What a perfect day for a ball game!  Sunny, 80 degrees, hot peanuts, cold beer, and…Ravens Running back, Willis McGahee?  Dressed in orange?  This Sunday I had the honor of attending Willis McGahee’s ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards.  Willis was on hand to toss out the first pitch….he said it would be a fast ball…ah hem…well, at least it wasn’t clocked.

After a fun-filled morning touring Camden Yards with his guests, a group of Baltimore area children, Willis spent some time in the dugout with the kids trading autographs with some of the O’s players.  He seemed to enjoy about a 20 minute pow-wow with Outfielder, Adam Jones who, as his luck would have it, would be the catcher of the “fast ball.”  Rumor has it that the locker room was all a buzz about who would get to catch for McGahee…no word on how Adam won out.  Adam begged Willis, “just don’t bounce it, just don’t bounce it!”

After throwing a strike myself last year, (yes, really) I asked Willis if he was interested in some pitching tips from yours truly.  He snickered at me and remarked that I could share my pointers after he threw his strike…well, Willis, there’s always next year.  His lob ended up in the fully extended glove of Adam Jones…a tad on the high side to say the least.  Ok, so who says professional athletes have to be good at everything…but, the day was a huge success in drawing attention to a great cause…The Willis McGahee Foundation which supports victims of domestic violence and underprivileged children in the Baltimore Area.  “Although I have only been with the Ravens for a short time, I already feel like
Baltimore is my home,” said McGahee. “It is an honor to throw out the first pitch for a team so entrenched in the community and to provide these kids with an opportunity to see the game and forget some of their troubles.”

Willis McGahee…you have a big heart…so I have to take a pass and let you off the hook for your fine-looking “fastball.”  Thanks for inviting me to spend the day with you and the kids…as entertaining and heartwarming as today was…seeing you back in the purple and black with a football in your hands won’t come a day too soon!

Posted on Monday, June 2nd, 2008 at 9:40 am.
Categories: Uncategorized.
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