From getting a tour of the clubhouse, replacing my lost signed baseball card, getting a warm welcome back from Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria, seeing the Blue Angels do a low flyby, and of course, watching a spring training baseball game it was one of the best days I’ve had in a while. A family friend of ours is Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito’s fiancé and they both invited me back up to Phoenix for spring training. My stepdad, Ed  flew down to Tucson to meet me and then the two of us drove up to Phoenix to see spring training. While driving we listened to the Podcast, Wildcat Radio. The title of the podcast was appropriately named as it was titled “Well That Sucked”. It was in reference to the game against Buffalo a few days ago in the basketball NCAA Tournament which we lost. The guys on the podcast made a really good point about Sean Miller. That point was that due to the FBI investigation Miller will have an incredibly hard time recruiting. They thought it would be an appropriate time for Miller and the university to part ways. Just like the football team they believed the basketball program should get a fresh start. It will be interesting to see what happens this offseason. As we neared Phoenix traffic started picking up and by the time we got downtown we were in the thick of things and were going extremely slow. After about 15 minutes things started picking back up. During this time I got a text from Ariana, Lucas Giolito’s girlfriend. She inviting us to their house before heading over to Camelback Ranch, where the White Sox play. After receiving the address from her I put it in my maps and we headed that way. When we got to her and Lucas’s apartment we were greeted by her and their 7-month-old dog, Louis. This dog was crazy as it was running all over the place. Ariana told us that it has learned how to play fetch with itself by throwing its toys down the stairs and chasing after it. She also told us that the dog was picked up in a bad area of LA with the name Small Doses, which is really depressing. Sitting on the coffee table in front of me was a box full of brand new Topps baseball cards. Ariana told me to take as many as I wanted and to get one signed by Lucas when we see him. After hanging out at their apartment for a bit we headed out to Camelback Ranch. When we got to the field we drove over to the gated off player parking area. When we pulled in they had us wait because they couldn’t verify Ariana was who she said she was. As we waited she texted me saying Just pull up behind me the gate guys are always the worst about parking. She then went on to tell me that they wouldn’t let James Shields, starting White Sox pitcher, park because they didn’t believe it was him two days ago. After I responded she said no one is trying to sneak in here. As we waited we continually inched closer and she finally got out of her car and came to tell us that we were just going to go park. As the security guard came over to ask her to move her car she told Ed and me to start heading to the clubhouse. When we got there a guard met us and gave us our guest passes. We then were let into the clubhouse. As we waited for Lucas we admired the pictures on the walls from big events in the White Sox history. After waiting for a bit Lucas appeared and greeted us. He then took us on a tour of the clubhouse. He showed us the locker room. We were then taken to the weight room, and media room where he showed us how he could look up any pitch he has thrown and analyze it. He then took us to Rick Renteria’s office. After reminding him who I was he got up and gave me a very warm welcome back. Ed then introduced himself before we said our goodbyes. Before walking away Rick Renteria asked if we had gotten hats and t-shirts. Lucas said we were going there so after he took us over to the minor league section of the building we went back to the locker room and into the equipment room. The equipment guys then gave Ed and I both hats and T-shirts. After that, he asked if we were hungry. Ed and I both said yeah and he took us into the dining room. Given it was St. Patricks Day they had an Irish themed lunch which consisted of meat and potatoes. While eating Ed started talking to a player and found out someone he went to high school with was his coach a while back. After lunch, we made our way to find Ariana and headed to see the game. After going through security and everything we made our way to the seats which were incredible as they were right behind home plate. As the game went on Ariana had some entertaining comments about Lucas with the fact she doesn’t think he’s that athletic and for the fact, he runs like a giraffe and has panic in his face when running. After the game ended in a double play getting two players out (which Ed predicted right before it happened and got high fives by the other player’s wives or girlfriends sitting around us), we made our way back to the clubhouse area. There it was family day. They had bouncy houses set up and everything. They also had a buffet set up. As we sat at a table we started talking and then I noticed from the corner of my eye a fighter jet. At first it looked like one but then I saw all of the fighters in a formation. As they rocketed by us I realized I just saw the Blue Angels. It was the first time I had ever seen them in person and it was pretty cool. After seeing that Lucas showed up and sat with us. We talked for a bit before he introduced us to some of his friends who are on the team. As we wrapped things up we headed towards the parking lot. Kids were coming over to ask for autographs from Lucas. We also took a picture with him and Ariana. As we were heading out they offered to let us hang out at their apartment while Lucas and she met with his agent but Ed and I thought it would be a good idea to start heading back to Tucson. Lucas then thanked us for coming and told me that we should make this an annual thing. I agreed immediately. We then got back in the car and drove about two and a half hours back to Tucson.