Day 6: The Hickory Crawdads

Sorry for the posting delays. Not laziness, just on the go… Late nights and early mornings describe the past several days. After getting home at the crack of dawn after the Charlotte Knights game, we got up for a visit to Julia’s Uncle Jim and Aunt Ellen in Charlotte. We spent a few hours hearing great stories about Julia’s mom, Betty Ann, and the fam growing up in Jersey. Jim and Ellen pretty much rock it.

From there, we headed out to Hickory for the Crawdads game. Since our friend, LG’s, sister lives in Hickory; we dedicate this portion of this post to her and her fam! We would have tried to meet up with her, but of course she was back in St. Louis visiting the great LG.

Fortunately for the fresh water dwelling crustaceans, there were only about 300 people in attendance for the July 5^th game, so only a small percentage of folks had to witness the loss. I’ve been told that 6,000 folks were there for the skyshow the night before, which seems slightly inflated, to say the least. Really, a 1,900% decrease in attendance from one night to the next? Is that even possible? I mean, didn’t anyone tell Hickory that we were coming? That, alone, should have accounted for 5,000 souls, minimum, with AIS (asses in seats). That was complete BS. I’m guessing that the thunderstorm that rolled through town prior to game time might have scared people away, but man up Hickory and support those Crawdads every night, not just free skyshow night.

After the game, we drove back to Charlotte for a short night’s sleep and to get up to repeat the process. Now this portion of the post is dedicated to my super awesome and nice cousin, Cindi, and her own personal mini-me, Little Cindi, that is, her daughter, Lindsay. FYI: I had to check the Facebook to confirm that spelling (Lindsey or Lindsay) or they would have complained. I mean, really, what’s the difference? It’s pronounced the same. Or is it? Does the drawl change its spoken pronunciation and, therefore, its meaning? I just wish I cared enough to ask the question.

So Lindsay and her momma were awake when we got home, but, no, they weren’t waiting for us. They apparently do not require sleep as these late evenings are an everyday thing. Then they attacked! They proceeded to comb through the blog in search of mentions of themselves (not enough) and shared things that I had clearly forgotten to mention. So here’s a short list and I’m probably still missing obvious things:

• Cindi is the best cousin ever. Sorry other cousins, except for Phil. This must be said. If you are a cousin of mine and this post upsets you, simply insert your name in place of Cindi’s. I just had to say this for the purpose of the blog. She’s reading. They are just words, not sticks and stones, but I mean them sincerely… (not really).
• Little Cindi is also extremely cool. What could be better than a cousin who is a graduate of USC (not the one in California) and works at a baseball stadium? Okay, so only one of those things matters, but she’s still pretty cool. It’s up to you to determine if I really mean it.
• Gary, the poor man who lives with these people, is a living saint. I thank him for all he does to stay sane living in the company of these awesome women.
• I don’t really understand how I failed to mention this one…I guess I just suck. Dale Murphy, Mr. 1980s Chipper Jones for the Atlanta Braves, visited Knights Stadium for a promotion and blessed, lovely and glorious Cindi had him sign a baseball card for me to put in a place of honor on my wall of joy back in St. Louis. When I think of 1980s baseball, I immediately think of five players:

1. Ozzie Smith
2. Jack Clark
3. Pete Rose
4. Don Mattingly
5. Dale Murphy

And now, thanks to the best cousin I can’t always understand when she speaks, I now have an autograph for the fourth of five of those 80s baseball gods. To you non-baseball peeps, this is a REALLY big deal. Dale Murphy, will eventually be elected to Cooperstown. I’m not really sure what’s taken 13 years since his career includes NL MVPs in 1982 and 1983, the NL Silver Slugger Award from 1982-85, and Gold Gloves from 1982-86. With nearly 400 homers (398) and 1,200 RBIs (1,197), Dale sits on the doorstep of that most glorious and revered buildings on Main St. in Cooperstown.

The only stat that bothers me is his career .265 average. I’d like that to be about 15 points higher, but I’d also like to have at least one major league homerun, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card, and thicker hair, but, alas, I do not. It’s not like I don’t have the talent. I do. But in this case, Dale’s career was just a little bit better than mine. Nevertheless, I am now in possession of an autographed baseball card of a future hall of famer.

• BBQ. I mentioned previously that BBQ isn’t the act of roasting raw animal flesh over an open flame, it IS the actual grilled flesh of specific animals – chopped or pulled pigs and cows. And even then, it mostly refers to hog meat. Make a decision, southerners. BBQ also means that the meat will be accompanied by hush puppies and cole slaw. If it isn’t, it’s not BBQ and you are a moron. It seems like more work to remember what it is than to consume it.
  
  
  When we got back to Charlotte on the 4^th, we were met by such a BBQ spread. Even though I’m no fan of pork, except for bacon, sausage, fatback and sidemeat, I allowed myself to partake of this southern tradition. I’m still not a pork convert, but it didn’t completely make me want to die.
  

• I did mention this, but I’ll cover it again… Cindi was responsible for hooking us up with tickets to three games…FO' FREE! The games in Charlotte, Hickory and Zebulon were covered by Cindi’s South Carolinian awesomeness and, for that, along with the aforementioned things and the room at the inn, we thank you! See you in 2014 for the opening of the new Knights stadium! I look forward to the list of overlooked items that will inevitably be sent.

See photos from Day 6 HERE.