Swafford Life Flighted To Hospital
Vows To Pitch Again
Timetorehab
Nashville, TN
The Apples 2008 off season summer tour was rocked to its foundation this weekend when it was learned the starting pitcher Greg Swafford was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in suburban Nashville.
Swafford was life flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital following the late Saturday afternoon accident where it was determined that he broke 5 ribs and came within millimeters of puncturing a lung. Swafford also sustained a partial dislocation and deep bruise to his pitching shoulder.
In addition to the serious injuries to his torso, Swafford suffered a mild concussion that resulted in the forming of blood pockets in his eye sockets. "Thank GOD he was wearing a helmet" said an unidentified nurse on duty at the Vanderbilt Emergency Room.
Showing the true grit that has always been his style, Swafford insisted on going home Sunday and told reporters while leaving the hospital that after a time to heal he would begin rehab and vowed to pitch for the Apples again next season. "I may be banged up right now but even in this condition I'm better then our second string pitcher AGFHOF Don Bernitt" said Swafford as he flipped the V for victory sign and climbed into a private ambulance sent by the Apples front office to take him home.
And so it goes, the beginning of a long off season of rehab for Swafford and the real reason behind the that cheer.......
How bout them Apples !!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
APPLES CHASE THE MORNING
Long Ride To Tennessee
West to East Makes For Long Night
Almosthome
Nashville,TN
"The 7 1/2 hour overnight flight comes with the territory" said Apple Patty Pender as she sat in a zombie like state at the Atlanta airport this morning following her long flight from Anchorage, Alaska in route back to Tennessee.
The flight was the beginning to the end of what turned out to be an amazing trip to Alaska as part of the Apples 2008 Summer Tour. The Apples boarded their flight at 8:00 p.m. local Alaska time ( 11:00 p.m. Nashville time )for the long flight east as they first headed towards the night skies of the western United States before finally chasing the rising sun over Atlanta and the eastern United States.
"That really sucked" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt as he waited in Atlanta for the Apples connector flight back to their familiar confines in Nashville. "But, it's pretty much been par for the course this last week" continued Bernitt as he tried to describe the feelings of constant daylight, lack of sleep and time zone jumping that were experienced during the 10 day Apple tour of Alaska.
The Apples trip can be best described as awesome. Along with visits to Eskimo villages over the Arctic Circle and hikes through the Grizzly Bear infested territory of Denali National Park, the Apples also had the very special pleasure to visit multiple glaciers while at Kenaji Fjords National Park as well as take a simply spectacular 4 plus hour train ride through the splendor of the Alaskan Mountain Range. In addition to the train trip, the Apples took several flightseeing trips including a flight that took them within a few hundred feet of the 20,000 ft summit of Mt. McKinley. "That was an amazing sight" said Bernitt when asked to describe the ride to the summit of North America's tallest mountain peak. Along with the flight to Denali, another highlight of the trip was without question a very rare visit to the Upper Falls of the Brooks River in the Aleutian Islands. It was at Brooks Camp that the Apples sat in awe as they watched Grizzly Bears sitting in the river as they waited on the King Salmon to swim up stream and jump into the falls in an effort to return to their breeding grounds. With 1.5 million salmon making the run each year, there were plenty of fish for the 15 Grizzlies that were in and along the shores of the river. "No words to describe this" said Pender as she watched the bears in the dance of life and death that they share each year with the salmon.
When asked for additional details on the Apples trip, an exhausted Pender said, "let me get home and decompress and then I'll get back to you on it. Bernitt added, "I heard it put this way and it sums everything up for me; the United States isn't 500 hundred or a thousand years old. We don't have pyramids or castles to look at in our country but without doubt we do have amazing natural beauty. From the Colorado Rockies to the Grand Canyon, from Yellowstone and Alaska. It's all around us, I encourage all to go, do and see whenever and wherever possible.
With that the call was made and the Apples headed to gate B-17 and the last leg of their trip, a quick 1 hour flight from Atlanta to Nashville. If nothing else, you can be sure that after a period to adjust back to their normal day to day in Tennessee, that we will soon likely hear again that now famous cheer.....
How bout them Apples!
The Apples would like to extend a special thanks to Christi Copous, Anne Moses and the Todd family for their kind efforts of taking care of team dog Bella and team cats O & Q during their trip to Alaska
Photos Below
West to East Makes For Long Night
Almosthome
Nashville,TN
"The 7 1/2 hour overnight flight comes with the territory" said Apple Patty Pender as she sat in a zombie like state at the Atlanta airport this morning following her long flight from Anchorage, Alaska in route back to Tennessee.
The flight was the beginning to the end of what turned out to be an amazing trip to Alaska as part of the Apples 2008 Summer Tour. The Apples boarded their flight at 8:00 p.m. local Alaska time ( 11:00 p.m. Nashville time )for the long flight east as they first headed towards the night skies of the western United States before finally chasing the rising sun over Atlanta and the eastern United States.
