A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Less than two weeks ago, I sat in UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium watching the Bruins' baseball team take on the visiting Maryland Terrapins, although I concentrated mainly on watching my son (one of the Terps' student mangers) spitting pumpkin seeds over the bullpen fence. My concentration was broken by a firm hand on my shoulder, and I turned to find the grinning face of Andrew Breitbart looking down at me. He was scruffy and windblown, wearing a t-shirt and baggy khaki shorts. Why was he there? Simple. He was driving past on his new Vespa, and he could see that a game was going on. Andrew loved baseball. The leisurely pace was the perfect respite from his peripatetic lifestyle. So there we sat, laughing and talking (mostly about baseball), but it was impossible to be in his company without talking politics. He relished his role and talked about never backing down. He had no use for the spineless. He was excited about a new project that would take on this country's educational establishment.
As we left the stadium, he pointed proudly to the Vespa, designed to allow him to get around his neighborhood in the face of an excruciatingly slow highway construction project that had made L.A. traffic even more nightmarish than usual. As I drove out onto the street, I looked into my rearview mirror and saw Andrew--in his less-than-stylish helmet--giving me a thumbs-up sign and a wave. In just a few minutes he would be home, surrounded by the family he loved so much and talked about that day with such pride and enthusiasm. I'm very sad that I will never be able to see him again, but I ache because his wife and children and parents and sister must suffer that same fate.
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Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
What a beautiful remembrance. Thank you for this. I didn't know Breitbart but have been aching all day for his wife and children, and for everyone else, too.
Oct '11
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Thanks for the glimpse into the true nature of a great warrior.
Dec '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
As a Harley owner Im only slightly dislliusioned by the revelation that Brietbart drove a vespa...
hopefully it was at least a 300?
Inconsolable. All those years we begged GWB to defend ANYTHING he stood for that real conservatives loved, and it t0ok someone he would have had to have his flunkies distance himself from to do it. God bless and welcome this warrior home to vallhalla!
Ug... apologies, but unimaginative histrionics seem to follow a dozen IPA's like vultures to a roadkill. Im going to log off before I star to espouse more imaginative conspiracy theories. God bless you my brother. And may God Kiss you family.
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Great story. Everyday is a gift.
Nov '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
I read Brietbart's book Righteous Indignation last summer, and since gave it my college-age son and his future in-laws to read. Truly inspiring reading, but now I hope it provides the blueprint for 100 other young firebrands to follow in the footsteps of Andrew the happy warrior.Thanks Mr. Sajak, for sharing this wonderful memory of a man who made a difference.
May '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Every one of these reminiscences makes me feel worse. What a lousy and depressing day.
May '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
It sounds like Big Education was being readied to be debuted this Sunday...and the Obama college tapes are getting prepared as well.
Steve Bannon on Hannity's show
Jun '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
What a tremendous loss. It's so sad to see a happy warrior pass away. I will pray for Mr. Breitbart and his family.
Dec '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Sigh. An emotional day ends for me. I will pray, once again, for Andrew's dear family. Thank you, Pat.
May '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Thank you for this. I've been feeling so low all day, like the heavy burden Andrew Breitbart carried on his shoulders was somehow dispersed and weighing down on each one of us. The loss left me bewildered, wondering what's the point of caring... reading blogs, making comments, trying to educate myself about politics.. all seemed silly and pointless. A man like Andrew, who really was making a difference, all his thoughts and plans...gone. Maybe, it's something like seeing your general cut down in battle? You don't even really know him, but you trust him and follow him and fight with him.Reading your post has given me a much needed window to see Andrew Breitbart the man, not the leader and public figure. It has reminded me we all can, and must, use our time and talent for the good. No matter how small our sphere of influence may be. We can pick up the flag and soldier on. Thank you Mr. Sajak. My heart truly goes out to Andrew's family, and all those who knew and loved him.
Edited on March 2, 2012 at 5:43amRe: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Katie...
Andrew would have loved your post. Thanks.
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Katie, you've perfectly summed up the thoughts I've had all day. In honor of Andrew, and because it's simply the right thing to do, I remind myself that yesterday is beyond repair, tomorrow is not guaranteed,....all I have is today,...today to serve God, serve my fellow man, and fight for the cause of liberty.
Pat, thank you for writing this. Andrew's family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Katie O, thank you for writing what I have been feeling all day.
Thanks also to you, Pat. I never met Andrew in person--just heard stories from my co-conspirators here in the Ricoverse--and now I never will.
Andrew is in good hands. Tonight I am praying for his wife and children.
May '10
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Pat Sajak: Katie...
Andrew would have loved your post. Thanks. ยท 20 minutes ago
I am very glad to know this. Thank you.
Dave Carter
Katie, you've perfectly summed up the thoughts I've had all day.
I know we always call Ricochet a community, but on a day like today it feels more like family. Thank you both for "getting" me.
May '11
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
It is a bleak cold rainy gray day here in Tokyo, just about perfectly matches my mood when I woke up to find that Andrew had passed away. I was shocked to read this on my news feed, in fact I double checked to make sure today was NOT April 1st and this was some sick joke. I'm deeply saddened by the loss of Andrew, and while I did not know him, had never met him, and had most likely never even been in the same country as him at the same time, I still felt like I knew him, or at least I felt like we were fellow warriors, that if I did get a chance to talk to him in person, that we would get along and be trading stories within minutes.
I can only imagine the loss this is to Andrew's friends, and to his loving family. On my run today I was listening to Rush on Podcast, he talked about Andrew, before I knew it I'd run further and faster than I have in a very long time.
Godspeed Andrew Breitbart, and God bless your family.
Domo
Re: A Day at the Ballpark with Andrew
Thanks Pat. Since Andrew lived in the hills, a bicycle was not an option, and he would have worn his bicycle pants to lunch with all of us too often so I'm glad he opted for the Vespa. I did something similar recently here in Signal Hill where a bicycle is also not an option. I bought a couple Pedago electric bicycles for my wife and me. This is one of the last bastions of individual liberty in California. It goes 20 MPH for 30 miles on a charge, it looks like a beach cruiser, and get this: in California, no requirement for a license, no registration, no insurance, and - drum roll - no helmet law!
I love riding past freedom loving Harley riders with their helmets on while my hair flows like Fabio's in the wind. I don't really have hair, but thanks to Andrew, I had dinner with Fabio once.