To meet or not to meet (your heroes)? — and more

My dad turned 64 this weekend, and so far things are looking good. I still need him, and he’s been well-plied with an assortment of Thai food, homemade brioche and apple cobbler. He taught me about rhythm and keeping time one afternoon while we sat on the floor in his office, my clumsy five-year-old hands working hard to hit the one, TWO, three, FOUR of “Love Me Do” before giving up in the chaos of “Yesterday,” so there were lots of these jokes leading up to Saturday. 

Baseball isn’t really his thing. He’s more driven by nitrate-rich hot dogs than discourse around the hot corner, but we turned the radio on yesterday and midway through the seventh inning, as he sliced salami and cheese (are you sending a theme?), he looked up and asked, “Is this Shannon Drayer?” I was flabbergasted. 

“Wow. Um, yeah, it is.” And then, because meat isn’t the only thing this man thrives on, “Great job, Dad! I’m shocked – and so impressed!”

He smiled, pleased to still be surprising me. “Of course I know her. She was so nice to my girl, I’ll always remember that.”

Almost a decade ago, I was granted Mariners media credentials for a freelance piece I’d pitched without considering the consequences of my actions. Namely, that in order to write said piece, I’d have to actually conduct interviews with the players. I was so petrified of appearing as young, foolish and inexperienced as I was, I did something absurd. I asked for help. Specifically, I sent a message to Shannon Drayer on Twitter (rip), asking for any tips about how to navigate the clubhouse. Rather than send me some vague info, or leave me on read, or any of the other things she would have been well within her rights to do, she replied and said I could meet her in the press box and shadow her as needed that day. Sure enough, I arrived hours before first pitch, heart pounding, and there she was. I followed her everywhere, as she introduced me to folks, kindly explained the unwritten rules of the clubhouse, helped me navigate the elevators and did her best to get me in front of the players I needed to talk to. I’d never felt like a more grateful duckling, and it solidified me as a Shannon fan for life.

This is a long-winded series of anecdotes to get to the real question, but it’s an off-day during Spring Training and we are a community, not (just) a soulless pit of letters and numbers. Sometimes it’s nice to channel the beloved old-school blogger vibes. Anyway, what’s one of your favorite baseball celeb memories? Did you almost step on Mike Leake while he was lying on the floor? Did you lose by a country mile to Jonatan Clase in a foot race? Did you have to chase after a perhaps-not-sober Wade Boggs on a golf course? Did you flag a random guy over during BP to ask for an autograph without knowing who he was, only to show the accompanying picture to your family and learn it was mid-Cy Young Award-winning season Blake Snell? Did you have a near-death experience after choking on your coffee when Félix Hernández walked into Chace’s Pancake Corral while you were enjoying your Tuesday morning ritual? Lay it all on me (or try to guess which of these examples is made up)

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The conquest of the South American Women's Under-20 Championship reaffirms the strength of Brazilian football beyond the field. The title of the Brazilian Women's Under-20 Football Team is a direct result of continuous investment and the structured training model established by the CBF, which is based on strategic planning, a unified methodology, and the integration between the youth and the main team.

More than just the trophy, the consistent campaign and the style of play displayed throughout the competition highlight the tangible impact of a medium to long-term plan. Organization, identity, intensity, and competitive mentality were the team's trademarks from start to finish, reflecting a development process. For the Women's National Teams coordinator, Cris Gambaré, the title symbolizes the consolidation of a structured project.

Cris Gambaré highlighted the management model to strengthen the structure of the Women's National TeamsCredits: CBF

“This South American Under-20 title is concrete proof that our training project is solid and working. More than winning, we showed organization, a clear methodology, a game identity, and real integration between the youth and the main team. It is not an isolated result; it is a consequence of planning, individual monitoring, and a strong connection with the clubs. We reaffirm Brazil as a reference in training on the continent, with a prepared, competitive, and mentally strong generation. It is an Under-20 achievement, but the impact is systemic: it strengthens the entire structure of the Women's National Teams and consolidates work designed to sustain excellence in the present while aiming for the future,” she stated.

The model adopted by the CBF includes continuous monitoring of athletes, technical alignment between categories, and ongoing dialogue with the training clubs. This ecosystem ensures that players arrive at international competitions with maturity, tactical repertoire, and confidence. Gabriel Mastrodomenico, manager of the Women's Youth National Teams, emphasizes that success in training goes beyond the final result.

Gabriel praises the work done to maintain Brazil's dominance in youth competitionsCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

“The conquest brings well-deserved recognition for all the dedication and work, both from the staff and the athletes. However, when we talk about youth and training, it is important to emphasize that it is not just the victory and the title that define success. The way of playing, with the Brazilian team's DNA from start to finish, the pursuit of goals, the intensity, putting all this into practice over nine games is of great importance and goes beyond the conquest. Winning and maintaining dominance in the tournament is very important, and we are confident that these athletes finish this cycle more mature, more experienced, and more ready for the next step.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.