little I have talked to Billy he was funny! I am jealos you got to work with them. :rolleyes:

[yuds]

Great story Tony.

Wow, this thread is seriously one of the greatest of all time.

I would tell you guys about the time I knocked out Sammy Sosa, but I don't want to bore you. :D

[Nuclear Dish]

Unfortunately, I was once "drafted by the Yankees" in little league. Back then, the age groups were 8-9, 10-12, 13-15 for the Pony League. Our 8-9 year-old team names were Triple-A names and I happened to be on the Red Wings.

The following spring, all the nine-year olds had to go to a "try out camp" where all the coaches would get to watch us play a little. Then, the "major league" teams drafted the 10-year olds they wanted and the rest went to the "Instructional Leagues".

With a lot of 11 and 12 year olds, most teams didn't want 10 year olds but four us were "drafted". Reportedly, and of course I can't vaerify all of this since I'm working off 20 year + of memory here, I was draft first overall by the Yankess because they needed a catcher. The second kid went to the Orioles. Now, this couldn't have bugged me more because the Orioles parents went out and bought real Orioles jerseys with the cartoon bird hat and all. I was stuck with a blue hat with a white "Y". Plus I was a dreaded Yankee.

Adding to the fun later, two years later I think I was the first kid ever to be traded in little league when I was sent to the Red Sox for a kid who pitched, I was mainly a catcher although I pitched occasionally.

This of course set up my big little league moment. It was Saturday afternoon, which was special game for me because it meant my Dad would be at the game. We were playing the Yankees and the kid I was traded for was pitching against us. I don't even remember why, but my coach decided I was going to start against them.

I remember my Dad coming out to warm me up between innings and I remember concentraiting more than I ever had. I was throwing as hard as I could and as usual, that meant a lot of walks and strikeouts. Heading into the fifth inning, we were down 2-0 when I came up with two-outs and two guys on.

Using my newly adopted Dan Ford emulated stance stance (extremely closed), I took the pitchers fastball and connected deep to left. I knew when I hit it that it was long gone. Sure enough, it cleared the left field fence by about thirty feet. As I trotted around the bases, I picked up the coach who traded me as I rounded second. I gave him my best "you should have never traded your first round pick" stare. In fact, I stared at him all the way until I almost reached home plate where my teammates waited for me. As I made those last few steps, I saw the old coach smile a little. Even he had to enjoy the irony of it all.

I finished off the game and we won 3-2.

The next year I was drafted #1 overall by the Phillies in the Pony League. Again, they needed a catcher and it didn't hurt that the 21-year old coach was my sister's boyfriend at the time. This time I didn't get traded and finished my three-year pony league career with three All-star team selections and an average over .500.

As time goes by, being on the Yankees has started to fade, but beating the Yankees remains strong.

In one small piece of irony, this past spring, my sons played on, you guessed it, the Yankees. Luckily I was in Afghanistan and only saw the videos. :) Seeing my boys in the Yankees in person would have been too much. :D

Great story. unfortunately, my Yankees little league story was not a happy one. I was on the Royals and took a called 3rd strike with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the last inning in a one-game playoff against the Yankees. It's emblazened in my mind as perhaps my life's most difficult baseball-related moment. I cried for a solid hour after that.

Damn Yankees. They get all the calls! ;)

[Sapper]

Great story Tony.

Wow, this thread is seriously one of the greatest of all time.

I would tell you guys about the time I knocked out Sammy Sosa, but I don't want to bore you. :D
I could tell you about the time Dale Hunter and I were both down at night time pediatrics in Annapolis together at 2 am.

Oh, wait, wrong board.... :D

[cindyluvsbrady]

We need to get this thread going again. It is fun! :)

[JohnD]

I could tell you about the time Dale Hunter and I were both down at night time pediatrics in Annapolis together at 2 am.

Oh, wait, wrong board.... :D


That's where I found out I had mono back in college. Yech.