"That really sucked" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt as he waited in Atlanta for the Apples connector flight back to their familiar confines in Nashville. "But, it's pretty much been par for the course this last week" continued Bernitt as he tried to describe the feelings of constant daylight, lack of sleep and time zone jumping that were experienced during the 10 day Apple tour of Alaska.
The Apples trip can be best described as awesome. Along with visits to Eskimo villages over the Arctic Circle and hikes through the Grizzly Bear infested territory of Denali National Park, the Apples also had the very special pleasure to visit multiple glaciers while at Kenaji Fjords National Park as well as take a simply spectacular 4 plus hour train ride through the splendor of the Alaskan Mountain Range. In addition to the train trip, the Apples took several flightseeing trips including a flight that took them within a few hundred feet of the 20,000 ft summit of Mt. McKinley. "That was an amazing sight" said Bernitt when asked to describe the ride to the summit of North America's tallest mountain peak. Along with the flight to Denali, another highlight of the trip was without question a very rare visit to the Upper Falls of the Brooks River in the Aleutian Islands. It was at Brooks Camp that the Apples sat in awe as they watched Grizzly Bears sitting in the river as they waited on the King Salmon to swim up stream and jump into the falls in an effort to return to their breeding grounds. With 1.5 million salmon making the run each year, there were plenty of fish for the 15 Grizzlies that were in and along the shores of the river. "No words to describe this" said Pender as she watched the bears in the dance of life and death that they share each year with the salmon.
When asked for additional details on the Apples trip, an exhausted Pender said, "let me get home and decompress and then I'll get back to you on it. Bernitt added, "I heard it put this way and it sums everything up for me; the United States isn't 500 hundred or a thousand years old. We don't have pyramids or castles to look at in our country but without doubt we do have amazing natural beauty. From the Colorado Rockies to the Grand Canyon, from Yellowstone and Alaska. It's all around us, I encourage all to go, do and see whenever and wherever possible.
With that the call was made and the Apples headed to gate B-17 and the last leg of their trip, a quick 1 hour flight from Atlanta to Nashville. If nothing else, you can be sure that after a period to adjust back to their normal day to day in Tennessee, that we will soon likely hear again that now famous cheer.....
How bout them Apples!
The Apples would like to extend a special thanks to Christi Copous, Anne Moses and the Todd family for their kind efforts of taking care of team dog Bella and team cats O & Q during their trip to Alaska
Photos Below
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
APPLES IN THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Summer Goodwill Tour Continues
Inapuik Eskimos Can Hit
Cantsleep
Nashville TN
The Apples 2008 Summer Tour is now in full stride with no sign of slowing down soon. As special guest of the Inapuik Eskimos, the Apples Alaskan summer tour began with a flight over the Arctic Circle to the Top of the World as they attempted to join the Polar Bear club by swimming in the Arctic Ocean. However, it must be reported that the Apples were denied their attempt as they were unable to make it to their planned final destination when their private plane, Apple 1, was forced by heavy fog to land short of the ocean.
"Yea, I was a little disappointed about that" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt when asked to comment about the day. "But then again" added Bernitt, "We made it over the Arctic Circle and were able to spend some time with the Inapuiks at Coldfoot Camp so it wasn't a total bust"
Following the return flight to Fairbanks, the Apples were all about play as they experienced the phenomena of what is known as 'The Land Of The Midnight Sun' "It really can't be explained" said Apple Patty Pender as she loaded her golf clubs into her golf cart as she began a round of golf at 10:30 p.m. "It's the middle of the night and you would think it was the middle of day. The sun is very high in the sky and their is no reason to believe it's actually near midnight"
"The experience of the Midnight Sun is awesome" added Bernitt as he pointed out that it is very hard to know when to go to sleep. "The brain is amazing, with no darkness and nothing but bright sunshine, it's very easy to get caught up in the surroundings around you and before you know it is 3 o'clock in the morning and you haven't slept for 22 or 23 hours." "Looking back" continued Bernitt, "this would have been a great place to grow up. Just think, your parents couldn't tell you to be home by dark because there is no such thing at this time of year"
Following a few days in the great north of Fairbanks and beyond, the Apples trip continued with a visit to Denali National Park which is home to the North American continents tallest mountain, Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley. At over 20,000 ft high, Denali simply must be seen to be described. "Some people say I have my head in the clouds, but this lady called Denali takes the cake on that line" said Bernitt as he gazed upon the mountains of the national park.
As is their way, the Apples then left the comfort of the highways as they packed their day packs a set off on a 4 hour hike through the tundra and across the river beds that snake through Denali. Not to be missed was that fact that as they hiked the Apples were fully aware that they were now out of the safety of their element and walking through the homeland of the American Grizzly Bear. "Yea, it's not for the faint of heart said Bernitt" as he and Pender were joined by his sister Diane and nieces Lisa and Lauren.
