For Olvera St., Nina and I actually got there earlier than we did for ESPN. We got there about 8:30 and there were already about six people in front of us. We knew the first two groups of people in the front of the line from yesterday’s event. As we were standing around talking, these two police officers came up and asked us some questions. They had no idea that the Dodgers were going to be stopping by later that day. As any autograph event, people are constantly walking by and asking, “what are you guys in line for?”

One of the funniest things that happened while we were waiting in line. I don’t remember exactly how it came up, but one of Ronnie’s daughters asked me if I knew who the Jonas brothers were. I think we were talking about what we should tell people who we were waiting for. I said something like I don’t know who the Jonas Brothers are. She asked me, “You don’t know who the Jonas Brothers are?” I told her, “no clue.” She straight out told me (in all seriousness), “You have no soul.” I wasn’t offended. I just thought it was hilarious and soooo cute.

When the Dodger reps showed up to set up, I recognized one of them from the day before and aid out loud, “oh no. He ain’t going to like me.” We saw the signs go by. Table A had Matt Kemp, James McDonald, and Jimmy Campanis. Table B had Fernando Valenzuela, Ramon Troncoso, and Steve Yeager. Campanis and Yeager weren’t listed on the website. During the rally, they also announced Brad Ausmus and Jaime Jarrin. Guess Ausmus had to leave before the rally. They were speaking in Spanish, so I couldn’t understand most of it. Before the rally started, they had music blasting through the speakers. I’m serious when I said blasting. It was so loud it was painful on the ears. They gave away tshirts and CDs. First they had a contest where the first person who blew a balloon till it popped (a t-shirt). The next one I think was a “dance off”. Again, I’m not positive because I couldn’t understand most of it.

The players arrived and were introduced. Before they were introduced, there was a little boy (Deuce) playing on the steps on the side. Matt, James, and Ramon (I think he did) all came hand shook Deuce’s hand or gave him a little first bump. They took turns on the mike. I couldn’t catch what Troncoso was saying (he was speaking in Spanish). James McDonald said something like, “God comes first in my heart, then all of you!” Matt Kemp said a few words, and then he started the “Fernando! Fernando! Fernando!” chant.

The players came down. Matt Kemp shook my hand on his way. I figured, why not? He held Cat’s hand too when she saw her. They were ready to send us down the line, but there was only one problem. Jaime Jarrin wasn’t in his seat yet. Once again, the people who showed up the earliest got short changed. Nina was getting a photo of her and James signed by James, and then Matt was signing a photo I took at Photo Day. Matt saw the photo James was signing, leaned over and said, “awww how sweet.” Nina commented that she didn’t have one with him yet. Jimmy Campanis signed the cover of my scrapbook. Then James signed a photo of him and me. He didn’t write his number by his name … then again, in the photo he’s wearing “52″, which now belongs to George Sherrill. Maybe he was confused and didn’t know which number to write, since he now wears “31″ and he just left it out. Matt signed a photo of him and me from Skateland. I asked him to please add “gold glove and silver slugger” on it.

After we got our autographs, we went to the other side to check out the line. Then we went to the Ticket Truck, where they had set up a table to see what they were passing out. We went back to check out the raffle. They were calling numbers around my ticket and Nina’s, so maybe Roberto or Jack’s tickets would’ve won had they still been there. Cat won 4 field level tickets and my friend Stacey won a baseball that had Steve Yeager, Brad Ausmus, Matt Kemp, Ramon Troncoso, and James McDonald’s autographs on it. Since I didn’t take that many photos at the event, I shall leave you with just this one.