All of a sudden I was looking at ghosts and empties and a lot of water on the way to Memphis for game 6 of the Roadie in a great AAA town. The hope was to do some pre-trade deadline scouting for the
Cardinals and Astros as their biggest affiliates were set to tangle in game 4 of their own series.
The ghost – my traveling companion (of 38 years old) was gone. He got called up you could say. A heavenly thought that. He had fans both in California (family) and Wisconsin that needed him. There’s really nothing you can do in the minors when the big club calls except shake hands, say, “thank you”, and wish all the best for a great opportunity.
The empties – the feelings of leaving family, more friends, and possibly even better things behind in behind in Chicago. The choice was between staying and watching Yankees @ White Sox; or head down to the farm and keep my appointed route. Since I hate the f*cking Yankees it only made the choice slightly easier. Besides, there has always been a part of me that wanted to see Graceland.
A late start and multiple lane closures on the way south meant I didn’t cross the Mississippi into Tennessee until 6:45PM or 25 minutes before first pitch. The Redbirds’ radio play-by-play man did what all good shills do (and I can say that because I have done it myself): “Despite the standing water and funnel cloud touchdowns in the area the game has not been called yet.” Whether or not the folks in Germantown (East Memphis) or Olive Branch, MS (suburb south) were going to be able to use their tickets was inconsequential because those weren’t real tornadoes that ripped though their towns just two hours prior.
I went down to the field anyway despite that I knew the game would be called. Surely the surrounding nightlife would support the stories of poorboys and pilgrims on and around Beale St.
All Shook Up
Bob and Sue from Akron, OH stood on the concourse behind the last row of seats behind home plate in Autozone Park watching the bat boys and clubhouse attendants (presumably) having a catch in bare feet in short right field. They did not know when tonight’s rainout would be made up as they were in town all weekend and would be able to go again if their schedule allowed. They did not seem like they were interested in talking to me until they found what kind of shenanigans I was up to.
This kind of trip is something that they aspire to do, but Bob said he wanted to see all 30 parks. His wife agreed. They are not yet at that stage of life, but they are getting closer. Claiming great pride for the success of his hometown minor league team, the Akron Aeros of the Eastern League and true sadness at the end of the fad that was the Cleveland Indians/Jacobs Field, Bob intimated at a gaping hole gorged in the hearts of all Cleveland sports fans be it from the football Browns of the 80’s, baseball’s Indians of the 50’s and 90’s, and basketball’s Cavs this decade.
Sure Cleveland is part of the landscape, but does it really rock? When Bob and Sue get the call to tour the country, they will find out.
Heartbreak Hotel
I should never have met Carlos from Pine Bluff, AR. The man obviously knows his sore thumbs however, because he could immediately tell that my first pass up-and-down a tornado-scared Beale St. resulted in nothing but more confusion.
As Beale St.’s unofficial and unintended concierge, Carlos quickly stopped me asked me where I was from and whether I wanted music or food. Within three minutes, Carlos was able to extract form me where I lived, where I was raised, why I was in Memphis, and how Oct. 27, 1986 was the happiest day of my life (to that point). He also knew that I was good for a little bit of money.
I did not get into too many specifics with Carlos. Other than hailing from Pine Bluff and that he was tired from sleeping on a bench in a nearby park, I did not want to hear anymore. I just heard a similar story of business failure from Pirani in the cab in Chicago, and whether or not Carlos’ story was true – it was still unfolding and he was trying to recount it. He seemed trustworthy and I had no reason to think otherwise.
He led me to the Rendezvous and told me I would have a delicious meal there. I would eat delicious ribs there and I thanked Carlos monetarily in advance. Locals may have sent me elsewhere, but I had Carlos looking out for me. He is waiting for a call up too. Hopefully he gets one.
It’s Now Or Never
The server who took care of me at the Rendezvous didn’t seem too impressed with my version of ‘Aw shucks’ method of conversation creation, so I had to pull out the heavy artillery about the trip to get her talking. Once we got talking, she kind of stopped working. We talked the whole time I sat at the bar. I hope she didn’t get in trouble.
A product of the schools in the East Memphis area, she left college with a degree in finance. However, the reason why she no longer works at the bank is not because of the economy, but frustration with the South and its ways. Despite what we think is changing regarding chauvinism, racism, and small-minded thinking – no matter how many beers we have – it’s not happening fast enough.
She will have a career in business sooner rather than later as she bides her time for the right thing to come along. First – she is sharp. I always look for common sense in entrepreneurs and she is that. Second – she saves, yet does not deprive herself of finer things. One she learned I was from New York she told me about the trip she recently took to NY with friends. The trip included meals at some of the best restaurants in town and a trip to Yankee Stadium.
They got tickets to Yankee Stadium!! Let me re-phrase: Holy crap! She does not go to many Redbird games and she is not much of a baseball fan, but her friends are. They researched, engaged in the mission, and executed. They also took the subway too. That’s damn impressive. Savvy rookies, if you will.
Kentucky Rain
My grand plans for Memphis, including sneaking into Kentucky for five minutes on the drive from Chicago, were washed out. Normally, when the visiting team is making its final trip to a city the clubs take every care to make sure the game is played – even in the minors. That didn’t happen in Memphis, but I don’t consider it my last trip.
I don’t consider it to be the last trip for those I met in Memphis either.
In other news – The Memphis Redbirds won the make-up version of the originally scheduled game with the Round Rock Express by the score of 5-2. And Jesse did not go to Graceland. He snuck into Mississippi instead to but a toothbrush and gum. That’s state #45. Oklahoma will be state #46 in about four hours.
Lyric attributes: Paul Simon, Elvis Presley, Ian Hunter
