The Walk-Up Experience

Sometimes collaborations come through my inbox and I literally gasp, OMG! This happened a couple of weeks ago when I was en route to Key West. I got an email from Lowe's asking if I'd like to come to the Ranger's Ballpark and chat with Elvis Andrus (our star shortstop) about his at bat walk-up experience. 

DO I? Yes, yes I do want to do that. 

So Elvis had his entire walk-up documented in virtual reality, so you could get a 360 degree view of what it is like to step up to the plate as Elvis Andrus. 

"What would my walk-up song be?" Good question, thank you for taking the time to ask me that. I've never thought of what my walk-up song would be in the past 9 minutes. Hmm...

Well,  you generally get two songs, so first at bat would be Rocky Top (obvi) and then second at bat would be Wipe Me Down by Lil Boosie. I can rap every word to that song and, correct me if I'm wrong, but, I feel like that tidbit would really play out well on a resume. 

Back to my bro, Elvis. I can refer to him as "bro" now, because we posed for a picture with each other while we were both really sweaty -- he was sweaty because he had been warming up for a game, I was sweaty because I'm a Texan transplant who spends Summer coated in a double thick layer of moisture at all times. 

Can I tell you how excited I was to get to meet and chat with Elvis? CB got to come too, and we arrived at the ballpark around 2pm. Everyone else at the event was press, I was the giddy blogger in the Ranger hat with a stupid smile plastered on my face. I stuck out like a sore thumb, and security asked me like nine times if I was in the right place, "Ma'am this entrance is for press, stadium tours take place in the North Wing of the Ballpark."

 CB and I watch the Rangers almost every night, partly because we can't agree on any other programming, partly because we are die hard fans of the current AL West leading team. In addition to Elvis, of course, I'm also the biggest Emily Jones fan ever. Emily is essentially the Rangers on air sideline reporter - for lack of a better baseball term. I asked CB, "Do you think Emily will be there??!?!" He shrugged his shoulders.

Then wouldn't you know who walks up?!?

Look at my face!! LOLZZZZ. I look as happy as Veenie on a boat. Nerd alert. I pretty much terrified Emily, running at her for a photograph, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

While we were waiting for Elvis to come out, we got to test out the Virtual Reality experience for ourselves. I'd never done any VR before, so it took me a second to realize I had to physcially turn my whole body, not just my head. Face palm. 

It was really neat, you seriously got to see and hear every single 360 degree aspect of what it is like to walk to the plate as Elvis Andrus!

I of course didn't miss the "at bat pose" photo opp that was made available to fans. As you can clearly see, I excelled at JV softball, you're welcome.

Just like a league of their own, base-balling in skirt. You may call me Gina Davis (or perhaps Rosie O'Donell) from here on out.

Then Elvis joined us, and he even got to experience the VR of his own walk-up for the first time. He giggled a lot and it was really cute to watch!

I did the exact opposite of what the rest of the press was doing, and I took a selfie.
(I can't imagine why security thought I was there for the ballpark tour!?!?)

Then we had the chance to ask Elvis some questions.

I asked him:

"So Elvis, for the sequel, what do you think about doing a virtual reality walk off home run, followed by a gatorade bath where you get doused with gatorade by your teammates repeatedly?"

He laughed and said that was a fantastic idea!

He thought I was totally adorable and charming, then we posed for a picture and he realized how sweaty I was and the charm wore off.

There were a lot of cameras going off at once in all different directions, can you tell? Elvis was looking at CB's camera, you'd have thought I'd be too? Ah well.

We got to stay for the game that night, and although there was a lengthy rain delay we made it through the whole thing and earned an 8-5 victory, including a Mitch Moreland firework home run!

*CB insisted on receiving photo credit for this pic... so... photo credit CB. 

Next time you head to a Rangers' game, be sure to check out the Lowe's Elvis Andrus 360 degree walk-up, located on the 3rd base side. Not in Dallas, check out his full video (sadly, sans VR) here! 

Thanks to Lowe's and the Rangers for such a treat! 

Let's do it again sometime???!?!?!?!