Athletics Nation

and I want y'all to know us NRAFs were in full force tonight!

Despite not having either Rated-R or iglew, we posted ~650 posts!

NRAFs UNITE!

and a lot less teenage angst

(sorry RRS!)

cityplANner - August 22, 2009 reply

I’ll be back in a game thread in less than 12 hours!

Yay, NRAFs!

Oh, what’s that? The RAFs are back?

(slinks back into obscurity)

danmerqury - August 22, 2009 reply

no! stay!

Rated-R wasn't around?

Well, my guess to 67M, Blez and Nico was wrong. Oh well.

someone did say they thought he had to go to a wedding.

It was a rare miss by the kid, though.

Yep

Great work on the banner, by the way. We had it in 132 to start but it was moved over to the LF bleacher spot before long for a little better TV exposure.

did anbody see it on tv?

didn’t scan the game threads yet.

I did not, but to be fair, I spent most of the night in

front of the computer, not the television. I saw it panned across a time or two, but never directly.

I skimmed them and only saw a mobile phone pic from the parking lot

No mention if it made it on TV that I saw.

I watched the game on On-Demand last night

The banner was visible about three or four times.

doctorK - August 23, 2009 reply

Yay!

The bleacher guys were really nice about letting us hang it there. Then when bbg and I went to get it back in the ninth they were concerned we might have jinxed the ending. Very superstitious lot.

I don't know where RRS was, but I was indeed at a wedding for my wife's coworker.

Instead of scoring points with my wife, I would have rather been at the game. :(

LoneStranger - August 23, 2009 reply

One would hope at least

it would have a decent ventilation system.

DMOAS - August 23, 2009 reply

Hi.

I was at a friend’s house and we watched the game.

You were missed RRS

we had figured you’d be watching the Raiders game. It’s cool though. Even Zooks takes a day off.

Kallus - August 23, 2009 reply

I taped the Raiders game and I will watch it in a little bit. I heard that we missed a two-point conversion that could have won the game, though.

hey

thanks for the banner.

wow y'all

What about, based on the last few seasons, we just have AN Day every home game? The last one could be the last game of the World Series if the pattern holds!

Just a thought ;)

emperor nobody - August 22, 2009 reply

and where the hell were you?

pam5981 - August 22, 2009 via mobile reply

what a tailgate! what a game! what fireworks!

OaklandSi - August 22, 2009 reply

I saw the tail-end of the fireworks at Raley Field as I was driving back into Sacramento

designatedforassignment - August 22, 2009 reply

Soundtrack was Woodstock live

Fireworks were very big and splashy

OaklandSi - August 22, 2009 via mobile reply

Yay AN Day!

Highlights:
1. lynnzgal’s scallops and shrimp (I’m drooling just thinking about them)
2 .The awesome banner by LB. Pam turned it into a mega-size get-well card for Duke, which we all signed.
3. Personalized cupcakes by gigglingone, and the awesome cake from Mike Heath.
4. mikev’s big-ass grill, and the corn on the cob from same.
5. MobiusKlein bringing his family, including their two kids who are about the same age as little miss specialK, so I didn’t have to spend the whole time entertaining her.
6. All the cool people who came, the great food provided.
7. All the NRAFs who held their end up in the game threads (or therad, since Cindi posted the second one).
8. noava22, who (by his own admission) had maybe a couple more margaritas than he should, getting Carlos Guillen to salute him (not with the central digit).

Fail of the day – me, for not taking an obviously exhausted (and possibly sick) little miss specialK home until after the 8th inning. We were on the 66th Ave on-ramp to 880 when Zooks won the game.

Photos will be posted tomorrow, too tired myself to upload them tonight.

doctorK - August 22, 2009 reply

Those scallops were baller, and the shrimp were sensational

It was really cool meeting everybody and how you picture people online is never how they actually turn out. It was one of the most fun games Ive been to in a really long time, plus AN day mojo beat my 0-3 mojo this season so WOoT.

