By John Murphy
Today is Brian Yocke’s birthday, according to Facebook. Naturally, this reminds me of a story.
Brian Yocke used to be the Archbishop Mitty of San Jose softball coach. Now he’s their baseball coach.
Anyway, I was living in San Jose 4-5 years ago and working for Prep2Prep. It was scorching hot and the Mitty girls were playing St. Francis or Valley Christian or one of those West Catholic Athletic League teams.
So I drove out to Mitty Way, but hadn’t really had much to eat and wasn’t all that ready for the searing heat.
Out at the ballyard I saw my boy Glenn Reeves, who was working I think for a newspaper affiliated with the San Jose Mercury. He was primed for the heat, rocking a hat I later described as being “as big as a pizza box” and dutifully recording every play.
Long story short, the Monarchs won the game (don’t they always?) and I was sitting in the Mitty dugout interviewing Yocke with a tape recorder. Just then I started feeling dizzy but I was still asking questions … and then things really started slowing down … and then THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. I passed out!
Next thing I know, I’m staring up at some paramedics who start peppering me with questions. What is your name? Do you know where you are? Can you count to 10?
This all amused a Mitty assistant coach who quipped, “Yocke’s so boring, he put the poor guy to sleep!”
Well, somebody handed me a bottle of water and I quickly recovered. Then I made a few quips of my own, made it to my feet and headed for my car, trying to walk as normally as possible.
By chance I was parked next to a Mitty player and her mom, and the teen handed me a small bag of granola that I quickly consumed.
That’s how they roll at Mitty and I always loved going there … but I always went on a full stomach after that.
Main Street Dog 