A Great Day for SEAL Watching

by Trogluddite on May 2, 2011 10:22 PM EDT

Listening to yesterday's game, one of the "fillers" was the fact that several Pirates would go SEAL watching in San Diego in the morning before the game.

No, not this type of cute, cuddly, furry little seal....

But this type of cute, cuddly, furry little SEAL....

Here's a link to a fanpost about last year's visit; I didn't find any information about it on the team website. As I understand it, one of the Pirates' trainers knows a senior SEAL and arranges the visit this year. I hope that they got to visit this morning - it would be a great day for the team to meet some of the young men who repeatedly volunteer for the harshest duty to keep us safe. (And, its really fun for military folks to meet professional athletes.

Realizing that this is a sports blog, I'll just point out that the selection of a SEAL team for last night's mission was particularly appropo - in 2005, four SEALs were ambushed by a vastly larger group of Taliban. Their leader, LT. Michael P. Murphy, USN, attended Penn State (graduate school, I believe). During the ambush, LT Murphy basically walked into the middle of an open field, sacrificing his life, in an effort to make radio contact with his headquarters to call in air support for his team. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the PSU 2011 Class Gift is the Lt. Michael P. Murphy/Penn State Veterans Plaza.

The only survivor of the SEAL team has since written a book, called "Lone Survivor," which I heartily recommend.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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This stuff puts sports in perspective. Professional athletes can be looked up too, especially if they are good role models, but these guys are real heroes.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on May 2, 2011 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

This year's visit

is the subject of an article by Dejan today.

by DG Lewis on May 3, 2011 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

reminds me of a joke...

so this baby seal walks into a club…

(I have my ticket to hell right here)

by BlindSquirrel on May 3, 2011 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

Two guys walk into a bar...

you’d think the second guy would have ducked.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on May 6, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

aw geez

I didn’t read the whole post before making a comment…

Where’s that delete button??

by BlindSquirrel on May 3, 2011 8:24 PM EDT reply actions

Well, I still want to hear the joke in tonight's game thread

Aussie SF are also doing great work in a god-forsaken (based on my observations of it) corner of the globe.

"Who is John Galt?"

by Trogluddite on May 3, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

That was the joke.

baby seal – club

by BlindSquirrel on May 3, 2011 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

heh i got it the first time

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on May 4, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

If "Lone Survivor"

is the book I think it is, I’ve read that, and it IS an amazing read, especially the first half, which describes the torturous training/weeding-out process SEALS …. I was going to say “endure” but “survive” seems a better word. These are some tough, tough bastards, for sure.

by bucdaddy on May 5, 2011 10:59 AM EDT reply actions