Singing Hot Dog Vendor

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by OldTimey
I like lots of strange and unusual things. In fact, I am one of the few here who have absolutely no problem with the ferris wheel or merry go round. What I dislike is stupid, pointless and annoying things. Like, for instance, your buddy Charlie. When I am at a ball game with my wife I want to enjoy her company. I don't mind talking to vendors. In fact, I chit chat with the vendors every game. What I don't want is someone to approach me, be a complete and utter idiot, and not go away.

Well said.

**CHRIS_HELLFAUCET** · 05-20-2004, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by OldTimey
I don't mind talking to vendors. In fact, I chit chat with the vendors every game. What I don't want is someone to approach me, be a complete and utter idiot, and not go away.

Maybe if you explain what exactly constitutes "be[ing] a complete and utter idiot" it might help bring things into perspective.

**Los Gatos** · 05-20-2004, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by CHRIS_HELLFAUCET

**holygoat** · 05-20-2004, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by CHRIS_HELLFAUCET
Maybe if you explain what exactly constitutes "be[ing] a complete and utter idiot" it might help bring things into perspective.

Well in addition to his idiotic Tarzan call, berating customers for buying pizza or nachos instead of hotdogs for five solid minutes. Or berating those who buy hotdogs for requesting ketchup instead of mustard. You think it's cute and "out of the ordinary," but I think its being a complete and utter idiot.

**CHRIS_HELLFAUCET** · 05-20-2004, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by holygoat
Well in addition to his idiotic Tarzan call, berating customers for buying pizza or nachos instead of hotdogs for five solid minutes. Or berating those who buy hotdogs for requesting ketchup instead of mustard. You think it's cute and "out of the ordinary," but I think its being a complete and utter idiot.

I DONT RECALL EVER CALLING IT CUTE.

**OldTimey** · 05-20-2004, 02:02 PM

Holygoat hit the nail on the head.

Also talking in lofty theatrical tones like "good sir" and the like.

**CHRIS_HELLFAUCET** · 05-20-2004, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by OldTimey
Holygoat hit the nail on the head.

Also talking in lofty theatrical tones like "good sir" and the like.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THAT?

**dt35456884** · 05-20-2004, 02:06 PM

Originally posted by CHRIS_HELLFAUCET
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THAT?

**brianbor** · 05-20-2004, 02:06 PM

Man, this is getting out of hand. Charley has never been anything but courteous to me, and he's a great guy to talk to. I also love the singing, and usually buy the second hot dog (he usually doesn't sing for just one) so he'll sing.

And the fact that he doesn't give people ketchup just means he's doing people a service. Ketchup doesn't belong on a hotdog.

Brian
http://www.tigerblog.net

**tiger337** · 05-20-2004, 02:12 PM

CHRIS HELLFAUCET THINKS HE SMART BUT HE DONT NO NOTHING HE SUX WORSE THAN HOTDOG GUY HELLFAUCET IS WHY TIGERS ALWAYS SUX THEY NEED TO DUMP HELLFAUCET AND HOTDOG GUY AND GET MORE FANS LIKE OLD TIMEY AND HOLYGOAT

**rlord** · 05-20-2004, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by dt35456884

ha hahahaha ha ha

on point. ha

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by brianbor
Man, this is getting out of hand. Charley has never been anything but courteous to me, and he's a great guy to talk to. I also love the singing, and usually buy the second hot dog (he usually doesn't sing for just one) so he'll sing.

And the fact that he doesn't give people ketchup just means he's doing people a service. Ketchup doesn't belong on a hotdog.

Brian
http://www.tigerblog.net

Brian's a smart guy.

BTW, OT and Goat have both refered to the "5 solid minutes" of Charley busting your chops. I think both of you owe it to every on here to say thats simply not true. 30-45 seconds I could see, 1:30 is a reach, but 5 minutes.... come on...

**OldTimey** · 05-20-2004, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by WMUDan
Brian's a smart guy.

BTW, OT and Goat have both refered to the "5 solid minutes" of Charley busting your chops. I think both of you owe it to every on here to say thats simply not true. 30-45 seconds I could see, 1:30 is a reach, but 5 minutes.... come on...

