My friend told me of a time he worked at the Angels / Red Sox game at Angel Stadium, which, from a work standpoint, I was told, was one of the worst places to work. The breakfast spread is absolutely barren compared to other stadiums and the hospitality is abominable. He was kicked out of Angel Stadium because the BMOC, Mr. X, head of security, had to bring down his iron fist because my friend took, innocently enough, a pack of sunflower seeds and a pack of bazooka gum, from the Red Sox dugout after the game was over. At Dodger Stadium and other stadiums around the country, he was welcome to help himself. After all, Bazooka gum and sunflower seeds in the dugout come in endless supplies – they are official sponsors. Rather than try to understand the situation in which my friend took the seeds, Mr. X got in his face, joined by the bat boy, who said, “we work hard! Those are ours, not yours!” In the way, bouncers, meter maids, and keystone cops at the film studios like to impose their authority because they don’t really have any in their normal lives. Mr. X. flexed his muscles. So when my friend, under his breath, told Mr. X “to fuck off” Mr. X ripped my friend’s credentials away. He was quoted as saying, “I have no heart,” and as a result, a FOX Sports company-wide e-mail was sent out that he could never return to Angel Stadium again. All because of some bazooka gum and a pack of sunflower seeds.
My friend did tell me that he had the honor of David “Big Papi” Ortiz snatching the pre-game press stats out of his hand before the game. And here’s a little secret for baseball handicappers– Big Papi hates the west coast because of the time difference in flying. It really messes his timing for a couple of at-bats.