And hey, it was a saturday morning in the summer, it's not like there were a whole lot of places I could go to find out why I couldn't eat, move, or swallow.

[Sapper]

That's where I found out I had mono back in college. Yech.....
Who'd ya kiss? :D

[JohnD]

Kiss? Ewwwww. I was just holding hands.










Heh, that relationship never was the same after that weekend. :D Heh, and for a while it was red hot!

[BustaJ2632]

I never played on the Orioles either...my biggest disappointment about Little League (actually it wasn't Little League, but EDRECO rec ball). My dad was usually our coach, and one day he came home from the draft, where the coaches met before the season and were assigned team names and teams. He saw me and said "Well...guess what!" all excited. "What what?!?" "We're on one of the teams from the 1983 World Series!" "Oh..." I knew it was the Phillies. :(

There was a "Yankees," coached by a guy we couldn't stand. Very New York--he always insisted that he be the Yankees. Pretty obnoxious and his son wasn't that good, but he always got a spot on the All-Star team because he was that coach's son. Fortunately, they were rarely any good and we beat up on them a lot :D

We didn't have teams that we stuck with year-to-year, we were a new team every season. I was on the Braves twice, the Reds, the Royals, the Athletics twice, the Giants twice, and the Cardinals once besides the Phillies stint. I did have a couple good moments, winning the World Series with the Giants (over the Royals) and Cardinals (over the Mariners), and winning the NL Crown in my other year with the Giants (fittingly, beaten by the Orioles in the World Series. I won't comment on whether or not I threw those games ;) ).

[Tank]

In my time with little league I was on many teams. In my first year (9-10) I played on the Yankees. This was before I really knew much about baseball and the O's-Yanks rivalry. I hated that year, making my eventual hate of the Yankees that much more intense. The only good thing that came out of that year was my first ever homerun. After that year my dad decided to coach. I was with the Pirates and Tigers during my run in 11-12. We lost the championship to the dreaded Rockies in the bottom of the last inning when we were up by 2. My dad stopped coaching after that season, and I moved up to 13-15. I was the Cardinals twice, Tigers again, and Pirates again in that span. I won a championship somewhere in there, but I don't remember when. Played "travel" in those last 4 years of rec. I now play for my high school. 2 years of JV, goin on my 2nd year of Varsity this year. I've also played American Legion fall ball for the last 2 years, and played fall ball for parkville rec the 2 years before that.

Good old Parkville Rec baseball...

[SouthernBird]

Some background: the video room was originally set up such that the guy doing the player tapes had his back to the clubhouse entrance and the out of town highlights guy was adjacent to the door. (After this incident, it was changed so that the player tapes were done adjacent to the clubhouse and the out of town stuff was done with the back to the clubhouse.)

More background: In addition to videotaping each player's at bats on his own tapes, the video room records 13 camera angles constantly so that the team always has the best camera views for their highlights tapes.

More background: I had mentioned that HTS always sent their babes in to the video room to collect out of town highlights to run to their truck to show on the air. There was one such babe in the room on the night in question.

More background: In order that there wasn't static between a player's at bats, the video machines rewind 5 seconds and plays before beginning to record the current at bat at the cued moment. This means that the tape must be popped into the machine, cued up and allowed to do its rewind and 5 second play before the first pitch. This doesn't always work out. Therefore, it was common that you made special effort to get it right when it was a guy who usually checks his tapes, but could be a little slower on the draw with guys who never checked their tapes or guys who never swung at the first pitch.

Final background: Billy NEVER checked his tapes AND rarely swung at the first pitch. And even if he swung, he wasn't much of a hitter, so there was as good a chance of it being a swinging strike or foul ball as there was of it being something worthwhile.

OK, now the story: Bill comes up, I cue up his tape, but I'm a little slow this time, and I miss the first pitch. Of course, he swings at the first pitch this time, and not only swings, but hits a double off the wall. When he gets back to the dugout, though, the rest of the team starts teasing him that he swung so hard that he went down on one knee and he STILL couldn't manage to get it out of the yard.

