MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jun 11, 2007 9:45:29 GMT -5
Tina called me the other day just to make a few points about what she was reading on the various boards, and asked me to write a statement on her behalf addressing her concerns. So the rest of this post will basically be a reflection on her opinions, as best as I interpreted them.
She feels that there is a certain lack of respect out there right now.
The section as it is today would not be there if not for people like Tina, Ali, Norma, Ray, Edie, and the like, who have been there since the early 80s and before. Milton grew up in the bleachers, and were later joined by people like Tom and Larry and Teddy, who all helped the section become what it is today. Plenty of people like Captain Bob and George who are no longer out there, did more for this section than most of the new comers appreciate.
As times changed, more and more people became regulars like Midget Mike and Steve and Walkman John and the section grew.
I know I'm leaving a lot of people out, but they know who they are and that's not the point of Tina's statement.
The point is that today, people don't realize or appreciate the roots of the section. They walk by Tina like she's a nobody. Sometimes she gets comments like, "Vinny's in charge now."
That is NOT meant as a shot at Vinny. It's not Vinny's fault. But she feels that a lot of people saw Vinny on the show, and basically started sitting there almost as groupies.
Not Vinny groupies, but bleacher groupies.
It was important to Tina to let people know that buying a shirt or a ticket doesn't make you a "bleacher creature." You are not a bleacher creature unless Tina says you are.
Otherwise, you're more of a bleacher groupie.
Tina also has an issue with some of the old schoolers speaking for Ali.
Of all the people in the section, Tina arguably knew Ali the best. Not a really bold statement, since most of us never met the man.
But there are others that have spoken about what Ali would think about various things in the bleachers today.
She wants to make it very clear that in her opinion, Ali would have been EXTREMELY honored that the softball tournament and trophy was named in his honor. He would have loved seeing the tournament.
He also would have enjoyed the silly gimmicks like Hawaiian Shirt Night.
So she asks that people not speak for Ali, since most people didn't know him.
Tina doesn't post often on either board, so when she made this request, I felt it was important to do the post.
Hopefully, I covered everything.
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Post by dabadguy on Jun 11, 2007 11:17:17 GMT -5
great read,who worte this???
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Post by baldvinny on Jun 11, 2007 11:39:07 GMT -5
just for the record, i spoke with tina proir to her posting and i agree with her 100%
these are not "my" bleachers and anyone who thinks so is a fucking clown. i am more than happy (and deep down, really honored) to be the Welcome Wagon for the groupies in the bleachers. i was fortunate enough to get a lot of exposure for myself, the group and my business and i'll continue to use that to help make this group grow
without new people, any group will die. but i think its important that a lot of the new schoolers get some education on what it was like in the old days
i dont want to volunteer anyone, but i would love to see guys like Tom, Larry, Milton (and others, of course) work on a History section for both boards. Its important for people to know how the group got its roots, how we became so tight, and how we evolved into what we are today
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jun 11, 2007 11:52:19 GMT -5
That's what Memory Lane is for, and that's a great idea.
Just to make it even more clear, Tina said she has absolutely no heat with Vinny at all. She doesn't want to make it out like she's taking a shot at him.
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Post by dabadguy on Jun 11, 2007 12:02:20 GMT -5
Personally I feel the majority of the people don't buy them to say they are a creature. I look at it like they are buying them because of "us". Which IMO, means more than someone claiming they are one of us. Don't get me wrong, there are a few that buy it and talk to people(outside of this group) and say "yea, I'm tight with Vinny and Teena and this one and that one. But for the most part, people buy those shirts cause they think we're cool. I think that says so much about this group. There is however some things that have happen that I myself am not happy with. I've lost a couple of friends. And by friends I mean true friends. I have done some shit that mabye I felt wasn't a big deal, but to others it was. That's something I needed to understand. It doesn't matter what I think or what others think. If a friend feels I did something wrong and they are hurt by it, I need to respect that. If I could go back and do it over again, I would. That I can't do and I hope one day things could be different. I realize now that I need to take time to really think about what I say or do. If I'm mad or hurt over something, I need to talk it out. Not come on a message board and rip people. I have said shit that I don't mean plenty of times and that's no excuse. My last rant was so disrespectful, I can't believe I actually can say shit like that. Sorry for the long,boring speech. I just got caught up in the moment. I really hope I can sit down with certain individuals and work things out. I think I've caused way too much damage and don't expect anyone to even bother. I only hope that at least we can have a sit down. Kinda like Tony and the new york guys did and take it from there. Only problem is we would have to whack Teena. I don't think I could do that.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 12:47:41 GMT -5
I have done as much as anyone to preserve "legacy." The amount of stuff I have written is voluminous. But the deeper I went into the archives, the less hits I got, the less response....people did not really care if their name was not in it. I get it. Sadly, I have become on of the "ghosts" - when I did make it out there last year here and there, everyone from cops to other fans would hoot at me to sit down. No one knew, no one cared. It is what it is.
