The confetti has been swept up and the first SBG Nation Convention is history. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet all of you that showed up... I had just enough tickets for everyone that showed up. The only thing that was a disappointment was that a family emergency kept our good buddy E-6 from showing up. Next time, and I hope all is well.
I got to Hubert's about 9:30 and our guy CarterHayes and his lovely fiancee were already there. We had a chance to visit for a while about various things, although I would have liked to talk with him a lot about his military days.
Pretty soon, Aaron Gleeman showed up. Aaron's always a good visit and everyone wants to talk to the king. As usual, he was funny, engaging, and self-deprecating.
Then, a couple of young guys showed up and it was our Better Know a Citizen writer Andrew and his buddy, Q. Andrew was reading the WGOM when the total daily readership could be counted on two or three hands. He came up from Des Moines and I was glad to finally meet one of the old mainstays of the WGOM.
Pretty soon, a couple of guys from the Minnesota Game Day, Kyle Eliason and John Sharkey showed up (to my surprise) and brought everybody a copy of the Game Day program, compliments of the Twins Geek. Thanks, Geek, your generosity is much appreciated. Speaking of generosity, our guy Banjo, who couldn't make it, sent some Guard Dog products for door prizes at the Convention. Thanks for all of our support, Banjo!
Then, Scot from Coffeyville Whirlwind, his wife Emily, and their infant son showed up. I was glad to meet the author of that really good site. Their little boy is very cute and a couple of months older than BabySBG and is very smiley.
Much to my surprise, my buddy Moss showed up with his boy. Mrs. Moss gave birth this week and everyone is fine. I think Moss's boy needed a day with his dad. It was great to see the master of the third person in the house.
Will Young also showed up with his Matty LeCroy shirt on. Between him and Andrew with his Lew Ford jersey, it became apparent that the convention should have been on Friday night, when both were in the lineup.
A good time was had at Hubert's, although the time went by quickly. Pretty soon, it was time to go to the game. StatFreak101 met us at the game. As far as the game went, there was a lot more fun in the stands than on the field. Aaron remarked that we didn't get a good game, but it was a typical game.
We weren't booing... we were saying Boof. Or something.
Here is a view from our seats. Hey, he missed the tag!
Andrew has a heckuva nice digital camera (he has a 300mm zoom lens). These were taken with my crappy one.
CarterHayes and fiancee. Good to finally meet you, CH.
Scot, Emily, and son.
Matty LeCroy's biggest fan.
Nick Punto fan club. Number eight rocks!
Q's happy about his new watch, courtesy of Banjo.
Nick Punto fever!
Andrew puts on the rally cap in the ninth. Would the Twins rally back?
The Nick Punto "fan club" boo Nick Punto mercilessly as he strikes out for the third time to end the game.
This guy looks like a better option at third base next year.
The first SBG Convention was a success. Thanks to all who showed up. It was a lot of fun and we'll do it again next year.
Sharkey and I had a blast crashing the party. Now that I've met some of the mainstays I'm going to have to start posting around here. In the words of the kids at 4chan (NSFW):
Nick Punto 4 Evar!!!
(Not really.)
Looks like a good time!
I enjoyed myself at the SBG Convention.
Like Snake said, it was good to meet a lot of household names within the Twins blogging/writing community. It was a good mix of people and personalities which is always makes for an interesting and fun experience.
Thanks to SBG for setting this up and I definitely intend on attending the next one.
Oh, and Snake...that three bucks you spent on that face painting is probably the greatest investment you'll ever make.
I threw a post up over at the GameDay Writers Blog:
http://mngameday.blogspot.com/2007/09/sbg-first-annual-convention.html
StatFreak: It was the best three bucks I've spent while the joke was in play at the game. Driving home and walking the streets of St. Paul as a grown man with face paint on, not so much.
I'm pretty sure my son's first word is going to be "boo".
Looks like a good time guys. I wish I could have been there, but hopefully next year.
I think next summer we should organize an SBG Nation slow pitch softball game and cookout. I would be all over that.
I'm all for a cookout and softball game. That sounds excellent.
I'm down for that too.
But can I wear a Punto shirt?
No. All Punto propaganda is strictly prohibited. Sorry.
Count me in for softball and a Very Special On The Grill.
Hey guys. It was a blast getting to meet and talk to everyone yesterday. I'm at my parent's right now , I stopped in since it's on my way back to Des Moines, but as soon as I get back I'll post my pictures as well.
For a while, I thought I had caught Punto Fever, but I think that was just a case of malaria.
Just got back to Madison, and there's a ton of homework waiting, but I had to chime in and say that Jo and I both had a heckuva time. It was great meeting everyone who could make it.
CH is the only one who looks like his avatar.
My hair was in poor form that day, for which I blame Punto. I don't wear a ducktail like the Wolfman, but I usually can pull off a far better resemblance.
Wished I coulda been there guys. And the softball / cookout sounds like a great idea. I'll have to start early on wearing down Mrs. Runner on that one.
"Please can I go? Please?! Everyone is going to be there!"
Good stuff. I'm looking forward to the next one. Mebbe we could get the future Senator to set up a one-man, self-contained satellite broadcasting unit to broadcast the event.
So, does Moss also speak in third person? How about Young Moss?
Man, that sounds like fun, wish I lived closer. Although if you get me far enough ahead of time, maybe I'll have to make arrangements.
Yeah, a softball game/cookout would be lots of fun. Maybe we should challenge the Strib/PiPress to a dual? :)
We should invite Tyny so we can hold the Tyner-GH HR Derby.
Hells yeah!
Hey-- This is Q. I wanted to say thanks for organizing the convention; it was awesome fun. I would like to echo an above post by noting the inspiring Nick Punto fan section among us (who found other Punto fans to be "posers" and promptly showed them how to properly cheer for Nicky).
Also, thanks to Banjo because I won a watch that he donated to the convention.
I hope that there's another convention next year-- I'm definitely in if I'm able to be there.
glad everyone had a funtime!