Billy has no recollection of going down on one knee. He got up and ran so hard, he never even noticed. But he's getting teased for it, so of course, he wants to see it. So he comes into the video room and asks to see his tape.

Remember, my back is to him when he enters the room. I tell him, "Bill, I'm really sorry, but I think I missed it." His response (which I'm sure had a lot to do with having been teased) was a string of expletives that were enough to make my blood boil. But I kept my composure, and as he's walking out the door, call out, "Wait, Bill, I think I have it on Camera 10 (which was our running HTS feed without the graphics)."

A few minutes go by, and I cue up Camera 10 to the point of his at bat in case he returns. Then I go back to taping the current at bat.

After a little while, Billy returns to the room, and says, "Listen, I'm really sorry I said those things in front of you."

Billy was a Ripken, which meant he had been taught that you don't speak like that in front of a woman. He was apologizing to the HTS babe, but, again, my back was to him, so I assumed he was saying it to me.

So I responded, "No problem."

Billy's answer: "Not you, you &*%$#.............." It went on for a good 30-40 seconds before I had had enough and stood up to face him.

At that point, my "supervisor" Red stepped in between us and told Billy to go back to the clubhouse to cool off. He then told me to go to the press lounge and get something to eat. Once I was gone, he showed Billy his at bat, and Billy was satisfied. But we never spoke again after that.

The next day, they changed around the video room so that the players could be seen better when they entered to view their tapes.
You are a better man than me. If someone talks to me in that manner to my face, ballplayer, boss, even the President of the USA I would have to punch them square in the nose about 15 times. Probably because I have a temper much worse then Billy's. I am sure he is a great guy, but even the best of us lose our cool at times. But it does paint a negative pic of Billy for sure. But I still respect the guy as a player, I always rooted for him.

[cindyluvsbrady]

After hearing that story I will be very careful what I say to Billy if I see him. :eek:

[Nuclear Dish]

You know, I've told my Billy and Moose stories, and those were the two guys I had run-ins with, but the truth of the matter is that I respected both of those guys a helluva lot more than Sam Horn. He was such a dog. The guy had no morals whatsoever. Again, if there's demand, I'll say more, but it can be summarized best by saying that the word adultery was not a part of the man's vocabulary. And that's really even an understatement.

On the other hand, Harold Baines was the nicest ballplayer I've ever met. Just a real quality human being, without any pretense or ego because of his chosen profession.

[yuds]

You know, I've told my Billy and Moose stories, and those were the two guys I had run-ins with, but the truth of the matter is that I respected both of those guys a helluva lot more than Sam Horn. He was such a dog. The guy had no morals whatsoever. Again, if there's demand, I'll say more, but it can be summarized best by saying that the word adultery was not a part of the man's vocabulary. And that's really even an understatement.

On the other hand, Harold Baines was the nicest ballplayer I've ever met. Just a real quality human being, without any pretense or ego because of his chosen profession.

Can we please just make a rule from now on that you take it as if there is always demand for your stories? I don't know about others on here, but I can't get enough of them! However many you got, I'll take 'em all!

[Tank]

Can we please just make a rule from now on that you take it as if there is always demand for your stories? I don't know about others on here, but I can't get enough of them! However many you got, I'll take 'em all!

I agree. Tell on brother.

[Nuclear Dish]

Can we please just make a rule from now on that you take it as if there is always demand for your stories? I don't know about others on here, but I can't get enough of them! However many you got, I'll take 'em all!

Thanks, I appreciate that. I just don't want anyone to think that I'm showing off or anything.

[Nuclear Dish]

I agree. Tell on brother.

OK, so I've mentioned that I worked in the video room off the clubhouse. Sam used to come in a lot to hang out, but more than that, he came in a lot to use the phone. We were always curious what that was about, since there are phones in the clubhouse. But no one ever bothered to ask, until one day, I made a joke and said, "Sam, I don't get it. Why do you need to come in here to use the phone? Are you calling sex lines?"

