You know we developed quite a reputation around the league as the greatest raggers to ever play the game. We would literally say anything to anyone and were quite unapologetic about it all. Many people have questioned me about it through the years. People would ask me why I let the guys say all the shit we said. Well, I always would tell them “I didn’t hear anything……….what did they say?”
It could have been an ump, an opposing coach, it didn’t matter. That was always my answer. “I didn’t hear anything….what did they say?”
“What do you mean you didn’t hear what they said?” they would ask…moving in closer to me, always a little righteously indignant about it all.
“I have a hearing problem” I would then explain…………”You know, just a few years ago I was in a METAL BAND.”
“You were?”
“Oh yeah”………I would say……….”I suffer from this degenerative hearing condition called CHS”………
“Really?” they would ask “What is it?”
“Can’t Hear Shit”………..I would tell them.
That would usually get a smile and get me off the hook. But the truth of the matter was…………I heard EVERYTHING. You see, when you play in a band the P.A. System is in FRONT of the band. The musicians on stage only can hear their normal practice volume. All of the painful volume is specially reserved for the audience. So, no…I never suffered from CHS………….and thankfully I didn’t. Because I had a front-row seat to listen to (in stereo I might add) the greatest rags ever heard in the history of baseball. But for those of you who may not believe ‘Ol Gee played in a Band……check out the following video footage we just put up on youtube. Yes-sir-ree that’s ‘ol Gee up there on the left side of the screen with my old band Warrior/Cold Fire. Enjoy!!!!!!!
The Drummer in this lineup we had here (Nick Menza) went on to join the band MEGADETH after we disbanded and played with them for 10 years. As some of you know, I’m now a Golf Pro. People ask me if I’m a “scratch” golfer all the time. “Yes, I tell them……..and I’m also a scratch bass player, too!!!”
verdugo288 