verdugo288

One of the great things about managing this team for all of those years was the media attention we got.  I guess there just wasn’t a whole hell of a lot going on sports-wise during the summer months so we got coverage from The Los Angeles Times, The Daily News, and The Foothill Leader.  Every time I turned around there was someone calling me, or asking me questions before a game, after a game, and sometimes even DURING games.  It was great to get the exposure for the players.  Legion was a pretty big deal about 20 years ago, yet now if you look in the L.A. Times during the summertime the coverage is literally non-existent. 

We had some great quotations that the newpapers actually printed.  I said some pretty crazy stuff.  Some of you may remember them but if you don’t, I have recently hooked up my scanner here in my office and will be attempting to scan the headlines or quotes or whatever and get them on this blog.  I have told a number of people through the years about some of the stuff I said but I doubt anyone believed me.  Well, ‘Ol Gee just found all of the scorebooks of every game I EVER managed PLUS a huge box of newspaper clippings.  At least I was bright enough to keep all of that stuff.  Now if I can just find that damn video Yves’ mother gave me of miscellaneous highlights of the ENTIRE ’92 season I can embed some cool video footage on this blog as well.  So keep your fingers crossed that I can find it……….

The question I could never answer to the reporters was always asked to me BEFORE the game started.  All of our players would line up in a circle either in left field or right field, depending on which dugout we had that day.  Before they even stretched or played catch they went through this ritual before every game starting in ’92.  While our opponent was on the other side of the field stretching or playing catch….and some dumb-ass coach micro-managing them….our guys were playing this game they invented called “FLIP.”  If a reporter got to the game early, they would always come up to me before the game and chat a little.  This was when I was invariably asked the question “What are they doing out there?”…….

I never really knew what the hell they were doing or what the rules of “FLIP” were.  I was busy going through my OWN pre-game ritual.  So when asked the question “what are they doing out there?”   I would usually answer with “bonding, I guess”……..

I would then tell the reporter that this was indeed a REAL game they were playing with REAL rules and that there was only one winner and everybody else lost.  We would watch the circle of players.  Some guys had their hats on bill in front.  Some guys had the bill turned sideways, some guys were wearing their bills backwards……..and they kept moving their hats into different positions as the game went on.  I didn’t know what the hell the rules were but it was fascinating to watch.  It was also funny to watch who was “eliminated” from the game as it went on…and how they would bitch about being “ganged up on” or someone or a group of guys “cheating” as they dejectedly returned to our dugout.  It seemed that if anyone got “eliminated” from “FLIP”…it was ALWAYS someone’s fault other than their own…….

I never could explain to any reporter what in the hell “FLIP” was.  All I know it that it was a beautiful pre-game ritual.  I could get the field ready and post the lineup and get a lotta stuff done while “FLIP” was happening.  Then the players would magically on their own start playing a little catch and/or stretching as needed.  The guys prepared themselved for our pregame all on their own.  And they were ALWAYS ready to give a great pregame show when it was our turn to take the field.  You know why this happened game after game?  Because there were no egos on this team.  Hell, sometimes you can WIN the game before it even starts with a sharp, crisp pre-game.  I will go on record right here and say ‘FLIP” was the reason there was always a great pre-game and the reason that there was always a certain confidence and calmness about our players that kept them from ever getting too anxious about ANY game or situation.  “FLIP” was a HUGE part of the success of our team(s)……

The problem is……….I still don’t know what the hell “FLIP” is……………..so could someone please explain to me what the hell it is/was in case I am ever asked again?