July 2008
Looking Back... July 2008
19 July 2008 - 4:06pm
"Is it too late to call this off?"
Contest-winner Brandon told me yesterday that he and Gary had just about made up their minds to blow off The Voyage and head for Frightful Falls when John (our marketing director) helpfully pushed down their lapbars and wished them a happy ride.
Sure, they're smiling. But it looks like they're talking through the smiles.
Meanwhile, here's a wonderful article from today's Evansville paper.
18 July 2008 - 3:24pm
Three little words
...texted to me following Brandon Phillips' ride with Gary Brackett a few hours ago:
"It was awe- some."
'Nuff said.
Brandon told me after- wards that both he and Gary's eyes were streaming (from riding in the front car -- yeah, right) and they were frantically wiping away the tears before they got near the end of the ride when the camera goes off.
Here's a photo of the full car. That's Brandon's wife, Abby, sitting in the back with his step-brother Mitch.
Here's a little more info about Brandon: Mitch, Abby, and I are life long Colts fans, have season tickets (looking forward to the new stadium), and my step-brother and I host a sports talk radio show in our spare time that is online Wednesday nights. My son Cole was born the week before the Colts won the Super Bowl, and we actually came home from the hospital the day of the Super Bowl (he really wanted to watch from home). I was so nervous about the games that we didn’t allow anyone to come over during the playoffs or the Super Bowl, and actually had a Super Bowl party several months later and watched the game again on TIVO. Knowing the outcome allowed me to enjoy the party much more, ha! My wife and I are from Spencer County, went to South Spencer High School, and now reside in Bowling Green, Ky.
18 July 2008 - 10:41am
Everything in its place
Joan from Rockport sent us a great story about bringing a visiting priest (from Haiti) to Holiday World.
Here's Fr. Phechner (in the middle) getting ready to take a spin on the Scarecrow Scrambler.
Joan writes: The Scrambler was as daring as he wanted to be on the rides. Concerning the roller coasters, he said to me, "My heart has a place and my stomach has a place, and I want them to stay there."
17 July 2008 - 10:32pm
TV coverage of Gary's Thursday visit
...from our NBC affiliate in Evansville.
17 July 2008 - 5:23pm
Making an impact
It's so nice to meet a celebrity and feel you've met a friend.
There are certainly plenty of sports figures with egos larger than a football field.
But not Gary Brackett.
...he's as down-to-earth as a (please pause patiently as I search frantically for a football metaphor) ... uh, cleat.
Gary was warm and chatty as he signed autographs and talked with fans this morning.
He even found time to pose for photos with a few hard-working painters.
And we snapped a shot of a local girl who is now a Colts cheerleader.
That's Abbey on the right; she's from Ferdinand.
...and that's Lauren on the left; she's from New Palestine.
But the best photo of the day is this one:
That's Gary with the children of the families from all over Indiana here for a two- day visit as part of Gary Brackett's IMPACT Foundation's "Field of Dreams" program.
And tomorrow ... Gary rides The Voyage with eBay charity auction winner Brandon Phillips from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Neither of the two claims to be a coaster enthusiast, so we'll be sure to get a copy of the on-ride photo.
