The AMLU's Birmingham Folly

[lawump]

Originally Posted by BlueLawyer

I'm sorry, but I just can't get there with you on the Hampton Inn breakfast bar or the dressing room fridge stocked with Snickers. $22 a day doesn't buy much in the way of healthy food in a restuarant in most markets. And forget it if you want to have (gasp!) a beer.

I know that there are a lot more hotels offering free breakfast today than 8 years ago...However, many of the hotels I stayed in during my first year in the game were mom and pop hotels (or the only hotel in town) that did not offer a free breakfast. Its ironic, but it is during the first year that an umpire could really use that free breakfast the most as his salary and per diem is at their lowest point for his entire career. (And yes I used the word "career")

As for free food at the ballpark? On the Single "A" level, that is not guaranteed. Far from it. When I did get a free meal, 95% of the time it was hot dogs and a drink. I got sick of damn hot dogs. (In fact, I still haven't eaten one in years). Props to Charleston, SC, though, who served us shrimp!!!

So what did we do? We slept through breakfast (admittedly not hard to do). Ate a cheap lunch (fast food) and then went out to eat at a chain-type place for supper (applebee's, etc.).

Not the healthiest lifestyle.

I found it ironic at the time that they (PBUC) were harping on our physical fitness (we were the first class after John McSherry's death, so there was a heightened awareness) but then gave us enough money to make eating healthy very difficult.

[bobbybanaduck]

if it is a minority horse i hope it's a US resident OR in the game already, cuz they won't being paying for it to get to work from overseas...

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Admittedly, it is difficult to eat healthy on $22 a day. I lived on five dollar breakfasts and lunch at Hardees and McDonalds while coming up. Yeah, those hotdogs get tiresome - so do nachos and local sponsor fare. My partner drove that first year and he packed a cooler full of stuff for us. We would take the cracker packets, individual ketchup and mustards, salt and pepper shakers and whatever we could get our hands on at the park, friends' places or restaurants. We ate tons of cup o' noodles and figured out fifty ways to make mac n' cheese better. We grumbled and got by without getting fat.

That said, NO ONE FORCED US TO SIGN ON AND TAKE THE JOB! We knew going in that it would be tough. Hell, most of had just finished college and knew what it was like to live that way. I ironed my clothes on the floor of the locker room. I took plenty of cold showers, slept in the car and learned to say, "Shhh, you'll wake my partner." when in a flea bag somewhere. That is part of the deal. That first season is rough - the pressure is intense and the lifestyle lacking. Anyone who signs up for the next season and complains is just a joke. Did you think things would change going to the next level?

What's the adage - "Fool me once...

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

We ate tons of cup o' noodles and figured out fifty ways to make mac n' cheese better.

nothing beats mixing one pack of 'easy mac' with one pack of 'ragu express' - its delectable.