Pictures with the Red Sox Legends(?)

While attending Microsoft's Annual TechEd Conference in Boston this June, I had the opportunity to get signatures and take pictures with the "Red Sox Legends". This was easily the best Attendee Party I have experienced, and this includes riding the Aerosmith Rock-N-Roll Rollercoaster four straight times with no line during IBM's Lotusphere Conference, held at Disney's MGM Studio Amusement Park in Orlando, a few years back.

Microsoft rented out historic Fenway Park for the evening. Attendees had access to the perimeter of the entire field, the visitors dugout, and all areas of the stadium, including the club level. A stage was built over the first base dugout and the band "Train" held a concert. Most of the concession stands were open with food and beverages, but it took a trained olfactory sense to find the beer stands that featured Sam Adams.

As a life-long Cincinnati Reds fan, I was pleased to see our old friend and now alleged Red Sox Legend Wily Mo Pena (on the DL at the time) arrive and take a seat in the signature/picture area right before I finished my ~30 minutes in line. I told Wily Mo how I had predicted he would win the NL MVP award this year before he was traded to the Red Sox for Bronson Arroyo. Wily Mo answered in broken English and I quickly realized he had no idea what I had said.

So far, this has been good trade for the Reds--who are leading in wild-card hunt at the moment. However, as I write this, Bronson just gave up a 3-run dinger to Brian McCann of the Braves in the first inning, a game in which he is attempting to earn his tenth win of the season for the ninth time (not a good sign).

On a more historic note, I also had my picture taken with Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, a decent pitcher with a better nickname, and 60-70's infielder Rico Petrocelli, a fan favorite.

Enjoy the pics. Sorry for the PROOF tags, I didn't bring my own camera to the stadium--DOH!--and I'm not coughing up $12 a picture to the Red Sox.

Oh...and GO REDS!