* Lafeyette, we have arrived

Helllllooooo, Tampa.

And let me tell you, it hasn’t been easy getting a connection to post this, so I hope ya’ll appreciate it.

So let’s do a quick re-cap.

Arrived yesterday after a pleasant plane ride (word of advice: Do not read Marty Appel’s bio of Thurman Munson while flying.) Ira Jaskoll, a professor at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, and his colleague and buddy, Dick Williams (not the major league manager from the 60s-80s) were on the flight as well.

A shuttle brought us to the Sheraton Suites were we signed in and were pretty much free until the cocktail party/dinner later in the afternoon.

We met the Yankee Legends who serve as managers and coaches. My team — the Bombers — is led by Roy White and Jesse Barfied, with assistance from Ron Shelton, a veteran Yankee minor league instructor (and not the movie director, to my initial disappointment). Other Yankees here include Fritz Peterson, Mickey Rivers, Homer Bush, Chris Chambliss, Al Downing, Oscar Gamble (minus the giant Afro), Tommy John, Phil Linz (minus the harmonica), and, of most interest to the Jewish contingent, Ron Blomberg.

Blomberg is a very affable guy, always smiling and laughing and making you feel like you’re his best friend. White has always been known as a quiet guy and Barfield is also friendly and jovial.

You wonder why these guys do it. For most, who played before the really big contracts, it’s how they earn their living now. I hope they like the gig. Not sure what they get paid, but it seems like easy money.

Reggie Jackson showed up at the tail end of the dinner and regaled the audience with a few stories. Since I have no real interest in memorabilia or collecting, I didn’t hang around much after that, when Jackson was signing for the group.

So with the buses schedule to leave for the ballpark at 7 a.m., I headed off for a good  night’s rest.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2009 New Jersey Jewish News

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