NCAA Baseball Super Regionals – Virginia vs Ole Miss – ESPN/ESPN2
I had a couple days at home to unpack, do laundry and repack. This is pretty much the end of my season – so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
On Wednesday, I flew to Memphis around noon. Then drove down to Oxford, Mississippi. It’s about 1.5 hours.
The tech crew was staying in Batesville which is about a half hour from Oxford, but somehow I ended up with production at a hotel right in Oxford. I didn’t ask any questions!
Batesville is the home of Batesville Casket Company. I have seen their semi trucks for years now while driving on interstates across the country. Now I know where they are coming from.
I was eager to get to Oxford because I had never been there. I’ve heard what a great southern college town it was for years now.
Did my usual ritual of stopping for a few groceries and then settling into the hotel. Dave had also asked for an Ole Miss t-shirt. That is never an easy task. Granted this shirt is pretty mainstream; unlike the other odd requests over the years, but he only like very specific shirts. They have to be gray, XL, and the logo has to be just so.
While out shopping, I discovered another wonderful parking job.
I also drove around campus to check things out. Wow! So beautiful!
Lovely brick buildings everywhere.
Tons of magnolia trees too!
Our set day on Thursday went well. I was working with one of my favorite producers & directors – so that always makes things better.
Oxford-University Stadium is VERY nice! It’s only a few years old and it is very impressive for a college ballpark.
That evening, I went to the production dinner to a place in downtown Oxford called Ajax Diner. It was known for good southern cookin’!
Production dinners usually consist of the producer, director, assistant director, associate producer, talent and any management that might be in town. They typically discuss the upcoming event and any stories they may want to hit on during the broadcasts. And most times, the “mouse” pays.
Since I am friends with a lot of the producers and directors, I am invited to join from time to time. I take them up on the offer every so often; I try not to take advantage since I am not part of production.
Everything on the menu was deep fried. My stomach turned just reading it!
Deep fried pickles, BBQ Chicken Nachos, and some type of seafood was ordered as appetizers. I don’t like pickles, but I did try a few. Not bad. I am not a huge fan of BBQ, but I tried the nachos and they were really good.
I ordered the meatloaf with side dishes of mashed potatoes and mac & cheese. Oh my!
I swear to God the meatloaf was baked then deep fried! In the middle of the meatloaf, there was a brick of Monterrey jack cheese. Strange, but tasty!
Everything was very good, but I just don’t eat like that. I knew there would be hell to pay later.
After dinner, we went to a bar that had a live blues band. After about 3 sips of beer, I was done. I was sure I was going to puke on the ride home.
The boys were ready to stay for a while, thankfully, Susan was ready to head back to the hotel. So she drove me home. I was so sick from dinner!
Friday’s game was 4 hours, 17 minutes. Thankfully, Rebel Matt Smith hit a solo walk-off home run to win the game in the 12th.
After the game, I set out once again on my quest for Dave’s shirt. I went to a few shops and eventually found one I knew he would like.
On Saturday, I was blown away by the fans! The game was 11am local time, I was going in around 8am and the fans were already tailgating! Just like a football Saturday.
After the game I went downtown to walk around the square for a few hours.
There are all sorts of quaint shops and LOTS of bars.
I had a late lunch at a place called Boure – it was French/New Orleans-ish. Very good! And not so southern!
Sunday morning, the fans were waiting to storm the gates once again! In the outfield, under the scoreboard, there are terraces for fans to bring in their own chairs. That is prime real estate!
When the gates open it looks like the fans entering “the Who” concert in 1979!
Before the game, I went into the stadium to check out the suites. Wow!
Each of the table tops look like this:
They are your typical suites you would find at a basketball or football arena with mini bars and counter tops for catering. But still, I was shocked that this was a college baseball stadium!
I don’t know the complete story behind this part… but on Friday when I was looking for the bathrooms, one of the suite workers asked if they could help me. I said I was looking for the ladies room. Well he decided I needed a tour of the facility. So I followed him around while he showed off the place. The part that intrigued me was when he motioned to an area that was ‘curtained’ off and said… “well of course the lockers are behind there, but we had to hide them since the NCAA is here.” I smiled and moved on.
