Swish gives back

How fitting that my first blog be about the Oakland A’s…my favorite baseball team. In March, I was so excited to head to Spring Training to watch my team. As I looked for my favorite player, Nick Swisher, I saw his number but the personage was more of a Johnny Damon-mountainman-esque figure than the mildly scruffy West Virginian I had come to know and love. There, standing before me was a bearded, long haired man whose hair was almost longer than mine. As I hoped this was just a phase, I ignored it and asked for a picture with the Swish. Then, weeks later, I saw a news article that assured me there was a reason for this hairy-madness. Nick Swisher was growing his hair for charity. Mid-May he planned to cut his lengthy coif and donate it on behalf of the Womens Cancer Research Fund. Being a fan, I had known that Swish had lost his beloved grandmother to cancer. This was his way to honor her memory. So, the fact that Swish was being a little lazy on the hygiene end (as I saw it) was alright by me.

Although, in the article, Swish had mentioned how superstitious ballplayers can be and if he was doing well, the cutting might have to wait until October.

It is scheduled for Saturday, May 19.