His deadpan response was, "No, bro, I'm calling my lady friends to set up some dates for tonight."

I thought he was joking too, so I played along. "Really," I said. "Dates? As in plural? How many lady friends do you have?"

His answer floored me. "Well, I have one in each city we go to. Plus, I have about 10 here in town."

He then proceeded to pull out a business card from a woman who worked for Kodak in Dallas. The woman's head shot was printed on the card. I remember she was white, had dark hair, and was decent looking. "This here is my favorite one. She can support herself. See, she works for Kodak, and whenever we're playing the Rangers, I spend my time with her."

I really didn't have anything to say to that. I was just so shocked that he was telling me this. It took me a while, but I figured out what he meant by "she can support herself". He meant that he didn't have to buy her silence. He obviously was paying money to women in other towns to support them so that they didn't talk too much.

Anyway, then about a month or so later, Sam comes in again to use the phone. He was a little hurried when he came in, so I asked, "Sam, what's the rush. You're not even in the starting lineup tonight." He answered, "No man, I gotta set up my dates and get back to the dugout."

Again, I asked, "Sam I don't get it. Dates? We're at home for another week. Why do you need to set up dates already for next week when we're on the road?" He said, "Not for next week, for tonight." "But Sam," I said, "how many women can you see in one night?"

"Well," he said, "I usually get with 5, but my wife is here tonight, so I'm only gonna be with 3."

[cindyluvsbrady]

Please tell more stories!!!! :)

[Nuclear Dish]

Oh, I should add something: Sam Horn and his wife were the team reps for some family charities campaign, I believe possibly against child abuse. It just sickened me to see him posing with his wife as if he were the model family man.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Oh, I should add something: Sam Horn and his wife were the team reps for some family charities campaign, I believe possibly against child abuse. It just sickened me to see him posing with his wife as if he were the model family man.
He is a pig! :mad:

[Studa]

That is AWFUL he behaved that way! :mad: Please please dont tell me Cal or Brady EVER did anything like that. :eek: I would die....Im serious. :(


Cal and Brady always act that way when the press isn't around........ :eek:



:D

[cindyluvsbrady]

Cal and Brady always act that way when the press isn't around........ :eek:



:D
That is just not true Studa! :( Why are you trying to traumatize me? :confused:

[Nuclear Dish]

Tony brought it to my attention that I probably crossed the line in telling the Sam Horn story, by betraying a trust. I wanted to publicly apologize on the board to anyone who feels I did that. As I told Tony, I certainly wouldn't have said anything had I thought that it was something that had been said to me in confidence. I only mentioned the story because of how flippant Sam was when he spoke to me.

Nonetheless, I will try to show more discretion before posting in the future.

[calsmanystances]

Brian,

I knew I recognized the name 'Nuclear Dish' I just could not remember from where?? I like the irony of you choosing Billy's 'handle.'

Oh, those APBA days (clearly superior to Strat-o-matic) with nicknames like Mark "Agent Orange" McGwire and Vincent "Pickles" Coleman. I still remember when we played using the all-time greatest cards-it was hard going wrong with Mordecai Three Fingers Brown, Ted Williams, Al ("Aliwicious (spelling)") Simmons, Rogers Hornsby and the Babe!

FYI-ND used to tell me all these stories as we grew up together but they are just as interesting now as they were then! I remember the Billy and Moose stories and can still see the smile on ND's face as he told of the reaction to his retort of 'well, I am graduating in three years with an econ. degree from Hopkins.' Priceless. Moose had finally met his match. But ND also knew that Moose was our ace and star and was sad, like the rest of us, to lose him after the 2000 season. I was at his last home game (I knew we would ot get the deal done!) and did not want to miss it.

