Neighborhood PARTY for Coach Tanner--College World SERIES GAMECOCK BASEBALL Coach-Nice Guy

Still semi-mass hysterical happiness in my city at present, being the center of the College World Series champs, the Carolina Gamecock baseball team. In my previous post, I mentioned that the head coach , Ray Tanner, lives around the corner from us. We have lived in this neighborhood about 10 years, I believe he has lived here 15 or so. His across the street neighbor had a neighborhood party for him , and we were invited, which was really cool for our son.

He has big baseball plans in life.

Finish grade school, middle school, high school,

then go to Carolina and play ball for Coach Tanner..

then...

straight to the Atlanta Braves where he will pitch. 

I love a man with a plan, even if he is 9 1/2 years old.

He has a little whippy side-arm pitch, that everyone looks at when he pitches,  then they look at each other...and laugh , it is very unusual but effective when he plays closer for his team.

 Tough guy here. Cute as a pickle.


Anyway, we walk down to the party, I bring my camera as I want to get our son's picture with Coach Tanner . I did not care if I was the only one there who brought their camera, I wanted that picture.
And here it is...

Ray Tanner is a very nice man, he loves children, and it shows.  I asked him if he would let me take a picture of my son and him , he immediately said , " Sure. " He and his family had been at a parade down Main Street a few hours before this, and 14,000 people showed up to cheer them on, very short notice. 1 day. he had been at press conferences, interviews, and a parade.
Yet, he still makes the time to come across the street to a neighborhood party . I tried to get my son to wear a new Gamecock No. 1 College World Series champions t-shirt to this.
But no.
He wanted to wear his SpongeBob shirt.
I like that he is like that.

My husband started they started discussing the costs of Travel ball teams ( classic ), tournament teams. Our son has been asked to be on one, 375.00 for the privilege . No way , I said.
Then Coach Tanner says, ' Wait until he is about 11-14. Then it is 2800. to do the same thing. Crazy traveling all over for these kids, but parents are EXTRA. "
I think I grabbed my chest area...to me, so NUTS to do this with young kids...starts to take the joy out of the game. Who wants to spend 5000. dollars or so every year...but Coach Tanner says that is how the recruits find young talent.
Young talent with BROKE parents !!!
Gee-whiz.

Signs up all over, there were more a few days ago. I love homemade signs, so much better than special ordered signs from a sign shop aren't they ?

Cold drinks, and snack food. Thank goodness it was only about 90 degrees, compared to the 100 + we have been enduring.

This was Coach Tanner's youngest beautiful daughter, all evening she was getting water out of the cooler and carrying it...spilling it mostly...for this old beagle to drink .
Or she and her brother were trying to sell ice in cups for 7.00 a cup to us guests.
They are about 4 and 5 years old.
I love to see little children being creative.

A very nice neighborhood gathering, and I was not the only one who wanted a picture with Coach Tanner...about 15 or so other families did the same.
Smart Mama here.

Pictures from my garden soon, I have to take my dog Maxine for her evening walk now, and then make some homemade banana pudding for tomorrow's dessert.
I hope you have a good 4th of July !

Bless you,
Gina


P.S. I don't really know anybody remotely famous...so this was very fun as Coach Tanner is a big deal in our city ! I hope our son remembers this for always.


" Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. "Jeremiah 29:12