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Around SBN: Hugh Douglas Admits To Stealing From Jaguars

Gave Away All the ANtics to the A's Players

On Friday, before leaving for Phoenix, I created a PDF file that contained all 14 ANtics comments to date, and had them printed on "good" color paper at Kinko's, and then had them sealed in a clear plastic cover. I made 10 copies of the 15 page document (including cover page) at no small  charge, and set out to see if I could hand-deliver the comics to the Oakland A's players who played  the characters in the comic itself.

            Today, before the game between the A's and the Anaheim
            Angels, I took my 10 copies and aggressively set out to
            find players who had been featured and might have time
            to read them. We found pitcher Barry Zito and handed
            him 3 copies, one for him and two more for him to
            hopefully pass around the clubhouse. I told him that in
            contrast to everyone else there who was angling for his
            autograph, that I wanted nothing and actually had
            something to give him. I said it was the comic strip
            from Athletics Nation that I worked on, and he said
            that he and the team was way into Athletics Nation.

3 down, 7 to go.

            I then went up to the broadcast booth and found Ken
            Korach, who had spoken at last year's AN Day at Oakland
            Coliseum, and said we appreciated it, and gave him his
            copy. He said, "Is this mine to keep?" it was, and I
            left it.

4 down, 6 to go.

            We headed back down to the bullpen, and left one in the
            bucket of balls where the A's relievers would wait.
            Somebody would get it.

5 down, 5 to go.

            Then, walking back toward home plate, I spotted a man I
            thought to be A's general manager Billy Beane, but
            wasn't sure. This man had an FSN shirt on. So I took
            out an ANtics comic where Billy Beane was featured, and
            compared it to this gentleman. Now I was sure it was
            him. I walked up and opened the comic where he was
            featured, introduced the series, thanking him for his
            work and efforts in helping the site, and passed him
            his copy.

6 down, 4 to go.

            Then we went over the A's dugout and saw the players
            warming up, hitting flyballs, playing catch, and
            getting ready for the game. A's star third baseman Eric
            Chavez came out to sign autographs. I got aggressive
            and made my way down there with the kids, and while
            helping the smallest kids pass their baseballs to the
            front, I introduced the ANtics to Eric and passed him 3
            copies - again, one for him and two to share. He said
            that was cool, and kept signing.

9 down, 1 to go.

            With the last ANtics book, we headed back up to the
            broadcast booth to announcer Ray Fosse, who was
            conducting an on-air interview. We waited for his
            interview to end, and they cut to commercial. At that
            point, I thanked him for reading the first ANtics
            episode on the air last year, and passed him his copy.
            He stood up and shook my hand and said thanks. I said
            thanks for his good work and wished him luck.

10 down. None left.

            So, was it mission accomplished? I don't know. I really
            was hoping to get one for Joe Blanton, but he wasn't
            easy to get. And Ken Macha, another target, was at the
            team's other game. But I think we did well. We talked
            with Chavez, Zito, Beane, Fosse and Korach - all
            kingpins on the 2006 Oakland A's. And I hope the ANtics
            don't end up in the trash. But I feel it's not fair for
            just me to enjoy them, for if it weren't for the
            players, we'd have nothing to make up after all.

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nice work
I'll bet they enjoy them.

I wonder what Chavez meant by "he and the team was way into Athletics Nation"?

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 12, 2006 9:33 PM PST reply actions  

He meant
They all like AN. It's California-speak, for those of you in Nebraska. :)

by OaktownTribesman on Mar 13, 2006 6:29 AM PST up reply actions  

Lucky you.
Is your exile from California going to be over soon?
Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Mar 13, 2006 6:41 AM PST up reply actions  

Yeah, dude
Are you going to, like, totally bail on New England. Because I'd be way into that.

by ArakSOT on Mar 13, 2006 9:47 AM PST up reply actions  

That'd be hella wicked.
(See, I'm marrying the two cultures - who says I can't assimilate?)
Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Mar 13, 2006 9:49 AM PST up reply actions  

wow
thats quite a feat to reach the players and personal you did. good work i'm sure they enjoyed them just as much as we do.
ohio roots

by nickatt7 on Mar 12, 2006 10:11 PM PST reply actions  

That's cool
Maybe we could "hire" you to give out the High Socks Crew player-recruitment campaign list too... or was that GnGGirl's mission?!
"I'm biased but I don't think there's anyone better than us" -Jason "Bulldog" Kendall

by streetfan on Mar 12, 2006 10:38 PM PST reply actions  

Wow
That's so awesome!!!  I'm sure some players have read the ANtics on AN too, but this is great!
"Baseball is reassuring. It makes me feel as if the world is not going to blow up." -Sharon Olds

by AsGirl on Mar 12, 2006 11:11 PM PST reply actions  

Ken Macha...
may have not liked the series too much

by Suck My Moneyballs on Mar 12, 2006 11:39 PM PST reply actions  

I think he'd have an open mind
I wanted to give him the Kung Fu episode and show him sticking up to Billy Beane. He's got a more forceful personality in the comics... though of late he's looked daft in his lineup choices... you may recall he wanted Chavy to lead off and Kendall to bat cleanup.
More ANtics and other nonsense: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Mar 12, 2006 11:55 PM PST up reply actions  

subject
"he wanted Chavy to lead off and Kendall to bat cleanup."

