Knicks Morning News (2024.01.23)

being a 42 yo Mets, Knicks, Jets, Rangers fan, I dont have much in terms of big games I was at. but when I was in High School in Queens we had an Alum that worked for the Braves. Whenever they came to town we got a box of old BP balls and a box of old gear. Our coach would take 3 or 4 seniors to the game to pick up the stuff and then we’d get tickets to the game.

It was summer of 98, Braves vs Yankees interleague game. I was invited. We show up and they give us press passes! We walk with our coach (a legendary Baseball and Basketball coach in NYC) into the press gate and get lead down a hall way. The 4 of us thought we’d just be picking up the boxes and then going to our seats, coach never stayed for the game, he left the ticket to us and drove home with the boxes.
Next thing we know, we’re let into the Braves clubhouse. Chat with Tony Graffanino, a long island native, and Keith Lockhart. Cool as hell.

Then they let us go on the field for batting practice. Bobby Cox introduces himself, as does Leo Mazzone. It thrilling to meet these guys and watch BP. The 3 other seniors and I are extremely cool and calm, playing it totally cool.

Few mins later, our coach says “ok time to go. Help me to my car”. After doing so, he hands us the tickets and leaves. All 4 of us realize we still have press passes and say YOLO, lets see what happens if we walk back in. SO we walk through with no issues, down hallway, right into the dugout and we take seats on the bench to watch the end of BP.

Bobby Cox walks over to kick us out but to our surprise says “I met you guys earlier right? stay as long as you want but when the anthem plays, you gotta go”

few mins go by, we are still cplaying it cool with no sign of being starstruck. Graffanino and Lockhart some by to say hello. Then Greg Maddux!! walks over to say hello. Later Kevin Millwood and Chipper Jones. These guys are sitting on the concrete steps shooting the sh*t with us for 15 minutes or so. Millwood showing me his changeup grip, Maddux cracking jokes. At one point they grabbed baseballs and a pen for us and asked if we wanted autographs!

Maddux waived over Eddie Perez, his personal catcher, and said “hey Eddie, we have some kids from Venezuela here that want to meet you”. He happily comes over and then sadly realizes we are just 4 NYC kids, Maddux gives him my autographed ball and tells him to sign it. When Eddie started writing his name, Maddux slapped his arm and said “no they don’t want Eddie Perez, just sign it ‘Javy Lopez'” (who was the Braves young all star catcher).

It was super cool and since that day I never hated the braves as much as I did as a huge Mets fan – which they were all glad to point out to me how dumpy Shea stadium was and they hated playing there.

one more to add. I spent 5 summers in high school and college on the grounds crew at the US Open. We spent all summer getting the grounds ready: screens on chain-link fences, pulling weeds, maintenance for the summer camps, wood shop, court maintenance, etc. But during the tourney we got different jobs, mine was being a court attendant. I got to sit on court, behind the players on Arthur Ashe, Louie Armstrong and the Grandstand. Job was to make sure the coolers, towels, and banana containers were full. I saw pretty much every big match during those years. Also had to power wash the courts at end of night. It was great.

My last year there, I worked in the ticket office during the tourney as a runner: take tickets from ticket office to the players lounge when needed. In the lounge they had 2 Playstations setup: 1 with a tennis game and 1with a golf game. No players ever played them so my coworker and I would slack off and play from time to time. One day, I get a tap on my shoulder and hear ” I got next”. Turn around and its Roger Federer!
He was still young, maybe ranked just outside the top 20. The tennis game only had the top 16 or so guys by name. I can’t recall who he played as but he destroyed me, and he talked trash! something like “i see you all the time playing but you still stink” i countered with “well you’re not even in this game!” we both laughed.

I prob played against him on 3 different occasions after that day, he was super nice, he also beat me at the golf game.

Awesome stories, Knickelbacker. I was in the bleachers for that series. I saw Greg Maddux throw a complete game shutout in 80-something pitches. Fastest game I ever saw.

I remember that game. Think Glavine pitched the night I was there.

I happened to see Maddux on my honeymoon in Lake Como Italy 8 years ago and despite telling him how to find coffee at the hotels breakfast buffet, I got nervous and didn’t tell him about my 1st time meeting him. Then later that day watched him photo bomb an old couple who’d ask one of his friends to take a picture of them. They didn’t know who he was. I again walked passed them and didn’t say anything. Next time I see him I’m def gonna speak to him.