Rings, bells

Yesterday afternoon was a big sports day. Yes, Phil Jackson won his 10th ring and Kobe won his 4th, but there was also a GR softball mini reunion with a bunch of alum and and current players in Orange County. Left to right (the positions are blurry, but to the best of my recollection...): Jason (1B), Hap (SS/LF), me (P), Ethyl (GR supporter/bride), Rich (3B/groom), Bret (LF), Ant (LF/3B), BK (LCF).


Rich joined the GR softball team during the same season as BK. A bunch of the veteran players on GR squad bailed to play in a higher-level league with some ringers, leaving me to find a bunch of new guys. I picked up Rich and BK via my cousin Carey (Ant's brother). The two had just graduated from Cal, moved to L.A., and were looking for a new team to play on. I remember Carey saying that BK was the fastest player he'd ever seen and that Rich "bombed." Both were true. I don't think my team did very well that season, but the Carey's old teammates provided some bright spots, and were actually scouted by the team that played on the deep end.


On the way out--had to leave early-ish to pick up Eloise from my parents' house--Wendy and I stopped for a quick picture with Bret, Happy, and Kiki. Happy is wearing the same dress she wore when she played with Ray Barbee's band and was very pregnant with Kiki when Wendy and I got married. One of her bands, The Lassie Foundation, is playing tonight at The Echoplex, so check out the show and say hi to her if you get a chance.


Hey, another GR softballer was supposed to be there!


Late that night, I met up with another GR guy, Chi (RF, a.k.a Ultraman a.k.a. Chi Magic a.k.a. The guy you want in the foxhole with you.) He's celebrating his marriage next weekend, and just had dinner with his groomsmen Roger Federer and Andre Agassi. I was driving back from Fullerton during those festivities but got to share some apple pie a la mode with them at Twohey's in Alhambra... More on this character later.