ND was also kind enough to take his friends on tours of the press box and stats area. We appreciated every one of those insiders guides!

[Nuclear Dish]

Oh, those APBA days (clearly superior to Strat-o-matic) with nicknames like Mark "Agent Orange" McGwire and Vincent "Pickles" Coleman. I still remember when we played using the all-time greatest cards-it was hard going wrong with Mordecai Three Fingers Brown, Ted Williams, Al ("Aliwicious (spelling)") Simmons, Rogers Hornsby and the Babe!

Mike,

I believe it's spelled Aloysius.

Agent Orange. Excellent! I had forgotten that one.

And appropriately for this board, do you remember whose nickname was BigBird? (If you don't I know GlennGulliver will.) Hint: He was a RP for the O's for most of his career.

[calsmanystances]

Brian,

With your hint and his height it must be Tim Stoddard!!

I do wonder where APBA got all the nicknames. I mean did they make them up? I do not see too many people calling McGwire "Agent Orange" and living! And I don't think Vince Coleman would liked to have gone through his baseball life known as "Pickles." Some seemed real others seemed farfetched!

Because of APBA I always call Cal "Edwin" after his middle name (Calvin Edwin Jr.).

[Nuclear Dish]

Brian,

With your hint and his height it must be Tim Stoddard!!

I do wonder where APBA got all the nicknames. I mean did they make them up? I do not see too many people calling McGwire "Agent Orange" and living! And I don't think Vince Coleman would liked to have gone through his baseball life known as "Pickles." Some seemed real others seemed farfetched!

Because of APBA I always call Cal "Edwin" after his middle name (Calvin Edwin Jr.).

Tim Stoddard is correct.

I think APBA checks with the team's PR department and asks them for a list of nicknames. Or they get someone to go and ask the teammates. My guess is that things like Nuclear Dish and Agent Orange are practical jokes played by teammates that then stick for a year or two until APBA comes around again to ask for an update.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Brian,

I knew I recognized the name 'Nuclear Dish' I just could not remember from where?? I like the irony of you choosing Billy's 'handle.'

Oh, those APBA days (clearly superior to Strat-o-matic) with nicknames like Mark "Agent Orange" McGwire and Vincent "Pickles" Coleman. I still remember when we played using the all-time greatest cards-it was hard going wrong with Mordecai Three Fingers Brown, Ted Williams, Al ("Aliwicious (spelling)") Simmons, Rogers Hornsby and the Babe!

FYI-ND used to tell me all these stories as we grew up together but they are just as interesting now as they were then! I remember the Billy and Moose stories and can still see the smile on ND's face as he told of the reaction to his retort of 'well, I am graduating in three years with an econ. degree from Hopkins.' Priceless. Moose had finally met his match. But ND also knew that Moose was our ace and star and was sad, like the rest of us, to lose him after the 2000 season. I was at his last home game (I knew we would ot get the deal done!) and did not want to miss it.

ND was also kind enough to take his friends on tours of the press box and stats area. We appreciated every one of those insiders guides!Im jealous of thoose tours! :)

[Nuclear Dish]

Im jealous of thoose tours! :)

Cindy, the standard OPACY tour takes you into the press room and the control room where they do all the scoreboards. And in the winter, it might even include the clubhouse, although I'm not sure.

The difference between the standard tour and the tour I could give back then was that I gave the tour when the game was just over, so there was legitimately a chance to see players and media personalities.

At Memorial, the tour used to include a walk out to the OF warning track, where the kids could pretend they were making a catch at the wall.

But NEVER touch the grass. They are unbelieveably strict about that.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Ive been on the tour. I loved it!! Id like your tour better though where you get to see players!!! :)

[Retro Oriole]

I've posted this before, but I'll quickly summarize:

It was the night before the big strike in '94, and I was working the video room. There was a rain delay and more players than normal had congregated in the room. There were about 10 guys, and they were all sitting around discussing the impending strike.

