I was born in a town whose most famous resident was Jim Thorpe.  I graduated from high school in the same town where Amos Alonzo Stagg coached his last football team.  I went to college where the greatest coach of all-time, Bear Bryant roamed the sidelines.  My life has coincidentally followed football greatness.  Now, I am not saying that I do not worship at the altar of Saban, as I must assuredly do, but I am a much bigger baseball fan, than I am a football fan.  I am a huge fan of the WORLD CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.

I am also a fan of beer, and, in the spirit of my Pennsylvania roots, on one magic March day, the Phillies and Yuengling beer met to form the confluence of a perfect day (Pennsylvania roots, three rivers, Pittsburgh, confluence...now you are up to speed).

Yuengling is the oldest brewery in the United States. It is located just a stone throw from Philadelphia, which is the home of the WORLD CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.  About 7 years ago, my bff, Brad, asked me if I wanted to go to his mother's house in Clearwater, Florida to see the Phillies for spring training.  It had been my dream in life, since about 5 to go to Spring Training.  I just had no idea how much God loved me and wanted me to be happy.  I quickly accepted.  Brad had informed me his mom had had seasons tickets for 'a while', but the Phillies were moving to their new spring training center, Bright House Networks Field, and Miss Linda (Brad's mom) didn't know where her tickets were.

So, me, Brad, his mom (my adoptive mom) and his brother Kevin went to the inaugural game at Bright House Networks Field to see the Phillies play the New York Yankees.  Me, Brad and his brother all grabbed a cheesesteak and a Yuengling, and then began the quest for our seats. Section 107, row 5, seats 5, 6, 7 and 8.  That might sound a little deceiving, but row 5, actually, well, let's just say, our ice cold Yuenglings were perched on the first base dugout.  So, here I am, at my first spring training game, sitting behind the Yankee dugout, watching batting practice.  Just when you think it couldn't get any better, 4 gentlemen excuse their way past us to sit in seats 1,2, 3 and 4.  The man sitting in seat 3, the Boss, the man, the owner of the Yankees, George Steinbrenner.  The Phillies even won the game.  That day, me, Brad and Kevin were all 10 years old again.  Linda I think probably wishes that we acted like we had been there before, and probably wishes that I hadn't enjoyed quite so many Yuenglings, but she keeps inviting me back for spring training, so I couldn't have been that bad.  It wasn't like I was on steroids or something.

As a side note, the next day we went to see the Phillies play the Yankees at Legends Field in Tampa. This minor league pitcher, the Phillies invited to camp struck out Jason Giambi, Derek Jeter and A-Rod in succession.  Brad, keenly observed, that kid is pretty good.  I bet the WORLD CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES are pretty happy that kid, Cole Hamels sorta worked out for them.

I've received several emails as to why I always talk about Yuengling beer. Well, as Beer Commissioner, I support the drinking of all beer.  As an aside, I had a professor in law school, that called on me EVERY SINGLE CLASS.  Being called on in law school is a very nerve racking experience, and the cause of many sleepless nights and great anxiety.  This particular professor was especially known for being quite zealous in his questioning, and would often 'call on you' for an entire class.  About 1 month into the semester, I went to speak with the professor after class, and asked him, why he was picking on me? 80% of the class hadn't been called on one time, and I had been called on every day, and most days, for the entire class.  I wanted to know what I had done to piss him off.  He told me, that me and his momma had the same last name.  He also told me he got flustered during class, and when he got flustered he said he thought of his momma, and that made him happy, and when he thought of his momma, he then thought of me, and he said since he was already thinking about me, he was gonna call on me, because it made him happy.  Now that you know the story about the day I had my first Yuengling, in response to the emails I've received, I hope you understand why I always use Yuengling as an example of beer drinking bliss, it just makes me happy.