Bill King Nite @ Rickey's A Success

by mrod on Oct 28, 2005 9:37 AM PDT

Just thought I would let evryone know that our little shindig in honor of the great one last nite was awesome and most needed. It was great to reunite with some familiar faces and meet many new ones. Saint, thank you for organizing everything and props for creating the foundation for new banners for both the left and right field bleachers next year. In case you were not there last nite the idea was to have two seperate banners set up: One saying "Holy!" and the other saying "Toledo!". These banners will hang from both left and right field, respectively, with the signatures and dedications from all those who attended the event. Plus, they will be turned over to the King family after next year. Is that right Saint?

All in all, great stories and memories of Bill's life from all, and thanks again also to Rickey for opening up his place for us to do this.

Hope to see all of you again soon.....MROD

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It was a fun night

I had a lot of fun and it was nice to hear all of the stories. Sorry I did not introduce myself to everybody. I was the girl in the pink sweater and backwards A's hat if anybody wants to know. mrod I really liked your poem, it was awesome. It was nice to see people I did know. The banners are awesome and I love the chant idea.

Saint thanks for setting this up. :)

"That's straight-up hockey, right there. He could come home with me and be The Man." ~Rich Harden~ (on Kirk Saarloos' mullet)

by Cassandra on Oct 28, 2005 10:11 AM PDT reply actions

We are an A-Mazing group:

It is outstanding what happens when we all get together.

Kenny, the Holy and Toledo ideas for the signs was...Brilliant!

Batgirl, thank you so much for bringing the cards.

Marty, once again, it was so great to hear your poem in your own words.

Ricky was an absolutely GREAT host. His restaurant is tops in the Bay for A's and raider memorabilia. he really went out of his way to get that Bill King Devil photo (Which has replaced Paris Hilton as the wallpaper on my phone).

Everyone who spoke, from Bobby to Mo, skigurl to Long Time Fan really touched me with thier stories.

Casandra and her family were there and that is just awesome to see how baseball can bring a family so close together.

Devo, it was great meeting you.

And surprise, surprise, who should call in and send his thoughts to us. None other than Robert Buan.

He heard about it through an e-mail and called Chris of the Green Stampede to say that he thought it was a great thing that we were doing and he wished he could be there.

Duke, you did a great job on the lettering for the banners. It is A-Mazing the work a true sailor can do when he is 10 beers deep!!!

Man, I truly cannot say enough about what a great night it was for me personally.

I feel like as a community of A's fans we did something special for Bill and I think he would have approved of the 2003 Mendocino Savignon Blanc Long Time Fan.

By the way, it looks to be about 65 degrees outside and just a perfect day for baseball!!!

"Carlos Pena, Staring Into the Sun Looked Like He Was Stoned On Acid" - Bill King

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 28, 2005 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

missed the banners...

just wanted to say thanks to saint for organizing this event!

My apologies that I didn't get any photos...I had to leave early to pick a friend up from the airport, and only later realized that I could have left my camera with Kenny or someone to get picutre of the banners....damn.

saint...any way I could put a message on one of the banners before it gets transferred/lamenated?

by high street on Oct 28, 2005 10:49 AM PDT reply actions

Totally:

I fact there is room for many more sigs. I am sure that at some point we will have an event where we can get more sigs.

"Carlos Pena, Staring Into the Sun Looked Like He Was Stoned On Acid" - Bill King

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 28, 2005 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

sweet...

by high street on Oct 28, 2005 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Maybe an AN tailgate at FanFest?

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Oct 28, 2005 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions

A-HA!!!!

That will be great!!!

FanFest it is!!! That way they will be ready for Spring Training and/or Opening Night!!!

