Having seen so many stinkers this year you would think that watching the Brewers shellac the Astros would be great.

Yes and no.

 

For me the real excitement Wednesday night was seeing my fellow campers.

It is hard to describe but once having gone to Brewers Fantasy Camp, the guys you meet there seem like old friends.

I know that sounds corny, or saccharine, but it’s true.

And yes, I was disappointed in missing my chance to tip my cap to
the crowd, but in many ways Wednesday night, and yesterday, have been emblematic
of what’s going in my life right now.

As yesterday was the day that the campers got to take the field and play at Miller Park.

To say that I had been looking forward to that day would be an incalculable understatement.

You loyal readers know that for the last several months your pal
Yogi has been fanatical in his devotion to getting ready to play.

Until, that is, the accident of July 6.

Although I had made some progress, I had suffered a terrible set
back last week. My arm became as weak as it was soon after the accident.

So yesterday, I suited up but did not play.

Disappointed?

Yes.

Did I have a great time?

Yes, again.

For I did get to experience the amazing camaraderie and friendship
of my fellow campers, and in the end, the day turned out to still be as
great as I could have hoped.

Really.

Here.

Just scroll and see for yourselves. Click on all images to enlarge.

 

 

Wow.

   

Must.Get.Better.

I have to find a way back to play.

Just sayin’.

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

Over the weekend Butterfly and I were in San Francisco and yes, we were at the game Saturday.

Great seats (Sec. 113, Row B, Seats 1 & 2.)

Terrible game.

After the game we got a chance to meet up with Rock.

There are over 60 guys already signed up for 2008 Fantasy Camp and after the Potawatomi drawing that number will definitely rise (as the losers will then be forced to sign up.)

In truth, the accident took much more out of me than I originally had realized.

Leave it to Rock, he held out a spot for me at the Reunion Game September 6.

What a class-act.

I won’t be able to play center field or throw, but I may yet be able to play first-base and maybe will be able to bat (that’s up in there air right now.)

As for Fantasy Camp, everyone who knows me, and for all of you Loyal Readers can surmise, I will do everything possible to get back into playing shape but it seems like a long way away for me.

And yes, not being able to lift, or run, or play golf, or tennis, or swim, or throw, or bat is driving me crazy.

Warrior Spirit.

Must not lose it.

I’ll see you guys on Wednesday!

Thanks Rock!

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

We’ve Got Mail!

Yesterday, I told you about one of two remarkable emails I received.

Let me tell you about the second.

But first, a True Story.

…

My first Brewers Fantasy Camp was in 2006.

It was also the first Camp for a guy named Rick.

His words: "I received the gift of my life when my wife Amy, family, and friends chipped in to send me to the 2006 Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp for my 40th birthday – I couldn’t believe it!"

For Rick who grew up a Brewers fan, seeing all of the former Brewers greats and being in the Brewers locker room was "a dream come true."

Camp for Rick started out well until Wednesday (the third day of play) when while diving for a ball, (something that Rick new might be trouble) he landed on his arm, dislocated his shoulder and broke his arm at the humeral head.

Now let me tell you, I have experienced a "long bone" fracture, in my case it was a comminuted displaced tibial fracture.

And it hurts.

A lot.

It hurts so much that you cannot tolerate it for a moment.

And you want to scream.

And you do scream.

Or you pass out.

And wake up, only to pass out again.

Long bone fracture.

It hurts.

Back to Rick.

Humeral neck fracture: it’s a bad way to break your arm.

Very bad.

When he hit the ground he new he was done.

Coaches, trainers, players, his wife Amy, all rushed to Rick’s side.

He was calm.

And collected.

Rick did not complain.

Not once.

Taken to a hospital he waited.

For a day.

No surgery.

And then another day.

No surgery.

No food.

He did not complain.

Not wanting to wait the weekend without surgery, Rick returned to Camp with the intent of returning to Wisconsin for surgery.

Oh, and the good news?

Rick’s team won the tournament.

And at the Awards Banquet, Rick got a well-deserved standing ovation.

A more Brave or Courageous performance I have never seen.

Really.

…

Fast Forward to 2007.

Rick returns to Camp.

He plays little, still recovering from his injuries.

But he dresses for play.

He and Amy write a daily "newspaper" for the Fantasy Camp including photos from play, statistics, and all the administrative information needed to make Camp run perfectly.

He does not complain.

He is always in a good mood.

And at the end of Camp, Rick and Amy (both) receive well-deserved standing ovations  at the Awards Banquet.

True.

…

So what was in the letter?

Rick wrote to me to say he was sorry to hear about my arm, told me he knows how hard rehab can be, wished that the Brewers had more than a 2-game lead, and that he would see me at the Reunion Game.

No better teammate could you find.

…

And I am humbled.

…

Thanks Rick!

See you September 6!

 

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

Your pal Yogi has an important UPDATE on the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp.

…

I emailed Bill Schroeder today and asked him how many people have already signed up for the 2008 camp?

Rock emailed back me today with the answer:

50!

The 2008 Fantasy Camp will likely have around 84 campers (give or take) which means that there are only 32 slots left!

So if you’re interested in attending, you better get on it!

Also as a reminder, the Reunion Game will be played on Thursday, September 6, 2007, at Miller Park and I believe the on-field introductions will be made on Wednesday, September 5, during the game against the Houston Astros.

