<p>I wonder if this was part of some mandated community service. Strawberry was a great baseball player but his personal life has been filled with everything that you don’t want kids emulating.</p>
<p>And he lives in the NYC area and hasn’t heard of Straw? I’m not sure whether to be impressed or appalled Has it really been so long? I guess so – your son wouldn’t have even been born during the Mets’ 1986 season. </p>
<p>I’m guessing it was part of his never-ending probation violations and the resulting community service.</p>
<p>My kids and I will never forget the day Darryl Strawberry hit a pitch-hit grand-slam for the Yanks in the top of the 9th against the Oakland A’s here about 8 years ago to win the game… well after 99% of the fans in the stadium had left believing their A’s had a comfortable lead. We had moved down to just a few rows behind home plate and had donned rally caps with the few other die-hard Yankees fans remaining in the stadium. It was a magic moment.</p>
<p>His fall into a life of poor choices and self-destruction has always seemed so sad to me.</p>
<p>My Boston sports fanatic younger S came home the other day and noted that he had read that the Boston Globe was going to be sold to a group of investors including "that guy who is on NESN (New England Sports Network, who carries the Red Sox games). I asked if he meant Jack Welsh, who was CEO of GE. He said, “oh, yuh that guy”.</p>
<p>Last night after dinner, my son (15)informs me that he is responsible for making and bringing Sangria to Spanish class tomorrow. Now, first of all, in my long experience, sangria is an alcoholic beverage, commonly consumed by adults, so of course I was dubious. He produces the recipe, which is 1/2 gal orange juice, 1/2 gal grape juice, 2 liters lemon-lime pop, oranges, limes and of course 25 cups for all to partake in this treat. Due tomorrow. It’s 7 p.m. So off we go to the grocery to buy this stuff. On the way home I inquire as to how this will be taken to school. He informs me, he will put it in a pitcher and cart it in that way. Now, our biggest pitcher is 1 gal. And the top doesn’t screw on or anything, it just sits on top, not that securely. So a large argument insues, with me insisting that he take a large bowl and mix it in class. He doesn’t want to do that, “it’s a pain, Mom”. I remind him, not so gently, that I just drove 15 miles in my sweats and spent $14.75 on this “Sangria” so don’t tell me what a pain it is! </p>
<p>So, he ended up taking the mixers in their original container and mixing it in class. We’ll see how it turns out…</p>
<p>BTW…I was told this morning, this is not required, it’s for Extra Credit! I guess Mom will earn 10 points for this one.</p>
<p>Here’s a clueless friend story: He’s not a sports guy at all. He’s 57. A few years ago, a news report of Barry Bonds going for the single year HR record showed some vintage fooage of Hank Aaron beating Babe Ruth’s career record. My friend turned to me & said, "Hank Aaron was black?‘’</p>
<p>We’ve always enjoyed sports in this family, and it is funny to realize how many people really couldn’t give a hoot. But to have reached past age 50 and not to have ever seen a picture of Hank Aaron was a bit remarkable, I thought.</p>
<p>how about clueless friend, a long time neighbor story…</p>
<p>Once upon a time, we were discussing Thanksgiving, and she mentioned that she was not a big fan bcos when she grew up all the males went into the backyard to eat & hang with her uncle, who “played sports, or something…, leaving all the ladies and girls to fend for themselves in the house.” Me, an avid sports guy: Really, what was your uncle’s name? Ans: Uncle Mel. Ummm, ok, how about a last name? Well, let’s see, Aunt Sally was…, oh yeah, I remember, it was Ott, Uncle Mel Ott.</p>
<p>Me: yeah, I think he did “play sports, or something”, at least according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. hahaha</p>
<p>LOL! To me, that was like saying “Marilyn Monroe was blonde?” It just shows how much of the popular culture we tend to block out if it doesn’t interest us. That friend, by the way, had a younger brother who played baseball in college. So right in the same house, sports were important. Just not to him.</p>
Has it really been so long? I guess so – your son wouldn’t have even been born during the Mets’ 1986 season. </p>