♪ Buy Me Some Peanuts & CrackerJacks
06 April, 2015
As a youngster, I was a pretty ruthless athlete. I joined a softball little-league for awhile, that is until they made me play in the rain - then I decided my softball career was game over.
Still, I kept the game in my heart. I followed the local MLB team, the Milwaukee Brewers, both on TV and live. There's nothing quite as therapeutic as a baseball game. Fun music, fun people, the occasional drunk sprinting onto the field...
My favorite part about the Milwaukee Brewers is watching super-stud Ryan Braun hit homers. The guy's a machine. He's the face of the MIlwaukee Brewers, and the young women of Wisconsin have nooo problem with it. (nudge, nudge)
Braun lives in Malibu during the off-season. Malibu's a pretty small community, and I hadn't seen him at all during my first year at Pepperdine, so I shrugged it off, figuring his house was in the boondocks past Zuma Beach somewhere.
Sunday mornings I'd frequent the Malibu Farmers Market, along every other health nut in the 'Bu. One particular morning I got there earlier than usual - right at the 10:00 AM opening. It was beautiful and sunny outside, and the merchants were finishing up setting out their caramel apples, fresh flowers, and pressed juice for the long day ahead.
Strolling through the stands, I saw a familiar face. Before I knew what hit me, I heard myself yell out "Hey Ryan!" The man slowly turned around, and there, standing a few feet in front of me, was the legend himself: Ryan Braun.
Brushing his hair back and awkwardly smiling, he started walking toward me. "Hey, have we met?"
I couldn't believe it. "Uh, no! I'm a huge Brewer fan... I go to Pepperdine but I'm from Milwaukee!"
"No kidding, I don't get recognized too often out here, believe it or not. How do you like Malibu? Miss home at all?"
Ryan and I chatted for a good five minutes, trading restaurant suggestions and talking about the upcoming season. His girlfriend eventually walked up struggling to hold two oversized bags of produce. She was just as sweet as Ryan, jokingly complaining how hard it is to keep up with his groceries. "This guy can eat, seriously!" she laughed. I asked if she would mind snapping a shot of Ryan and me to send home (view here). "No problem, honey!"
After I explained how delicious Malibu Yogurt's flavor of the week was (peanut butter, to be exact) and the importance they buy scoops immediately, as well as telling them to check out an upcoming Pepperdine game, we said our goodbyes. "See ya around, Paige!" they called out, struggling to carry their massive grocery bags and hopping into their white Range Rover.
Texting the photo to my dad, he told me he was (ironically) at a Milwaukee Brewer charity event, virtually every player in attendence. That is, other than Braun. My dad showed the picture to the owner of the Brewers, whom was also at the function. "So THAT'S why Ryan didn't show up, huh?" Whoops, hehe.
Ryan and I had six more encounters that year. (but who's counting, right?) I ran into him and his girlfriend days later eating MALIBU YOGURT like I suggested, to which they thoroughly enjoyed (you're welcome Ryan). A few weeks later, when my brother James was visiting for the weekend, we noticed a bright yellow and black Ferarri convertible pull up next to us in the Coogies parking lot. Sure enough, it was Ryan and his girl; I introduced them to my brother, whom was too shocked for words.
Seeing him a handful of other times throughout my Pepperdine career, we weren't exactly besties, I was never invited up to his $5 million dollar Mediterranean-style pad, but we were definitely familiar with each other.
Ryan clearly see's the importance of "getting away." Once each season concludes, he heads to the paradise of Malibu, finding peace in his home's unbeatable ocean view (I've seen pictures, okay!), quiet mornings at the farmers market, and scoops at the world-famous Malibu Yogurt as per his favorite fan's suggestion. Ryan knows how to work hard, but he also knows how (and when) to just chill.
As every Brewer fan is well aware, today is opening day; practically a national holiday in Wisconsin. While you're watching Braun undoubtedly hit a homerun this season, remember: he knows how to work hard, but he sure knows how to rejuvenate, too.
