Oh, Say, Can You Sing?

On Tuesday, we held our annual National Anthem tryouts at the Kings Plaza mall. Check out a brief look at how it went:

Cyclones Fans Unite!

As many of you know, the Brooklyn Cyclones are always striving for world domination. We figure that we should start with minor-league baseball domination, and we need your help!

We are in the greatest borough in the greatest city in the entire world, and yet we are losing the battle for minor-league baseball social-networking dominance!

Many of you have started to follow our Twitter feed (BKCyclones). We love your comments and continued support. Keep it coming!

It might take some time for us to achieve utter world dominance, but as far as the Twitter-universe you can help us with that right now! We want to be the #1 minor-league baseball franchise on Twitter, and to do that, we need to take down the big dog… the Saint Paul Saints.

The Saints are in Minnesota (come on...Minnesota?) and are the the flagship minor-league baseball franchise owned and operated by the well-known Goldklang Group, whose principle owners include Bill Murray (gunga-galunga), and Mike Veeck.

You thought we were nuts? The Saints give even us a run for our money! Even so, St. Paul Minnesota has a population under 300,000. Under 300,000?! And we are going to let the greatest borough in the whole world lose to them? To a team in Minnesota? They have, like, more lakes than people!

The Cyclones ARE Brooklyn! And Brooklyn doesn't like to lose. So follow us on Twitter now. By supporting us in this cause we might not be able to end world hunger or decree that Donald Trump must get a haircut (yet), but we can dominate the minor-league baseball Twitter-verse…and then THE WORLD!

-- Andrew

A Party Even the Poopers Will Enjoy

Whenever I am asked to plan a party or event (which is never), I automatically envision the worst case scenario: my first six months of socializing in Germany, where I resided for a few years post-college. (Why? Just ‘cause.) Before I finally became decently fluent, my conversations with the Germans at social events were mostly made up of my awkward attempts at jokes…followed inevitably by painful, echoing silences…which were, in turn, punctuated by coughs and the sound of cars driving by outside, blasting German techno and lending an ironic soundtrack to the whole scene. (Come to think of it, it’s actually not too different from many of my conversations now, minus the German techno.) I would end the evening congratulating myself on yet another fait accompli.

In short, I am an event planner’s worst nightmare, and like it or not, there are plenty of us out there who threaten to ruin your party dynamic.

The cringe-inducing picture of underdeveloped social finesse mentioned above has inspired my latest blog entry/argument as to why you might consider renting a suite or party deck with the Brooklyn Cyclones, should you be in charge of planning an event. In no particular order, here is my list of reasons:

1. If it is a company event, you know that there are co-workers who don’t get along/work in different departments and don’t know what to say to each other/would never otherwise hang out with each other but feel obliged to do so to show their boss a team attitude. In such cases, we provide T-shirt tosses, mascot appearances, between-inning contests, and, oh yes, a baseball game, to avoid any uncomfortable silences or forced, disingenuous chitchat. Ditto for an outing of friends coming from different circles of acquaintances/sides of the track/echelons of society. It’s a little known fact that minor league baseball is the great equalizer.
2. If it is a family event, you can expect that an argument between your dad and your Uncle Larry will erupt at some point. We will mollify everyone by arriving with free Cyclones hats for every person in your suite.
3. If some of your party prefer indoor pampering, our suites come with air-conditioning, catering, and walls. If you have outdoorsy-people in your group, we have balcony seats with every suite; plus, these people are welcome to help us pull tarp in questionable weather.
4. If we have questionable weather, the most comfortable people during rain delays are those who have rented a suite. Not that we ever have rain delays.
5. If it’s a bachelor party, we provide your man of the hour with first pitch at a professional baseball game. And alcohol. (But not during the first pitch.)
6. Everyone will congratulate you on planning an appropriately quirky and original event. (And one that is not arduously and pretentiously so, such as a scavenger hunt in Central Park that takes forever in 90 degree weather and has infuriatingly impossible clues with stupid puns referring to Matisse’s earlier work…but I digress.)
7. If you are lucky, I will come by and check on your suite, likely armed with a bad joke. Or dressed in an ill-fitting, promotion-related costume. And then those of you who felt awkward around each other will be able to unite and talk about me when I leave your suite.