Thanks to baseball girl and lynnzgal and everybody else who organized it, and I look forward to going to more AN events in the future.

mmmm

scallops

And the thing was...

lynnzgal had to goad me into taking a scallop. Afterward, there were distractions and photos and, alas, no more scallops. Which, to be fair, I kind of deserved. I could have loaded up.

bear88 - August 22, 2009 reply

bear88 was there?!

damn it.

I quickly figured out why he calls himself "bear"

One of the hairiest people I’ve ever met.

I kid.

It is funny sometimes how people are different from how they seem like they'd be based on what's read online

Definitely nice to meet you.

designatedforassignment - August 22, 2009 reply

yeah I was disappointed I didn't get a chance to talk to you longer

so many people so little time and assigned seats!

Hopefully next year

I think I learned my lesson about which way to get there.

I agree

Thank’s to BBG & lynnzgal, (wow that food was great) and it was nice to meet all you. What a game to have AN day. I am about to pass out so I will sign off now.

adragon - August 23, 2009 reply

you forgot the lil' twins

they were cute, well behaved, and smiled a lot. If that were true about the grown ups, the world would be a better place.

Those twins rock.

Then again, I am biased. Matthew did great during fireworks, but Sarah gave up on being mellow and cried through it. Poor thing.

louismg - August 23, 2009 reply

♥

Baby girl twin rocked it out to Let's Get Ready To Rumble!

She is somethin’!

doctor, it was awesome meeting you

and thank you for partaking in discussion with me. but carlos was a good sport. that was fun.

Your heckle-fu was awesome

I haven’t laughed so much during a game years. And, you are a cool dude and I enjoyed talking with you, too.

doctorK - August 23, 2009 reply

My favorite was...

“Hey Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?!”

Oooooh!

New sig line!

I liked "Small Sample Size" in regard to Avalies' .435 BA

but hey Im a stats guy :-P

haha yeah, that was great

And of course I had to yell out “That’s what she said!”

SwisherThresher - August 23, 2009 reply

yup yup... great game, better heckling

ooh, one other thing

Thanks to adragon, who did a fine job tying down my Weber in the back of my truck while I tried to ascertain whether or not Kate was still alive (and she is, and seems to be fine this morning).

doctorK - August 23, 2009 reply

Thanks for bringing that, doc.

It was needed. I’m glad lmsk is fine today.

The AN Mojo outdid the 67M Mojo after all

But just barely. Nah, had it all the way.

It took me about two and a half hours to get there from Elk Grove (left 2:30, arrived 5:00) and an hour and a half to get home. I don’t think I’m taking I-80 in again next time. That’s not quite the same as three stops on BART. I missed almost all the dead, cooked animals but did get a couple late hot dogs made by lynnzgal – thanks! In fact, I arrived and not two or three minutes later everyone was gathering for the group photo, so that worked. Also a good thing I brought some dessert instead of a main entree. Whew.

I think McFood (did I remember right?) had one of the lines of the night as he said something about me tossing my cookies as I flung a few to waiting ANers later in the game, frisbee-style. That was good. Most were right on target – you’d almost think I’d done that before (I hadn’t).

And Nico, I really didn’t expect to see you french-kiss that usher! Wow!

Glad I could make it and catch up with a few people and meet a few for the first time. I enjoyed it.

We say 'Freedom Kissing' in America

Yeah, like five or six years ago!

Oh yeah, we had a “unicorn” chant the first or second time Ellis batted.

I take full credit for starting that.

I’m not sure I actually did (I didn’t start sobering up until like the 4th or 5th inning,) but it sounds like something I would do.

Nate - August 22, 2009 reply

ahahaha

You're welcome!

Those cookies were delicious, and no, you can’t taste the banana. And yes, I did eat about half a dozen.

Win

Um, I had a really fan-tastic time.

