Happy Bird-day

Just when I thought I'd seen it all! Today was Joyce's birthday (she's the charming Account Exec who has either called you, or will be calling you, regarding Season Tickets and Mini Plans).

Fresh off of an appearance at an elementary school, Steve Cohen -- the GM of one of the minors' most successful franchises and reigning NYPL Executive of the Year, mind you -- walked into the room and joked that he was available to sing "Happy Birthday" in the mascot costume for a small fee (famous last words).

Around here, you can't say something like that and expect not to be held to it.

Minutes later, said fee was sitting on the conference room table and being stacked, sorted, and attended to as if it were the championship pot at the World Series of Poker. This being the minor leagues, of course, much of the fee was anted up in nickels and quarters (we work for the love of the game).

With Kevin Mahoney -- in a shocking development -- instigating (and putting up the lion's share of the fee, by the way), Steve was strongarmed into actually following through on his promise.

One quick change later (Clark Kent would be jealous), Sandy entered the room! The Brooklyn bird tripped over his own feet a couple of times, and seemed generally less graceful than I remember him over the summer, but he was there, in the flesh (or feathers, as the case may be). I couldn't really hear anything over my own laughter, and couldn't see past the tears streaming down my face, but I think he even sang "Happy Birthday" and made Joyce's day!

Unfortunately, a strict mandate (by Steve) against video equipment ensured that there would be more photos of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster than of this historic event, but even the power of the GM couldn't stop the first amendment rights of The Blog (at least, until he reads this and makes me delete it).

Don't worry, folks, we're already back to business, but a little bit of fun here and there helps get the 'ol creative juices going!

Expect the unexpected, right? Around here, we don't just say it, we do it!

-- Dave