| Soto Speaks of Codgers and Creeps |
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| Written by Palm Springs Codgers |
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By Granville Price, Palm Springs Semaphore
Palm Springs Semaphore: Hey Miguel! Stealing some office supplies on your way out the door? Miguel Soto: Ha ha... no, actually I stopped by to get my audio stuff. PSS: Audio stuff? MS: I didn't like the bass response of the system in our locker room here, so I brought in some subwoofers from home to put a little extra shake in everyone's booty. PSS: Sounds like you're quite the audio freak. MS: I guess so. I like to have the big bass everywhere I go, man! Especially in the car; that's what the chicks go for. Right, chicas? Miguel's Lady Friends: We like Miguel's boom! (giggles) PSS: Speaking of cars, that's a pretty sweet convertible. MS: Yeah, it's a 1956 DeSoto FireFlite, with an "enhanced" sound system, of course. Not too many of them around! PSS: Especially painted in Codgers team colors. MS: Ooo, that's right – thanks for reminding me. I got to get this thing repainted in sky blue with bright red trim. PSS: So what are your thoughts on that – playing for a new team? MS: Well, I'll tell ya, the fans here in Palm Springs are really great and I liked all my teammates, so I will definitely miss them. But at the same time I'm excited to be getting a fresh start with a team who was really eager to have me. PSS: I was just interviewing your old GM and he seemed very upset about losing you to free agency. MS: Oh yeah? Well, he should've put his money where his mouth was, then. You know, I gave them plenty of chances all through the season, but they never made any kind of serious offer. Finally I just said, “Forget these cheapskates, I'll just wait and see what I can get on the open market.” And it paid off, too – Florida blew all of Palm Springs' offers totally out of the water. PSS: Wasn't it tough to leave, though, considering the special bond you and GM Hills have developed? MS: The whut? PSS: He said that you two had a very strong emotional bond. MS: Emotional bond!? No. (shakes head) You know, that guy is one weird dude. That's one thing I definitely will NOT miss about this place. He was always doing some kind of creepy thing. PSS: Oh, like all the crying? MS: No, that's not really creepy, just pathetic. I'm talking creepy. Let me tell you a story. PSS: OK... MS: It was after a game last June, I think. We had just killed Tempe, like 11-5. He calls me into his office and shuts the door and goes, "Oh Miguellllll... I have something for you," in this kinda weird, sing-songy voice. PSS: What then? MS: He handed me this black case with something written on it in, like, Romanian or something – I think it said "La Poutine". Then he just stared at me, all intense, without saying anything. Man, I got the hell out of there! PSS: So what was in the case? Although I have a feeling I already know... MS: What? Man, don't you get all spooky on me too! Anyway, I open up the case – and inside it's this fiddle! I was like, “Well, I'm not into that kind of hillbilly music,” but it was a nice gesture, you know? PSS: Sure. MS: Then I looked a little closer and I saw the thing was super old. It looked like he had picked it up at a garage sale or something! He thinks he's all Mr. Big Shot giving me a gift, and he can't even be bothered to get something new. PSS: Wow. MS: I know. It's actually typical of how the guy operates: even when it seems like he's doing something good, it's actually kinda half-assed and on the cheap. PSS: Soooo... what did you end up doing with the, uh, fiddle?
PSS: Well, someone got some use out of it, at least. MS: Ha ha, I guess so! Hey, we gotta run; it was nice talking to you. PSS: Thanks, Miguel. MS: All right. Tigra! Bunny! Let's go... time for some more of the boom! Miguel's Lady Friends: Okay, Miguel! (giggles) |
