APPLES BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL

China Tour A Success
Peace Intact

Commiebastards
Nashville, TN

THIS IS A LONG READ..

"Incredible, simply incredible" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt when asked to describe the Apples just completed trip to China. "We've have all heard that you really don't know how great we have it here in America until you go away and see things from a different angle. I now know first hand how true those words are" said Bernitt as he battled the effects of his 31 hour travel day that started at the Ritz Carlton in Shanghai, China and ended when he pulled back into the Apples Nashville compound early Sunday morning.

"We had the gift of being able to see and hear so many incredible things that it is just about impossible to explain it all" said Bernitt as he drank his first truly cold drink in almost two weeks. "I take so much for granted" continued Bernitt as he explained that the water in China can not be consumed by westerners due to the high mineral content which of course bars one from using ice and therefore leads to lots of cool or warm soda, bottled water and beer. "I guess our idea and the Chi Coms idea of cold is different, because we never had a ice cold drink our entire trip" added Bernitt as he slammed his 3rd cold beer in his first hour back on American soil.

In an even greater then normal daze following the grueling trip home, Bernitt briefly explained a few highlights of the Apples goodwill tour which began with a 13 hour non stop flight from New York City to Beijing. "That was pretty cool, we actually headed due North out of JFK and flew over the top of the world, across the North Pole and south to Beijing." "I'm pretty sure I got a picture of Santa's workshop but I'll have to wait to get a look at the pictures to be sure" added Bernitt.

Upon arriving in China, the Apples were immediately confronted by the Chinese Red Army to ensure all paperwork and visa's were intact and current. Following admission into the country, Bernitt and fellow Apple Patty Pender, along with Bernitt's father Dan, and nephew Matty Oliver, headed to the heart of Beijing and within hours found themselves standing in the middle of the now infamous Tiananmen Square. "It was surreal" said Pender when asked what crossed her mind as she stood on the spot that is the history of the 1989 Tiananmmen Square Massacre. Pender also pointed out that the city of Beijing, with a population of near 17 million people, is now a very polluted city.."Just picture a grey cloudy day and then imagine the cloud hanging down to ground level" continued Pender as she described the irritating air quality of the city. Along with all else in Beijing, Pender confirmed that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people riding bikes. "Anywhere, anytime, there are throngs of people on bikes" said Pender.

After several days in Beijing, which included visits to the Olympic venues of the 'Birds Nest' and 'Water Cube' the Apples toured the 800 year old Forbidden City before venturing out for a 2 1/2 hike along the Great Wall of China. "The Wall is amazing" said Bernitt as he described the 3,000 mile structure that is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.. "It's very difficult to walk" said Pender as she explained that it is almost never flat and instead flows up and down as it follows the mountains of China. "To make it tougher" added Pender, "the steps up and down are not the steps we are accustomed to, instead they are half size steps which throw your stride off." Pender then pointed out that one hill tackled by the Apples included a stretch of 454 steps up before reaching a flat surface and a few minutes of relief.

From Beijing, the Apples caught a 2 hour domestic Air China flight south to the city of Xing for a visit to what is commonly know as 'The Terracotta Soldiers' The sight, discovered just 20 years ago, has come to be learned to have been the burial sight for an ancient Chinese Emperor.. In his burial tomb stands thousands of life size Terracotta Soldiers meant to protect him as he headed to the after world.. "Another amazing day and sight" Bernitt said as he recalled the visit to the long buried army.

Next up for the Apple delegation was a treat to behold. As special guest of the Penn State Astronomy Department, and in conjunction of Peking University, the Apples traveled to the mountain tops of Anji, China where they had the awesome experience of witnessing a Total Solar Eclipse. "Again, words can not describe it" said Bernitt as he attempted to relay what it is to see this rare celestial event. "The eclipse was an 4 hour spectacular that I will never forget" continued Bernitt. " For the first two hours we of course wore specific protective eye glasses that allowed us to follow the shadow of the moon as it blocked the sun. When the eclipse went 'Total' we then witnessed with our naked eyes the awesome sight of seeing only a white outer ring of the sun in what is known as the Corona. It was stunning." Bernitt then told of the HD Video that he took of this moment and how he and others are heard repeating the same word time after time.. WOW! WOW! WOW! is all that is heard and can only be described as an involuntary reaction to a sight never before seen by the Apples. "Seeing that was worth the price of admission by itself, much less having the chances to see the rest of China as well" concluded Bernitt.

After leaving Anji, the Apples headed off for a few days in the bustling city of Shanghai. A city with over 20 million people, Shanghai was night and day different then the capital of Beijing. Said Pender, "it is a very western like city, very modern and very stylish in the dress of the people as opposed to the dull and drab garb that was Beijing. To describe Shanghai as huge is an under statement. To make a point, Nashville, TN may have 6 or 8 buildings that are over 30 stories tall, in Shanghai, there are 4,000, yes 4,000 buildings over 30 stories tall.. The skyline is very modern as future pictures on this blog will show.