There are endless reasons to come party with the Cyclones in style, but I think you get the idea. We pull out all the stops to entertain you and sacrifice every vestige of personal dignity so that you don’t have to. We are the perfect remedy to every potentially undesirable social scenario and the perfect catalyst for the party of the year!

Email me to book your party today!

-- Joyce
joyce@brooklyncyclones.com

Happy Memorial Day

Enjoy the long weekend, everyone. When we return to the office, there'll be just 25 days left until Opening Day!

Speaking of OD, seats for the June 19th Friday night game vs. Staten Island (with fireworks afterwords) are sold out, but we'll be putting Standing Room Only tickets on sale this Tuesday, May 26th (a few days earlier than planned).

Get your SRO tix starting Tuesday at 9am by clicking here!

Have a great weekend!

-- Dave

Mailbag Mon...Wednesday?

In honor of the fact that we usually hold our "Tuesday Morning Meetings" on Wednesdays or Fridays, I've decided to open up the Monday mailbag today...alliteration be damned!

Q: I heard Opening Day is sold out – are you going to release Standing Room Only tickets? If so, when and how does that work?
-- Jim T., Brighton Beach

Field Box Seats, Box Seats, and Bleacher Seats for Opening Day (June 19th) are, indeed, sold out. However, we'll be putting Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets on sale on May 30th. You'll be able to get them online, by phone, or at the ticket windows at that time. SRO tix get you into the ballpark, but without an assigned seat. We ask that you stand on the Concourse Level until the 4th inning, at which point you can look for an available seat in the General Admission Bleacher area.

Q: Are any of the new Beach Bums into chubby tech geeks?
-- Pat T., Ticket Office

I'm going to say no. Just a guess.

Q: I just got a new pocket schedule and was wondering how you got the Darryl Strawberry bobblehead to look so realistic.
-- Janet P., Bay Ridge

Well, I have to let you in on a little secret. We didn't have the bobblehead proof when we went to press on the pocket schedule, so KJ used the magic of photoshop to create a "composite" image made up of an old bobblehead, an actual head shot of the Strawman, and a cap we had sitting around the office. The end result is either really impressive or really freaky-looking. You be the judge.

The good news is that we have since gotten a proof of the real Strawbobble, and it looks great! I think we really captured that classic stance that Straw had, plus the batting gloves and big wristbands were a trademark of his. Any Straw fan would be able to pick out that stance and that look right away. Be the first to see it here. And make sure you get a free Strawbobble by buying tix to the August 3rd game and getting here nice and early!

Q: Who is the best-looking person in the office?
-- Diana W., Windsor Terrace

Well, if you go by our official website staff pictures, it's obviously me. However, if you go by our actual faces...oh, who am I kidding? It's still me. (Power of the press! No one else knows the password to the Blog to debate me on this point! Mwah hah hah hah!)

Unless, of course, Steve is reading this right now. Then it's Steve. Without a doubt.

Q: Why do the "post-game" fireworks sometimes go off during the game?
-- Larry M., Bed-Stuy

Good question. Our Friday Night Fireworks games are run in conjunction with Coney Island's summer-long Friday night fireworks shows, and there are time contraints regarding how late a show can actually start. If our game is running late (which they do without fail on Fridays, of course), they will hold the fireworks until as close to 10pm as possible, but at 10, they must go off. That is why, at 10 to 10 every Friday night, you can find Steve anxiously sitting near the entrance to the field, in communication with the umpires and cursing every error, pitching change, walk, or basically any play that extends the game longer than necessary.

Once in a while, the game will have to be played during the fireworks show, or delayed because of it, but it's just another part of the unexpected fun at a Cyclones game!

