Augustin_"Gus"
07-16-2006, 09:42 PM
Vladimir Guerrero got his 1000th RBI last night when he hit a single in the first inning of a 9-2 win againt the Devil Rays. Orlando Cabrera scored that 1000 run driven in by Vlad. He finished the game with 1004 rbi's after hitting a grand slam in the 7th. Of those 1004 ribbies, 702 were recorded with the Expos.
I have, like so many other Expo fans, plenty of good memories about Vlad, from his first home run, an opposite field jack in Turner field in 96, to his last game and the shower of boos we administered to Frank Robinson when he took him out of the game (wich lead, as I said many times but I think it's important I mention it again, mister MVP in both leagues to loose the two final games in Expos history on purpose). But I remembered last night hearing about Vlad's exploit, my personnal encounter with him. I believe I talked about it on this site already, but for the benefice of those who might have missed it, I'd like to mention it once more if I can.
The day was june 9th, 2000. The day I graduated from the university of Montréal with a degree in history, for wathever that's worth. We had the big hoopla that evening. I was coming back from work, I had a job as a tour guide at beautiful Windsor station in Montréal that summer (one of our great architectural and historical jewels BTW). I was on the subway, going back home to get ready, I transferred at Berri-UQAM, to take the green line, heading for Viau, where I got off. So, enter the metro, and right there, in front of me, standing against the doors on the opposite side of the car, was a rather lenghty, very dark skinned black gentleman. I sat down and said to myself: That's Vladimir Guerrero, going to the ballpark, riding the subway (or as we liked to call it: John Rocker's worst nightmare...). I was really excited. I had Vladimir Guerrero standing right there, about three meters from me. I didn't went over to talk to him or anything, always tought it's kind of cheezy "I think you're really good". "Go win it tonight". What's the guy gonna say "Well, I was going there to loose, but I appreciate the suggestion. I'll give it some serious consideration..." Plus, Vlad's english was said to be as limited as my spanish so... Now that I think of it, I could have just shaken his hand. That would have been allright. Anyway. When it was Pie-IX, the metro station for Olympic stadium, he just got off, he was going to work.
That was quite memorable. The day when he signed his 5 year deal with the team his a good memory as well. The next morning on my radio show on CISM I mentionned that maybe, just maybe, that was the beginning of a new era for the Expos. Perhaps better days were dawning. That this would be remembered as the day when things took a turn for the better. Our star, a stadium, on field success, it was all out there. Even my moderate optimism proved to be too much.
That's the bad thing when you're team's gone. You can try to recall good memories, it turns sour at one point or another. Maybe someday I can reminice (SP?) without things always going south.
I had a close encounter with Bryn Smith once, while he was jogging at Maisonneuve park. Not quite as memorable as meeting Vlad tough.
I have, like so many other Expo fans, plenty of good memories about Vlad, from his first home run, an opposite field jack in Turner field in 96, to his last game and the shower of boos we administered to Frank Robinson when he took him out of the game (wich lead, as I said many times but I think it's important I mention it again, mister MVP in both leagues to loose the two final games in Expos history on purpose). But I remembered last night hearing about Vlad's exploit, my personnal encounter with him. I believe I talked about it on this site already, but for the benefice of those who might have missed it, I'd like to mention it once more if I can.
The day was june 9th, 2000. The day I graduated from the university of Montréal with a degree in history, for wathever that's worth. We had the big hoopla that evening. I was coming back from work, I had a job as a tour guide at beautiful Windsor station in Montréal that summer (one of our great architectural and historical jewels BTW). I was on the subway, going back home to get ready, I transferred at Berri-UQAM, to take the green line, heading for Viau, where I got off. So, enter the metro, and right there, in front of me, standing against the doors on the opposite side of the car, was a rather lenghty, very dark skinned black gentleman. I sat down and said to myself: That's Vladimir Guerrero, going to the ballpark, riding the subway (or as we liked to call it: John Rocker's worst nightmare...). I was really excited. I had Vladimir Guerrero standing right there, about three meters from me. I didn't went over to talk to him or anything, always tought it's kind of cheezy "I think you're really good". "Go win it tonight". What's the guy gonna say "Well, I was going there to loose, but I appreciate the suggestion. I'll give it some serious consideration..." Plus, Vlad's english was said to be as limited as my spanish so... Now that I think of it, I could have just shaken his hand. That would have been allright. Anyway. When it was Pie-IX, the metro station for Olympic stadium, he just got off, he was going to work.
That was quite memorable. The day when he signed his 5 year deal with the team his a good memory as well. The next morning on my radio show on CISM I mentionned that maybe, just maybe, that was the beginning of a new era for the Expos. Perhaps better days were dawning. That this would be remembered as the day when things took a turn for the better. Our star, a stadium, on field success, it was all out there. Even my moderate optimism proved to be too much.
That's the bad thing when you're team's gone. You can try to recall good memories, it turns sour at one point or another. Maybe someday I can reminice (SP?) without things always going south.
I had a close encounter with Bryn Smith once, while he was jogging at Maisonneuve park. Not quite as memorable as meeting Vlad tough.