So, as many of you know, I can apply to MLB events through their credential portal (hence how I am going to Cooperstown next weekend; more on that in another blog). While recording our last episode of The Skippers View Podcast, I received an email from MLB inviting me to attend the Red Carpet event before the game. Of course, I said yes.
Now, I knew I had a next-to-zero percent chance of getting an interview. I was there to fill a spot and take some photos, and boy, did I.
Now, I didn’t get too many shots; I was bodied out of the way a few times and felt like the guy that Ken Rosenthal decked last year. It was definitely eye-opening for me that, for many of these reporters, it’s their sole job to get these photos and interviews. Meanwhile, I am just there for the first time getting my feet wet.
Overall, it was a very cool experience that was a good test run for Cooperstown. Two completely different beasts, but at least I got to see what it was like to be amongst the media.
As with all my review blogs, I will break this experience down into three categories. “What I Loved”, “What I was ‘Mid’ About”, “What I Didn’t Love”, and “Who Got Screwed.”
What I Loved
Being In The Room Where It Happens (Sort Of)
There is a great song in Hamilton called “The Room Where It Happens.” It is all about the Compromise of 1790, in which Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison struck a deal about where the Capitol would be located. Aaron Burr was not in this meeting, so he sings about wanting to be in the room (this leads him into politics and eventually puts him at odds with Hamilton, who he kills, spoiler.)
Since starting The Skippers View, I wanted to eventually be “In The Room Where It Happens” for media. I am not saying I want to be front and center, but it is nice to see how the sausage gets made to a certain degree. Do I think I could handle it as my career? Nope, there were some savages out there (more on that later), but I had fun.
Seeing The Players Up Close
I have been behind home plate at Fenway Park (flex), only a few feet from the players, but this was different. They were so close you could literally smell them (shout-out to Randy Arozarena’s cologne).
For me, the biggest thing was seeing them with their friends and family. It is very easy for us to trick ourselves into viewing these people as larger than life, both in size and presence. Being so close to them reminded me that they are just people.
How Friendly The Players Were
There were for sure a few players that just tried to get down the red carpet as fast as possible and get on the buses to bring them back to the stadium. Besides the fact that they had a game in only a few hours, it was hot as heck. That being said, players really made an effort to stop, take pictures, sign autographs, do interviews, and even give a knuckle touch or two. Frankly, the bigger the name, the more they stopped.
What I Was ‘Mid’ About
All The People Coming Out Before The Players
If it wasn’t so hot, I probably wouldn’t have cared, but watching the team mascots dance around for 30 minutes before players came out was rough. Not only did I feel bad for the poor souls inside the costumes, but I was also standing for two hours straight at that point waiting for the event to start.
What I Didn’t Love
Adult Autograph Hawkers
I was shocked at how close fans could get to the players. Yes, the barriers were there, and the players tended to lean towards the media side of the carpet, but fans were right on the other side, throwing themselves over the barriers to get autographs. Now, I have no problem with kids trying to get autographs. However, grown men (even the ones with kids) who are begging players to sign their items and sprinting to the next players should be thrown on an island. I genuinely believe it is a reason that some players just zip on by and don’t turn their eyes. Even if they wanted to sign a few balls for kids, they know these hawks would fly in at any second and knock a kid over (happened twice, by the way)
Shout out to some players who seemed to sign as much as possible. Mike Trout, Paul Skenes (Livvy Dunne was practically held at gunpoint by some teenage boys), Corbin Carroll, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Matt Olson. Now, there were definitely other players signing, but these were the ones that stood out.
The Heat
It was 100 degrees on the red carpet. My wife had me wear khaki pants as she thought I would be severely underdressed if I didn’t. I couldn’t disagree, and $80 later, I had them. Imagine my surprise when I got on the media line and saw people dressed in everything from tuxes to sweatpants and T-shirts. I like to think I fell somewhere in the middle. Back to the heat. It was hot, like I had five water bottles while I was standing there. You could tell by the players’ faces that they wanted to get off the carpet as fast as possible. All of them were dressed great, and all of them were sweating their balls off.
Who Got Screwed
Fan Who Flipped Over Barrier
For some reason, once the event ends, they let you take (or steal, not really sure) all the covers to the barriers. They have cool logos on them, and I am sure would be cool to have at home on a wall somewhere. That being said, similar to the autograph hunters, once it was time to take them, people turned into savages. I watched a grown man (40s?) in a full sprint (sprint for him, jog for most) flip over a barrier as he was going to try and claim one of the covers. You would think that all the other fans would see this and respect the hustle; instead, a kid (12ish) just hopped over the guy and grabbed the cover.
Savages.
I will be in Cooperstown this weekend working the Hall of Fame Ceremony. If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe below.