Q: Who is more likely to start a fight -- Kevin Mahoney or Ron Artest?
-- Jim D., Greenpoint

Hmmmm. Tough one. If it's during an NBA basketball game, while lying on a scorer's table after geting a technical foul, and a bottle of water thrown from the stands hits them in the head, then I'd say Artest.

In any other situation, it's Mahoney.

If you have any burning questions for the Blog, send them to info@brooklyncyclones.com, and then stay tuned.

-- Dave

Still Chasing the Dream

Just got word that one of our all-time favorites, Chase Lambin, is playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Baseball League. Lambin was a star for the 2002 Cyclones, playing for manager Howard Johnson. Now with the Marines, Lambin is playing for another familiar Mets name...manager Bobby Valentine. (Coincidentally, I was just watching The Zen of Bobby V last night on MSG...pretty interesting.)

Check out some game recaps and pictures (the bottom two are of Chase) on the English-language site here.

I'm fairly certain you can also get much more in-depth information and stats here...but only if you can read Japanese.

-- Dave

Meet the New Beach Bums

Well, the Dance Team audition was a success.

We had a big turnout (including certain staff members who just happened to be around the office on a Saturday morning in the off-season), and the participants were all great.

Avrey (the captain/choreographer) spent the first 45 minutes or so teaching everyone a dance routine, and they then performed in small groups. I was amazed that they were able to learn and repeat what seemed like a pretty complicated dance so quickly, but I guess that's why they're the dancers and I'm just blogging. (For the record, I have 3-5 go-to dance moves -- including a semi-breakdancing-backspin -- that I try to alternate depending on the song. These moves are only to be used in near-darkness or on an overly-crowded dance floor, in order to ensure anonymity.)

After everyone danced, we interviewed each participant to get a sense of their personalities, backgrounds, and how they'll be able to interact with fans. This was really where KJ and I tried to be somewhat useful, since that's more our area of expertise, while we left the actual dance evaluations to people without two left feet. (This was also when KJ decided to really show his age, and drop a Nia Peeples reference on a girl who probably wasn't even born when Nia Peeples was popular. I then promptly showed my age by laughing, thereby exposing myself as the only other person in the room who knew who Nia Peeples was. No relation to Ross, by the way, for anyone who was curious.)

Overall, we were all pretty impressed and happy with how smart, funny, and engaging so many of the participants were. Several of them have had experience dancing for other pro teams, and cited the interaction with fans as their favorite part of the job. Everyone on the panel agreed that the Beach Bums are going to be a really positive addition to our team, both on and off the field.

Full disclosure: there's already been some internal debate about the merits of having a Dance Team at a baseball game, and I'm sure there will be more among fans this season. With anything new comes a wide spectrum of opinions. Bear in mind that above all else, Cyclones games are about having fun. As you know (to the horror of strict baseball purists everywhere) we've also had clowns, dogs, horses, kings, knights, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, dragons, human bowling balls, an emcee in a diaper, leprechauns, superheroes, pirates, and countless other shenanigans over the years.

In the end, I think we picked a Beach Bum team that is not only full of dedicated and talented dancers, but people who will really be able to represent that sense of fun that surrounds every Cyclones game.

Stay tuned for more info on the 2009 Beach Bums.

-- Dave

Dance (Team) Fever

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

KJ and I have been asked to be judges during Saturday's Beach Bum Dance Team tryout (perks of seniority, I guess). I plan on doing my best Simon Cowell, while KJ has promised to start every sentence with "dawg" that day.

In all seriousness, the Beach Bum squad is being revamped this year, and Saturday's audition is the first step in that process. We're looking for talented, high-energy, experienced dancers who will add another dimension to the in-game entertainment at KeySpan Park.

We've already got a new coach signed on (Avrey), with years of amateur and professional experience, and she, Liz, and Alexa are intent on making the new & improved Beach Bums one of the most exciting aspects of the ballpark's atmosphere this summer.