Thanks everyone. It was fab to meet the new faces, great to see the returners, and lovely to get my baby fix (thx Matthew and Sarah).

The AN Tailgate was awesome!! It was great to meet everyone in person...

A great time was had by all! I know it has been said but Holy Toledo, Lynnzgals Shrimp and Scallops were awesome!! As a matter of fact all of the food was great…A huge thanks to lynnzgal and baseballgirl for organizing everything, not an easy feat!

Great Tailgate, Great Game, Great Firewirks, what was not to like!!

Fireworks Make Me Happy!!

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

+1

this is truth

yay BERRYJO!

my head hurts

hmmmmm..I cant imagine why???

actually, it was the yelling

not the drinking.

Didn't the drinking lead to the yelling?

let's not get into correlation and causation

i heckle a lot. even when sober.

and at inappropriate times

like, say, at weddings.

just kidding.

You did well

Your heckling was respectful and fun, which often eludes fans who would just prefer to hurl witless and crass insults. It was fun meeting you and I look forward to see you at the next one of these things.

thank you sir

and right back at you. this is a fun crew. and i must say, it was fun to call you on your negging, haha.

Lol I didn't even think I was until you said it and then I laughed on the inside a bunch.

I'm still amused.

good

Tequila is a dirty dirty mistress.

i know :(

Drink LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of H2O

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

i am

thanks :)

B vitamins too

I thought that it was especially awesome that for the group photo rather than saying "cheese"

we sang the Way out West song..LOL!!

Props to Englishmajor for that.

Ooh, sad to have missed that.

iglew - August 23, 2009 reply

Thank you to everyone for everything

I had an amazing time at the game, and a great time meeting the majority of you for the first time. The food was amazing (the salmon, the scallops, the shrimp and mikev’s brats stick out in my mind in particular), the company was wonderful, and it was an all around good time.

I must apologize, though, to anyone I might have annoyed or made uncomfortable. I was in a loud mood today. And the NRAF video I made is going to kill any chances I ever had of holding public office. But it was a good time.

oh!

and it was a great game!

But watching Guillen

no so slyly trying to see who it was heckling him, priceless!

Major fun for my first tailgate....

I’m gonna want to do it again, for sure.

I want to add my thanks to the grand organizers – BBG and Lynnzgal. Thanks to all the ANers for being a funner than fun crew (and not doing the wave- I was watching!!). Thanks to MIkev for taking my table (I’ll get it tomorrow). Thanks to the A’s for winning and Chevron for the fireworks (not that they’ll read this). Thanks to Nico for encouraging me to check out photobucket and a successful first photo post (above). Thanks to the weather for cooperating.

You;d tink I won the Oscar or something!

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

you forgot to thank the fans

My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you.

They always forget someone.....

Thanks fans!!!! AND thanks to the NRAFs for sending us winning MOJO

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

Play her off, keyboard cat!

OKOK.....

I get it! LOL

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

i'm just teasing

not heckling. O:)

Your thanks, I’m sure, will be much appreciated by those who it’s aimed at.

Oh I know

I’m just messing with you….it’s what I do!

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

Your salmon was off the hook, girl!

I must have the recipe for that sauce!

Yes, recipes thread follow up please.

Shrimp and dipping sauce. Need.

and the little people

(no offense mikev)

I would like to thank the Academy!

Any chance we can get another AN gathering before the end of the year?

Nothing so prepared as AN Day, but maybe just a minor tailgate?

LoneStranger - August 23, 2009 reply

That would be fun!

If it happens, do let me know. I’d be down.

same here

nice to meet you!

For sure! and the same with you.

I'm down...

If you're planning...

Maybe...

[…] in Bloggers Gone Wild I, II, and III (if you haven’t rented them, they’re a “must see,” by the way — gigglingone is a surprisingly good actress).

Agreed.

Sequels are rarely as good as the original, but II is surprisingly poignant

And by poignant, I mean raunchy.

