March 26th, 2020
#FLATTENTHECURVE
#SOCIALDISTANCING
#ALBALESISAJERK
Before I get into a little tid-bit of a story about Al Bales, here's a little COVID-19 update for y'all. First off, thank you to front line medical and support staff that are risking their personal welfare for our benefit. My sister is a nurse on the front lines in Vancouver. She's dedicated and eager to help; but she's terrified. For herself & her husband and kids. It's scary, please keep all these amazing people in your thoughts.
Not secondarily, but "also", please remember the people that have been designated as essential services and are at risk to provide a vital service to the rest of us. Every life matters. Every life counts. Every life needs to be honoured and respected.
Finally, I've emailed or txt'd over 100 guys from our league over the last ten days or so. Too many to list. Some people wanted to chat and sent back fantastic messages. Others were more "hi, how ya doin'" and that's totally fine. Isolation is different for us. We're a social species and I'm trying my best to keep people connected. Please make the effort to reach out for people and check in. By the way, a number of people said they are available to drop stuff off to people in need or people who at too high a risk to go shopping. PLEASE let me know if you need something and I'll reach to one of our awesome league member volunteers to help you out.
Now here's a really short story.
Everyone knows Al Bales right?
Winner of the prestigious Diamond Award?
Long time co-captain of the Beer Bros.?
Back up Sub Controller?
Recent lottery winner? Wait .... what? Yep, true story there.
For those of you with good memories, you might remember the improbable story of the 2019 Beer Bros. Over all good guys; but never really found their stride. Went the whole season never winning 3 in a row and finished decidedly under the .500 mark.
Big deal, that's the story of half the teams.
Except that Beer. Bros. team felt a little different. They had a respectable round robin and got to play an elimination game. Based on the league standings, they should have lost. They didn't and advanced to the quarter finals where they would assuredly lose, right? Nope, a stirring 5 run seventh inning catapulted them to semi final. In the semi's they were again on the come back trail late in the game.
Now a lot of people will remember that rookie Greg Senay pulled his hamstring and had to leave the 4th inning. A lot of people will point to that as the reason for the Beer Bros. loss. It wasn't.
Now a lot of people will remember that inspirational leader Al Lacey shattered his arm and had to leave the game in the 5th inning. A lot of people will point to that as the reason for the Beer Bros. loss. It wasn't.
So why did the Beer Bros. fall short? Why did they exit in the semi finals?
Well Al Bales had a habit. Some people call it a "problem" but I'll call it a habit. He shows up to every game with a scratch ticket. Every game. And during the game he'll scratch here and there and work his way through the ticket. Eventually he mutters some swear and throws it in the garbage.
But not this night.
Not in the semi finals.
Nope, he's scratching away at his bingo card. A number here; a number there; a mutter here; a gasp there. There was a long stoppage in play while Lacey was carted off the field. The whole team ... scratch that .... both teams and all the spectators were clapping for Lacey. Except for Bales. Scratch, scratch, scratch.
As Lacey comes off the field and the cheering subsides, and Bales jumps up and screams BINGO!!!
Let me tell you ... it didn't go over well with the team. Finally someone asks him, "what did you win? $10,000?" Nope.
$5,000? Nope.
$1000? Nope.
So what did you win? And Bales says, "25 buck".
Lacey, god love him, arm in a sling, says "I hope you're buying the team a couple of jugs after the game." But Bales mumbles some lame comment of having an early start the next day.
So there you have it; the Beer Bros missed out on a trip to the finals because of Al Bales $25.00 Bingo ticket.
True story.
Thanks Al.
#SOCIALDISTANCING
#ALBALESISAJERK
Before I get into a little tid-bit of a story about Al Bales, here's a little COVID-19 update for y'all. First off, thank you to front line medical and support staff that are risking their personal welfare for our benefit. My sister is a nurse on the front lines in Vancouver. She's dedicated and eager to help; but she's terrified. For herself & her husband and kids. It's scary, please keep all these amazing people in your thoughts.
Not secondarily, but "also", please remember the people that have been designated as essential services and are at risk to provide a vital service to the rest of us. Every life matters. Every life counts. Every life needs to be honoured and respected.
Finally, I've emailed or txt'd over 100 guys from our league over the last ten days or so. Too many to list. Some people wanted to chat and sent back fantastic messages. Others were more "hi, how ya doin'" and that's totally fine. Isolation is different for us. We're a social species and I'm trying my best to keep people connected. Please make the effort to reach out for people and check in. By the way, a number of people said they are available to drop stuff off to people in need or people who at too high a risk to go shopping. PLEASE let me know if you need something and I'll reach to one of our awesome league member volunteers to help you out.
Now here's a really short story.
Everyone knows Al Bales right?
Winner of the prestigious Diamond Award?
Long time co-captain of the Beer Bros.?
Back up Sub Controller?
Recent lottery winner? Wait .... what? Yep, true story there.
For those of you with good memories, you might remember the improbable story of the 2019 Beer Bros. Over all good guys; but never really found their stride. Went the whole season never winning 3 in a row and finished decidedly under the .500 mark.
Big deal, that's the story of half the teams.
Except that Beer. Bros. team felt a little different. They had a respectable round robin and got to play an elimination game. Based on the league standings, they should have lost. They didn't and advanced to the quarter finals where they would assuredly lose, right? Nope, a stirring 5 run seventh inning catapulted them to semi final. In the semi's they were again on the come back trail late in the game.
Now a lot of people will remember that rookie Greg Senay pulled his hamstring and had to leave the 4th inning. A lot of people will point to that as the reason for the Beer Bros. loss. It wasn't.
Now a lot of people will remember that inspirational leader Al Lacey shattered his arm and had to leave the game in the 5th inning. A lot of people will point to that as the reason for the Beer Bros. loss. It wasn't.
So why did the Beer Bros. fall short? Why did they exit in the semi finals?
Well Al Bales had a habit. Some people call it a "problem" but I'll call it a habit. He shows up to every game with a scratch ticket. Every game. And during the game he'll scratch here and there and work his way through the ticket. Eventually he mutters some swear and throws it in the garbage.
But not this night.
Not in the semi finals.
Nope, he's scratching away at his bingo card. A number here; a number there; a mutter here; a gasp there. There was a long stoppage in play while Lacey was carted off the field. The whole team ... scratch that .... both teams and all the spectators were clapping for Lacey. Except for Bales. Scratch, scratch, scratch.
As Lacey comes off the field and the cheering subsides, and Bales jumps up and screams BINGO!!!
Let me tell you ... it didn't go over well with the team. Finally someone asks him, "what did you win? $10,000?" Nope.
$5,000? Nope.
$1000? Nope.
So what did you win? And Bales says, "25 buck".
Lacey, god love him, arm in a sling, says "I hope you're buying the team a couple of jugs after the game." But Bales mumbles some lame comment of having an early start the next day.
So there you have it; the Beer Bros missed out on a trip to the finals because of Al Bales $25.00 Bingo ticket.
True story.
Thanks Al.
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