On any given night, Cyclones fans get clowns, giant seagulls, fireworks, giveaways, a crazy king, face painters, balloon sculptors, superheroes, caped hot dogs, and pink apes...making each night at the ballpark about so much more than just baseball (although we're pretty good at that, too). Add the new-look Beach Bums to the mix, and I'm pretty sure we've got something for everyone -- of all ages and tastes. And with tickets as low as $8 a game, there's no question you get the most for your money when you spend a night with the Cyclones!

So get your dancing shoes on, and join us this summer to see the new Beach Bums...and everything else we've got in store!

-- Dave

Hitting the Streets on Sunday

This weekend, Cyclones staff members will be at a few street fairs, including the 5th Avenue Festival in Park Slope, and Bay Fest in Sheepshead Bay.

On Sunday, at the 5th Ave. Festival, we'll be busting out our brand-new tent, and Sandy will be flying in to mingle and cause mischief. Stop by our booth (between 7th and 8th Street) to ask questions, pick up goodies, or just say hi (and tell us in your loudest voice how you can't live without The Blog). We'll also be handing out pocket schedules with a special code that lets you eat for free on July 2nd and August 25th! Don't miss out on a great deal.

The fair takes place from 11am to 6pm, rain or shine (please no rain, please no rain, please no rain) and it's one of the most fun street fairs in all of Brooklyn. Last year, you might remember, Steve wound up dancing and singing showtunes in both English and Spanish, so you never know what you'll see.

Check us out this Sunday on 5th Ave. We'll see you then.

-- Dave

Farewell to the Jay-Beez

We hardly knew ya...

An Offer You Can't Refuse

From the Unproductive Monday Department:

Our lunch conversations usually revolve around two things (at least, two that can be published) -- movies and co-workers. And so, Ricky, KJ, Liz and I (mostly Ricky) today decided to cast our colleagues (and ourselves) in a remake of The Godfather.

With apologies to the talented individuals who made the original, here is a new cast list for a new take on the classic:

Steve Cohen as Vito Corleone -- Who else could Steve play? He's the man in charge around here...and he occasionally makes us kiss his ring when submitting reimbursement forms or requesting time off. Plus, (Contractual obligation alert! Contractual obligation alert!) he sort of reminds you of a young Brando, doesn't he? (If i don't say stuff like that from time to time, he's shutting me down. I know this.)

Kevin Mahoney as Santino "Sonny" Corleone -- Too perfect. A hot-headed number two man who's looking for new ways to improve the business and looking for a good fight (and not neccesarily in that order).

Chris Nervegna as Michael Corleone -- Dark, mysterious, and none too verbose, Chris will especially excel in the scenes in which Michael's mouth is wired shut.

Dave Campanaro as Tom Hagen -- Tasked with the family's public image, the consigliere also advises the men at the top and watches over the Corleone secrets (sometimes blogging about them against their wishes).

Sharif Soliman as Jack Woltz -- The most famous scene of the movie will never be seen the same way again. ("What is this in my bed? A head? A horse head? Who put this thing in here? Did somebody put this horse head in my bed while I was sleeping? These guys are trying to put one over on me again.")

Kevin Ponte as Fredo Corleone -- Kind of looks like him, no?

Gary Perone as Johnny Fontane -- Gary never misses a chance to sing, so the wedding scene is perfect for him. Plus, Steve has been known to slap him and tell him to act like a man.

Joe the Electrician/Fireman as Captain McCluskey -- I'm not sure why, but this just seemed funny.

Vladimir Lipsman as Luca Brasi -- The big guy is an enforcer who goes missing for a while, and eventually "sleeps with the fishes." Vlad has a taste for tilapia. Close enough.

Ricky Viola and Kevin Jimenez as Sal Tessio and Peter Clemenza -- Two loyal soldiers, Tessio (Ricky) is later rubbed out for some shady dealings and Clemenza (KJ) never forgets about food, regardless of the situation ("leave the gun, take the cannoli"). Sounds about right.

That's all we have for now, but I'm sure more will come to mind. If you weren't cast in The Godfather, Cyclones Style, breathe easy for now, but watch your back. It's a trilogy, you know.

