Taco Bell Sauce Packet Sprint!

Taco Bell is a sponsor of the Astros...part of their contract includes having the three sauce packets (Mild, Hot and Fire) race from the right field pole around home plate and up to third base during games. The winner of the race is always scripted, but the rest is improv. So, tonight I volunteered and I was Mild Sauce. At the start line of the race, the othe two sauces planned to knock me over (I was in on it). So, I fell on my back and kicked my legs in the air for a second. Then I got up and sprinted past the both of them. Once I got to home plate, the winner was a bit behind me. So, I did what any mild sauce would do...I found President and Mrs. Bush (Sr./41) sitting right behind home plate, pointed, waved and gave them a thumbs up...then went on my way to finishing second. It was a lot of fun. Before the game I was standing right next to President Bush as he came down to his seat...closer than his secret service agent at one point! Great man. Anyway...here's some pictures from the night.

Opening Weekend

Well, we just finished up the opening weekend of our home series. The team went 1 and 3 against the Marlins. The Stros are a young team that should find their stride soon. They are exciting to watch when they are clicking. Last week, another intern (Connor) and I had to go all around the city dropping off boxes of pocket schedules. The trunk of my car was filled with hundreds of boxes! On the morning of Opening Day, I accompanied the VP of Guest Services and Astros legend Larry Dierker to do a few radio interviews. It was pretty fun...one of the stations (Sunny 99.1) filmed the interview and I was in it...they said the video would be on their blog, but haven't found it yet. I'll keep you updated. Opening Day was a lot of fun...great ceremonies. Our singer was a 15 year old up and coming country singer named Mary Sarah Gross. I was their point of contact and was her parties escort from 2:30 until she sang at 6:05. It was a new experience...had to get her interview with Fox all taken care of and just keep them happy and all taken care of. George and Barbara Bush were in attendance for the first two games. They sit right behind home plate and their secret service were spread throughout the section. Today we had a Gold Glove ceremony to give Michael Bourn his second Gold Glove. I got to touch the award...never knew it was an actual glove that is just painted gold...always thought it was metal. Pretty cool...then in the 7th inning we had a local "legend" Joe Prince sing God Bless America. For two innings leading up to that, we sat in the 3rd base press box. Pretty sweet view...my goal is to sit all around the ball park before my time is up. Here are a few pics from the Opening Series.

College 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contest

On March 31st a few of us interns went to the College 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contest. It was fun. A 5-10 white kid from a division 3 school (College of Illinois) won. Pretty impressive. Karl Malone was in the house as a judge....when introduced, he got booed. Hilarious.

Sox v. Astros

When I accepted the internship, I found out that the Red Sox would be in town right before the season for an exhibition game. Pretty excited about that. The Sox were in town March 30th...it was a great game. The Sox won 10-2. Part of my duties is to be on field for all the pre-game events. That meant that I was standing within spitting distance of the whole team. I was just a few feet away from Youkilis for the Anthem....good time. I didn't have an opportunity to take too many pictures of players, but as I was leaving the office after the game I ran into Carl Crawford and his posse...since he's from Houston and all.

Home away from home, away from home...

I know it's long overdue, but here is a "tour" of my cubicle...

It looks nice and clean and organized here...but now that the season has started, it is packed full of boxes and other game stuff. Crazy.

Suite Celtics...

One of the first weekend's down here, I ran into a guy from Boston. Turned out he works for the Rockets. So, we made a little deal. He gave me tickets to see the Celtics when they came to town (March 18th) and I would give him Red Sox tickets when they came to town (March 30th). He scored us suite tickets. Not too bad...we started off the night sitting on the floor during shoot around. It was pretty cool to see Paul Pierce stroking the 3 up close and personal. As we were sitting courtside, Earl Campbell (famous running back for the Houston Oilers from the 80's) rolled by...big dude wearing a lot of bling. After that we headed up to our suite for the game. Sadly the C's didn't bring their A game...but it was still a good time.

Warrior Dash

Back on March 19th Adam and I ran the Warrior Dash. It was a 5k with obstacles like running through tires, climbing cargo nets, sliding down hills, swimming and jumping over logs, diving into mud and crawling under barb wire. It was a lot of fun...

