Today, you ride!

Editor's note: I cannot be held responsible for any punctuation (or lack thereof) to follow, any misspelling, or any misuse of the word "seen." This unedited post was written in its entirety by our own Gary J. Perone: 

Well it is official; the blog master will be leaving us today or tomorrow (who knows). I feel it is fitting that I address the blog for the first time, since I have always been the BUTT of all jokes! (figured Dave would have said something like that)

The Wordsmith, the Self Proclaimed Genius who looks like Brad Pitt who once declared his body a temple is leaving after 10 seasons. With just a few originals left from our inaugural season (IN ORDER: STEVE, KJ, SHARON, and MYSELF), Dave has been the lifeline and heartbeat to anyone who has ever heard of the Brooklyn Cyclones, he has been the guy who has worked with every player who has worn a Brooklyn Jersey, every ticket holder who receives a letter, and he has entertained us with his witty promotional ideas and pranks. He is widely respected by the organization, the New York Penn League and Minor League Baseball. 

To know Dave is to Love (or Hate) him. I remember when Dave first started with the team he walked into the trailer, and said “Where do I sit”; of course everyone looked at each other and did not answer him back, so Dave and I became Bunk Desk Partners until we moved into the Stadium. We had a little history before I would see him years later, Dave attended Bishop Ford and played baseball and came on our trip to Florida when we played in Baseball City back in the day. His father was my High School teacher or whatever he did at the school, so sharing a desk with Dave and going through this experience with him was exciting (a little too close for comfort) but fun. Especially since we were both big Mets Fans…

Over time we have shared our views, good times, bad times and talked about how we loved pulling tarp, picking up fireworks, standing in the rain in section 21, and of course the Best First Baseman in Baseball Conversation, His being Keith Hernandez, mine of course being the “TOP FIRST BASEMAN RATED BY MLB NETWORKS PRIME 9 SHOW IN THE 80’ s Donnie Baseball”, roommates when we went to the Winter Meetings (Because Steve was afraid to put me and Kevin in the same room) and the personal list goes on and on. And of course him always finding a way to give me the business on this very blog and during lunch… not in a bad way of course!! 

He has also had some memorable moments, like taking batting practice off of Mex, (that was great he was like a little kid), playing 24 hours of baseball (going to the hospital), dressing up like his favorite superhero, justifying that it is normal to have a joust on the field after a game, playing bocce ball with Steve and his favorite Cyclones Manager TJ, watching his intern take back a "silver spoon" to Gargiulos, seeing that same intern (Jay) in a big blow up plastic Old Navy Beach Ball, watching the guy take out the toilet bowl from the trailer and Marty saying “ Hey I used to go to the bathroom in that thing”, the Flabaga Story at John’s Deli, the trip to Tri City where we were rained out for three days, and we bought a whole wardrobe for 2 cents at Steve and Barry’s, taking the Boys to MTV, working with 86 Mets, and seeing the team that he has nurtured for the last ten seasons become one of the most talked about team in Minor League Baseball.

It has been said by many people that one of the most exciting things to ever happen in there life (outside of getting married, having children, or winning money on a scratch off because we need the money) was Bringing Baseball Back to Brooklyn in 2001. As we get older things change and people change, however to experience that MAGIC was truly amazing. 

Is he a genius? Maybe to his daughter. But to me and millions of fans who have been associated with this organization since the inception, he is a person we call mentor (Billy, Jay, and the countless others), innovator (great promotions, Bellies and Baseball, OK Jersey Sure?), son, brother, husband, great father and most of all friend.

While he has taken more shots at me, then the Nets have taken all season, he will be sorely missed. 

While we close another chapter in the book of Cyclones history, Dave will forever be a person who made this place what it is today. 

In the words of Fonzie, “Today You Ride” . We wish you, your family, and whatever your dogs name is the best of luck…

-- Gary