I was most definitely pro-player in the dispute, and I was sitting around listening to the guys talk about how awful the owners were.

Mussina, as you may recall, was the player rep. All the players looked up to him and accepted everything he said as gospel. But he made some kind of overblown comment about the owners that was exaggerated by tens of millions of dollars and made them sound like they were slaveowners. I chimed in with something like, "I'm all for your side, Moose, but that's taking it a little too far."

Mussina's angered response was typical of his ego: "What the f*** do you know? I graduated from Stanford with a degree in economics in 3 and a half years!"

To which I came back with, "Excuse me. I'm graduating from Hopkins with a degree in economics in 3 years!"

The rest of the players oohed and aahed and Moose was completely red-faced and embarrassed. He never spoke another word to me again for as long as I worked there (about 2 more years).

Considering I know Mike Mussina personally, very well actually, I can say with GREAT confidence, that I don't believe your story. It isn't anything against you, it's just that I don't think there's any truth to that.

[Witchy Chick]

I'm just reading some of the classic threads in my spare time and finally got thru all 15 pages of this one. :D



I will always defend Brady!!!CHICK is disgusting way to describe ANY woman.

Nahhhhhh, chick is a cool way to describe a woman. :D Well let's just say, I don't mind it anyway. ;)

Re: working for the O's, I never have, but would love to do so. One of the game programs from earlier in the season contained a story about traveling secretary Phil Itzoe (IIRC). It was an interesting insight into how the organization goes about getting 50-60 players/coaches/press members from one city to another, books hotel rooms for the players/coaches, coordinates buses to/from the stadiums/hotels/airports, etc. There really is a lot involved in doing that job. After reading that story, I thought "That's what I want to do one day." One day being, when I finish my current career and have some project management experience behind me. I think it would be fascinating to have to nail down all sorts of details like Mr. Itzoe does while being prepared for the inevitable curveball (i.e. plane gets struck by lightning while on the tarmac or getaway game goes extra-innings and the team is significantly late getting out of town).

Anyway, after reading this whole thread, I have to say I always liked Billy Rip. Before reading Dish's story about Billy being the "odd man out", I always got a "vibe" that Billy was overlooked (for lack of a better word) in his own family. I always appreciated Bill's raucous sense of humor too. Cal may have a similar sense of humor, but Bill is more "free" with it (not expressing myself very well). Cal seems a lot more reserved to me, but Bill just seems like a regular guy (well, aside from the temper).


Witchy Chick (that part is just for you, Cindy ;) )

[Nuclear Dish]

Considering I know Mike Mussina personally, very well actually, I can say with GREAT confidence, that I don't believe your story. It isn't anything against you, it's just that I don't think there's any truth to that.

You can doubt it all you want. I swear to you that it happened. It is as clear as day in my memory.

[Nuclear Dish]

Anyway, after reading this whole thread, I have to say I always liked Billy Rip. Before reading Dish's story about Billy being the "odd man out", I always got a "vibe" that Billy was overlooked (for lack of a better word) in his own family. I always appreciated Bill's raucous sense of humor too. Cal may have a similar sense of humor, but Bill is more "free" with it (not expressing myself very well). Cal seems a lot more reserved to me, but Bill just seems like a regular guy (well, aside from the temper).


That's a very insightful portrayal of Billy. Like I said, he was much more approachable than Cal for as long as I knew him up until he chewed my head off for a minor mistake.

[Retro Oriole]

You can doubt it all you want. I swear to you that it happened. It is as clear as day in my memory.

Well I've talked to my dad about it and I will talk to him once he comes home from the offseason, but never once has he ever in my entire life of knowing him ever bragged about being a Stanford grad, never. My father also remembers he wasn't as huge of an advocate of the strike and he seems to think he graduated from Stanford in 3 years not 3.5.