Well OF COURSE I had to later find out what was back there!
So I did just that on Sunday morning – peaked behind the curtain…….
Rows of wooden lockers with names on them. Hmm….
I found another section of them with people behind the curtains… so I looked.
The lockers are full of alcohol!
Apparently, when you buy a suite, you also get a locker to keep your booze in to drink while inside your suite.
After the game on Sunday, I drove back to Memphis because I had an early flight out on Monday morning. There are only 2 hotels near the airport. Travel put me at the Holiday Inn. I was skeptical because I thought I had stayed at the Radisson in the past – but whatever.
I should of trusted my instincts. The hotel was dreadful! It was near a military base – so basically there were hundreds of men waiting to shipped out to somewhere. As I lugged all my stuff up the big hill to the front door, about 20 guys stood outside smoking. I was by no means looking even slightly decent – but that didn’t stop the whistles and “hey baby” cat calls.
The hotel was dark and filthy. I felt very unsafe. I just wanted the night to be over with. I assumed I would be raped and or murdered before dawn.
I barely slept. Jumping awake at every sound.
Obviously, I somehow beat the odds and survived the night.
It was so dirty, I didn’t even take a shower. I just got up and went to the airport about 3 hours early. I went and sat in the Crown Room until my flight.
So this is it…. time for my off-season. I have about 2.5 months before the madness starts all over again.
But don’t stop reading – there’s still plenty more to come!
I have various events scheduled throughout the summer. As well as some vacations!
I had a late lunch at a place called Boure – it was French/New Orleans-ish. Very good! And not so southern!
Sunday morning, the fans were waiting to storm the gates once again! In the outfield, under the scoreboard, there are terraces for fans to bring in their own chairs. That is prime real estate!
When the gates open it looks like the fans entering “the Who” concert in 1979!
Before the game, I went into the stadium to check out the suites. Wow!
Each of the table tops look like this:
They are your typical suites you would find at a basketball or football arena with mini bars and counter tops for catering. But still, I was shocked that this was a college baseball stadium!
I don’t know the complete story behind this part… but on Friday when I was looking for the bathrooms, one of the suite workers asked if they could help me. I said I was looking for the ladies room. Well he decided I needed a tour of the facility. So I followed him around while he showed off the place. The part that intrigued me was when he motioned to an area that was ‘curtained’ off and said… “well of course the lockers are behind there, but we had to hide them since the NCAA is here.” I smiled and moved on.
Well OF COURSE I had to later find out what was back there!
So I did just that on Sunday morning – peaked behind the curtain…….
Rows of wooden lockers with names on them. Hmm….
I found another section of them with people behind the curtains… so I looked.
The lockers are full of alcohol!
Apparently, when you buy a suite, you also get a locker to keep your booze in to drink while inside your suite.
After the game on Sunday, I drove back to Memphis because I had an early flight out on Monday morning. There are only 2 hotels near the airport. Travel put me at the Holiday Inn. I was skeptical because I thought I had stayed at the Radisson in the past – but whatever.
I should of trusted my instincts. The hotel was dreadful! It was near a military base – so basically there were hundreds of men waiting to shipped out to somewhere. As I lugged all my stuff up the big hill to the front door, about 20 guys stood outside smoking. I was by no means looking even slightly decent – but that didn’t stop the whistles and “hey baby” cat calls.
The hotel was dark and filthy. I felt very unsafe. I just wanted the night to be over with. I assumed I would be raped and or murdered before dawn.
I barely slept. Jumping awake at every sound.
Obviously, I somehow beat the odds and survived the night.
It was so dirty, I didn’t even take a shower. I just got up and went to the airport about 3 hours early. I went and sat in the Crown Room until my flight.
So this is it…. time for my off-season. I have about 2.5 months before the madness starts all over again.
But don’t stop reading – there’s still plenty more to come!
I have various events scheduled throughout the summer. As well as some vacations!
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