A flashback to how Mike decided to use ESPN to take their relationship public in the midst of his retirement rumors.Yes, another chapter out of order... but it came to me and I just couldn't get it out of my head.
They had recently signed a contract with Amelia to come back on to help them with PR matters. Mike still hadn't proposed, they still hadn't gone public with their relationship…. It was only a matter of days until all of this changed.
"Amelia called again… remind me why we hired her?" Ginny shouted to Mike upstairs.
"Next time answer it babe. She can't bite your head off through the phone."
The phone rang again, not five minutes later. It was Amelia. "Hello?" Ginny answered, slightly annoyed.
"Uhh, I thought I called Mike's phone." Amelia said, clearly recognizing Ginny's voice.
"You did, Mike's about to jump in the shower and asked me to answer since you seem hell bent on calling. What do you need that's so urgent on a Friday night in the off season? We're about to head over to Blip and Evelyn's, you know since we can't exactly do much in public yet."
"I'm working on that. But we have another fire to put out first." Said Amelia.
"And you thought to call Mike and not me? Who's dragging my name through the mud this time?"
"It's not about you, Ginny, it's about Mike. Haven't you been watching TV?"
"No, we were watching Neflix, then, uh, took a nap. Haven't watched anything else. " Ginny answered.
"Turn it on."
"What channel?" Ginny went upstairs to turn on the TV in their bedroom.
"ABC. ESPN. Fox Sports. Doesn't matter. Everyone is reporting that Mike is waiving his final year and retiring. Saying his knees are done. Is this true? This would make a huge difference in the narrative we tell in your story when you go public."
"MIIIIKE…." Ginny shouted "You're gonna want to hurry on that shower and come see this."
"So no truth?" Amelia asked.
"No. But where did this come from and how did it get so far spread. I mean every station is running it as 'late breaking news,' Amelia." Ginny heard the water shut off in the bathroom and switched the phone over to speaker. Mike walked into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist to kiss his girlfriend. Ginny announced. "I have Amelia on speaker." Mike suddenly looked less enthusiastic.
"Okay, soooo." Then Mike looked up at the TV screen to see what the reporter was talking about. He just started laughing.
"He's taking this better than I did" Ginny said.
Mike's first comment was "Next they'll be announcing I'm dead and have my funeral arrangement's planned."
From the phone you could hear Amelia say, "Mike, this is serious, every media outlet is running this story as though the Padres are now free to call up another catcher and Livan is the primary catcher."
"Well he's not. They'll figure it out come April when they see me behind home plate. Don't worry, it's not a big deal."
"Do you not see why this is such a big deal? When we go public with your relationship, baseball fans far and wide are going to question your relationship on the field with Ginny. Fans may question if Ginny can function with another catcher behind home plate and we need to show that it shouldn't matter if it is you or Livan or anyone else. If they think you are not sure about your future, you go public, Ginny get's scrutinized, then you come back, it's going to look bad, like real BAD. The public needs to know now that you are still the primary catcher, as to not cast any doubt on Ginny's abilities when you do go public – you idiot."
"Oh…" It wasn't too often that Mike was silenced.
"Mike, I'll set up a media conference for tomorrow to get out in front of this."
"Amelia," Ginny said, "Don't forget we have our team pictures tomorrow."
"Yeah, I forgot about the 'photo shoot,' I'll work around that and call you back with more details." Click.
"Well, I guess we head over to the Sanders still?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, but I better send the team a quick text to makes sure they all know it's not true." Mike wasn't going to risk screwing up his relationship with the team again.
- Sanders Family Fun Night -
About an hour later they were enjoying a noisy night in with Blip's family. The twins were chasing each other around the house. Mike had calmed Blips concerns that he wasn't going anywhere for another year. "Look man, I learned my lesson after I messed up with the whole trade to Chicago two years ago. You're on my list to confide in before I make any big decisions. Got it. If you don't hear from me, it's just a rumor." Mike reassured Blip.
Then Amelia called Mike. He had to step outside to be able to hear anything over the noise in the house. "Hey, Thanks for calling me back. I don't really want to do a press conference tomorrow." Mike asked.
"Not enough time anyway, with your team glamour shots, and your big proposal. You are still planning to propose tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes, and I'd like for that day to just be about us afterwards. I know this is big, but I've put so much into this, and I hope these rumors can wait one more day." Mike said.
"Luck for you I'm good and I have plan. Sunday, there is an opening on the afternoon ESPN show. I forgot what it's called off hand, but I'll forward you the email. They have invited you to come on air to confirm, or deny the rumors live exclusively with them. Other media outlets will pick it up and I'll release a written statement and do social media statements while you are on air."
"What if Ginny and I also just go public at this same time. Rip the band aid off."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Amelia argued.
"Look, by that time, we'll hopefully be engaged. Just think about it. I want to take her on a proper date. I love her and hate hiding this any more than we have done for over a year now. I trust you can handle any backlash we get."
"Lawson, if someone would have told me I would be arguing with you to hide your emotions two years ago, I'd tell them they were insane. But here we are. So, you can do this. It will all come soon enough. Hang in there. Good night."
Mike re-entered the house.
"Everything okay, old man?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, Amelia set up a TV interview on ESPN Sunday for me to put to bed these rumors. So we should be good on that front. I also had an idea I ran past her on how we could take our relationship public."
"Oh, do tell" Evelyn quipped.
"All in due time. She needs to think about it." Mike said, which gve Ev and Blip enough information to know not to ask any more information. They both new they played a role in the proposal coming the next day.
- Morning of the Proposal -
The next morning Mike and Ginny got ready for the team photo shoot. Mike seemed a little nervous. Ginny noticed he was wearing the chain around his neck again.
"Your good luck Talisman needs to be in the photo shoot? Seriously Lawson?"
"Hey, it brought me luck, Baker. And one of these day's you may just be lucky enough to get to see it yourself."
"You're impossible."
They decided to drive together. They were taking more and more chances getting caught in public because they were ready to be a couple in the open.
Mike drove as usual. He got a text and his phone was sitting in the front console. Ginny went to grab it.
"Amelia says 'rip the band-aid off' what ever that means. What does that mean?"
"I'll explain later. We're here and running a little late. Let's go."
About an hour later, Mike was on one knee proposing to Ginny… and 24 hours later, the world knew it, thanks to a little interview on ESPN.