Nico - August 23, 2009 reply

I'm not sure which part you are agreeing to, but, um, thanks, i think...

gigglingone - August 23, 2009 reply

It was the ancho chili in the "shrimps a la lynnzgal". YUM.

and I think I took exactly zero pictures tonight…oops. Hope someone else captured all the highlights.

Thanks for taking care of the Duke well wishes, babe!

I’ll talk to you this week about getting it to him.

Thanks for not letting me shirk my one responsibility!

Continuing the thanks and appreciation posts..

To Christy for your wonderful organization of yet another AN Day;
to Lyn for tailgate and party planning and some delicious grilling;
to Blez because I’ve missed you and was so glad that you were here – can you believe how AN has grown!;
to LB for the great banner, I hope our best wishes make Duke smile;
to the kids who came out to the tailgate, sleepy Kate and the twins and all the rest
to Baseball Mom and Baseball Dad for BBG and for coming to the party
to Nico, for all your good stuff
to “who was that very tall famiiar looking guy on the field for fireworks” – cool that you would hang with the fans
to 67 , “Nino”, for bringing more family
to James for those cookies and pix
to giggling one and Wes for AN cupcakes..and to Mike Heath’s son, Jory, for the AN cake
and to all the good people who make AN still a great place to be

LongTimeFan - August 23, 2009 reply

Awesome day and evening

Thanks to everyone for their fine efforts. — both the tailgate and Live! Game! Thread! were wonderful. We even had a few live TWSS moments during the game. Today, unfortunately, I can’t really hear anything because I was sitting directly in front of noava22. OptimusPrime started calling the A’s ultimate victory in the 7th inning, and correctly predicted the walkoff and the instigator of same.

Lynn, I checked and we doubted the Coliseum music programmer unfairly — all of those bands really were at Woodstock. I wish they’d played the Incredible String Band though. And strangely, given the theme, this was the first fireworks show I’ve been at where no one was smoking weed on the field. We must have been in the wrong section.

Englishmajor - August 23, 2009 reply

after reading Nico's opener to the game thread

and this tidbit about the fireworks, i realize that the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum would really be the place for me to watch basesball*. i will be sure to plan a trip west for AN day in 2010.

*does/did anybody watch harvey birdman on adult swim? i always want to say/type basesball with the extra s, but i have a feeling that only about 0.05% of people who would ever hear me say it or read what i have typed would get the joke. it’s from the episode where the jonny quest cast makes an appearance.

jlanning17 - August 23, 2009 reply

I stand corrected, then.

Yeah, what the hell!

I was wondering about the music, too.

Not always the best renditions of that great music – but what a great show, nonetheless! I had a serenader-with-not-such-a-great-voice sitting behind me. But other than that…loved it.

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

“And strangely, given the theme, this was the first fireworks show I’ve been at where no one was smoking weed on the field. We must have been in the wrong section.”

This is a great thread. I’m stoked that Local Oakland A’s fans still got that same vibe. Looking back at things, I’ve always loved the sub-.500 team seasons. You really get to enjoy each others company a bit more than the really, really successful seasons. I love them really, really successful season too, though.

Peace.

Colorado Fan - August 23, 2009 reply

just for the record

I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying fellow Oakland A’s fans’ company — and yes, great food shared in the stands — during winning seasons as well, especially during September pennant races.

OaklandSi - August 23, 2009 reply

I'm sorry to have impaired your hearing

that was one of two things I was worried about. :(

Just kidding -- it's survived far worse!

Your heckling really was superlative.

Englishmajor - August 23, 2009 reply

giambi returns from the dead!

link

sorry if this is misplaced, but i only found that in my attempts to procrastinate, so don’t have enough material to start a DLD.

i’m a little confused though… the rockies play in the NL and Todd Helton plays for them, so i guess jason will just give helton a rest every so often and come in to take 1 PH AB late in games before somebody else goes out to play defense. odd move, but i’m happy to see giambi playing.

jlanning17 - August 23, 2009 reply

Thank you bbg, for a wonderful AN Day.