Ruri Singing the National Anthem...

March 4th - 6th we had the College Classic tournament at the ballpark. Part of my game time duties is coordinating all the on-field pre-game ceremonies. We got first pitches by Patrick Patterson (Houston Rockets player), Cyrus Gray (Texas A&M running back) and Case Keenum (University of Houston). Also in the house for one of the games was Houston local and ex-Astros and Yankees player Andy Pettitte. I wanted to go talk a little smack since he was a Yankee legend and all...but I decided to be professional and just shoot him evil glares.

Another legend at one of the games was my good friend Adam Ruri. I booked him to sing the National Anthem before one of the games. He did a pretty good job. Here's some pictures...

From my lil' Leprechaun...

When I got home from work tonight, I found a package on the door step for me...

Thank you Clover! I got a sweet package to get me ready for St. Paddy's Day from my lil' Clover (and beautiful wife)! Thank you so much! Love you guys!

Batting Practice

Being an Astros intern you get a few perks. Last night some other interns and I were able to take the field for a corporate batting practice. As many of you know, anything is for sale. The Astros, and most MLB teams, sell batting practice packages as a corporate event to companies. So, last night some company had batting practice for about two hours and I got to be out in the field running around catching fly balls and just enjoying running around on grass that costs more than most houses. Good experience!

Just making a call to the bullpen...no big deal.

BYU vs. TCU

Today I drove to Dallas (3rd weekend in a row) to meet up with Adam Ruri to go see The Jimmer Show. It was a good win...

Brown Bag Deli

I always try to give credit where it is due. So, today my department took me to lunch at the Brown Bag Deli (http://thebrownbagdeli.net/). As soon as I walked in, I knew I was in love. They had clipboards right when you walked in with brown paper bags with the menu printed on them. You grabbed a pencil and checked boxes and wrote any instructions for your order and then when ready, you handed them your brown bag. They would then call your name and give you your brown bag back (to go) or your sandwich in a basket, with your brown bag on the side. Just the menu presentation alone sold me...but then the sandwich itself pushed me over the edge. So good. A great relationship has been made. Anyway, just a post to shout out to Brown Bag Deli and to say presentation really is everything in the business world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day Mandy!

I had to make sure you got a dozen Roses today!!! Love you!

Super Bowl Countdown

This morning we went down to Sundance Square in Fort Worth for the ESPN NFL Countdown show. Pretty sweet. On the set was Boomer (Chris Berman), Tommy Jackson, Cris Carter, Keyshawn Johnson and Mike Ditka. At one point the lady came around to touch up the makeup...when she got to Ditka and started working on him, I yelled out "Ditka does not wear makeup!" You saw all the other guys on the set laughing at Ditka and giving him a hard time for it. Pretty funny. Over on the field set there was Teddy Bruschi, Merril Hoge, Trent Dilfer and Jerome Bettis. Guest appearances on the field set by Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. It was a good morning.

Also...last night we were driving around and saw this...

Miss you Clover!

NFL Experience

A couple of interns and I decided to make the drive to Dallas for the Super Bowl festivities. Today we went to the NFL Experience and then walked around Cowboys Stadium. It was a lot fun and the town is alive for the game tomorrow. Should be good!

And here is a video for your entertainment...

Pleasant Surprise...

Yep. I walked out to my car this morning to find that a gaggle of geese or something decided to relieve themselves all at the same time on my car. Good morning to you too.

I guess I'm a zombie...

So, one of my fellow interns here with the Astros is a vegetarian. I'm sitting at my desk today and I get this in my e-mail. Yeah, thanks Hannah for making me laugh out loud at my desk.

Rockets Run

On Saturday some other interns and I decided to run in the "Rockets Run" 5k presented by the Houston Rockets. It was a fun race...on a surprisingly cold day in Houston. When the race began it was just above 30 degrees. The race ended going through the tunnels of the Toyota Center (where the Houston Rockets play) and the finish line was the half court line of the Rockets court. Pretty cool. I've already set my sights on my next race...my buddy Adam Ruri is in Austin and he and I will be doing the Warrior Dash in March just outside of Houston. Check it out...www.warriordash.com I'm wicked excited.

Stretching it out...