Dancin in Sapporo (Early July)

We recently went on a nine day road trip. Sara came for the first three
games in Sendai.  We had a great time, winning two out of three and doing
lots of exploring.  She also got to hang with some players' wives from the
Sendai team, which was fun for her.  Oh, and Richard Gere threw out a first
pitch, so I got to meet him.  Sara headed back to Chiba after the series
while me and the team flew to Sapporo.  It is the northern most team in the
country (way up by Russia).  We stayed in a beautiful hotel right in the
middle of downtown.  We had a day game on Saturday, so after eating dinner
on Saturday night, I was left twiddling my thumbs in my hotel room.  I
decided to go for a walk since it was nice and cool outside and it seemed to
be a lot of people walking around the downtown area.  I asked Gary, but he
was locked into a movie.  I started walking down the main street by myself.
It was a cross between Bourbon street (not as dirty), 6th street (not as
crazy), and Fifth Avenue.  Some shopping, some bars, some restaurants, a
little bit of everything.  Tons of people out and about, which made for good
people watching.  I walked and walked, just looking for a little bar to have
a beer.  I found a little Irish pub, had a beer and talked with the owner,
who happened to speak great English.  I say I play for the Marines and he
gives me the beer on the house and has me sign some stuff for him.  I finish
my beer and keep walkin.  I walk for about another hour and decide to head
home.  I'm just about to get back to the hotel when I hear some American
music pumpin out of this little bar.  I haven't heard American music in
months, so it made my ears perk up.  I walk in to check out the joint and
immediately notice that half of the bar is filled with the right field
bleacher Marines fans!!!  "Oh Shit"   50 people dripping in Marines gear,
drinking beer and havin a good time.   (They flew all the way to Sapporo to
cheer on their team.)  They instantly recognize me.creating a mob scene.  I
smile and start high fiving them as they break into the "Here We Go Chase
Lambin" song.  I'm too busy high fiving people to realize that the other
half of the bar is English looking people staring at me, wondering who the
heck I am.  Come to find out, they were all in town with "Disney on Ice".
Lots of skaters and crew from all over the world, but most of them spoke
English (one guy was from Texas and actually went to Grayson Junior
College!.  What a small world).  One "flamboyant" male skater comes up to me
and says "Ummm.like.who are you?"  I just laugh and tell him I'm nobody,
just a baseball player, while a line of people starts forming to take a
picture with me.  I consider myself a pretty cool guy, but I had officially
reached the pinnacle of my coolness.  I'm in a bar in Sapporo Japan, with
every person in the bar staring at me, wanting to take their picture with
me.  Kinda surreal.  

So, as I'm basking in my coolness, taking pictures, and chatting with the
fans and other patrons.guess who walks in?  You guessed it.Bobby Valentine.
I am immediately pushed to the side and damn near trampled as people clammer
to go see Bobby.  I am left standing in a corner, alone, drinking my beer.
Completely stripped of my coolness.   Bobby scans the bar and sees me.  "Hey
Chase".  "Hey Bobby, thanks for stealing my thunder."  We both have a good
laugh as we grab a beer and continue posing for pictures.  The bar is really
rockin now, with people dancing on the bar and dancing on the tables.  Good
ole American rap and rock blasting from the speakers.  I was perched on the
bar just sippin a beer and enjoying the night when another "flamboyant" male
skater says, "honey.your sexy little butt needs to get on the table and
dance."  I laugh and tell him that there is no chance in hell I'm getting on
any table.  Well our assistant coach, Frank (who came with Bobby), overhears
this.  He is a bit of a jokester and likes to instigate things, he says to
the guy, "Chase has his own song and his own dance that is famous here in
Japan."   I instantly know what he's up to.  "Oh Shit." I say.  Frank starts
eggin the fans on to sing my song.  They get all riled up..whistling,
clapping, yelling and rallying the troops.. I try to say no, but it is past
the point of no return.  If I don't get on the table and dance, there would
prolly be a riot of some sort.  I give in and sheepishly climb on top of the
table.   They burst into the first few notes of my song and I'm off for the
races.  I dance, sing along, and do a couple foot slaps while the bar
erupts.  Everyone screaming, clapping, and banging on the tables and bar.  I
go all out untill the song ends.   I dismount from the table, give a quick
wave and bow, and head back to the bar for my beer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYVgBzsuqk   Bobby and Frank are
dying laughing.  

The fans are so fired up that they break into the "We Love Bobby" song.
Bobby lifts his beer and  "cheers" the adoring throng of fans.  The "Disney
on Ice" people are wide-eyed with amazement.  They don't know what to think.
They prolly have never seen anything like it.but who has?   I'm smiling from
ear to ear as I try and wrap my head around what's going on.  I'm in a bar
in Japan with a baseball legend, dancing on a table, and posing for pictures
like I'm Tom Cruise.  Who does that?  The three of us finish our beers and
decide to call it a night since we had a day game the next day.  We say our
goodbyes to all the wonderful fans.  They are so genuine, respectful, and
passionate.  I hope they understand how much we as players and coaches
appreciate them.  As I'm leaving the bar, they sing one last Chase Lambin
song as I give a heel slap while walking down
the sidewalk.  What a night.  To be Continued..See you on down the road.

Chase

In case yall dont believe me...here is the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYVgBzsuqk