WINTER BREAKout! -- Best Moments of 2004

Happy New Year, everyone!

I can safely say that the DC/Baltimore New Year’s festivities were truly fantastic. Just give me some time to recover and let it all sink in, and I’ll tell you all about it. In the meantime, feel free to share some quality NYE stories of your own!

Since I was bogged down by the holiday season, I’ve fallen behind on some of the year-end fun I had hoped to take care of, but, since I’m tired of breaking promises to y’all here in the Kingdom, I’ve decided to truck ahead, and post some 2004 Reflections, anyhow! One list I wanted to share was my personal Top 10 moments/nights of 2004. This will not only help me reflect on the year that was, but also allow me to record for posterity, here on my online diary, some memories of the year that was. It wasn’t the best of years, and it wasn’t the worst, and I’m sure that I’ve forgotten some truly fantastic moments, but here’s the best I could come up with today as I trudged through some lawwork.

First up, your usual “no explanation provided” Honorable Mentions:

Skyblast, The Grease Megamix, “The Moon looks like a cottonball,” The Downtown Countdown “Girl in the Green Dress,” Hershey kiss cookies, any away message with the word “absofuckinlutely,” Watching Stillers v. New England while in Boston, my opening statement and the words “downright poetic,” and “I’d never kick a pigeon at your face.”

Now, on to the Top 10!

10. “Throw into home…”

This is in reference to the baseball game that proved I could still go. Although I was hitless, again, at a game at St. Clair I played a near-flawless game in right, culminating with one of the best throws I’ve ever made. Though the catcher dropped the ball, I was complimented on the throw by six or seven teammates, a few of which (The Pitcher and Firstbasemen) who told me the catcher “cost me an assist” and that the throw was “perfect.” At the plate I was four of five on base, and was robbed of a double. In a baseball season where little went my way, this was a game which convinced me I could still go, and made me part of the team.

9. St. Patrick’s Day

The one time we’ve all gotten together, brewed it like it was going out of style, and all rode home in a cab, Kup, Pizz, Z, Megan Starr, Ang, and I roamed the ‘Burgh that day, drank our faces off, froze our asses off, and even met up with Erin and Rob for some evening-debauchery. One of the frattiest nights of the year, it ended with Kris incessantly mocking the Arab cab driver with “get the hell out of my cab” and bodyslamming me through my bed, subsequently bending the frame. Good times.

8. Dave Williams brushes back Barry Bonds, mindf*cks him, and sits him down.

As Kup and I were ridiculed by fans for booing Bonds, I watched in amazement as pseudo-rookie Dave Williams had the (insert sarcasm here) AUDACITY to brush Barry back! As I gave the kid a standing ovation, he went on to sit down the ‘roided freak with three pitches, making him flail about like a t-baller on a sugar-rush. It was amazing. Not to mention the fact that Rob Mackowiak won the game with a line drive double off the wall and a Jack Wilson Matrix-Slide into home. But we’ll get to the Mack of All Trades later.

7. “Have you heard of a comic called ‘Identity Crisis?’”

Asked to me by Jeanie while we sat and watched the Stillers opener, this singular question led to my comic book renaissance, and debut of Ms. Oliver as my comic book soulmate/partner in crime. I don’t know how she heard of it. I don’t know why she was interested in it. But I thank her for getting me back into the fold, and for the X-Men subscription.

6. Ron’s Bachelor Party.

What happens at the bachelor party stays at the bachelor party. But trust me, if I could remember more, it’d probably be number 2.

5. My Birthday Party

What was the best part? I don’t know…Blackberry Pobbler? Re-convening the party in my room? GREAT gifts? Adina and Gooder BOTH come to my house for a party? Tons of great food? Beruit? Essential friend turnout at a high? Countless out-of-town well-wishing calls? A truly great day. Thanks to all that made it fantastic.

4. I met Rob Mackowiak.

Would be higher, but I’m pretty sure it ruined his career. These things happen.

3. Adina’s Wedding

If you were to tell me the Knor’s would throw a wedding, and it would go off without a hitch, I’d tell you that you’re crazy. If you’d tell me that on top of that, I’d catch the garter, my brother would own the dance floor, and I would score a date with the my Adina’s Wedding Dreamgirl after a night of pleasantries and dancing, I’d tell tell you it was the 3d best moment/night of the year. Which it was.

2. Impromptu Oakland Invasion

As October ended and November began, I spent Wednesday after Wednesday assaulting Oakland’s drinking scene and singing terrible Karaoke. On one particular early-November Wednesday, Me, Kup, Pizz, Carolyn, Adrienne, Rachel, Marcia, and of course, Vashon, did it up right. The group started with Kup, Pizz, and I, and steadily grew as we traveled from Hemingway’s to Peter’s to Bootlegger’s, where it all felt like 2001 again, and I had the best night of the year that didn’t involve SportsCenter highlights. This entire evening feels like a dream, and was only a slightly less surreal experience than…

1. The Mackowiak Doubleheader

Yes, that's what Pirates fans actually call it. It was the best night to be a Bucco fan since 1997. I still can’t believe I was there. May 28, 2004. I’ll never forget it. It all started while waiting for Adina and crew to arrive at the stadium, drinking beers with Aunt Paulette and explaining to her why Rob Mackowiak should be her favorite Pirate. As we finally entered, he was the first batter I saw, and promptly struck out to end the inning. Other storylines included my acquiring of TWO Jim Edmonds baseball cards in one pack. He was my favourite ballplayer until that night. As the Bucs gave up a PH grandslam, it seemed as through victory would not be ours. I kept telling everyone, “just get to Mackowiak” only half believing he could do anything to help us. Then, as he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, he launched a two out walkoff grandslam to win! I threw my hat (fitting losing the Edmonds cards), was mobbed by family members, and had total strangers shouting to me “THAT’S YOUR BOY! THAT’S YOUR BOY!!!”

Five minutes later, I had seven phonecalls from friends making sure I hadn’t missed it.

Two and a half hours later, it all happened again when he TIED game 2 in the bottom of the 9^th with ANOTHER home run.

He would go on to have the game winning RBI in 4 of the 8 Pirates wins I saw last year. He is my favourite player. It was the greatest night I have, or probably ever will have at the ballpark. And by far the greatest moment of 2004.

Good luck beating THAT 2005!

-apk