From: 35
Subject: Re: Softball stuff...
To: Softball Team
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:24 AM
Al -
Let me help cure your
sentimental teary eyes....Allow me to ask some questions and make some points.
- What year was the last time Skyline contributed to
jerseys, league fees, etc.? I'm pretty sure "SFRCP" (Neill
A) was still going "70's style." I'm pretty sure they were
still playing football and tearing up the field in the fall at SFRCP.
We still played in the Umpire's Tournament. I would bet the
catcher for Varmits could still hit the bejesus out of the ball. The left-center fielder
for whichever team that was, was still talking trash from the outfield.
Walt could probably see the last time Skyline had a financial stake
in the team.....And YOU certainly were still throwing the ball on the
rubber and walking back to second base when the batter was taking too long
to get ready in the box.....I'm just sayin'....
- I like Skyline as much as anyone, but I have not worked
there for 10 years. As I look at the roster, some of the guys who
have played for 15+ seasons (wow, I'm old) no longer work at Skyline.
Think of them for a minute, rather than yourself.
Think of the team.
- I enjoyed playing for the Skyline Fighting Red C's
(SFRC, if you will), and we can all continue playing for SFRC...The
"S" just stands for Schlitz now. Also worth noting,
"Gusto Guys" is synonymous and the family friendly version
of Fighting Red C's.
- I have played wearing many-a-jersey with the
"Skyline" name across my breast (I even wore the black mesh crap
for most of one season). In all circumstances, I cared more about
the folks and beverages in the dugout than I did about the letters between
my teets. I expect the same out of the
other GG/FRC players.
- Varmits / Billabong / etc. has made a
few name changes. If they can do it, we certainly can as well.
- One thing that has remained consistent in your 20 years
is that we have remained nimble. We have made adjustments. We
still played hard when the bench moved from the playing surface to behind
the fence at SFRCP. We still claim the 8th inning as our best when
they no longer allowed beverages or kids in the dugout. We adjust.
We cope. We find players when we are short. We add players
to the roster, when others have to leave. We are okay with change.
We have embraced technology by investing in a film room and a
website. We have seen players come and go and come back again.
We are nimble like that.
- We are still smart. We will still win the mental
game every week and every game. If we are down 12-8 heading into the
bottom of the 7th, you will hear "We need five to WIN," rather
than, "we need four to TIE." The mental game doesn't
waver.
- "Retro-Night" is always in play. You can
still wear that snug Skyline shirt from 1992 for retro-night.
Al -
Not everything can stay
the same for eternity. Not everything can be your 1984 Nike hightops with no sole. "Soul," on the other
hand, is what the GG/FRC are all about. The soul of the members and fans that make up the team.
Say it with me, "Schlitz Gusto Guys Fighting Red
C's.....SOUNDS LIKE RUNS!"
One final
question...When you talk to Garrett about the team name, did you request that
our team name be written in ALL CAPS on the schedule? I always liked that
about SKYLINE.
From: Al
To: Softball Team
Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010
8:28:31 AM
Subject: Softball stuff...
Good Morning:
After 20-plus years
playing softball in Burnsville as Skyline, we are changing team names.
For the 2010 summer softball season, the new team name is Schlitz Gusto Guys.
The reason for the
change is Brian Niehaus has negotiated some new jerseys with the Schlitz guy if we changes
the team name. The Softball Director has allowed us to change the name.
I will follow up in
another e-mail asking you for jersey size and number and letting you know what
the jersey style and color will be.
In addition, the league
fee is $715. I will follow up with a cost per player as well.
Thank you.