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The Boomer Story

In August 1995, I took my 18U Marylanders team to play
in the American Fastpitch Association (AFA) International Friendship
Tournament. During our stay, the team took a day trip to one
of my favorite places on the earth, Venice Beach. Many of my players
got temporary tattoos, and picked up one for me – a really mean looking
bulldog holding a big stick. I think it really had more to do with a
motorcycle style bulldog, drawn to look very mean, but my players thought
it was perfect. I wore the tattoo for the tournament, and had a great
time with it. The seed was set in my mind – I wanted a permanent one.
Of course, I wanted something that will be meaningful to me for the
rest of my life.
In November of 1995, I got word that I would be inducted into the ASA
National Softball Hall of Fame in 1996. That is when I made the final
decision, and I set everything in motion. I took a photo of me in the
‘contact position’, and took it to a local artist. She drew to my specification…
“take this photo, and I want you to draw a very mean looking bulldog in
EXACTLY this position”. I think she did a great job, and I am very sorry
that I don’t remember her name.
Then came the next stage, finding the right tattoo artist. I visited
several tattoo parlors, but as I walked into every one, I said to myself
“I am not letting anyone I see in this place come near me with a needle”.
Some of those places and people were pretty frightening. Plus, it
had to be someone with great artistic ability, because it was a custom
drawing rather than a standard template.
In June 1996, while searching the internet, I happened upon an article
about tattoo conventions. They talked about a huge international convention
held in Dunstable, England…. Wherever that is…. The greatest tattoo artists
from all over the world were there – and the top award, for “Best Tatooist”,
was awarded to Kari Barba from Outer
Limits in Anaheim, CA.
As luck would have it, I was taking my 1996 team back to Anaheim that
year in August. So, I called Kari, faxed her my drawing and we scheduled
an appointment for the day after my arrival. I liked everything about
the original drawing, except the face… there was just something wrong
with it. Kari redrew the face for me, with a square jaw – wah-lah –
perfect! Let’s go for it! Kari drew it on the outside of my right
leg (so when I am coaching 3rd base, the team in the dugout can check
it out) – I checked it in the mirror – I loved it – she finished the job
in less than an hour. I was pretty nervous going in, because this is
my first and probably my only tattoo. The instant I met Kari I felt
completely at ease. She is a very nice lady in addition to being a fabulous
tatooist. I never even flinched.
We had a ‘naming contest’ with my girls. Among the candidates were
‘Tater’ – which is a nickname for a homerun, as in “you must eat lots
of ‘Taters if you want to hit the ball out of the park” … ‘Big, Dumb,
and Ugly’ – which I did not appreciate at all …. ‘The Big Boy’ … and one
of my favorites “FarHitter” which the girls came up with – they thought
it was hilarious when you say that name really fast several times, but
I over-ruled the choice, and removed it from consideration.
Final name “Boomer”, because that
is what it sounds like when he hits the ball – BOOM!
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