Sounds good to me.....

by senork on Mar 13, 2006 8:44 PM PST up reply actions  

That is so exciting!
I don't think they will end up in the garbage! I really think the player will love it. I am so glad you had the chance to hand them out!

I think it is totally neat that Zito actually told you that the players we into AN. That is awesome!

"Same as he always throws -- hard and nasty," Melhuse on Rich Harden - 2/27/06

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Mar 13, 2006 9:46 AM PST reply actions  

Now I'm curious
If we, as the loyal A's fans, knew that the A's themselves read everything we posted on AN, would we change our style? Tone down our vitriol? Make less butt-related/no-heart/FIRE MACHA NOW comments? I wonder.

Still, I think it's quite cool that louis gave away the ANtics to their stars and that the players are known to check out AN. :D This is truly the best SportsBlog site there is.

TV is called a medium because it is neither rare nor well done....gInTeRh8r (idea courtesy of AsGirl)

by Chavinator on Mar 13, 2006 10:33 AM PST reply actions  

Okay, you cracked me up
:D
TV is called a medium because it is neither rare nor well done....gInTeRh8r (idea courtesy of AsGirl)

by Chavinator on Mar 13, 2006 12:21 PM PST up reply actions  

no way
we gotta keep it real, until keeping it real goes horribly wrong.
Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest! - Rickey Henderson

by haren4prez on Mar 13, 2006 3:04 PM PST up reply actions  

Awesome!
One of the best Chapelle's Show skits ever, right behind the black white supremacist.
"All the years I lived in the Bay Area, just hearing Bill's voice alone, that was the signal that baseball was here again."--Ken Korach.

by jeepers on Mar 13, 2006 6:57 PM PST up reply actions  

and
white people dancing with Saanchez the Latino keyboard player.............

by brothersky on Mar 14, 2006 10:01 AM PST up reply actions  

Nah...
I think the players understand that fans will have good things to say, bad things to say, and weird things to say about them. Comes with the territory of being a major league athlete.

Besides, it's better than no one talking about them at all...

"(Insert favorite AN quote here.)" -- Some ANer
AN Census

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Mar 13, 2006 4:57 PM PST up reply actions  

Hmmmm ...
<prints out Poetic Interludes>

<books ST '07 tickets>

No poetry any more. I've moved on to more scary things. -- Miguel Batista @('.')@

by monkeyball on Mar 13, 2006 11:24 AM PST reply actions  

Take "Brokeback Stadium" with you.
"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Mar 13, 2006 11:45 AM PST up reply actions  

along with my ...
... football helmet and running shoes ...
No poetry any more. I've moved on to more scary things. -- Miguel Batista @('.')@

by monkeyball on Mar 13, 2006 12:13 PM PST up reply actions  

let us know...
...which players also cry over "The Song of Hatteberga"...
I need a signature.

by Poppy on Mar 13, 2006 12:06 PM PST up reply actions  

That's so awesome!
I love the ANtics...glad you're spreading them out. :D

by Squeaky on Mar 13, 2006 3:21 PM PST reply actions  

You know what would be great?
If Zito, or somebody, took an extra copy of ANtics they received, had all the featured players sign it, and then gave it to Blez, or somebody, to return to louismg.

I guess this'll be a good way to find out if the players read and appreciate AN and ANtics.

"Keep the juices going by jangling around gently as you move." - Satchel Paige

by McFood on Mar 13, 2006 5:24 PM PST reply actions  

Nice Job!
louismg, I really like it when folks give away their creativity for free.  Class act on your part, wandering around and handing out ANtics like some kind of Johnny Appleseed for comics.  Hope the club enjoys it -- you do good work.

by Dan_Honolulu on Mar 13, 2006 5:48 PM PST reply actions  

awesome work
I really hope kielty gets to see the ones in which he is featured.  I imagine that he would enjoy them.
Kendall Haiku by FormerHuntsvilleStar, " Ball in hand, a leap,--- a veteran catcher blocks--- and secures a win"

by Athletics fan and runner on Mar 13, 2006 5:59 PM PST reply actions  

A's Radio Network
Hi,

Does anybody know where I can get a list of radio and TV stations that will be carrying ballgames this year ? I live in the Sacramento area and I guess KFRC is no longer carrying the games ?

Thanks,

Dave(InRoseville).

by DaveinRoseville on Mar 13, 2006 8:19 PM PST reply actions  

Basically
You can't get A's games on the radio in Sacramento.  Here is the list of affiliates:

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/oak/schedule/affiliates.jsp

1550 might come in for you.  Some Sac area A's fans report that the can get it, although the signal is crappy.  I doubt 1220 will be of any use.  The valley affiliates (Auburn, Modesto, Marysville) haven't worked when I've tried them.  If you find different, let me know.

The local UPN affiliate, KMAX, will have a handful of the games on KICU in the Bay Area.  You should be able to get all of the FOX games.  Because you are considered to be in the A's local area (even though you don't get nearly as many of the games on TV as the Bay area does), MLB.TV is blacked out in Sac.

MLB Gameday Audio or XM Satellite Radio are the only sure ways to get every A's game on the radio.  You can learn more about Gameday Audio in the left-hand nav bar of the link I provided.

"All the years I lived in the Bay Area, just hearing Bill's voice alone, that was the signal that baseball was here again."--Ken Korach.

by jeepers on Mar 13, 2006 9:41 PM PST up reply actions  

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