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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Let me just start by saying Disney World is one of the greatest places on the planet, and I'm not saying that because I work for the company. During my playing days I thought this was just a place for kids, but now I realize that it's really for kids of all ages.
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Dibble's Diary |
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Rob Dibble starred as a Nasty Boy with the 1990 World Series champion Reds but now serves as a sidekick on the Dan Patrick show from 1 to 4 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio. Rob will also serve as an analyst on Baseball Tonight this season.
As Rob treks around Florida for spring training he will file a daily diary for ESPN.com. You can also hear his interviews with players and thoughts on spring training throughout the day on ESPN Radio. Here is the rest of his schedule:
Mon., March 6: Reds camp
Tue., March 7: Braves at Tigers
Wed., March 8: Jays at Braves
Thur., March 9: Mets at Astros
Fri., March 10: Dodgers at Astros
Sat., March 11: Red Sox at D-Rays;
Rangers at Reds
Sun., March 12: Cards at Dodgers
Mon., March 13: Astros at Tigers
Wed., March 15: Braves at Royals
Thur., March 16: Royals at Indians
Fri., March 17: Yankees at Braves
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I arrived Friday to find that when I'm on my own, and not taking the wife and kids to the Magic Kingdom, I was able to get out and explore. What I found was an unreal nightlife. Myself and a few friends started the night at the House of Blues. Now, not being a blues kind of guy, it was actually a nice departure from my headbanging ways.
Soon we found ourselves wanting to find something with a little more bite and eventually slipped into a '70s style establishment and had a blast. The thing I really trip on is that everyone in the joint is wearing '70s garb. Myself, you're going to have to give me plenty of refreshments to get me into some bellbottom, high-heeled clothing, but it was a blast just the same.
Next we found our way -- all the while walking along the coolest route with shops, stores and eateries -- to this place where the band is multitalented. The organ player doubles as the lead singer on a few songs, the lead singer jumps on the harmonica, and that's not even the best part of the show as the violin player is one of the most talented people I've ever seen. He played the fiddle behind his back, upside down and other ways I can't even describe.
The highlight was when the lead singer picked some women out of the audience. The fiddle man played between one of their legs, and the other girl helped out, just by standing there holding his bow, and he moved the violin around, absolutely bitchin'. Can I say that online? Hey, I'm the Nasty Boy!
The name of this Experience? But of course, Pleasure Island.
Sunday, I went back to my roots. When I started my pro career with the Reds, it was in the town of Tampa. But Tampa is now the winter home of the World Champion New York Yankees. What a day it was, first seeing the little old motel I used to stay in as a minor leaguer, then over to the Yankees' spring stadium, Legends Field. It used to be Al Lopez Field, but its historic grass and dirt is now a parking lot.
But before that, greats such as Bench, Rose, Morgan and Perez got in shape for the upcoming season here. The reason I bring that up is, in coming to Tampa to find the modern-day heroes, you come across so much of the Yankees' amazing past ... 25 World Series championships, easily the most of any baseball team in history. Tradition is everywhere, even the stadium is a mini version of the one in New York.
But the best part of the trip -- the old-timers.Yogi is here; Ron Guidry, too. Reggie Jackson, my all-time favorite player if you care to know, is here also. So is Donny Baseball, Don Mattingly. And that's not really the best part. They mix with the current players like they're all on the same team. I guess in Yankee baseball they really are all on the same team. If you've played one inning or one decade on this team, you're a part of their history. I'm very thankful to have just the spent the day here.
If the stadium where I started had to be replaced by something, there's nothing better than the Yankee pinstripes. ... Oh, there was one rough spot in the day, however, when some of the old-timers took off the pinstripes. I'm sure you and I could have lived without that visual.
Catch you later,
Dibs
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ALSO SEE
The rights (and wrongs) of spring
ESPN.com's spring training 2000 coverage
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