Along their tour of China, the Apples took the advice of future Apple Sue Krawczyk as they made a point to eat anything put in front of them and not to shy away from a dish because of what it was. To this end, the Apples were treated to dishes of Octopus, Jellyfish, Pig Knuckles, Chicken Feet and Duck Brains just to name a few. "When in China" quipped Matty Oliver as he sucked the brains out of fresh catch of shrimp.

On the media and photograph front, Bernitt let it be known that although he has returned to America to begin training for the 2009 fall season, Apple Patty Pender as well as Dan Bernitt and Matty Oliver have remained in China and will not be back for another week. "I left all photography equipment behind and will look forward to sharing pictures and video in a few weeks" said Bernitt.

In the meantime, Bernitt made a point to say that his "big picture" of China is as follows:

In America, perhaps 80% of us are middle class and 10% are very rich and 10% are very poor.. "Do not be fooled" said Bernitt, "In China 80% of the 1.5 Billion people are very poor and live in poverty." "They have no passion, no purpose and no future." "It is not a pretty thing to see and I don't want to hear that 'they don't know any better'. "It's a damn shame, and each and everyone of us should be oh so thankful to have what we have." "I have no doubt", said Bernitt, "we are the most fortunate people alive, and yes, America is the greatest country on earth."

How bout them Apples...

***Limited First View Pictures Below***
***More To Follow In Coming Days***

The Chi Com Red Army kept an eye on the Apples throughout the trip

The Apples told Mao to "Bite Me"

Now that's a Great Wall

Dan Bernitt captured this photo of the Total Solar Eclipse

RED APPLES

Apples Go International


This past Springs temporary suspension of team operations, which took the Apples off of the playing field for the first time in a decade, appears now to have been a course of action that could in the end, benefit the Nashville based Coed Softball giant.

Forced to suspend play due to the lack of talent in Nashville, it has been announced that the Apples have elected to extend their reach and have begun a national, as well as international tryout schedule in hopes of fielding a team for the upcoming fall schedule of the Granny White Coed Softball League.

A recent weekend tryout in San Francisco identified several potential players who were signed to the practice squad while waiting to hear the leagues final ruling on allowing trans gender athletes to participate in Coed Softball. "It raises a few questions on the boy - girl - boy - girl batting order" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt when discussing the recent tryout.

With the recent scouting trip to California behind them, the Apples now turn their attention to the international talent pool as they have embarked on a visit to The Peoples Republic of China.

"I hear they have some folks that can swing a mean sickle over there" said Bernitt as he and fellow Apple Patty Pender prepared for the flight from New York City to Beijing. Bernitt added that he hoped his visit behind the bamboo curtain would lead to an increased openness between to the two countries in the arena of International Coed Softball. "That's true Change and Hope we can Believe in" continued Bernitt as he brushed up on his language skills of calling balls and strikes in Chinese.

While in China, the Apples plan on becoming the first Coed Softball team to hold free and open tryouts in a communist country, and at the same hope to become the first Americans to hit softballs over the Great Wall of China. "I'm looking forward at going toe to toe in a pitching matchup against the Red Chinese Army" said Bernitt as he packed his 'Made in China' ball and glove in the overhead bin of team plane Apple 1.

And so it goes, the Apples take to the world and begin to spread their vision of America and Coed Softball. GOD help us all..

How bout them Apples!

GOLDEN APPLES

Off Season Tour Underway
1st Stop California

Toocool
San Francisco

Following the 2009 season that wasn't, the Apples began their off season tour this past weekend with a trip west to the Salinas Valley and the artichoke and strawberry fields of Watsonville, Ca.

In addition to the day spent in the "Salad Bowl" of America, the Apples also took a step back in time as they retraced the steps of their 1995 visit to California and the San Francisco Bay area.

"What a beautiful city" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt has he and fellow Apple Patty Pender gazed across the bay from the Golden Gate Bridge. "If there was just some way to get the freaks out of here this would be a pretty cool place" added Bernitt as he was pummeled by the high octane winds atop the bridge.

With June now behind us and the summer ready to kick into high gear, it's any ones guess as to where the Apples may show up next. With rumors flourishing of a pending trip to the deep south, one thing is for sure, if you listen for a wind coming from the far east you may will soon hear that now famous cheer..........

How bout them Apples!!

**PHOTOS BELOW**

A thirteen year time lapse photo shows the Golden Gate Bridge still hanging in there and looking good.


*Next photo shoot in 2021*