If you haven’t already started throwing, running, and taking some swings, it’s time to get started soon!

…

And lastly, we have only 5 guys committed to play in the Dave Henderson Old School Wood Bat Tournament.

Click Here to Read More About It!

Come On!

We Need To Represent!

Contact me for more info.

Just sayin’.

…

Until then…

Enjoy!

Brewers Fans!

Fantasy Campers!

Special Thanks to Dr. Jack for tipping me off to this:

Old School Baseball Tournament (click the link for more info)

Dave Henderson Baseball Academy, Tucson, Arizona

October 20-24, 2007   

Isn’t it about time for a post-season baseball tournament to be designed and staged solely for the Fantasy Camp Senior Baseball player?

We thought so.

Our goal was to design a tournament event that had an affordable base price, but offered some luxury add-ons that many Senior Baseball players might not normally think could be provided.

We wanted a tournament that the teams that just wanted to play felt welcome to do so.

We wanted a tournament that the teams could have a former Pro Player as it’s coach.
 
We wanted a tournament where a player can walk into a Major League-quality clubhouse every day, and find his uniform laundered and waiting in his locker.

We wanted a tournament in which ballplayers had access to the best professional baseball trainers to help get them through the weekend at peak performance.

At the Old School Baseball Wood Bat Tournaments you receive first class professional clubhouse and training services for the entire weekend.  The clubhouse and training services for the weekend are included in one player fee!  Yes, you read that right, just like the pros, you get both services

Of course this concept only works if the tournament is all contained within a single complex. And that served another of our goals.

Why should players have to drive miles and fight traffic just to get from one game to the next? So we chose to contain our tournament at a single location.

And what a location! The Old School Baseball Tournament will be held entirely at the beautiful Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. This is Spring training home to the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

And playing at a single site offers another unique opportunity. It allows us to create a tournament format in which each day’s schedule is based on the previous day’s results. It allows us to match winning teams against winning teams and losing teams against losing teams each day. That means that as each day of the tournament progresses, the competition becomes more and more even as teams find their proper competitive levels.

To compete in the Old School Baseball venue a player must have participated in the Fantasy Camp that their tournament team represents within the last 10 years and must be 40 years of age within the calendar year.

Is this something you campers want to do?

Let your pal Yogi know!

UPDATE!

Your pal Yogi has been given the Green Light to share with you some very exciting news!

!

She’s Gritty!

She’s Determined!

She’s a Fierce Competitor!

She’s a former Miss Wisconsin!

She’s Expecting!

Hearty Congratulations and Best Wishes to Dr. Malcom and Mrs. Jeanie Hatfield who are expecting their second child come September!

Slash tells me that his lovely and beloved Jeanie is shy about appearing at Miller Park, 9-months pregnant for the on-field introductions and asks that their fellow campers encourage Jeanie to participate.

Write to me and I will personally forward your emails to Jeanie!

!

…

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

And Fellow Campers!

Welcome Back to Your Favorite Brewers Blog!

Thanks again to all of you who write, I love getting your emails.

I am so happily amazed at how many of you are visiting me here on a regular basis!

Thanks!

It seems that the need to create an MLB account may be a deterrent for many of you to leave your comments.

Am I right about that?

And as I said above, your emails are great.

With that in mind, let me give a special "Shout Out" to Bob "Hello" Neuman, Tim Hueckel,
(My Hero) Randy Brandner, and Rick Ramirez, who I am told will be sending the 2007 campers photos from camp!

Also, your pal Yogi has some news regarding some campers you know and love, very Special News that I have not yet been authorized to reveal, but am hoping to share with you very soon.

Stay Tuned!

Some campers have written me and asked if I will put up their pictures, showing what they’re doing in the "off-season" and the like?

You Bethcha’!

If you would like your photos posted here at Yogi Brewer, email them to me and I will gladly put them up, especially if they are baseball related (Did you hear that Mr. Schreck? Mr. Gold Glove?)

And for those of you who haven’t seen the 2008 brochure, it’s a beaut!

All the familiar faces are there, including your pal Yogi’s!

!

 

As part of my fitness program I will be running in my first 5K race in over 15 years next month, July 28, to be exact.

Heroes Run

Hero’s run is being organized by
the family members of U.S. Army Captain Travis Patriquin.  Travis was
killed on December 06, 2006 in Ramadi, Iraq along side Marine Major
Megan McClung and Army Gunner Vincent VJ Pomante, by a roadside bomb.
Travis left behind 3 beautiful children and a wife. 

Travis, was the creator of “How to Win in Al
Anbar” PowerPoint.  This PowerPoint has made its move up to the White
House.  In honor of Travis, Megan and Vincent we have organized the
HEROES RUN, a 5K, 1.5mile walk and Children’s Fun Run benefiting the
Travis Patriquin Family Memorial Fund and the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund.

If you have never done one of these they are a great way to get focused on your fitness plan by setting a goal, and in this case, an achievable goal, and more so the better as it’s for a good cause.

Read more about Heroes Run here.

My goal is sub-23 minutes. I am hoping to get Dr. Jack (Ohringer) out there with me. And of course, if any of you would like to join me, that would be great, too!

…

Lastly, Apropos of Nothing, but for Butterfly…

I give you…

Dino!

Mambo Italiano!

Take Your Papa To The Home Country Already!

Just sayin’.