clueless in St. Louis

galaxy27

this is what happens when a guy who collects golf autographs -- and no longer keeps up with baseball -- meanders over to baseball.

just saw #49 for the Marlins signing amid a swarm of bees. "damn this guy must be good," i thought. so I handed him a baseball. hell I didn't even have a pen or sharpie -- i had to bum one off of a Cardinals fan.

did not know him from Adam, but I cannot emphasize enough how cool he was. not only did he wait patiently while I located some ink , but he even asked where on the ball I wanted it signed. i showed my dad and he said, "you didnt ask him to sign it on the sweet spot?" I was like, "hey that spot looks pretty sweet to me."

idk who this Pablo López brother is, but I sure hope he wins the cy young someday?

doubledragon

Looks like a nice guy, awesome story!

thisistheshow

What's the sweet spot?

galaxy27

are Ken Oberkfell, Tom Herr and Tito Landrum playing tonight???

Darin

@galaxy27 said:
are Ken Oberkfell, Tom Herr and Tito Landrum playing tonight???

The last time I saw the Cards play in St. Louis Pujols and Jim Edmonds played for them
and they played a Phillies team that had Chase Utley. And it was a day game temp 100 FF.
Have fun tonight maybe Ozzie will make a couple spectacular plays at shortstop.

Justacommeman

@galaxy27 I'm sweating just looking at that picture. I lived there for 7 long years. In August it's basically 90+ air temp and 90+ humidity all month. Not that different then H-Town I suppose.

One August my folks were visiting. My Dad had the Golf Jones and insisting playing one afternoon. It was 100 outside. I thought I might instantaneously combust if I hit a driver that day . They made us sign a waiver so not to hold them accountable for the impending heat strokes. They had someone bring us cold compresses every hole for the back of our necks. We were the only fools on the course. The horizon was like the desert scene in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. All blurry and sizzling. I actually heard that music. I had been playing almost every day that year and was hitting it crisp . After the second hole I just started roping 4 irons and watching them roll 200 yards after touchdown. I almost died that day

m

LandrysFedora

@thisistheshow said:
What's the sweet spot?

Not where that one is signed. It's between the point on the baseball where the laces come to their closest point lateral to each other. At least that's how I've always known it.

LandrysFedora

Ball signed on sweet spot.

Justacommeman

Now that I think about it I'm not sure I've ever heard sweet spot on a baseball. I always heard it referenced on a bat

m

2dueces

@LandrysFedora said:

Ball signed on sweet spot.

Dale Earnhardt?

AFLfan

I'm guessing Del Ennis?

LandrysFedora

@AFLfan said:
I'm guessing Del Ennis?

You are correct Todd. It's not my ball though. Just posted it as a sweet spot signing example.

galaxy27

@Justacommeman said:
@galaxy27 I'm sweating just looking at that picture. I lived there for 7 long years. In August it's basically 90+ air temp and 90+ humidity all month. Not that different then H-Town I suppose.

One August my folks were visiting. My Dad had the Golf Jones and insisting playing one afternoon. It was 100 outside. I thought I might instantaneously combust if I hit a driver that day . They made us sign a waiver so not to hold them accountable for the impending heat strokes. They had someone bring us cold compresses every hole for the back of our necks. We were the only fools on the course. The horizon was like the desert scene in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. All blurry and sizzling. I actually heard that music. I had been playing almost every day that year and was hitting it crisp . After the second hole I just started roping 4 irons and watching them roll 200 yards after touchdown. I almost died that day

m

I love STL, been here many times. but, crime is rampant.

this literally just happened a couple of hours ago.

walking downtown near federal buildings -- of all places. I stopped to mess with my phone and my dad (who is 76) walked ahead about 100 yards. I look up and see a homeless black man appear out of nowhere and confront my dad. took a swing at him. incredibly, my dad did his best floyd mayweather impersonation and dodged it. it was quite amazing, actually.

at that point i had a nanosecond to process what the proper course of action was. I'm 6'1, 215, but more importantly I have a rage simmering deep inside of me for individuals just like him. I really have to control myself.

