ESPN gods have arrived

A local waitress takes a lunch order and reports that tips from out-of-towners are "pretty good."

Yesterday, I was sitting in Starbucks, drinking my tall Kenya with room for cream, reading the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.  Bridgette had made it for me before I had asked for it.  

I knew it was the beginning of the Little League World Series -- I had witnessed the historic homerun by the Keystone team the day before. But the fact that it was officially Little League World Series week had not totally hit me until four tall handsome, athletic, geeky ESPN guys breezed by me in Starbucks.

As they entered Starbucks, all that they represent came flooding in with them: athletes, baseball games, international exposure, state-of-the-art technology, Norman Rockwell, ballpark food, as well as all that America truly lives for: children, sporting events, money and success.  

I gazed up from my newspaper and stared at them. Some more ESPN gods came in and joined them. They know each other.  ESPN gods only speak to each other in minimal sounds and directions.  I learned a few years ago when I worked for ESPN as a camera assistant during the series.

My little coffee shop, home-from-home, was now the gathering place of the ESPN gods.  I tried to speak to one of them.  I knew I had to speak really fast, because I knew I only had three seconds to get his attention…

“Ummm, Hi” ... first mistake, never hesitate.  “I used to work for ESPN” ... second mistake.. “Used to work.”  “ Are they still hiring local…”

Strike three, I am out. Appearance of desperation.   

I was immediately cut off in midsentence as the ESPN god fled Starbucks.   

Hmm.. that went all wrong. I should have known better when speaking to the ESPN gods.  I broke all the rules.  Don’t speak first, don’t ask for a job. and never say you used to work for ESPN.  The ESPN gods keep to themselves and I highly doubt any ever quit working for ESPN.  

It doesn’t matter. We know them.  We love them.  They come into town. They work hard, do an excellent job, play hard and tip well, as a Santino’s lunch waitress explained later that afternoon.

I will go back to my wonderful job as Chief of Staff for Representative Mirabito, serving the people and remember that beautiful summer I, too, was an ESPN god.  

Welcome to Williamsport ESPN. Have a great series. We appreciate you.