"Carlos Pena, Staring Into the Sun Looked Like He Was Stoned On Acid" - Bill King

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 28, 2005 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

FanFest

would be great....February, right?

by high street on Oct 28, 2005 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

"Carlos Pena, Staring Into the Sun Looked Like He Was Stoned On Acid" - Bill King

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 28, 2005 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Big thanks to Saint

for organizing a really touching event. You really made it happen, and it is much appreciated. It was so nice to just take the time to remember Bill King. I regret that I was too shy of public speaking to say a few words, but those that did were much appreciated--great stories, memories, and tributes. The banners are going to be FANTASTIC! (as will Duke's 2006--just wait til you all see the design--we got a preview last night)

If anyone has a good photo of the Bill King devil photo, you really need to post it here so that the rest of AN can see it--it is priceless.

I had never been to Ricky's but I want to 2nd my thanks for his hosting of the event--I'll be back in the future--he has a really great bar.

I'll write up a little letter about the event and put it with the cards to send to Bill King's family. I'm sure they would appreciate hearing about how much we all loved Bill and mourn his passing.

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Oct 28, 2005 12:45 PM PDT reply actions

I'll post that photo tonight ...

Thanks Saint, it was awesome!

Monkeyball Note: if the A's postgame radio host was an evil supervillain, his official Evil Supervillain Laugh would be "Buan-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!")

by devo on Oct 28, 2005 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Really guys and gals, it was you or rather...

Us that made it happen.

It was just A-Mazing and everybody pitched in.

BTW...Whoever brought the flowers you will be glad to know that they are now sitting in front of the Devil Photo in Ricky's Main room.

Also, he is framing one of those pictures that Giambi Zombie posted and hanging it along with the rest of his Memorabilia.

"Carlos Pena, Staring Into the Sun Looked Like He Was Stoned On Acid" - Bill King

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 28, 2005 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Pix?

Giambizombie posted pix from last night? Link, please?

by skigurl on Oct 28, 2005 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions

No photos from last night:

I was talking about the Bill King characature that may or may not be on the T-Shirts

"Carlos Pena, Staring Into the Sun Looked Like He Was Stoned On Acid" - Bill King

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 28, 2005 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

What's truly A-mazing...

...is that this event came together in the space of only two or three days. Thanks, Saint, for organizing it, and thanks to Ricky for providing such a nice place for us. We should probably consider having a party or two there during the season, just because.

A word about the "holy toledo" chants: Let's remember that Bill saved his exclamation for only the very best plays, so he wouldn't want us to overuse it. But I love the idea of getting the chant going throughout the yard.

April can't come soon enough for me!

by skigurl on Oct 28, 2005 1:47 PM PDT reply actions

More thanks to Saint !

And to everyone who came...I enjoyed your stories and toasts to Bill. It is always such a pleasure to meet other A's fans.
Big Thanks, too, for Rickey and Tina, for all their help. I think a gathering there during the season is a great idea..
I have pictures that I will post later...that is, if I can figure out how to do it. Otherwise, I'll just post a link to the online album.

"sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic..." SALB918 - for all of us!

by LongTimeFan on Oct 28, 2005 2:22 PM PDT reply actions

I wish I could've gone?

It sounded fun, and I wanted to go. I miss you guys already, and I can't wait for FanFest.

"A glove is like your girl, you don't want anyone sticking their hands into it." - Swisher / MySpace

by JLaff on Oct 28, 2005 5:02 PM PDT reply actions

delete the ?

"A glove is like your girl, you don't want anyone sticking their hands into it." - Swisher / MySpace

by JLaff on Oct 28, 2005 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks Saint

Last night was fantastic. I enjoyed putting new faces to some familliar names and seeing the same old LF Bleacher faces again. For me the two highlights were the amazingly thoughtful cards Batgirl brought for the King family and Cassandra's little brother displaying assorted pre-swing rituals from around the league. What a contrast.
Again, thanks Ray and Rickey's and everyone who came. We should all get together again this winter for no good reason.

Barry and the "Intangibles"

by Duke of left field on Oct 28, 2005 5:26 PM PDT reply actions