Even Steven, That's Me

LANSING, MI  APRIL 25, 2003

Kelley K. and I attended the Lansing Lugnuts minor League baseball game last night.  The following events happened in a matter of 10-20 seconds, literally between pitches at the game:

We were seated on the promenade just past the third base stands.  Midway through the game, a ball sailed over our heads.  I put my beer down, got up and turned to catch the ball as it caromed off the wall behind us. 

Kays, thinking that I overplayed the bounce, tried to slink in behind me to catch a would-be ball sailing past me.

As it turned out, I played the ball correctly, catching it on one hop.  As my hand gripped the ball, the crowd watching this in the left-field stands let out a huge cheer.

A moment later, Kays, still pursuing behind me,  kicked my idle brew sky high and sent the beverage flying out of the cup and into the form of a well-defined rooster tail.  What was left was a severely bruised, empty cup (I beg you to note that Kays was captain of the Michigan soccer team).  The crowd, no doubt heavily into the $2 beer night, reigned a set of Boos on Kays for spraying his buddy's brew.

Seconds after this, a man of Mark McGwire proportions with a freshly poured beer in each hand walked up to me and offered a trade: 1 beer for 1 ball.   The transaction was made.  Still glued to these events, the crowd let out another cheer, expressing its collective approval of the justice that they had just witnessed.

- The Lansing Lugnuts are the A league minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.  The 'Nuts play at Oldsmobile park in Lansing, Michigan, near downtown on Michigan Avenue.