in that nanosecond, my first thought was to attack him like a great white shark hitting chum. but I was honestly afraid of what might happen to him. cant do that. instead, I yelled "hey" at the top of my lungs and started running. he then turned his attention toward me.

next thing I know, we're heading toward each other. again, homeless guy, probably 165 dripping wet, and clearly out of his mind. never once contemplated him having a weapon. honestly wouldnt have cared if he had had one. what to do, what to do. if he takes a swing at me like that, no doubt the trip will be all but over because the next tour I take will be the one at the police station. and more importantly, I genuinely worried about his welfare.

again, this all happened in the blink of an eye.
I cant even begin to tell you how difficult it is to make prudent decisions on the spot, especially after you just witnessed someone trying to assault your father.

anywho, guy gets within two feet of me murmuring something along the lines of "I'll f you up too," and I replied with "sir if that punch had landed this would have been the worst day of your life. have a good day." truthfully, I still dont know where that came from. divine intervention, perhaps. whatever it was, i needed it.......and he needed it.......and we both got it, because it stopped him in his tracks and allowed us to walk on. caught a cop a couple of blocks later and shared the story.

funny thing is, had he simply asked for money we undoubtedly would have made an attempt to get him food.

Justacommeman

I hear you. I worked at 501 N Broadway . We owned that town in the late 80's. Our crew ruled.

m

galaxy27

some items from the cards hof & museum

LandrysFedora

@galaxy27 said:

@Justacommeman said:
@galaxy27 I'm sweating just looking at that picture. I lived there for 7 long years. In August it's basically 90+ air temp and 90+ humidity all month. Not that different then H-Town I suppose.

One August my folks were visiting. My Dad had the Golf Jones and insisting playing one afternoon. It was 100 outside. I thought I might instantaneously combust if I hit a driver that day . They made us sign a waiver so not to hold them accountable for the impending heat strokes. They had someone bring us cold compresses every hole for the back of our necks. We were the only fools on the course. The horizon was like the desert scene in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. All blurry and sizzling. I actually heard that music. I had been playing almost every day that year and was hitting it crisp . After the second hole I just started roping 4 irons and watching them roll 200 yards after touchdown. I almost died that day

m

I love STL, been here many times. but, crime is rampant.

this literally just happened a couple of hours ago.

walking downtown near federal buildings -- of all places. I stopped to mess with my phone and my dad (who is 76) walked ahead about 100 yards. I look up and see a homeless black man appear out of nowhere and confront my dad. took a swing at him. incredibly, my dad did his best floyd mayweather impersonation and dodged it. it was quite amazing, actually.

at that point i had a nanosecond to process what the proper course of action was. I'm 6'1, 215, but more importantly I have a rage simmering deep inside of me for individuals just like him. I really have to control myself.

in that nanosecond, my first thought was to attack him like a great white shark hitting chum. but I was honestly afraid of what might happen to him. cant do that. instead, I yelled "hey" at the top of my lungs and started running. he then turned his attention toward me.

next thing I know, we're heading toward each other. again, homeless guy, probably 165 dripping wet, and clearly out of his mind. never once contemplated him having a weapon. honestly wouldnt have cared if he had had one. what to do, what to do. if he takes a swing at me like that, no doubt the trip will be all but over because the next tour I take will be the one at the police station. and more importantly, I genuinely worried about his welfare.

again, this all happened in the blink of an eye.
I cant even begin to tell you how difficult it is to make prudent decisions on the spot, especially after you just witnessed someone trying to assault your father.

anywho, guy gets within two feet of me murmuring something along the lines of "I'll f you up too," and I replied with "sir if that punch had landed this would have been the worst day of your life. have a good day." truthfully, I still dont know where that came from. divine intervention, perhaps. whatever it was, i needed it.......and he needed it.......and we both got it, because it stopped him in his tracks and allowed us to walk on. caught a cop a couple of blocks later and shared the story.

funny thing is, had he simply asked for money we undoubtedly would have made an attempt to get him food.

