The last two days have been my first visit back to Phoenix since the unfortunate loss the University of Oregon
suffered in the BCS National Championship back in January of 2011. My previous
trip was extremely prosperous in that I made over $4,000 selling the t-shirts
my best friend Samuel Spencer, a clothing designer for Nike, and I had made in
reaction to the alleged bribery scandal surrounding Cameron Newton during his
championship run at Auburn
University. While this
opening doesn’t seem to make much sense in regard to baseball, had it not been
for that ingenious idea, I would not be writing this piece right now. The money
I made selling the t-shirts served as the payment for the Major League Baseball
tattoos I started getting back in May of this last year. And without those
tattoos, well, I probably wouldn’t be writing this piece you’re reading.
The last
two weeks have proven to be a whirlwind of mixed emotions, all of which have
resulted in the most exhilarating experience of my life. Now I know I’ve talked
quite a bit about being taken seriously as a journalist, but after really
analyzing what I said, I’ve come to the conclusion that what came out of my
mouth was wrong. The obstacle I wanted to overcome was not being all about my
tattoos.
In the days
that led up to my journey to Phoenix
I was beyond scared. My body was literally shaking in a similar fashion to when
I was having light seizures after sustaining a concussion back in 2000 when I had
accidentally walked in the on-deck circle that was occupied by Esteban German
during my time as a bat boy for the Bakersfield Blaze. That day I learned how
hard an eventual Major Leaguer could swing a bat as I took a shot right in the
chin. While I thought my biggest fear was going to come as a result of a failed
pitch, the real drama that was building up had come as result of my fear that
everyone would think I was a “crazy person” based on my audition video which,
not only got me a spot in the Top 50 and 30, but which spread across the
internet like a wildfire after my television interview with KVAL in Eugene.
When the day of the flight came, I knew I had to really impress everyone, bust
most importantly be myself.
From the
night when I arrived in Phoenix
through the flurry of handshakes and smiles I received from the executives of
Major League Baseball, I felt the fear drip away from my body. Through the
pitch and the MLB IQ match, I never felt safer. Not safe in the sense that I
had nothing to worry about, but safe in the sense that I felt like I was
amongst good company. Despite all of the hard work that my competitors and I
displayed on both days of the competition, I never for a second felt and
anything negative. The word competitor became lost on me and was replaced with
the word friend. Not in a long time have I felt so welcomed, so encouraged in
and out of the spectrum of the competition. Encouragement I reflected back upon
everyone else I interacted with.
The support that I have received
from my friends and family, but equally from the 29 other Fan Cave
members and the executives of Major League Baseball has been overwhelming. Not
to mention how much of a thrill it was to meet, greet and interview a few of my
favorite players: Eric Byrnes, Ryan Roberts and Luis Gonzales. It’s not every
day that a person is given the opportunity to come close to their dreams, and I
did everything in my power to not let anyone down, including myself. The MLB Fan
Cave experience will
never be lost on me. The memories, friends and connections I made during this
time have been a reward so great that it’s hard to put into words. The experience
of being able to move to New York as finalist
for the Fan Cave would truly be an honor, and
something that I know will be bring me tears of joy. Just because I may or may
not get a phone call does not mean that campaigning will end.