I have seen him harrass someone for 5 minutes. I am not kidding. THe guy couldn't have been less interested either. He was there with his son and kept trying to obviousley talk to his son and ignore Charlie but he just would not leave.

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by WMUDan
BTW, OT and Goat have both refered to the "5 solid minutes" of Charley busting your chops. I think both of you owe it to every on here to say thats simply not true. 30-45 seconds I could see, 1:30 is a reach, but 5 minutes.... come on...

If he does it for 10 seconds that's too long. I don't care what his opinion is on what I eat. He's there to serve hot dogs. If he stands there for more than 5 seconds after I pay for the dog, that's too long.

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
If he does it for 10 seconds that's too long. I don't care what his opinion is on what I eat. He's there to serve hot dogs. If he stands there for more than 5 seconds after I pay for the dog, that's too long.

Take the stick out of your *****.

BTW MCO, your liberal use of the word idiot makes the money your parents spent on your education look like a poor investment.

**OldTimey** · 05-20-2004, 02:44 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
If he does it for 10 seconds that's too long. I don't care what his opinion is on what I eat. He's there to serve hot dogs. If he stands there for more than 5 seconds after I pay for the dog, that's too long.

I was a waiter for a long time and I agree with this. I only made small talk when they initiated it. This is not demeaning. It's the nature of service. IF someone wants to talk to Charlie, that is fine. But his pushiness in starting conversations and lack of comprehension skills of when they're over is just bad service.

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by OldTimey
I was a waiter for a long time and I agree with this. I only made small talk when they initiated it. This is not demeaning. It's the nature of service. IF someone wants to talk to Charlie, that is fine. But his pushiness in starting conversations and lack of comprehension skills of when they're over is just bad service.

Exactly. He's in a service profession. He's more interested in making the event about him than your experience at the game. If I'm there with my girlfriend, I'm there to watch the game and spend it with her. Some of the peripherals are great. I enjoy the crowd and the unique things that you see only at a game in Detroit, but I don't like it shoved in my face. If there's something you don't like on TV, you can mute it. I'm glad he's been muted. If he wants to perform, have him be Paws. If he wants to serve hot dogs, serve the damn hot dogs. There are plenty of guys that have their own schtick at the ballpark doing service jobs, but they're not in your face.

**OldTimey** · 05-20-2004, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
Exactly. He's in a service profession. He's more interested in making the event about him than your experience at the game. If I'm there with my girlfriend, I'm there to watch the game and spend it with her. Some of the peripherals are great. I enjoy the crowd and the unique things that you see only at a game in Detroit, but I don't like it shoved in my face. If there's something you don't like on TV, you can mute it. I'm glad he's been muted. If he wants to perform, have him be Paws. If he wants to serve hot dogs, serve the damn hot dogs. There are plenty of guys that have their own schtick at the ballpark doing service jobs, but they're not in your face.

Well-put.

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
. I enjoy the crowd and the unique things that you see only at a game in Detroit, but I don't like it shoved in my face.

Serious question: Other than the fixtures in the park, ie statues, historical stands. What else at Comerica is something that is unique only to Detroit?

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by WMUDan
Serious question: Other than the fixtures in the park, ie statues, historical stands. What else at Comerica is something that is unique only to Detroit?

I'm talking about the unique ways that some of the vendors do their jobs. Like I said, alot of guys have their sctick, I just don't want it shoved in my face.

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 03:20 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
I'm talking about the unique ways that some of the vendors do their jobs. Like I said, alot of guys have their sctick, I just don't want it shoved in my face.

Any sctick you like in particular?

**MotownWebGuy** · 05-20-2004, 03:20 PM

Anybody remember the old (white hair) hot dog vendor at Tiger Stadium who would throw his bag of buns high into the air to draw attention? I liked that... I always hoped a gust of wind would blow his buns out of reach.

