Felipe Lopez gave me a toothbrush

May 4, 2008

[Photoset] (checks breath to see if it was a hint) Well, technically he gave me two toothbrushes since it was a two-pack. And some undershirts (guess I’ll give those to Mr. Chatter), a wrist exerciser, a bunch of DVDs, a luggage set, and an iPod Shuffle! Too cool! I guess I should go on a trip and start a workout program now! Oh yeah, can’t forget the Tide stick for getting out those nasty grass stains acquired while sitting to pose for that picture. Ok, he didn’t really give it to me. I won it at the silent auction at tonight’s Dream Gala put on by the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation to support their charitable programs for youth. I find I write best about something if I immerse myself in participation rather than merely observing. Keeps the fun in it. (and yes, allows me to write in incomplete sentences) I also got some Goya food stuff - not only from him but also from Wil Nieves, whose “Player Favorites” bucket I also won! Complete with a catcher’s mitt autographed by him with his name embroidered in it. Well kind of. It says “Will Nieves”. I can see why he gave it away. If only Ronnie Belliard had put a “favorites” bucket in. Then maybe I could have won one of those under-helmet skull caps the players wear! Oddly, one of the favorites in Wil’s bucket was a DVD of 40 Year Old Virgin. Hmmm…. Anyway, the guy may be getting his quadruple shot espresso in the majors at the moment and the glory may soon fade, but I’m honored to have won his bucket seeing as he’s my favorite player at the moment and I’m darn proud of him. You know me and backup catchers. Nieves even managed to work my camera to snap a shot of me and Bob Carpenter, my unofficial escort since we were both there on our own. Thanks, Wil and Felipe!

I originally planned to title this “Hey, Big Spender!” (one of my favorite karaoke standbys), but I couldn’t pass up the toothbrush thing. It’s been like Christmas morning hunting through the two containers of random stuff and giggling at the silliness of an item or gasping at the coolness of the next. Winning two player favorites wasn’t my intention. I snuck out from dinner to check my bid on Nieves’ stuff and saw I’d been outbid, so added my name for the third time. As I walked down the row, I noticed Felipe’s stuff didn’t have a lot of bids, so I added my name, figuring I’d be outbid for sure. My sources had told me the silent auction would run all night, so I figured plenty of time remained. Immediately after I added my name to Lopez’s bid sheet, people came by to collect all the sheets and the auctions were closed! Holy cow! I realized I’d won both! I had to pull my car around to pick up my loot and nearly cried walking to my car in heels after wearing them all night. Whoever invented those as a standard for women should be dredged from the grave and punished. I knew it was time to leave when I could barely walk anymore. You can dress me up, but don’t make me stand or walk! There was definitely no dancing for me in those shoes.

After a cocktail hour, during which attendees could peruse the silent auction items and enter their assigned bid number on items ranging from framed photos of players, artwork, memorabilia, and experiences such as be the team photographer for a day (I didn’t find that one before the auction ended!), and mingle with Nationals players and coaches, the official program and dinner began. Players in tuxes lined up around the fringe of the enormous ballroom in the Gaylord Resort Conference Center while women in glamorous dresses and tuxedoed men found seats at their assigned tables. TV announcers Don Sutton and Bob Carpenter performed as the masters of ceremony, introducing coaches and players as they mounted the stage one by one.

Marla Lerner-Tanenbaum, Chair of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, spoke briefly about the goals and accomplishments of the charity organization, focusing on the youth baseball and education initiative and pediatric diabetes. Then the evening was turned over to the live auction portion - this is the part where the big spenders come in! I think most items went for over $4,000 and included an RFK memorabilia package (including four seats from RFK!), Nationals suite for 12 at a game, batting practice experience, and auctioning off players. Seriously! One was “Dinner With the Three Catchers”. What I wouldn’t give to be able to bid on that one! Brian, seated at my table, won the Opening Day 2009 VIP Package.

You all know this guy, right? Many have spent countless words ripping apart his moves and non-moves, segway riding, and other antics. Well, he’s well aware of that and challenged a bidder to take his place and be GM for a day. He said he’ll get on the phone with other GMs and try to make the trades the winner comes up with. Pretty cool!

After dinner, people mingled in the ballroom and out in the lobby area. I ran into Dmitri Young and his newly shorn head. I nearly asked him to do the voodoo hands thing, but didn’t. Aaron Boone and Nick Johnson were proudly carrying a framed PGA thing I’m guessing they won at auction. Finally! A full-on face shot of a mustachio’d Nick!

After chatting with radio guy Dave Jageler and his wife and realizing my feet were absolutely killing me, it was time to call it a night. I snapped photos of them (with their camera - so no proof) and retrieved my car to load up my loot. Now it’s time to go dig through and see what all the goodies are. I’ll have to find a dog to give the Milkbones from Wil Nieves to! The Cheetos, cookies, and Twinkies are heading up to the lighthouse with me today. If we get marooned in a storm, I hear Twinkies last forever.

If you missed the event, have no fear! Someone may be going on an auction-won date with Lastings Milledge and the catchers, but there will be another opportunity to bid on a player this month. Stay tuned!

Posted in MLB, Washington Nationals