Marney Gellner and Tom Kelly both appeared at my old Chaska High School for the American Legion Baseball Championship Opening Ceremony August 3rd

My uncle randomly called and let me know that there was a dinner for 35 dollars, sponsored by the American Legion which followed an award ceremony.

So I grabbed some dinner beforehand and showed up on a whim. (Tuition is expensive)

For those that do not know, the American Legion sponsors an annual baseball league for teenage baseball players.

Basically this is for teenagers who are too old for little league and are playing competitively for their respective high schools. Their season runs from mid June to Late July, with the championships in early August.

Gellner served as Masters of Ceremonies and opened the night with a story about her career. Here is the story in her words

"I started my career right after college and was working for a local affiliate in Bismarck North Dakota. I was lucky enough to land the weekend sports anchor gig. I thought I was pretty cool because I had a job in the field I wanted and I was living on my own for the first time in my career. Now, one weekend night the phone rang in the main reception room. Since I was the only the working and the office was quite I picked up the phone and said Hello. The lady on other line asked if this was the Bismarck TV Station. I said yes and she said that she had some advice for that young, new sports weekend anchor.' I cannot stand her, the way she looks, the way she talks, or the way does the sports. She should stop working immediately'

After I heard that I really wanted to say what a poor mother she was and bad role model towards she kids. Instead I Hung up the phone and cried. Later in the night I called my mom to make myself feel better. “

After Gellner's great story, the rest of ceremony dragged on. Selfishly, because I really wasn’t there for the Teams, even though my cousin was on the Hopkins team or the veterans for the American Legion. They presented awards and milked everything for the rest of the night that lasted about two hours. Then good Old Tom Kelly, TK, appeared on the stage. Now personally, I really do not understand TK the manager but you cannot deny his two World Series rings, respect for the game and work ethic. Perhaps cause I was too young to see his work in action. In recent years though he has been regular fixture at Spring Training for infielders and spot fill in for FSN sports telecasts when Boring Bert, or Tim Laudner or Roy Smally cannot fill in. TK is great because he calls Dick Bremer, Richard on air, openly criticizes Twins players and adds an instant perspective to the telecasts. This is always lacking on regular broadcasts. I wish that he was on the air more because Bert and Dick...well that’s for another blog.

When TK finally, for what seemed like a whole day, got to the stage he was well worth it. He told everyone about his recent years of retirement of playing golf. He said his nieces and nephews really like the game and has realized what a great asset he is in the family. However, they play catch with him like twice a month, which " aint gonna get it done" if they want to develop their passion. So he preached, preached, preached about working hard. Which sounded pretty familiar to his managerial views and current Twins manager Ron "battle your tails off" Gardenhire. TK mentioned that Al Newman was in the room and complimented him on what hard worker he was and that he was one of the best defensive players he had ever seen. Too bad that he couldn't hit worth anything Next he told the players to thank their parents for working so hard for driving them to practices, buying them gloves, and providing an awesome upbringing so they can have the freedom to Play Ball. Lastly, he told the players of all the teams to play for respect of the game. Much like the Twins Way.

Then Marney was about to say thank you and blah blah blah. Then out of nowhere, TK comes back to the podium and steals the microphone from Marney. TK said

" that story about that Bismarck lady Marney that is nothing. Fans throughout the Major leagues are just awful. Onetime, I think I was in Chicago, or something. Everyone was standing for the national anthem like we did tonight for the national anthem. Then something hits me out of nowhere. It was a peanut butter and Jelly sandwich! That someone from the stands through at me. So if you think you have seen it all let me know. “ The whole audience burst out laughing.

Then Marney closed for ceremony and topped it all off. She closed with this story

“ I was keeping track of golf scores at a Bismarck charity golf event. It was a par 4 and after every score I would go up to individual players and ask them on how they shot on the hole. Finally after asking one overweight guy his score he responded arrogantly ‘I shot a Birdie. ....That is one below par, so that is a 3’ after he told me what a bird was I promptly gave him one... Good night everyone