One of the pleasures of appearing on Comcast is the hour or so I spend in the Green Room before going on air. During baseball season Bill Laskey, Vida Blue and Bip Roberts are often there. I never covered Bip but I’ve gotten to know him in the Green Room and he’s smart, observant about hitters and pitchers and listening to him I learn.

Laskey and Blue I covered when they were players. They are two of my favorite all time players, just delightful men. We laugh a lot and remember old times, and I am so happy in their company. And both are shrewd. When we watch a game on TV and something unusual happens, they will look at each other and say “Did you see that?” and they’ll discuss it as they fill in their scorecards, and I learn.

A few weeks ago, Laskey, Vida and I shared a funny moment. I hope Vida won’t be sore at me for telling this. We were talking about a certain former ballplayer. Let’s call him Mr. So and So. We all had heard he would meet a woman and say, “I am Mr. So and So. Do you want to sleep with me?” That was the entirety of his pickup line and his sophistication.

Vida stared at me kind of incredulous. “I never did that,” he said in a puzzled voice, “and I’m Vida Blue.”

He sure is. And I’m not. And neither are you. And neither is Mr. So and So.