Today is my last day working for the Sacramento RiverCats after 6 ½ seasons. It’s a bittersweet moment, as I am truly sad to close this chapter of my life, but I am starting an exciting new chapter with the Dallas Cowboys.

My RiverCats career has definitely helped me grow both as a DJ for professional sports and as a person. No doubt it’s been a big part of my life during every summer I’ve been in Sacramento. To put it into some sort of perspective, the RiverCats have outlasted three longer-term girlfriends (each of whom was vehemently opposed to my working for the team, citing the long schedule during the summertime).

Memories

It was in this control room that I have not only witnessed, but played an active part in baseball rarities such as a no-hitter, an all-star game, two League championships, and five division championships.

I’ve also been fortunate enough to see countless major league baseball players current, past, and future play baseball on this grass. Rickey Henderson, Ryne Sandberg, Mike Piazza, Eric Chavez, Carlos Quentin, Carlos Gonzalez, Gio Gonzalez, Max Scherzer, Rich Harden, BJ Upton, Ian Kinsler, Conor Jackson, and many others have been on the field at one point or another while I’ve been working in the control room. (Rickey was a consultant/coach for the RiverCats, Sandberg was the manager for Chicago’s Triple-A team)

I had to miss the exhibition game vs. the Oakland A’s in March 2006 because my mom passed away.

A couple former college teammates of mine made their way through Sacramento as players. One even pitched in a few games for the RiverCats before an injury cut his season short.

Some other notable local and national figures who have graced Raley Field with their presence: Tesla, Jennie Finch, The Famous San Diego Chicken, Kevin Johnson, The San Francisco 49ers AND Oakland Raiders cheerleaders, Kiss, Dave Matthews Band, Scorpions, Tone Loc, Jack Johnson, Zac Brown Band, The Dancing Usher. Randy Brink.

I’ve seen about eight flyovers from various military aircraft. Pregame on flyover days has to be precisely exact in order to hit the timing perfectly. There are a lot of moving parts to coordinate to get a perfect flyover, which is to have the aircraft fly over at the exact ending of the National Anthem. While a flyover is always awesome to me, I think only one flyover has ever hit the timing spot-on in my Raley Field career.

I’ve seen about a dozen wedding proposals. Most have ended with a “yes.”

I’ve held an Olympic Gold Medal. I’ve thrown a first pitch. I’ve DJ’d a home run derby.

Lots of great memories.

Favorite Crowd Moments

One of the best all-time moments for me was when we uploaded a corrupted National Anthem music file, and halfway through the song the file froze, thus creating a DJ’s worst moment: unexpected, awkward dead air. During the National Anthem. Not good.

As we in the control room collectively started freaking out about this situation, we instantly calmed down when we realized the crowd continued to sing the song on their own. More than 11,000 people singing our country’s National Anthem together in perfect harmony. Definitely a goosebump-producer. Extra strong.

It gives me goosebumps whenever the crowd participates. A big crowd singing along with songs is the pinnacle of a sports DJ’s evening. Raley Field’s favorite songs have been Sweet Caroline, Minnie the Moocher, Don’t Stop Believin’, and of course We Will Rock You.

Man-Crush

People who know me know I love baseball. I’ve played this game for more than 20 years, and I’ve been asked thousands of times to name my favorite team. Since day 1, I’ve given the same response: Rather than having a favorite team, my preference is watching great baseball. I like watching great players play this great game.

That said, I currently have a man-crush on a RiverCats player, outfielder Matt Carson.

The man-crush is derived from a myriad of reasons. Carson plays all three outfield positions. He has a cannon for an arm. He plays great defense. He’s a clutch hitter. He steals bases. He hits home runs. He pitched in a game and hit 91 on the radar gun. He’s a great athlete. He has an awesome walkup song. He wears uniform #7.

Man-crush. Need I say more? I’m confident he’ll be a great major league player and I look forward to following his career.

One final note about man-crushes. I had a man-crush on Carlos Gonzalez when he played with Sacramento (and later Colorado Springs), and he’s turned out to be a stud major leaguer.  

Full-Circle

My RiverCats career started with a call from my friend Matt, a colleague of mine in Southern California (at the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Chargers, San Diego Gulls, UCLA football, among others) to the control room producer, named Brooke.

I met with Brooke at Starbucks and she hired me on the spot to become the music director for the RiverCats. Thus began a new chapter for me in Sacramento.

Fast forward 6 ½ years. My RiverCats career has been a storied and memorable chapter in my life. Ironically, this chapter is about to conclude after a phone call with the same friend Matt, who had led him to be the producer of the Cowboys.

Funny how life works full-circle like that.