When we first picked the date for Fan Appreciation night back in May, Robert Farah, Esquire, thought it would be prudent to advertise. Here is the 1st notice that we ran back on June 4th in the T.O.T. Times:
"June 4, 2011
Are you lonely? Out of sorts? Is there an ache in the very existence of your soul? Have your fiends abandoned you? Are you able to name the members of "Culture Club" and their current where abouts? Is the black pit that your spirit resides in; covered in a green slime that prevents you from climbing out? Do you have a middle name? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, there is an answer to your problems. That's right.... The Tottenham Old Timers, Grisslies - Fan Appreciation Night!
On Wednesday August 3rd at 8:15, the Grisslies will be having their annual Fan Appreciation night while they play the Hurtin' Units at Keogh Park. This is the Grisslies way of giving back to all of the fans that have given so much to us. While many of you have never been to a Grisslies game, we still feel your support through your prayers and thoughts. Tickets are sure to be hard to get for this so call 1-800-get-scalped to reserve your seat. Tickets purchased in advance will also be good for admission to the concert* immediately following the game, weather permitting**. We Have the original members of Goddo, Rush, INXS, Sabbath, Slade, Lynard Skynard, Icicle Works, Europe and the Scorpions performing on the same stage at the same time and going by the "temporary" SUPER BAND name of G.R.I.S.S.L.I.E.S for this one time event (of course, G.R.I.S.S.L.I.E.S represents the first letter of each of their band names.) Do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!
This is your Woodstock Tottenham. Don't miss it!
Robert Farah Esquire, Director of Marketing and Media Relations, T.O.T - Grisslies.
* Concert & participants are subject to change or cancellation at the whim of the Director of Marketing and Media Relations.
** Weather permitting means that it must be 68.7 degrees and the prevailing wind must be a southwesterly by north wind that causes goose bumps on the right arm, at or near the elbow, of Mike Olliffe. The wind must not be strong enough to knock down an empty Coors lite can."
I know its weird, but there were NO buzz about his event. Nothing. Not one pre-sale.
Thankfully we took a second run at it and did the 102 reasons to attend Fan Appreciation Night! That one seemed to work. Plus we had the Hurtin' Units jump on full force and they publicized to their team and the advance sales took off! Thankfully we had that money in the bank, because the walk up sucked to the weather.
There are many people to thank for the success of fan appreciation night. Rob McCarron for lending the portable gazebo, Dave Polney for donating two incredible fruit platters, Dave Doucette for making Grisslie water bottle toppers (amazing!), The Hurtin' Units for their contributions of water, assorted drinks and watermelon, John Stiff for donating prizes, Samantha Del Greco for taking pics (and sending them to me) and to all the attendees for making the night fun for all of us.
THE SPEECH
Before the season started we had our normal meeting with the team. Its part a "get to know each other" session but the other part is to give our the Grisslies rules. We're pretty serious about our rule and they are very simple:
RULES
- If you can't make a game for any reason, let us know by email or phone, no exceptions.
- The games are meant to be fun for everyone, including the other team and the umps; therefore, no arguing, thank the ump, compliment other players on good plays. Its easier to be nice.
- After draft day, your no longer a #1 - #12, you are simply an equal member of the team, everyone contributes, everyone has a voice.
We've had a running gag all year....before almost every game, Rob asks if we've had any luck working out a deal and we report back on our failures. "Sorry Rob, the Banshees wouldn't give up their yellow bat for you"; "Thought we had a deal with the Rusty Rebels, but they already have four outfielders better than you"; stuff like that.
So Robert Farah, Esquire has been working on a Hayward trade song for awhile and has come up with this semi acceptable contribution. You may remember the song from a few years back by the Plain White Tee's called Hey There Delilah that Rob has reworked into Hayward Needed Trading. The tune can be found here.
Hayward's Needing Trading
Hayward needed trading,
We had him headed to Dodge City,
Seemed a thousand miles away,
But then Al Fry decided to get witty
He wanted Mickey too.
A trade like that would never do,
Can't we even get a yellow bat for you?
Hayward needed trading
It would be addition by subtraction,
Anything in return would be a bonus,
Make an offer and we'll listen
We close our eyes
He's pretty flexible for his size
Come on give him a try.
Oh would be nice have Mike Ghaney,
Oh what's Tito's availability?
Oh makes me long for the days of Brett Mabee
Damn, you should have been a Banshee.
Why are you doing this to me?
Hayward needed trading
He's so quiet and unsupportive
"But just believe me", says Cap't Farah
"Someday you'll get moved to the Brew Jays"
"Bo's thinking about a deal
He might give up Hargreaves,
It'd be a steal,
that's for real"
Hayward needed trading
Maybe its that he doesn't feel comfortable in grey
But no captains will return our calls
Can't even give him away
He'll often fall
Once he even fell in his front hall
But he'll catch the ball
Oh can't trade for Andy Gee
Oh sure like to have a guy Dave Polny
Oh how about either Pendlebury?
Damn, you should have been a Banshee.
A thousand phone calls later and its midday
Now I've got no trades, just battle scars
Not even a cricket team in downtown Bombay?
My friends all make fun of us
But the Grisslies just laugh along because we know
That we'll figure out a trade one day
Hayward's skills have not decayed
Now that he's complaining we'll make him a #2.
Ask Dave Argue, its what we do.
Hayward needed trading
But suddenly he asked to stay and remain a Grisslie
A month and a half until the finals, I think we're cool
And the Grisslies will be making history like we do
You'll know it's largely because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Hayward this ones for you
That nerd was due.
Oh we'll no longer take Craig Beatty
Oh Sorry James, but we're saying "no" to Paul Gyori
Oh There will be no trade for John Tessier
Oh, Damn glad you didn't become a Banshee.
THE GAME
Well then. Your friendly neighbourhood Grisslie team is no guaranteed to finish no worse than .500 for the season which will give us 1 consecutive winning season! YES!!! Oh, we also moved into a tie for fourth with the Hot Tub Woody's at 7 games back of 1st, however they do have two games in hand.
This was really a case of 2 games in one. This game was a nip and tuck affair for 5 and 1/2 innings. No team had a lead bigger than two runs at any point and it didn't feel really secure for either side. Both teams were "one hit away" throughout the game.
It was good to see Bill Jonkman back pitching, but he was tough on us. The game overall was more about good to (near) great defense than it was about any superb offensive outbursts. The only exception to that was Sir Rob Hayward's inside the park home run and the Grisslie offensive outburst in the bottom of the 6th.
We got to the bottom of the sixth ahead by two with a 7 - 5 lead and had our only real offensive roll of the night. Everyone contributed this inning, but the two biggest hits were by Jerry Muirhead and Rob Farah who both drove in 2 runs with two out hits. They were clutch right when we needed it most. In the top of the seventh the Units would count one, but the game ended on a fantastic running catch by Jim "Catfish" Hunter in center field.
Other defensive plays of note included a difficult running catch by Steph in right field and a nice snagged liner at 3rd by Gord (Freddy) Robertson.
Thanks to Steve Ross and Dave Polney for subbing for us on this night. Steve handled all his chances at second and Dave looked right at home at 1st base. I will admit being a little disappointed that he didn't dive for any balls though.
Be sure to check out the 3 stars
STANDINGS
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