-- Dave

P.S. For an offer you really can't refuse, check out the Nathan's 4-pack combo meal deal on Sunday, June 28th. Nice segue, huh?

Pink & Black Tie

Several of us are headed to the American Cancer Society's Pink & Black Tie Gala this evening, in support of the wonderful work that ACS does. We've partnered with ACS throughout the years on various projects, including our annual Take Your Base 5K Run/Walk on the Coney Island boardwalk. (June 21st this year. You can learn more, donate, or sign up now.)

It should be a fun night...but there's a small problem/debate going on in the office already (shocking).

Check out the name of the event again. The "Pink & Black Tie Gala."

Pink. And. Black.

If you were getting dressed for such an event, what colors do you think you'd likely wear? Pink, maybe? Black, perhaps?

How about if the invite said something like this:

Hosted by Brooklyn’s own Stacy London of TLC’s What Not to Wear, the first annual Spring Gala of the Brooklyn Regional office promises to be a night to remember. Whether it’s a pink boa, black tie or those spandex pants at the back of the closet, guests are encouraged to incorporate pink and black into their evening attire.

Well, I thought that just about said it all. I put on a nice dark suit, a pink shirt, a black tie, and walked out the door (despite feeling a bit garish and wanting to act as manly as possible to overcompensate...especially since I was also carrying my daughter's pink lunchbox, pink ballet bag, pink backpack, and she was wearing a pink raincoat and toting a pink umbrella. About the only way I could have been more flamboyantly pink would have been to do this.).

No problem, I thought. It's for a good cause, and anyway, since everyone going will be wearing something similar, it's kind of like a uniform...anything looks OK when everyone's wearing it.

So, I walk into the office and...Steve's wearing a white shirt and tan pants. Kevin's wearing a blue shirt, a yellow tie, and navy pants. KJ's wearing a green shirt and tan pants. Ricky's at least dressed in black from head to toe, but I think that was more of an homage to Johnny Cash than having anything to do with the gala. And Gary's wearing a grey and white velour jumpsuit, like he was just out on the town with Vito Spatafore or Paulie Walnuts (he's not even going to the gala, but it's just too funny to pass up).

Kevin then proceeded to tell me that I was "corny" for wearing pink, and when I pointed out the invitation language to him, he commented that "it is 'encouraged.' 'Encouraged' is the key word. I'm 'encouraged' to do things all the time that I don't do. People 'encourage' me to be nicer every day. How's that working out?"

Whatever. Call me Pinky Tuscadero all you want (I always liked her sister better). I know I did the right thing. And when we get to the gala and you're sticking out like this, don't try to hide behind me!

-- Dave

UPDATE: Stacy London hates Steve for not wearing pink and black. Well, that and not bidding in the charity auction because he told her he was "saving for a new bathroom." But I think it was mainly the pink and black thing.

Movies vs. Ballgame

I went to go see X-Men Origins: Wolverine last night and had a few thoughts about the whole experience, as it compares to a Cyclones game, since both tickets are about the same price.

First off, the movie was great, but that's not the point. The point is the experience. And that's where I think the Cyclones have the movies beat hands down.

I paid $22 for two tickets ($11 each for all you math majors out there) and then dropped another 19 bucks on a medium popcorn, medium soda, and nachos. Mix in the $30 bucks for a babysitter (PG-13), and I spent $71 when all was said and done. Not great, but not horrible for a night out. Now, here's the real question. What did I get for my money?

Well, I got to see the movie, obviously. I also got to sit about a mile away from the screen, got someone whispering in my ear for about an hour (not the good kind), got to witness a near-fight because some dope wouldn't turn his cell phone off, and got to sit in the dark without saying a word to my wife for two hours (which could be viewed as a positive or a negative, depending on who you ask). And that's about it.

On the other side of the coin, what would $71 dollars get me at a Cyclones game? Well, let's say I buy mid-level tickets -- $12 -- for my whole family (no babysitter needed). That's $36. I'm in the 10th row...there are only 22 rows of seats in the whole place, so there is no "upper deck" and no "mile away."