Thanks so much to everyone who came and contributed to the fun. The food was fantastic, the conversation was lively, and everything went off without a hitch.

LB…well, you know.

Final thanks to our boys for the perfect ending!

THATS WHAT SHE SAID!

But seriously. Good seein everybody again, sorry for not introducing myself to everybody but I had to tend to the BAG as well as run back and forth to swipe some of Lynnzgal’s seafood.

Tried calling about picking up my table (Thanks, again).

Left a message with my # so give me a call and I’ll swing by to pick it up.

BERRYJO - August 23, 2009 reply

I'm home now, sorry. Wife's blackberry might not be charged.

My Bobble Kurt is pleased.

He can’t stop nodding his head. It’s odd, really.

whiteshoes40 - August 23, 2009 reply

From my god-daughter Brit's FB page:

So im sure none of you understand this but my Nino (Godfather) is part of a website, Athletics Nation, and yesterday I went to the game with him. The signature thats on the helmet was done by the guy who created the site, Blez, and he told my Nino that he flew up here to meet him personally, guess you had to be there but it was awesome!!! That guy is cool! Oh and by the way the A’s won!!!! LET’S GO OAKLAND!!!!

67MARQUEZ - August 23, 2009 reply

SHE is cool.

woohoo, i'm a sig!

It was great meeting both of you.

It was really fun seeing everybody, but you were one of the people that I was really looking forward to meeting as I enjoy your work so much.

Feeling is mutual on all accounts.

67MARQUEZ - August 23, 2009 reply

If by feeling you mean...

well.. .feeling

Great pass along, Don

was great meeting you and the goddaughter last night, and I need to second what DFA said – it was great to finally put a face (and a personality) to the writing I read so often. Thanks again!

Likewise, noava22. Kudos to your heckling. Oh, and the drinks, too.

67MARQUEZ - August 23, 2009 reply

true

what was that one marg mixer we were using that wasn’t mine? it had the name of a guy or something. Tommy’s?

and thanks :)

yeah I certainly had two of the margaritas you mixed

they were very good.

I enjoyed our conversations

She's a spitfire, I tell ya

But wait. Blez said he was coming up to see ME!

BLEZ!!!!

I had that dream about the scallops again...

Hungry Hungry Homer - August 23, 2009 via mobile reply

You never share that dream, which I think is shellfish

Nico - August 23, 2009 reply

well played.

Sorry I kept that one clammed up.

Hungry Hungry Homer - August 23, 2009 via mobile reply

Celebrate good times!

I had a wonderful time at the tailgate and game. Thanks to all who made it happen. This truly is a great group of people. Cheers!

SwisherThresher - August 23, 2009 reply

Thanks!

What a great gathering. We had so much fun! It was fabulous to put faces with names. Thanks so much BBG and Lynn for organizing and to all of you for the wonderful food and conversation. And thanks to DFA and Mike for listening to my incessant babbling during the game.

Gus and I hope to meet up with you all again soon!

Oh, and did anyone pick up a sage green bath towel that was in a brown Safeway bag? I had the dip wrapped up in that to keep it warm and then totally forgot it when we went into the game.

Athletica - August 23, 2009 reply

It was nice meeting you. (again?)

did we meet at another tailgate? I don’t remember, and it had nothing to do with all the beer and the shot of Jack

You were an excellent seat mate and it was nice meeting you.

Im sorry that Gus had to wait through a 3.5 inning beer line though :-(

Not like there's a problem sitting next to a good lookin chick who is by herself for half a game.

(HI GUS! :-D )

LOL.

You guys are the best. ;)

Mike, we swear we must have met you before but can’t imagine where or when.

Athletica - August 23, 2009 reply

Oh I thought you were talking about how your wife abandoned you half way through to talk to friends :-P

Yeah! Athletica!

No more lurking.