World Series Shenanigans

I'll let you know if Soccer jerseys I end up hanging with Ray Emery on this trip to Philly.

But even if I do connect with the former Sens netminder, it's hard to imagine it could be any more colourful than my three days in New York.

Here’s a look back at some of my shenanigans from the first part of the 2009 World Series:

Tuesday, 1:37 p.m. - I'm standing in prime position in a Derek Jeter scrum when I make eye contact with this other reporter who looks really familiar to me. Turns out it's Arsenio Hall, who is doing work for the Jay Leno Show. I'm not sure if this shows how far I've risen in this industry - or how low Arsenio has fallen.

Tuesday, 2:14 p.m. - Andy Pettitte surprised me when he told us that George Steinbrenner was really positive towards him and even used to quote Bible scripture in little notes he would leave in his locker before big games. However, Pettitte declined to specifically say what any notes said. My guess is it went something like this: "Dear Andy, Good luck today. If you don't win, I suggest you read the book of Revelation to prepare for what will happen. Regards, George (aka The Boss)."

Tuesday, 4:12 p.m. - Perusing the media game notes in the press room. The crazy thing about baseball is how they have the most obscure and bizarre stats. For instance, a direct quote from the MLB pre-series notes: The last eight times the Yankees have won the World Series, there has been a Democrat in the White House. Talk about reaching for an angle. I decided to do some research of my own and I've got a great stat with a Canadian political twist: The Toronto Blue Jays have never lost a World Series when there has been a female Prime Minister.
Thursday, 10:51 p.m. - Chan-Ho Park enters the game in the 7th inning and the TV broadcast in the press room runs a graphic that says he joins Byung-Hyun Kim as just the second South Korean to ever pitch in the World Series. As cool as that is for Park, it's never a good sign when your name is linked to Kim's in the late innings of a World Series game at Yankee Stadium.

Thursday, 11:19 p.m. - George Steinbrenner's limousine is driving through the underground tunnel and right past where all the media is standing. Security guards are upset with us telling us, "Get up against the wall or you're going to get hit by this car!" Ummmmm... just so you know, getting hit by a billionaire's car isn't the worst thing in the world.

Wednesday, 5:19 p.m. - Reggie Jackson is hanging out behind the batting cage and talking to some players before Game 1. With Michelle Obama in the stadium on this night, shouldn't the Secret Service be all over this guy? I mean he tried to kill the Queen at a baseball game 20 years ago.

Wednesday, 5:52 p.m. - Pedro Martinez just called himself the most influential person who ever stepped on the field at the old Yankee Stadium. On a side note, the most influential person who never stepped on the field at the old Yankee Stadium is Jeffrey Maier - that annoying 12-year-old kid who stole the ball from Tony Tarasco in the '96 ALCS.

Wednesday, 7:44 p.m. - Trying to figure out where I should watch the game from. We have no designated seat for Rogers Sportsnet - even in the auxiliary press box. But somehow, The Christian Science Monitor has a dedicated seat. Perhaps the people assigning seats were worried they would be sent straight to hell if they declined their request for a spot.

Wednesday, 11:19 p.m. - Kate Hudson and Kurt Russell just walked right past me in the hallway outside the clubhouse. Having covered the Ottawa Senators for the past couple of years, I don't really get star struck by celebrities. We see Carrie Underwood at the rink all the time.

Thursday, 5:19 p.m. - Fellow reporter Arash Madani is getting set to do his live report in the middle of a media circus. He's got Candy Maldonado on one side (working for ESPN Deportes) and Dave Winfield on the other (working for ESPN). All we needed was Ed Sprague in front of him and we would have had the perfect '92 Jays reunion.

Thursday, 6:42 p.m. - Most awkward press conference moment of the first three days: Derek Jeter is asked if he ever met Roberto Clemente, after receiving a community service award named after the legendary Pirates slugger. Considering Jeter was born a couple of years after Clemente tragically died in a plane crash, I think it's safe to say they never crossed paths.