[Witchy Chick]

Well I've talked to my dad about it and I will talk to him once he comes home from the offseason, but never once has he ever in my entire life of knowing him ever bragged about being a Stanford grad, never. My father also remembers he wasn't as huge of an advocate of the strike and he seems to think he graduated from Stanford in 3 years not 3.5.

I remembered reading that Moose had graduated from Stanford in 3 1/2 years. So, I got out my handy-dandy media guides and did some double-checking. This will make you say "Hmmmmmm". :D

1992 and 1993 media guides list Mike as graduating in 3 1/2 years.
1994, '95, '96, and '97 media guides list him as graduating in 3 years.
1998, '99, and 2000 -- back to graduating in 3 1/2 years.

I'm confused. :confused: :D


Witchy

[Nuclear Dish]

Well I've talked to my dad about it and I will talk to him once he comes home from the offseason, but never once has he ever in my entire life of knowing him ever bragged about being a Stanford grad, never. My father also remembers he wasn't as huge of an advocate of the strike and he seems to think he graduated from Stanford in 3 years not 3.5.

By all means, speak to him. I tend to doubt that it made as memorable an impression on him as it made on me. I was, after all, not much more to him than a clubhouse staffer.

He was absolutely a huge advocate of the strike leading up to it. He was the team rep, first of all, and he was a staunch union guy. That's ridiculous. He may not have been as gung ho once the strike was midway through or afterwards, but leading up to it, he was very vocal, at least around the clubhouse.

Mussina was drafted after his junior year in June, 1990, finished his coursework the following winter, and graduated with the Class of 1991. He considers that 3.5 years, which I agree with.

He was only "bragging" about being a Stanford grad because he didn't appreciate being told in front of all his peers by a nobody staffer that he was overstating the players' case in the CBA negotiations. I never heard him brag about it before that, and like I said, he never once spoke to me after.

[Nuclear Dish]

I remembered reading that Moose had graduated from Stanford in 3 1/2 years. So, I got out my handy-dandy media guides and did some double-checking. This will make you say "Hmmmmmm". :D

1992 and 1993 media guides list Mike as graduating in 3 1/2 years.
1994, '95, '96, and '97 media guides list him as graduating in 3 years.
1998, '99, and 2000 -- back to graduating in 3 1/2 years.

I'm confused. :confused: :D


Witchy

FYI, I worked on both the '92 and '93 guides. I had nothing to do with Mussina's pages, though, contributing to the stats sections instead.

[Retro Oriole]

By all means, speak to him. I tend to doubt that it made as memorable an impression on him as it made on me. I was, after all, not much more to him than a clubhouse staffer.

He was absolutely a huge advocate of the strike leading up to it. He was the team rep, first of all, and he was a staunch union guy. That's ridiculous. He may not have been as gung ho once the strike was midway through or afterwards, but leading up to it, he was very vocal, at least around the clubhouse.

Mussina was drafted after his junior year in June, 1990, finished his coursework the following winter, and graduated with the Class of 1991. He considers that 3.5 years, which I agree with.

He was only "bragging" about being a Stanford grad because he didn't appreciate being told in front of all his peers by a nobody staffer that he was overstating the players' case in the CBA negotiations. I never heard him brag about it before that, and like I said, he never once spoke to me after.

Please don't think I'm calling you a liar, I'm not. My dad's memory isn't the best so I'm not gonna argue with you anymore about how much support he had over the strike.

Not to criticize you or bring down your accomplishments but I'm not sure how much you exactly burned him. It's true that Stanford is more highly ranked than John Hopkins University and it's also true that Mike Mussina was also juggling a baseball schedule too. College baseball is EXTREMELY time consuming. Many say that it's the most time consuming sport of any sport in the NCAA. Again, not to bring down your accomplishments, but I think that if he did all his coursework, no baseball, I think that he would've finished it long before the three years. Similar to Alex Smith where he finished in two years.

[Nuclear Dish]

Please don't think I'm calling you a liar, I'm not. My dad's memory isn't the best so I'm not gonna argue with you anymore about how much support he had over the strike.

