Twinsfest 2013 @twins

This year for Twinsfest was very special to me. I brought my oldest son Christopher (5) for the first time. My main goal was to get a wristband that would allow him to meet his favorite baseball player Joe Mauer. My mother was kind enough to babysit my two younger children until my wife was off of work so that Christopher and I could arrive as early as possible.
We were running behind but we still managed to each get a wristband for Mauer. We then went down to the field where some of the Minnesota Twins prospects were signing free autographs. My main goal was to meet Miguel Sano, Christopher waited patiently in the line while playing games on my phone and stopping to pose for a picture for me.

Christopher posing while waiting for Miguel Sano

As we waited in line Christopher's excitement grew wondering if his color (white) wristband would be called for Joe Mauer. As we waited we met a nice lady who talked about how she goes to twins fest every year, and has been a season ticket holder for the last 14 years. I enjoy waiting in the lines and meeting new people from all walks of life who share an interest in the autograph collecting hobby with me. 

At about 5:25 p.m. the Twins announced the wristband color for Joe Mauer, it was white! Christopher's eyes grew to the size of quarters as he realized he would finally be able to meet his baseball hero. We quickly went and bought a black big stick from the Fan HQ booth. (Fan HQ is a local store that hosts autograph signings, and sells a ton of merchandise in their store in Ridgedale Mall). We quickly went up what seemed like 200 flights or stairs to get into Joe Mauers line. 

Christopher Talking with Joe

 Christopher became more excited with every step we took getting closer to Joe. Finally it was almost his turn. I stood back taking pictures of Christopher interacting with Joe, handing him the bat, and talking with him. I am not sure exactly what they talked about but I do know that Christopher asked Joe "Would you please write MVP by your name"? Joe looked at his handler and asked for permission to do it. They made and exception for Christopher which made the experience even more special. As we exited a photographer stopped to get some information from me, and explained that the picture may be on www.twincities.com the Pioneer Press website.

 After I gave the photographer our information we headed back downstairs for some food. Christopher had cotton candy while we waited to talk with Brian Dozier. I vaguely know Dozier from some previous events I have met him at, and he agreed to stop and talk after his autograph signing session was over. We then went to meet Kyle Gibson whom I had interviewed earlier this year for this blog. He signed a baseball for my son, and then I introduced myself, asked him to sign a photograph. I thanked Kyle again for doing the interview and asked him how things went with his charity work. Every year Kyle and his wife go to South America and help build schools for areas that are in need of help. Kyle thanked me for asking and for helping him spread the word about his charity efforts.

After we finished with Kyle Gibson we went and waited a few minutes for Brian Dozier to finish his autograph session. Brian was being escorted by a security guard but had no problem stopping to talk for a few minutes. He asked me how things were and added "1st Major League HR!" to a couple of ticket stubs he had previously signed. I thanked him for his time and we headed to the children's play area.

The Twins do a great job of making this event more than just a chance to meet your favorite player. They had several different areas dedicated to kids. There was a section for playing home run derby with wiffleballs, a section to throw baseballs at the giant baggy that was in right field, a pitching section, and a section with about 4-5 jumperoos. Christopher had a blast playing in the jumperoos.

Christopher and I between his jumping sessions.

After we left we called mom so that Christopher could tell her all about meeting Joe before he fell asleep in the car. The excitement in his voice was such a wonderful thing for a father to hear. Knowing I was able to help him meet someone he considers a hero was such a great feeling.

I woke up the next morning and immediately checked the Pioneer Press website to see if his picture had made it to their site. I was so excited to find this picture online.

Christopher and Joe Mauer from the photographers perspective.

When my wife woke up I headed out to Brueggers Bagels to get some breakfast. I opened up the sports page of the Pioneer Press when I was there to find a picture in the paper of Christopher too!

Christophers picture in the paper.

This was definitely the most exciting and memorable to trip to Twinsfest to date. Not only did Christopher get to meet his favorite player but now we have these two different types of media to preserve his memory forever. I know this will be a Twinsfest that I will never forget, and I hope Christopher will always remember it as well.

The bat Joe signed for my son.

I would like to sincerely thank the Minnesota Twins for putting on such a fantastic event every year, Joe Mauer for making such a great memory for my son and family, Jean Pieri for capturing the moment of meeting Joe Mauer, Dustin Wiste for providing me with the tickets, my mother for babysitting, Kyle Gibson and Brian Dozier for being so outgoing and friendly. Together you all helped make this such a fantastic experience for my son and I.

