Baseball’s spirits haunt Pink Pony
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Holy Cow. There was Harry Caray, bolting toward my table with fire in his eyes.
"Who the hell are you? FBI? CIA?" growled the Hall of Fame broadcaster, his voice booming.
That was my introduction to the Pink Pony steakhouse in Scottsdale, Ariz., in March 1985.
It was the definition of an opening-day spring training disaster.
But more on that later.
I made a sentimental journey back to the Pony over the weekend to relive those late nights at one of baseball's legendary watering holes.
On the wall above our booth was a New York Yankees uniform: The No. 1 worn by Billy Martin, another regular at the Pony when he wasn't managing.
He was at the Pony's bar when I met him at spring training a year after my shaky start with Caray. When Martin's running mate told him I was from Denver, Martin turned serious and gave me a hot story for the Rocky Mountain News.
He had played minor league in Denver, loved it there and told me it was the only job, other than another stint with the Yankees, that he wanted before calling it a career.
That didn't happen. He died in a car accident on Christmas Day 1989.
But every time I think of Martin, I think fondly of the Pony and the night Caray was on the warpath.
I had just arrived that day to cover spring training for the Rocky Mountain News. Before the Chicago Cubs' Cactus League opener, I asked a Cubs PR guy whether I could interview Caray after the game.
Keep in mind, this was in a tiny press box. Caray heard his name mentioned and looked over at us.
That day wouldn't work, the PR guy said. Another day would be better.
I finished my story and went to the Pony for a couple cold ones and some dinner.
The rumor at the bar was Caray was coming in later. I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet him so I asked owner Charlie Briley to let me know when the Cubs broadcaster arrived.
An hour or so later, Caray walked in and made a beeline for the bar with some pals.
I saw Briley whisper something to him. Caray looked over, saw me at a table and marched over.
He was miffed. Who was I? Why didn't I introduce myself at the ballpark? Why was I going through the PR guy? The Pink Pony owner? Why was I being so official?
I apologized. I thought I was following protocol.
With Caray there was no protocol. Forget the formalities.
If I still wanted to talk with him, let's have dinner tomorrow night, he said. And that was the beginning of our friendship.
The Pink Pony is up for sale, I was told during dinner last week. But all the sports memorabilia has to stay, including a photograph of Caray, who died in 1998.
It wouldn't be the Pink Pony without him.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Donald Trump's upcoming MTV reality show based on turning party girls into ladies has approached Ashley Alexander Dupré about joining the cast, People magazine reported. Dupré is the call girl from former N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer's saga. Trump has been down that road with Miss USA Tara Conner, whom Trump sent to rehab as part of the second chance he gave her to keep her crown in December 2006.
SIGHTINGS
Cast members from "Stomp Out Loud" (Planet Hollywood Resort), teaching dance moves to 51 Miss USA contestants, who teamed up with Opportunity Village and Best Buddies for a sock hop in the lobby of the resort's Stomp Theatre. ... Pro golfer Fred Couples, checking out the Playboy Club (Palms) on Saturday. ... Former Miss USA and Playboy Playmate Shanna Moakler, celebrating her 33rd birthday Saturday at Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort). Moakler, who was joined by celebrity publicist Lizzie Grubman and reality TV star Tailor Made, dined at Koi restaurant (Planet Hollywood Resort) earlier in the evening. ... Former rap star Vanilla Ice, delivering an impromptu performance of "Ice Ice Baby," at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon (Rio) as a member of a bachelorette party kept lifting her top. ... Singer Aubrey O'Day of music group Danity Kane, checking out Bare Pool Lounge (The Mirage) on Saturday. Also at Bare: Buffalo Bills teammates Melvin Fowler and J.P. Losman.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Have you heard Hillary Clinton's new campaign slogan? Incoming!" -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