Not to criticize you or bring down your accomplishments but I'm not sure how much you exactly burned him. It's true that Stanford is more highly ranked than John Hopkins University and it's also true that Mike Mussina was also juggling a baseball schedule too. College baseball is EXTREMELY time consuming. Many say that it's the most time consuming sport of any sport in the NCAA. Again, not to bring down your accomplishments, but I think that if he did all his coursework, no baseball, I think that he would've finished it long before the three years. Similar to Alex Smith where he finished in two years.

The point wasn't whether I burned him in my mind or your mind. Thepoint was that all his teammates who were sitting there considered it a major burn, and because he was publicly humiliated by it, he never spoke to me again.

Personally, I never had an opinion on Moose either way before this run-in. It was his choice to stop speaking to me, but then, it wasn't such a stretch either, as he and I had had relatively few interactions up until that point. He, unlike guys like Rhodes or Sutcliffe or Sid Fernandez, never hung out in the clubhouse when it wasn't his turn in the rotation (or to chart pitches). And he wasn't a bullpen guy like Lee Smith who stayed in the clubhouse until the 5th or 6th inning. And he wasn't a hitter who liked to look at his ABs on tape frequently. So the only time I ever saw him was during rain delays (as was the case when this event took place) and before or after games, if he wandered in to check out an out-of-town game.

But there was no doubt in my mind that he was ignoring me. He did come in on a couple of occasions and wouldn't even make eye contact with me.

[The Wedge]

Yeah, I always took from that story that Moose was more annoyed that he got burned in the eyes of his teammates than anything else.

[Retro Oriole]

Yeah, I always took from that story that Moose was more annoyed that he got burned in the eyes of his teammates than anything else.

I do have trouble believing though that even if this did happen that Mike wouldn't yell back that he was playing baseball on top of that. That would've equalized it I think and I think his team would've then been with him on that.

[The Wedge]

I do have trouble believing though that even if this did happen that Mike wouldn't yell back that he was playing baseball on top of that. That would've equalized it I think and I think his team would've then been with him on that.

Is he somehow superfast or something? Ever been a similar situation, where your dressed down in front of peers? It's usually high on the list of situations where you figure out the perfect thing to say/do about 20 minutes too late.

[Retro Oriole]

Is he somehow superfast or something? Ever been a similar situation, where your dressed down in front of peers? It's usually high on the list of situations where you figure out the perfect thing to say/do about 20 minutes too late.

Well yeah I've been in that situation. Yes, he is quite quick on the uptake of things and is a very bright guy. I know all about that sort of hindsight because I'm not the quickest of thinkers though. :)

[The Wedge]

That's really all I'm saying. The guy's human, and he got caught with his britches down in front of all his peers. Even the quickest of wits can sometimes fail you, especially when you arent' expecting it. Seems like he may have been underestimating the Dish. Which isn't surprising. There are certain jobs out there that aren't expected to be held by intelligent people, at least by some people. One of the weirdest ones is any job in a technical field other than IT. I see it all the time, people think that because I do a bit of grunt work as well as something that a layperson would scratch their head at (sound reinforcement, for one...people use radios and stereos all the time, but have absolutely NO clue how they work, now imagine that on a much larger scale) that I must be mentally deficient. So when I bust out a nugget of knowledge, or show that I'm pretty quick on the uptake, there's this incredulation that "someone like me" could possibly be "as smart as them." Mayhaps Moose got caught in that fallacy with the Dish, figuring the guy editing the video couldn't be all that, and was caught with his pants down when he not only showed a strong informed opinion, but came back with his Hopkins resume.

[bryanman8]

Hey all. Browsing the classic threads, and I skimmed a few posts, so sorry if this was already addressed somewhere but I didn't see it. Most important to making anything of this would be the article. The link seems to not work anymore. I'm really interested in reading this. Does anyone know where I can find it or have a copy saved or anything? Thanks.