Nico, Scutaro & Chance Encounters

I was sitting on a stoplight at the corner of Shattuck and Vine in Berkeley around noon yesterday, when this guy strolls along the crosswalk. He was by himself, in deep thought, but he was smiling.

I was wondering what was going thru this guy's head...but then he looked familiar. When he was just about to complete the crosswalk that I realized I knew this guy. My brain had to figure out in a split-second (considering we come across hundreds of faces each day!) that this guy was Nico of AN! Nico of the "Chez Nico" pics posted on this board a few weeks ago.

It's just amazing how strangers suddenly become faces you are familiar and can relate with thru the power of AN!

This leads me to a story of about a year ago. Orioles in town. Night game. Harden vs Chen. A pitcher's duel. Late in the game, Scutaro made the defensive play of the night sliding to his left, spun around and nailed the runner gunning for 1st base.

Bottom of the 9th, still scoreless, guess what. Scutaro hits a walk-off HR off BJ Ryan. A's win. Scoot gets creamed (by Mclemore) while being interviewed by Kuiper.

The following night. I was standing in line at Mcdonalds inside Walmart in San Leandro. In front of me was this hyperactive little girl that her Mom can barely contain. Then this guy (just about my size, but a bit buffed) squeezes in between to calm the little girl down. The girl ran around my legs so the soft-spoken Dad had to excuse his kid. I said that was fine.

Then I thought this guy looks like Scutaro, whose face was on TV the night before. Nah, I dismissed that, thinking that if it was Marco, he should be at the Coliseum at that moment playing baseball.

But then again, I realized that day was Wednesday and the A's played a day game. So is this Scutaro in front of me?

Nah, I said. The guy in front of me had thinning hair...but I guess we only see him with his cap or helmet on right? This might be Scoot. But this was Walmart, a very public place. How come no one even recognizes this athlete?

So I waited for my turn in the line. This family was completing their order. I'm up. But then again, when this buffed but soft-spoken Dad reached for his wallet, his forearms showed a long and nasty scratch...oh yeah, this was the same guy who took a dive for the ball in the hole last night! The defensive play last night?! In a split-second, I told this guy in-front of me "nice hit last night Marco (should've said great walk-off homerun!)." The guy turned around and sheepishly said "Thanks."

Later, I got a table and munched on my quarter pounder and Scutaro and his family headed out with their take-out bag.The funny thing, I was the only person in the building to have recognized him.

Oh yeah, I had to drop my sandwich for a while I thought. I gotta get his autograph. The only thing I can have him sign was my BART ticket.

The family was at Walmart's check-out counter. Marco obliges. He was quiet and soft-spoken. We said good luck to each other and he puts his attention back to the "Faded Glory" jogging pants and sandals he was going to buy. The guy was so ordinary. I walked away and glanced at my BART ticket.."Scutaro #49"

Sorry if this is a bit long-winded. 1st diary. Hope you enjoyed these stories of chance encounters.

Let's Go A's!

Postscript: Nico, I gave you a "friendly" honk but it was the street bum at the corner who took notice, and I just have to drive on as the light turned green....striped-shirt, greenish outfit?