Ricky Mast's 2012 All-Star Week Favorite Moments
Michael Bourn, Craig Kimbrel, Dan Uggla, and Dan Uggla's brother: Naturally I was very excited to meet the four All-Stars representing the Atlanta Braves in Kansas City. I am happy to report that they were all very cordial and happy to talk with a fan such as myself. My time with Craig Kimbrel mostly consisted of him asking questions about this year's version of the Fan Cave (he visited last year). Shaun Kippins and I had a great time trying to convince Michael Bourn why he needs to stay in Atlanta after this year while Gordon Mack was doing everything he could to pitch a return to Philly for the fastest man in baseball. Also, if Dan Uggla ever needs a stunt double he needs to look no further than his brother Mike.
Billy Butler Telling Me Not To Feel Creepy: Billy Butler and a few of his teammates visited the Fan Cave when the Royals were in New York back in May. I have to say that they were some of our favorite guests of the first half of the season. Being that he was witness to my live tribute song to Jeff Francoeur, I asked him how creepy it was watching a grown man serenade another grown man with a tribute song for him. To my surprise, Billy began laughing and answered "It was actually a really good song! I didn't think it was creepy at all." So there you have it: Billy Butler declared that I'm not creepy. TAKE THAT every girl I've ever met!
Barnyard Talk With Adam Dunn: In full disclosure, the whole "Ricky's not creepy" theory took a bit of a hit when I talked to one of my favorite players in all of baseball, "The Big Donkey" Adam Dunn. I explained to him the concept of the Fan Cave home run slide in that one of us Cave Dwellers has to go down the home run slide every time there is a home run hit in a Major League game. I told him that I take the slide for every one of his home runs and that I also make loud donkey noises while sliding. Upon hearing this, he made me demonstrate my donkey noises on the spot. Therefore, in front of dozens of accomplished and respected members of the national and local sports media, I began screeching loudly "EEE AWW!! EEE AWW!!." Luckily for me, Adam seemed genuinely entertained by my tomfoolery and I was not escorted out of the building as I probably should have been.
Taking Batting Practice at Kauffman Stadium: If you ever want to know what it would look like if a newborn calf with no sight and one leg tried to play baseball, then watching me take batting practice on the field at Kauffman Stadium would be it. Despite the fact that my best hit dribbled approximately four feet in front of the batting cage, it really was the thrill of a lifetime to take some hacks on a Major League field. But seriously..I suck.
Meeting Chipper Jones: I was sure that Kate Upton asking me for my phone number* was going to be the main highlight of my time in the Fan Cave, but then I went to the All-Star Game and met Chipper Jones. At first the media swarm around him was virtually impenetrable, but I got close enough to take this video of him after his kids had accidentally knocked over the background curtain and sign on top of him:Shaun and I waited out the media and finally made it to the front just before he had to leave. He could not have been nicer and more candid with us and my brolove for him reached supersonic levels.
*Kate Upton did not actually ask for my phone number…she totally wanted to though…I could see it in her eyes…not really…I'm very lonely.