Bulldogs Tradition - Thank You for the Moments
As promised, this is the source and location for all news and information related to the Bulldogs Softball Club. Oh yeah, and occasionally a word from our sponsor(s)! After all, we have to keep the lights on.
Anyway, I’m sitting here at 12:18 am on Saturday morning (congrats on the victory against Sojourners 3 hours ago) and I’m supposed to be writing a post to let you guys know about the fall. But I’m motivated to first share something a little different with all of you. It’s a bit of digression from the normal posts here on the blog, but I hope that you will enjoy it and take something from it.
In about 10 hours, my brother-in-law (Mark Williams, brother of Tim Williams and former Bulldog) will be watching his bride-to-be walk down the aisle. Almost 9-years ago, he and his brother Timmy were ushers in my wedding (1998). Mark was just 14 years old and his brother Timmy was 10. It’s unbelievable how fast time passes.
It’s during moments like this that I start to realize how much time has passed by. My daughter will be 6-years this year, my son just turned 4 and my newborn is gonna be a year old in a few short months. I think about how I’m coming up on my 10-year anniversary working for Advantis/IBM/AT&T/SBC (renamed to AT&T), even though AT&T only recognizes 8-years (sucks when your company is sold over-and-over again). Time has flown by and I think you get the point.
Getting back to my wedding, for those that may not remember, or were not there, Angie allowed me some “leeway” in our planning. At the time, the number one song to announce the wedding parties at the reception was the song used to announce the Chicago Bulls. Well, Angie allowed me to pick the song and I chose the theme to The Natural. It was a condensed version and as it reached its climax, that was the part where Angie and I were announced and we walked in under a canopy of baseball bats! Yes, it’s true, I have pictures and I don’t care what anyone says, it was freakin’ cool!
The thing is, anyone who knows me, knows that baseball has always been a part of my life and they know how important this team was, and still is, to me. In case you haven’t noticed yet, we put ‘Est. 1995′ under the Bulldog logo on our jersey. It’s been 12 years that this team has been in existence and though we’re only a “recreational” softball team, this team was founded and built with deep roots and tradition.
Back to the wedding, one of the things that I absolutely loved was the turnout of Bulldogs past and present for my big day! We took a team photo at my wedding and their had to be at least 20 guys in the picture (I’ll have to check again), and we were only in our 3rd season. Baseball and this team have been an important part of my life. My friends and family have helped to shape (no pun intended) who I am today and all the fond memories that I have!
I’m not exactly sure where I was going with this post, other then to say that life is really too short and that we need to make more of an effort to slow-down and absorb the “moment”. Looking at pictures of your children when they were two or an infant is not the same as the real thing! Home runs, RBI’s, batting averages… no one remembers these from season-to-season, but the stories that Billy and I share are priceless. The times we spent together on the field, in the bar or hooking up for a day of golf are what laid the roots for this team. It’s the stories I have about the time spent with Bill Channell, Jesse Cortes, Juan Cortes, Tom Cotto, Jason and Scott Cabay, Dan (my bro), Kyle ‘Doc’ Pedersen, Tom Howe (Tim’s cousin), Pat Monterosso, Jim Diaz, Brian Urban, Kenny Benson, Mike Fauth, Arlee Williams, Mark LeBeau, Derek Van Orden and the list goes on.
It’s the stories about Jason’s learning lesson about why cups are important. Golfing with Mike Fauth, Jason Cabay, Bill Channell and on. Tom beating Scott in a foot race in the parking lot of TGI Fridays (Tom was wearing flip flops). Brian tossing a ball over the backstop in to the creek in Lisle. Tom Howe hitting a ball so-far in an open field that he still “trotted” around the bases before they got the ball in. Closing TGI Fridays down each week. Playing darts with Jason at the bar after the games. Having our cars broken into while playing a double-header in Lisle. Hanging out with the families of the players on our team. Having fans come out to our game each and every week. Hitting the golf range in Lisle right after our game with Jason and Fauth.
Those are just the beginnings, as I have developed stories and shared moments with Sean Killham, Tim Howe, a crazy guy named John Rivera (no relation), Dan Urban, Dan Howe, Mark and Timmy Williams, Angel and Mikey Cortes, Peter Cortes and many others who have donned the Bulldog jersey in the past and in the future.
I share moments with each and every one of you each week. I take a night away from my family to spend with all of you and add to the unbelievable memories and ‘moments’ of my time on this team and with each of you. It’s not just what we’ve done as a team on the field, but more so, what we’ve done as a team off the field that has given me the most fun and enjoyment over the years!
Thank you for all the moments and allowing me to share this with you.