Day: October 19, 2005

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First Posting

I don’t get on the pc often at home. Nick is on it a lot. Not much new other than not being able to get White Sox tickets was a bummer.

Chris and I went to ISU today to register him for his first semester (spring 2006). He is now an official Redbird. He will be studying to be a teacher in Physical Education. I understad ISU has a very good program.

Thanks to all of you who sent your thoughts to Mary on her dad’s passing. Mary is never on the computer so I have passed those on to her.

Too bad about Penn State. The boys and I watched the game. They really got into it. As soon as it was over I decided to keep it in perspective as Larry says he does. Who would have thought they would be 6-1! Larry, I have a $100.00 bet that Penn State wins more games then ND. I didn’t think either one would be as good as they seem.

When the game was over the boys and I starting looking forward to the White Sox game. We are big fans. Chris REALLY gets into the games. He is not pleasant to be around when they lose. Fortunately, not something we have worried about lately.

Well, that’s about it around here. I’m going up to watch the Cardinals and Astros. For tonight’s game we will root for the Cardinals. We really don’t care who wins. We just want both of these teams to wear themselves out before Saturday.

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Franco Harris and Mondo Martinis

I was downtown last night at Tony’s Big Easy Bar & Bistro preparing for the ninth Annual Mondo Martini Contest (yours truly, UncleLar is a four time undefeated champions of the event – FYI, it’s a martini making not martini drinking contest – more on Mondo Martini tomorrow after I win my fifth title tonight) when in walked Franco Harris along with Gary Gray, whom I have mentioned on this blog before. Gary and Franco were teammates on Penn State’s teams from 69-71.

Gary and Franco joined me and helped taste some of my creative work. Franco won four Super Bowls while with the Steelers and ever since then the Steelers have used the rallying cry “One for the Thumb” during their annual chase for another ring. I jokingly told Franco I was planning on getting my own “one for the thumb” tonight.

After perfecting my cocktail, Gary, Franco and I went over to the Gingerbread Man (or G-Man as it’s affectionately called here). It’s amazing to watch how much recognition Franco gets. He hasn’t played ball in twenty years yet he is still adored by many fans. There were bunches of college kids coming up to us using their cell phones to get their picture taken (admittedly they just shoved me out of the way but still I was still part of scene).

I have had some minor celebrity incidents here in State College (I’ll explain some time) but I can’t imagine what it must be like to go through that everyday like Franco. I even asked him if it bothered him and he very graciously said no, that the fans had always been good to him and he was glad that he could make them happy by obliging them with a photo. I thought that was a huge contrast to what we see in many athletes today.

Have to leave now but more tomorrow on my Mondo Martini (hopefully) winning entry.