It's a Weiner Wednesday, so hot dogs are only $1 each. I buy five (we're hungry), a pretzel (extra salt), a soda, a water, some popcorn (for the sake of the movie comparison), some peanuts and crackerjack ('cause they're in the song) and all that food comes to $24. So I've spent a total of $60 to go to the Cyclones game. But again, here's the real question. What did I get for my money? Well, for starters, I've spent $11 less than my trip to the movies, and I've gotten more tickets, and more food.

On any given night, I'd likely get some type of goody from the team before I even got through the front gate...a bobblehead, a t-shirt, a poster, a cap. The team is always giving something away. I also get to sing, dance, laugh, and talk with my family for a few hours, watch my daughter have fun playing with a six-foot seagull, get more goodies thrown to me throughout the game, catch a foul ball, get some autographs from future stars, enjoy the night air off the ocean, tell my family about coming to Coney as a kid, bump into some friends from the old neighborhood, and get even more goodies, balloons, and coupons on my way out the door. My arms are filled with free stuff, and my family and I have had a great night filled with long-lasting memories.

And, oh, yeah...we got to watch an entire baseball game, too!

No doubt about it...I get more for my money at Cyclones game, get to have lots more fun, and spend some QT with my family. After all, like Wolverine, the Cyclones are "the best there is at what we do."

Sure, I like the movies as much as the next guy. But for my money, I think I'll just wait for the DVD. At least they come with almost as many extras as a Cyclones game. Almost.

-- Dave

I Don't Like Mondays...

Nobody likes Mondays...except when they're Mailbag Mondays! Let's see what Karl Malone and Cliff Claven have brought us today!

Q: It is raining outside my apartment right now, but I heard a rumor that it never rains in Coney Island. Is that true?
- Pat T., Sunset Park

Unfortunately, that rumor is not true. It did rain on Coney Island once -- once -- in the summer of 1937. Other than that, the weather is, has been, and will always be, perfect. At least that's what Steve keeps telling me.

Q: When is the draft this year and when will you guys know what your roster is?
- John H., Bay Ridge

Great question. The assembling of the team is one of the most interesting, confusing, complicated, and little-known aspects of the Cyclones operations. Here's a very abbreviated version of how it works:

Our coaching staff (and the staffs of the other short-season teams) and about 60 players have been working out together in Port St. Lucie, FL at what is called Extended Spring Training.

The 2009 First-Year Player Draft will take place from June 9th-11th, and will be televised this year on MLB Network and mlb.com.

Immediately following the draft, the Mets will begin the process of signing the players they've drafted. As they are signed, they will then be assigned to one of the Mets' seven minor league affiliates.

The Cyclones roster, along with that of the Kingsport Mets and the Gulf Coast Mets, will be made up of players from the draft, players from Extended Spring Training, and players who are currently playing for a long-season team.

With the draft concluding on June 11th, and Opening Day taking place on June 19th, those eight days in between are obviously pretty hectic (especially for those of us trying to put together game programs, media guides, dorm room assignments, uniforms, etc.) . And as you probably know, the roster continues to change throughout the season, sometimes every day!

Q: If you and Steve were stuck on a deserted island, who would survive longer and why?
- Joyce H., Ticket Office

Hmmm. Interesting. My initial reaction would be to say me, since I'm younger, stronger, faster, more agile, more devious, way better looking, know how to start a fire with my bare hands (or feet), and can talk to animals. (Not marmosets...they're just too stubborn, and quite frankly, a bit too strange-looking. They freak me out.) But I don't think the answer is that easy.

Steve has an alarming lack of directional abilities, as evidenced by his foray into the wilderness of Prospect Park. So that's something in my favor. However, he takes no prisoners when it comes to sustenance. He once distracted me at an awards dinner by pointing something out in the opposite corner of the room, and when I turned my head, he speared my steak right off my plate and ate the whole thing. I don't know how long I'd last with him stealing all my food. Also, since he's in such great shape these days, if we were ever attacked by a mountain lion, grizzly bear, or ominous smoke-monster, Steve would no doubt be the lone survivor. (I am contractually obligated to compliment Steve on his physique at least once a day. Consider today's obligation filled.)