Thanks for sharing that story Galaxy. Glad it ended with everyone walking away unharmed. Sounds like you handled that situation perfectly. I work outside for a living while being sent to some less than ideal areas to work and unfortunately we live in a day/age where you have to have your head on a swivel at all times. Good job sir!

galaxy27

@LandrysFedora said:

@galaxy27 said:

@Justacommeman said:
@galaxy27 I'm sweating just looking at that picture. I lived there for 7 long years. In August it's basically 90+ air temp and 90+ humidity all month. Not that different then H-Town I suppose.

One August my folks were visiting. My Dad had the Golf Jones and insisting playing one afternoon. It was 100 outside. I thought I might instantaneously combust if I hit a driver that day . They made us sign a waiver so not to hold them accountable for the impending heat strokes. They had someone bring us cold compresses every hole for the back of our necks. We were the only fools on the course. The horizon was like the desert scene in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. All blurry and sizzling. I actually heard that music. I had been playing almost every day that year and was hitting it crisp . After the second hole I just started roping 4 irons and watching them roll 200 yards after touchdown. I almost died that day

m

I love STL, been here many times. but, crime is rampant.

this literally just happened a couple of hours ago.

walking downtown near federal buildings -- of all places. I stopped to mess with my phone and my dad (who is 76) walked ahead about 100 yards. I look up and see a homeless black man appear out of nowhere and confront my dad. took a swing at him. incredibly, my dad did his best floyd mayweather impersonation and dodged it. it was quite amazing, actually.

at that point i had a nanosecond to process what the proper course of action was. I'm 6'1, 215, but more importantly I have a rage simmering deep inside of me for individuals just like him. I really have to control myself.

in that nanosecond, my first thought was to attack him like a great white shark hitting chum. but I was honestly afraid of what might happen to him. cant do that. instead, I yelled "hey" at the top of my lungs and started running. he then turned his attention toward me.

next thing I know, we're heading toward each other. again, homeless guy, probably 165 dripping wet, and clearly out of his mind. never once contemplated him having a weapon. honestly wouldnt have cared if he had had one. what to do, what to do. if he takes a swing at me like that, no doubt the trip will be all but over because the next tour I take will be the one at the police station. and more importantly, I genuinely worried about his welfare.

again, this all happened in the blink of an eye.
I cant even begin to tell you how difficult it is to make prudent decisions on the spot, especially after you just witnessed someone trying to assault your father.

anywho, guy gets within two feet of me murmuring something along the lines of "I'll f you up too," and I replied with "sir if that punch had landed this would have been the worst day of your life. have a good day." truthfully, I still dont know where that came from. divine intervention, perhaps. whatever it was, i needed it.......and he needed it.......and we both got it, because it stopped him in his tracks and allowed us to walk on. caught a cop a couple of blocks later and shared the story.

funny thing is, had he simply asked for money we undoubtedly would have made an attempt to get him food.

Thanks for sharing that story Galaxy. Glad it ended with everyone walking away unharmed. Sounds like you handled that situation perfectly. I work outside for a living while being sent to some less than ideal areas to work and unfortunately we live in a day/age where you have to have your head on a swivel at all times. Good job sir!

thanks brother, I appreciate it. when you feel empathy for someone you simultaneously want to maul, it'll really mess with your head.
i'm proud of the way I handled it.........otherwise you guys might have been reading about me today.

galaxy27

not positive, but I think I just got graphs from joaquin andujar and john tudor

Justacommeman

@galaxy27 I know a friend who has 1000 Todd Zeille UD HIgh # RCs. If you see him signing let me know stat.

m

stevek

<<< this literally just happened a couple of hours ago. >>>

I'm glad everything turned out okay for you and your Dad.

I've been to downtown Philly numerous times, sometimes at night, and depending on the area, the beggars can sometimes be quite aggressive. Sometimes they almost get in your face and question you why you aren't giving them anything. I've always just said nothing to them and walked away.

Of course in that situation the guy forced you to say something, and possibly take action of self-defense. Thankfully what you said to him worked.