I got a phone call on my cell phone Thursday afternoon, saying I need to be at N.C. State on Friday at 2:50 p.m. for the Pack's baseball opener.
"It'll be 70 degrees and there's a big name throwing out the first pitch," said the caller.
"Well can you tell me who it is? I have to be at Roy Williams' press conference at 2 p.m.?" I pleaded.
"I can't tell you but you'd better be there," the voice responded.
This was a pretty unusual call, so it must be a big deal. Luckily, Coach Williams was on time for his presser and it was brief. I'm outta there and packed up by 2:17 p.m. heading to Raleigh to get video of the mystery pitcher at N.C. State.
I'm 5 minutes from the Doak field when I hear on the radio..."Breaking news!!! (I despise that phrase)...Alex Rodriguez is here today to throw out the first pitch at NC State." I immediately hit warp speed going from 55 to 56 miles per hour to get there before the pitch.
Car stopped, camera and microphone unloaded and I'm off running through the back gate through the bullpen.
It's 2:55 p.m. and there he is...A-Rod looking clean in the NC State white hat and jersey. He was in the dugout chatting with another Miami, Fla. athlete...Chris Corchiani.
I get the focus, roll the tape and catch my breath. After the national anthem, Alex Rodriguez walked out to the mound with me as his shadow.
"It's A-Rod!!!...Is my camera rolling??? Yes..."
After firing a strike and waving to the crowd, A-Rod made his way back to the dugout to wish the Wolfpack good luck with a handshake to the eager greeters. He was more than happy to
do a quick interview with me and it was then that I found out why A-Rod was in Raleigh.
"I love college sports," he said.
Plus, his family and the family of Wolfpack 2nd baseman Ramon Corona are great friends. Close enough to lure the 2005 AL MVP to opening day at N.C. State. I'm glad I was there. Thanks for the phone call, Coach.
