Ohmygosh ... I almost forgot ...

Mary Ann,

I had a wonderful time talking to you before each of the games this past weekend. And I have an announcement to make to all of the Ladies Lounge members: Mary Ann's son AJ Shappi is the REAL DEAL on the mound! He had an awesome game against OU on Saturday and shut down the Sooners offense. He looked great on the mound and if he isn't drafted high this June someone should be fired!

Good luck to AJ for the rest of the season and I'll be watching for his name to pop up on the draft board in June!


Ann

Ann ...

Thanks for the kind words. AJ looked like the "old self" we had been used to seeing.

We had a wonderful time in OK ... Norman and OKC both. Had dinner Sat night at Mickey Mantle's Steak House ... but nobody told us we had to have the same bank account as Mr Mantle to eat there. All kidding aside ... it was a wonderful experience, the food was excellent and the service sublime. They even cleaned up our crumbs with a special little scooper-thing ... I felt slighted because I didn't have any to clean up tho.

Again, it was wonderful to meet you and John and your parents. Hope your dad is feeling "OK" after his little tumble.

M A

ShapsMa

Mary Ann,

Tell Marv I really enjoyed meeting and talking with him, too. And thanks for asking about my dad..he is fine. Good thing he is hardheaded like me.

And thanks for the info about Mickey Mantle's restaurant...I'll keep that in mind when we go up there in April for the OU/OSU series (it's called Bedlam for good reason I hear).



Ann

I couldn't resist commenting on eating at Mickey Mantle's. Last spring my husband and I took our boys(ages 20 and 13 at the time) to the Bricktown ballpark for a Redhawks game. After the game youngest son had the choice of where to eat: ******* or Mickey Mantles. He chose Mickey's because he is his favorite baseball player. The white tablecloths and the waiter should have tipped us off. The food was great but very expensive. The crumb-brushing was a hoot and the boys love telling the story of the waiter re-arranging the silverware for youngest son.
Glad you ladies had a good time in Oklahoma. Congratulations on the success of both sons.
p.s. Next time you are in Norman try Coaches. It is a great casual restaurant with some fantastic Sooner memorabilia.
Youngest son is a huge OSU fan. We plan on going to one of the Bedlam games at the Brick this spring.

"Every member of our baseball team at West Point became a general; this proves the value of team sports." --General Omar Bradley

I have been following AJ's stats on the UCR website, but I would love to see him in action! Mary Ann, is there ever a broadcast or video that I could get a peek at?

Julie ...

Sorry but as advanced as we think we are on the Left Coast, I don't know of any games that are broadcast. I know the Fri night game against OU was on their "O-zone" internet broadcast but I don't think AJ's game was. Maybe when we play against Long Beach or UC Irvine (the 2 ranked teams in the Big West) there will be a CSTV broadcast or two. But if AJ has moved to the Sat spot, doubt that one of his games would make it ... most likely when Jered Weaver (Long Beach stud) throws there might be some cameras around.

Guess you'll just have to take a trip to sunny So Cal this spring to catch the "real thing", heh? Just let me know when you are coming this way ... and we'll pick you up at the airport.

ShapsMa

Mary Ann,

That would be so much fun! Too bad we're going to Florida instead. You'll just have to let me know when one of their opponents broadcasts a game ... or else I'll have to wait and see him at the "next level"!