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CRUISERS RIDE
THE BUS!
6/14/01
Irvine, CA - As you
may know by now, the Madden Cruiser softball club,
is named after John Madden's very own bus. Yes, Mr.
Madden does not fly around the country to get to
his telcasts... rather he takes a luxury bus, from
town to town across this land of ours. Why would a
team be named after a bus you ask?
"in the Summer of
1992, Carlos Martinez approached me to start up a
slow pitch softball team. We gathered some of
Orange County's WORST athletes, and took the field.
But what to name the team?? At the time, I was
involved with broadcasting, doing play by play for
both Tustin & Foothill HS football teams. I was
looking for a 'broadcasting theme' for the team
name... Being a huge football fan, and a big fan of
John Madden... it came to me in a vision... the
Madden Cruisers. For whatever reason, it has
stuck." says manager and CEO of the Cruisers Dan
Romero.
Jason Sullivan
never wanted to be on those early Cruiser squads.
Why you ask? "Seinfield was on Wednesday nights.
I'm not missing it." was Sully's curtain call. In
1996 he finally gave up Seinfield and joined the
ballclub. Earlier this month, his ears pearked up
at the gym "The Madden Cruiser bus will be
appearing at the Outback Steakhouse in Irvine." He
quickly informed manager Romero, was up to the task
of figuring out what this event entailed.
It turned out that
Outback and COOL 94.3 were giving away dinner for two at
the Outback, two tix to the Angels/Dodgers game
and a bus ride from the Steakhouse to the Big Ed
for the game on the Madden Cruiser. Romero was
unable to win any of the tickets... as it was a
"20th caller" type contest... Regardless, some of
the players showed up at Outback to test their
luck...
Sully was the first
to arrive at the restaurant, eagerly awaiting the
bus. Romero, John Rodriquez, Larry Kugelman &
Matt Bradley joined him shortly there after. The
players planted themselves at the bar, and made
their move. Outback owner Terry Smith was given a
T-shirt. Finally the Outback promotions director Duke ? and
COOL 94.3 Sales manager Connie Crowley deemd
that three tickets would be available for these
Madden Cruiser Groupies.
Larry Kugelman (CEO
of the Koogs.com Website) quickly took himself out of
the drawing. JRod and Bradley would fight it out
for the last spot... and finally Bradely deffered.
Nonetheless, all four 'em got on the bus and headed
out to the big Ed. "I know I'm supposed to be
playing softball tonight... but F** Grant Hoffman.
Who the hell is he to tell me what to do. I'm going
on this damn bus, and that's the way it is." said
Matt Bradley who was scheduled to play with the
Friday Cruisers on this night.
Willie, the Madden
Cruiser's driver conversed with Romero on the way
to the game. He mentioned that he had actually seen
this web site, and thought it was a team that Coach
Madden sponsored. "No, he doesn't, but you just
tell him to gimmie a call and we can arrange
that!!" said Romero. Willie was also given a shirt,
and a hearty thanks from the boys.
The crew rode on
over to the Big Ed, took in the Angels/Dodgers
game. Bruce Wonderlick later joined the posse for
the last couple of innings. Wonderlick was given a
quick tour of the bus, then the boys headed on
home. All in all it was an epic night. "I CAN"T
BELIEVE I RODE ON THE BUS!! THIS IS THE GREATEST
DAY OF MY LIFE" said an excited John
Rodriquez.
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