All in all, though, I'd have to say that I'd be the last one standing. Patience isn't exactly one of Steve's foremost strengths, and I think that after an hour or so of waiting to be rescued, he'd basically lose his mind, wander off into the woods with a few boxes of pocket schedules, and never be heard from again.

Q: I got my opening day tickets in the mail but did not receive my mini plan tickets. Did you guys forget about me? Did my order make the cut?
- Brandy B., Lowell, MA

Fear not, your Mini Plan tickets are on the way. Single game tickets have begun being mailed out, but ticket plan books -- Season Tickets and Mini Plans -- are still in the works. Between food vouchers, cap vouchers, and all the other extras you get as a Plan Holder, those packages just take a little more time to pull together. Plus those tickets and ticket books have a special design, and beauty takes a little longer...but it's worth the wait. Plan books should be arriving to your house at the end of May/beginning of June.

Q: Today I was walking by KeySpan Park and saw something strange. There were boxes and blankets and I also thought I saw a grown man crawling amongst the boxes, 30 feet in the air. But I’m sure I was mistaken. Right?
- Katie G., Nowheresville, IN

Your eyes did not deceive you. We are starting to get some of this season's goodies delivered, and when there's something for everyone at nearly every game, that means lots and lots (and lots) of deliveries. As for the crawling, some deliveries are easier than others.

Q: What’s the point of the mailbag if all the questions are made up by people who work for the Cyclones?
- John H., Water Polo Place, CT

John, the Mailbag speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves. Don't think of it as "making up questions." Rather, think of your submissions as giving a voice to the legions of fans who call 718-37-BKLYN or 718-507-TIXX every day. There are those poor souls among them who do not have the courage to email the Blog, and you are helping to break down the walls of oppression to give them the answers they deserve. You are asking the tough questions. The questions that need to be answered. And together, we are giving the people those answers, fighting the good fight, and righting humanity's wrongs.

Either that, or we're just shaking off the weekend rust by stealing a Q&A format for an easy Monday blog entry.

I can't be sure.

If you have any burning questions for the Blog, send them to info@brooklyncyclones.com, and then stay tuned.

-- Dave

Swine-dled

KJ has been known, from time to time, to be a bit of a, shall we say...germaphobe. (One time I accidentally drank out of his straw at Wendy's, thinking it was my drink, and the look he gave me made my life flash before my eyes.)

So, with this in mind, and with all the talk these days being about "Swine Flu," I considered it my duty to forward him this picture.

With the pandemic already in his subconscious, when Brian (BTI, of milk-gallon challenge fame) later started complaining that he was feeling a bit under the weather, KJ went into full-on Hazmat Defcon 4 mode. He wanted BTI hosed down and dipped in that blue stuff barbers use, wanted the offices cleaned and quarantined, and refused to be within breathing distance of BTI for the remainder of the day or at the event they are supposed to work together tomorrow.

And, of course, the rest of us saw an opportunity for a prank.

BTI ran across the street to pick up some of those sanitary/sterility masks and we all huddled together. Steve called KJ into his office for an "important" meeting, in which we were all wearing our masks (and giggling like schoolgirls). It was going to be hysterical to see his face when he walked in.

However, KJ got a glimpse of someone (me) in the mask and caught on to our hijinks. He decided to turn the tables, and, after keeping us waiting for an absurdly-long five minutes, walked into Steve's office dressed a bit like this.

Now, I'm not 100% comfortable with the fact that KJ just "happened to have" a yellow jumpsuit, plastic gloves, and goggles at his disposal, but hey, if there ever is an emergency, I know whose panic room I'm crashing.

And I have to admit, he got us.

But just wait till tomorrow when BTI starts coughing all over him. We'll see who laughs last!

-- Dave

A Word of Advice...

Don't mention the cowlick. Steve Somebody gets very angry.


-- Dave