Friday, my buddy Peek celebrated a birthday. So I drove down to St. Petersburg (after work) and attended the Tampa Bay Devil Ray's game. They played the Baltimore Orioles (insert “Clash of the Titans” joke, here). Now, in honor of ESPN's Sports Center, here are my top five moments from that game.
5. I scream really loud. That stadium (Tropicana Field) is always really empty. Because there were so many of us in our group (around twenty) we had to start off the game in the nosebleed seats (so we all would have a meeting place), where I proceeded to scream as loudly as humanly possible (I cannot stress this enough: I am loud). I like to think that the perfect timing of my echo-filled screams was enough to distract that game's starting pitchers. But in truth, all I did was drive a family of four out of our section. That was funny.
4. Peek's dad called Peek for his birthday. After they finished talking, Peek handed his phone to me. At that point, Peek's dad asked me, “When are you gonna write something that's worth a damn?”
Thanks for reading, Leon.
3. I have a personal philosophy that basically states that one can go almost anywhere if one acts as if they belong there. Well, Friday's game featured a new attraction at Tropicana Field (which is a dome?people are stupid): actual devil rays. We were even allowed to pet them. Once I found this out, I ran upstairs and proceeded to play with the rays. I was having a lot of fun until Peek informed me that I'd basically cut the line in front of a couple hundred children and therefore, was essentially the worst kind of jerk.
Sorry, kids.
2. It was Scott Kazmir Figurine Day. I mean, that's exciting, right? Scott freaking Kazmir! I was happy.
1. Peek bought me some fries. And it was his birthday. I mean, that made me feel so special, I couldn't stand it.
So, there you go. In case you were wondering what it's like to spend a friend's birthday in an ugly, empty stadium on Scott Kazmir Figurine Day when you don't care who wins while getting to play with actual devil rays, wonder no more. Your questions have been answered.
No need to thank me. I love what I do and all that.