6.02.2008

Magical Monday --- The Best Seats in the House (Almost)


Last week I told you the story of a magic show I had done for a former Pittsburgh Pirate. He was able to get me in contact with the right people and for following season (1999) I was able to get a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to be one of the entertainers for their "Kid's Days" every Sunday there was a home game. Basically I would perform from 11:30 - 1:30 outside the stadium (games always started at 1:05), and then could go in and enjoy the game. In 1999, I got to see some great games with the McGuire/Sosa home run record chase!


My contract with the Pirates extended into the next 2 seasons, which means I got to be part of the first season at PNC Park! At the end of the year, they would always pick the top 2 or 3 entertainers (there was about 15 of us working the various entrance gates) to perform for the players and their families at a private party at the end of the year. I had the privilege of being chosen during the 2001 season.


So in late September of 2001, I was checked closely by security and escorted to the "Player's Lounge" in PNC Park where I got to do some magic for Jason Kendall, Brian Giles, Kevin Young, etc and their families. It was a great experience! After my show was over, a man came up and told me how much he enjoyed the show and we started talking and I found out he was Cam Bonifay, the General Manager of the team. Just outside the player's lounge was the nicest luxury box seats you could ever imagine (probably about 20 seats). Cam gave me his phone extention and told me to give him a call the next season to join him for a game or two.


I thought this was the best thing ever, but the title to this thread --- The Best Seats Ever (ALMOST)....Almost is the key word. Unfortunately Cam Bonifay was fired the beginning of the next season, and my dream seat remained empty.

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