FOUR FANTASTIC FRIENDS

Last night at PNC Park was TRULY: "a diamond in the rough".

No, not the final score - even if it confirmed a 19th consecutive losing season for the Pirates.

The game was good, but nothing in comparison with the efforts put forth by Chris,Don,Gerri,and Kathy - 4 new friends from Pittsburgh, all of whom we met at the outstanding and friendly Morgan's Restaurant on Rodi Road in Penn Hills.

Nothing could be as good as that aggregation. As wife Phyl said, "That's a night I'll never forget.". I totally agree. No whim, preference, or need was overlooked by these four generous people.

The date for our attendance was set well in advance - maybe even when the Pirates were still winning games.

How to start? Gerri using a coupon for half-off prices of our right field seats in section 103, with a great view of the game and the stadium?

We were dazzled by everything that was going on in the stadium; the lights, the signs, the big screen promotions and entertainment, and the speakers that rocked the stadium floor. Even the fans made it special as we booed along with them at the third base umpires' strange and unforgiving calls.

Perhaps, it was Don & Gerri making a special trip down to PNC Park to purchase our tickets when the Parkway was full of it's normal traffic rush. Or Don's willingness to haul us all down to Station Square and back in his oversized Honda vehicle.

Maybe it was their collective steel-trap memories when I happened to mention to them that Phyl had not only never seen a Pirate game in person - but had never gone to the stadium on the boat.

Perhaps it was Chris and Kathy, his Mom, and their determination that we would each leave with a souvenir - as if the sight of the stadium by itself and the company of good friends wouldn't be enough.

This resulted in the two of them treking over to the far section of the stadium where they would "Spin The Wheel" in search of prizes we could take back to Florida.

Their actions enabled me to carry off a baseball hat, and Phyl, a Pirate shirt, which she protectively guarded all the way back from the Allegheny to the Mon during the return boat ride.

I might also opt for the time before the game when Don was taking pictures of Phyl and me under the statue of Maz with his "hat held high" pose as he rounded third base in the series of 1960.

Then again, it might be that Phyl found a comfortable position to lean on the statue and Don captured it on film. I doubt if anybody will even notice me in my "official" long sleeved Willie Stargell, #8 baseball shirt.

Some would argue that the hotdogs and nachos were a tremendous gastric hit; which they were.

I also could cheer for the two small, but delicious, Bloody Mary's I enjoyed on the leisurely wait on the wharf and on the boat delivering us to the game. Two was my limit, as I wanted nothing to spoil the experience.

But, our final choice for a perfect night was the awesome view of Pittsburgh all lit up in a spectacular display of lights and water reflections.

Phyl said she'd never forget the sight of the bridges and their string of lights sparkling bright and towering, one after another, in a parade of cathedral arches looking down at the water.

None of this would have happened without the efforts of those four sweet people.

The presence of Dawn, Gerri's very friendly niece, was the icing on the cake. Like the others, she quickly made it clear: "Here was a Pittsburgher" - who just enjoyed making two out-of-towners feel good and to be able to fall in love with the city and it's people.

Good night! Great people!