As to Vinny, a lot of the idiots out there are offshoots from his show and things like that, or just rats following the pied piper around, but Vinny himself is a preserver of the legacy, and one of THE most respectful guys out there. He never missed a chance to say flat-out that if it was not for the Miltons, Tinas, and even my name got tossed in - there would not have been a him. That is a classy statement which I was always glad came out of him, but many others in his position would not bother to make.
Things are going to change a million times over in the next couple of years, with whatever semblance of bleachers there is putting a whole new face on things. This is really the beginning of the end, the oldtimers and many others moved on for whatever reasons, and a whole new class of clowns - sadly, very few funny nor any fun to hang out with, have been the ones to step in.
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Post by Chrissy on Jun 11, 2007 13:54:09 GMT -5
Who's Tina?
KIDDING! Even I remember Tina, and I haven't been in the bleachers since they stopped serving alcohol. (When was that?)
I never considered myself a creature, but I did get a kick out of sitting out there with you guys on occassion. Thanks for the memories... ;D
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Post by grover on Jun 11, 2007 14:03:33 GMT -5
Fuck that section and everyone it it.
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Post by Bad Mouth Larry on Jun 11, 2007 14:09:34 GMT -5
nice sentiment by teena, but there has been ZERO RESPECT out in the bleachers for a long time.
there is a section here on hecklehouse talking about old skool shit, but it doesnt really go anywhere. its the same 3 of us talking in there. fuck it, its gone, and it aint coming back. wait until the new stadium happens. think its dead now? just wait
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jun 11, 2007 14:12:07 GMT -5
Well, I think in the old skool section here, it just needs more people writing down their memories. Even if you and Tom were the only people posting in there, that's a LOT of stories.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 14:13:54 GMT -5
Sorry, Balls, I am not interested in being a one-man show, or sharing space with one or two others. If that section picks up, it will be without my help. I have been trying to kick this stuff up for years. The section is so pathetic these days that it took the spirit out of us old-schoolers.
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Post by Chrissy on Jun 11, 2007 14:18:55 GMT -5
Sorry, Balls, I am not interested in being a one-man show, or sharing space with one or two others. If that section picks up, it will be without my help. I have been trying to kick this stuff up for years. The section is so pathetic these days that it took the spirit out of us old-schoolers. Well, I would post some of my memories, but I was always too drunk to remember them the next day. I doubt if any memories are going to flood back in 10 years later. I do remember the "Tom" dance. And the guy who always shared his chicken fingers with me, I forget his name though.
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Post by Bad Mouth Larry on Jun 11, 2007 14:20:43 GMT -5
remember mikes rubber chicken? hahaha. mike should write a story about that. after a couple of years of having a rubber cock out in 39, it got thrown on the field, and then it supposedly spent a few months being played with in the yankee clubhouse.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 14:24:20 GMT -5
Remember we had those pins we got from Steve the Greeks little stand, that had a cartoon Mets logo in a pile of crap? And we would toss them to the Yankee relievers during BP? One of them, an ex-Met, wore it on his hat. So did that strike scab that was in the Yankee pen for a while....Dave Pavlas?
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Post by dabadguy on Jun 11, 2007 14:28:24 GMT -5
I remember a time during BP me, Baloo,Hampton's Rob and Grover were yelling at some band chicks. I mean we were really being nasty to them. Calling them fat and ugly and shit. That night I watched the news and the headline was tragedy in the stadium. I was holy shit what happen, I was there and I didnt see anything?" It was about the girls from the band were upset at the way they were being treated. They stated that it was the worst experience of thier lives. One girl was crying so much she said she will never come bcak to the stadium. That it will live with her forever. I just started laughing, I couldn't believe this was the tragedy!
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 14:32:01 GMT -5
Another time the band was being hooted and the party partaking in such an act included my brother Dave and I. The funny part of the story is that my cousin was in the band, and she was one of the girls in tears later. She told the whole family of the horror of the situation, not realizing her own cousins were booing her, knowing darn well she was on that field.
My brother Dave was asked by Bondy why he did that, and he was like, "I had to. And I would do it again, yes"
Also, my favorite "news" moment was when the press covered the beer ban like it was national crisis, and yours truly was shown blustering about it, and the graphic underneath me said, "SHERIFF TOM - BLEACHER CREATURE"
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Post by Bad Mouth Larry on Jun 11, 2007 14:40:30 GMT -5
thats funny stuff guys. i remember some serious press backlash we took in newspapers for our harsh treatings of the bands.
the beer ban. lol. it was like a 2 week long story. i thought arbiters would be brought in at some point. flajlfjalfjd;lkfjaslkj@ sheriff tom- bleacher creature.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jun 11, 2007 14:41:32 GMT -5
I wish we could get Donahuge to post some of his memories in that section. He's got some great stuff.
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Post by Bad Mouth Larry on Jun 11, 2007 14:42:28 GMT -5
anyone remember that sports show at 1030 sunday nights on channel 5? it was like 1 hour to 1hr 15 mins long? fuck, i cant remember the name. well, i remember them doing a 30 second clip of us in the bleachers during their show and every 5 or so seconds you would see my fuck everybody hat come up in front of the camera. lol.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 14:43:25 GMT -5
But who doesnt???