Get to know @bristolmarunde

photo courtesy of www.bristolmarunde.com

Bristol Marunde is a fighter out of Henderson Nevada, part of team Throw Down Training Center, and owner of Reign MMA who was recently named the Best Amateur MMA Fight Promoter in Washington State. Bristol how did it feel to win that award? " I was extremely happy because the competition is  very stiff  in WA for MMA promotions. I've worked very hard, and have had many sleepless nights building the company." What prompted you to start Reign Promotions? " I wanted a fight company that watched out for young fighters, and one that can blow fans away with the production value."

Bristol was recently on TUF 16 (The Ultimate Figher) as a contestant fighting for a contract with UFC where he was part of the top 6 fighters, until he was defeated by Neil Mangy by way of unanimous decision during the 10th episode. While you were on TUF what were some of the things you and the other guys did to fill your time? " We made a chess board out of shot glasses and athletic tape. We had a house tournament and surprisingly Julian Lane (the red mohawk) beat everyone and is a really good chess player." What were some of the stranger things that happened in the TUF house? " I would have to say the strangest thing was taking a dump for the first time on camera and being miked up.... very unsettling knowing someone is watching....." You also had to cut a significant amount of weight to get onto TUF after fighting at 205, 185 and finally 170 to be on the show what was it like to try and cut that weight and what were some of the techniques you used? " The first cut to 170 to get on The Ultimate Fighter was hard, because that was my first time ever making 170 since high school in 2000. I really had to be careful with my water, sodium, and carb intake for that big of a cut. I sat in the hot tub to sweat most of the 20lbs off."

You started wrestling when you were 10 years old and later moved to the cage, what influenced that decision?  " My older brother the late Jesse Marunde pushed me into MMA stating that I had taken his best punches for years, now it was time I do it in the cage." What are some of the current goals you are working towards in your MMA career? " My goal has been the same and that is to be top 5 in the world. I have a long way to go, as I'm currently somewhere in the 40-50 range but the journey has been exciting..." To achieve your goal do you train hard all year round or is it more of a laid back approach until you have a fight scheduled? " I like to maintain a healthy standard year round. When I have a fight scheduled that's when I start to condition for it. A fighter can't be in fight shape year round, it would kill a man." So what does your daily training regimen consist of? " I usually train once a day and my day is either submission wrestling for MMA or its focused on take-downs. On days I don't do either of those I am working on the weight room becoming explosive and precise."

 Your current record stands at 12-7 with a healthy mix of your wins coming by way of knockout, submission or decision, if you could fight anyone in the sport who would it be? " I'd like to fight Jon Fitch, I'd like to see if I could stop his take downs and out grind a grinder of his caliber." What if you could see any two fighters go toe to toe, who would they be? " I'd like to see Chuck Liddel come out of retirement and fight Forrest Griffin... I pick my training partner Forrest because he could grind Chuck out for the W." MMA is obviously a physically demanding sport do you think that is the hardest part of it or would you say it's more of a mental game? " You can't have one without the other. A 'head case' is worthless even with a super athlete body. I'd rather be a fat kid with a strong mind."

Bristol is not just a fighter he is also a family man married with one son, what are some things you did to deal with spending all that time away from them when you were on TUF? " It was horrifying being away from my family for 7 weeks on the TUF show. I hated it and it made me feel like a prisoner not being able to talk to them.  I never want to be away for that long again." What are some ways you like to spend your free time in between your fights? " I stay busy with my 2 year old son who has more energy that I know what to do with. As he gets older our toys get cooler, we're working on mom letting us take him out on the ATV's..."

You seem to have quite a few tattoo's do any of them mean something special to you? " My brother Jesse Marunde died in 2007 and he was a world famous strongman placing 2nd in the 2005 Metrx World's Strongest Man, and I have a tattoo of him lifting an atlas stone in remembrance of him."

photo courtesy of www.bristolmarunde.com

So if you could be any super hero or villain who would you be and why? " I am definitely a good guy so I would have to be a super her that saves people. I would be Batman, he has it all. " some may say that you had a 'super hero' experience quite a few years ago when you found yourself in the media spotlight after you caught a rapist leaving your neighbors apartment in Bellevue. What was that whole experience like? " It was a scary situation because as I chased this big unknown guy down the street I didn't know if he had a gun or a knife. We stopped at the corner of a busy intersection, I head kicked him and knocked him down to the ground where I held him at 'fist point' while the crowd of horrified onlookers all dialed 911. Luckily the cops came fast, it started getting awkward as I realized I had no shirt, no shoes, and just a pair of shorts on..."



 As one fun question what is the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to sign?


" I was asked to sign a ladies hooha but politely declined. Plus she wasn't that hot...."