"This is the last time that I will ever go on vacation with Don and Patty" said the visibly shaken Diane Bernitt as she climbed her way up a steep hill and through the hip deep brush that led the Apples out of the riverbed and to the relative safety of the gravel road to wait on a bus to take them out of the wilderness and back to camp. "Can we do that again tomorrow chimed Lisa and Lauren" as they poured water out of their soaked shoes following the last river crossing of the day.
On the subject of rivers, it was then off to the raging Nenana River for a 2 hour whitewater rafting trip that saw the Apples joined by Penders parents Jo and Bob for the ride of a lifetime in the 38 degree waters of the glacier fed Nenana. "Oh my!" said Jo Pender when asked to describe the 12 mile journey through the canyons of Denali.
Next up for the Apples, weather permitting, will be a flightseeing trip that is scheduled to fly them near the summit of Mt McKinley for a tour of the Alaskan range and a glacier landing high in the mountains. Again, and however, it doesn't look good as heavy clouds have moved into the area and grounded most flights. "Lets just see what happens over the next few hours" said Bernitt as he sipped coffee and enjoyed the chilly morning in the small town of Talkeetna on the outskirts of Denali Park.
And so it is, the Apples 2008 Summer Tour continues as they leave their mark on America's 50th state, Alaska. One thing to be said for sure is that whether it be night time or not, you more then likely will soon again hear that now famous cheer...
How bout them Apples!
Inapuik Eskimos Can Hit
Cantsleep
Nashville TN
The Apples 2008 Summer Tour is now in full stride with no sign of slowing down soon. As special guest of the Inapuik Eskimos, the Apples Alaskan summer tour began with a flight over the Arctic Circle to the Top of the World as they attempted to join the Polar Bear club by swimming in the Arctic Ocean. However, it must be reported that the Apples were denied their attempt as they were unable to make it to their planned final destination when their private plane, Apple 1, was forced by heavy fog to land short of the ocean.
"Yea, I was a little disappointed about that" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt when asked to comment about the day. "But then again" added Bernitt, "We made it over the Arctic Circle and were able to spend some time with the Inapuiks at Coldfoot Camp so it wasn't a total bust"
Following the return flight to Fairbanks, the Apples were all about play as they experienced the phenomena of what is known as 'The Land Of The Midnight Sun' "It really can't be explained" said Apple Patty Pender as she loaded her golf clubs into her golf cart as she began a round of golf at 10:30 p.m. "It's the middle of the night and you would think it was the middle of day. The sun is very high in the sky and their is no reason to believe it's actually near midnight"
"The experience of the Midnight Sun is awesome" added Bernitt as he pointed out that it is very hard to know when to go to sleep. "The brain is amazing, with no darkness and nothing but bright sunshine, it's very easy to get caught up in the surroundings around you and before you know it is 3 o'clock in the morning and you haven't slept for 22 or 23 hours." "Looking back" continued Bernitt, "this would have been a great place to grow up. Just think, your parents couldn't tell you to be home by dark because there is no such thing at this time of year"
Following a few days in the great north of Fairbanks and beyond, the Apples trip continued with a visit to Denali National Park which is home to the North American continents tallest mountain, Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley. At over 20,000 ft high, Denali simply must be seen to be described. "Some people say I have my head in the clouds, but this lady called Denali takes the cake on that line" said Bernitt as he gazed upon the mountains of the national park.
As is their way, the Apples then left the comfort of the highways as they packed their day packs a set off on a 4 hour hike through the tundra and across the river beds that snake through Denali. Not to be missed was that fact that as they hiked the Apples were fully aware that they were now out of the safety of their element and walking through the homeland of the American Grizzly Bear. "Yea, it's not for the faint of heart said Bernitt" as he and Pender were joined by his sister Diane and nieces Lisa and Lauren.
"This is the last time that I will ever go on vacation with Don and Patty" said the visibly shaken Diane Bernitt as she climbed her way up a steep hill and through the hip deep brush that led the Apples out of the riverbed and to the relative safety of the gravel road to wait on a bus to take them out of the wilderness and back to camp. "Can we do that again tomorrow chimed Lisa and Lauren" as they poured water out of their soaked shoes following the last river crossing of the day.
On the subject of rivers, it was then off to the raging Nenana River for a 2 hour whitewater rafting trip that saw the Apples joined by Penders parents Jo and Bob for the ride of a lifetime in the 38 degree waters of the glacier fed Nenana. "Oh my!" said Jo Pender when asked to describe the 12 mile journey through the canyons of Denali.
Next up for the Apples, weather permitting, will be a flightseeing trip that is scheduled to fly them near the summit of Mt McKinley for a tour of the Alaskan range and a glacier landing high in the mountains. Again, and however, it doesn't look good as heavy clouds have moved into the area and grounded most flights. "Lets just see what happens over the next few hours" said Bernitt as he sipped coffee and enjoyed the chilly morning in the small town of Talkeetna on the outskirts of Denali Park.
And so it is, the Apples 2008 Summer Tour continues as they leave their mark on America's 50th state, Alaska. One thing to be said for sure is that whether it be night time or not, you more then likely will soon again hear that now famous cheer...
How bout them Apples!
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