Donahue has NEVER written anything funny. I dont care how funny he is in person, he is not a storyteller, in regards to posting a story.
But you make it seem like Donahue has a monopoly on great stuff....that amuses me more than any of his stories could.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jun 11, 2007 14:52:07 GMT -5
Don't blame Donahue if he can't write a good story. I'm sure it's hard for him to type with a chicken leg in his hand.
It's not that he owns the monopoly, but he has his tales, as do you. You all do. I love the pre-1999 stories.
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Post by dabadguy on Jun 11, 2007 14:55:49 GMT -5
I'm with Tom on this one. I don't recall Donahue ever telling a good story. And he is not funny at all! Balls, stop trying to make it sound like it's the Donahue Show and we're just the side show.
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Post by jwmcc on Jun 11, 2007 14:58:27 GMT -5
'Also, my favorite "news" moment was when the press covered the beer ban like it was national crisis, and yours truly was shown blustering about it, and the graphic underneath me said, "SHERIFF TOM - BLEACHER CREATURE"
Wasn't Larry in Cleveland at the time and the newspapers there covered it and even interviewed him? I remember Tom mentioning that "I guess they got tired of writing about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over there". Jw
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 15:04:03 GMT -5
Holy Hell, that beer ban story was one in itself. I actually did a "column" on it (NOT the one that is saved in archives...another more spontaneous one after the ban) that is lost to time....its one I know I did and remember fondly, but cant find anywhere. My favorite part was the first night we walked in and they handed us the photocopied sheets explaining said ban. Somehow I managed to stumble into the Stadium without getting one. It was not until I got up into the section that I noticed something was awry, and there was much hoopla.
So I go back down to get a paper printout. AND THE GUY REFUSES TO GIVE ME ONE. He says, "You already got one." Forget the fact that its just a PHOTOCOPIED piece of paper, but the irony in the fact that the biggest drunk out there could not get the paper explaining the ban.....geez.
Not only did I end up getting a sheet (I think Tina ran down to get me one) but its in a safe place at home, stuck in a photo album. I should scan it for all of us to see and laugh at.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jun 11, 2007 15:23:03 GMT -5
You should DEFINITELY scan that.
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Post by grover on Jun 11, 2007 15:23:49 GMT -5
How about when the ban was lifted for all of 2 minutes and we would all look at each other with beer in our hands going "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!"
That was a fun 2 minutes. If anyone wants to look at a turning point in the section, look no further than no beer.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 15:30:17 GMT -5
Well, the beer ban ended the practice of going in for 2 hours of batting practice, avid heckling, and networking with other cool drinkers scattered about doing the same thing. I have to say, flowing beer was a good way to recruit back then. Once the beer went, the party ended, pretty much.
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Post by BigAl115 on Jun 11, 2007 16:34:09 GMT -5
I think i drank the most I ever have at a baseball game, after the Beer ban. And its up there with the most I've consumed at any event. I was making one of my few bleacher appearances and told my friend Homer to bring a bottle of rum and we'll mix it with soda...we being Jamaican, he bought the 1.75 liter of Bacardi dark. Well before the game I met a Chrissy and a few ppl at Stans for a few Pre-Game cocktails and then Homer and I walked over to the park with a few 22oz Bud Lights each. During the the game ...thew rum started flowing and barring a swig from Tom, there really was no sharing ....just no one asked. Homer fell off his seat ....So Chrissy and her GF pulled their 7th inning exit and went to stans.... After the game we joined them at Stans for a few more beers and shots ..then went to the bowling alley where we ordered sodas and polished off the rest of the Rum. Now its getting a little foggy from here ..but i think we went to Down the Hatch and not sure what happened after that all I know is that I did not get any action that night ...I do however remember driving home from the train station (not a proud moment) which was a few blocks from my place and thinking I needed Gatorade and stuff to thwart my guaranteed hangover. I pull into 7-11 and as I get out of my car 3 cop cars pulled in to hang out. Well I'm in the store all nervous forgetting why I'm there in the first place. So I wound up with like $50 worth of crap because after staring blankly at the refrigerator for a few minutes I just grabbed everything so I didn't seem drunk, well that was what was going through my head at least They all stared as i left but i guess it wasn't late enough for overtime .... I haven't really been to the bleachers much since then ...
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Post by grover on Jun 11, 2007 16:50:49 GMT -5
Yeah, actually, once he beer ban came along we would all get shitfaced in the park because we knew as soon as we were inside it was a booze free area.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 11, 2007 17:26:52 GMT -5
How is this for a tinge of irony....I ended my workday talking about "old school" here, and I get on the subway towards Penn, and who do I run into at West 4th but....
Miles!
As old-school as it gets. Considering I had not seen him in, geez, maybe a year, it was strange timing.
We had a nice time exchanging pleasantries. By the way, he has no idea which softball team he is on. Good job on contacting your team, cap!
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