**NJ Jackal** · 05-20-2004, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
I'm talking about the unique ways that some of the vendors do their jobs. Like I said, alot of guys have their sctick, I just don't want it shoved in my face.

First off, I totally agree with Old Timey and MCO on this issue.

Second, the most popular vendor at Yankee Stadium is the peanut guy who tosses the peanuts from a mile away. This guy is absolutely amazing. He just flips it behind his back, hardly looking, from the other side of the section, and the bag will land in your lap. It's just something he does. The crowd cheers when he makes the more amazing tosses, but he doesn't react. He just goes up, gets the money, and says thank you. I think that is what MCO is talking about with that post.

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by NJ Jackal
First off, I totally agree with Old Timey and MCO on this issue.

Second, the most popular vendor at Yankee Stadium is the peanut guy who tosses the peanuts from a mile away. This guy is absolutely amazing. He just flips it behind his back, hardly looking, from the other side of the section, and the bag will land in your lap. It's just something he does. The crowd cheers when he makes the more amazing tosses, but he doesn't react. He just goes up, gets the money, and says thank you. I think that is what MCO is talking about with that post.

Exactly.

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by MotownWebGuy
Anybody remember the old (white hair) hot dog vendor at Tiger Stadium who would throw his bag of buns high into the air to draw attention? I liked that... I always hope a gust of wind would blow his buns out of reach.

I don't remember him but I do remember that I liked the dogs which were assembled right when you ordered them as opposed to the steamed pre-made ones they serve now. Those big metal boxes the vendors would carry around were cool.

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by MotownWebGuy
Anybody remember the old (white hair) hot dog vendor at Tiger Stadium who would throw his bag of buns high into the air to draw attention? I liked that... I always hope a gust of wind would blow his buns out of reach.

I think I remember him. Did he work the lower deck near home plate down the 1st base side?

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
Exactly.

But you can't think of a vendor you like at Comerica?

**Hongbit** · 05-20-2004, 03:31 PM

I am laughing at the blanket generalizations made by Charley's pals, Hellfaucet & rlord. Not to the posters on this board but the tons of random comments they made about other people. Rlord's rant and hellfaucets original are full of stuff that sure comes off as them thumbing their noses down on people as if they are far superior to the common man. Its one thing if someone is being funny but I didnt sense that in either post.

If you are going to make blanket generalizations about people at least make sure they are sort of close to the truth.

For example, Male figure skaters are gay. IMO, this is an acceptable blanket generalization.

Yeah, yeah, I know that Scott Hamilton is married to some hottie and now has a son. I'm not buying it. There are ponzi schemes that are more legit than that marriage.

BTW, you would be right if you are thinking that this entire post was just meaningless garble used to set up that Hamilton joke

**MotownWebGuy** · 05-20-2004, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by MotorCityOrangeman
Did he work the lower deck near home plate down the 1st base side?

He did work the lower deck, but I don't recall him being confined to one specific area. I spent a lot of time in the bleachers, so I didn't see him often.

**10458** · 05-20-2004, 03:34 PM

MWG> That guy was awesome! I have mentioned him on an earlier thread and nobody seemed to recall him. He would throw a bag of buns past the upper deck overhang and catch them! He always had some cool buttons and pins on his vest too! I miss that old guy! He was a staple for my years in the eighties going to games. Tram and Lou, Mr. Harwell above the WJR sign,and that guy were part of the experience.

BTW, NJ Jackal that peanut guy is flat out talented, that guy has bettyer control then some of ther pitchers!

**holygoat** · 05-20-2004, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by WMUDan
But you can't think of a vendor you like at Comerica?

I can: the ones who sell me a product without any guff and move the hell on. Those are the vendors I like.

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by WMUDan
But you can't think of a vendor you like at Comerica?

Well, since I lived in Syracuse, NY for five years and was in Michigan for the winter then moved to Washington, D.C. Nope.

**MotorCityOrangeman** · 05-20-2004, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by MotownWebGuy
He did work the lower deck, but I don't recall him being confined to one specific area. I spent a lot of time in the bleachers, so I didn't see him often.

As soon as you mentioned him I had a memory of sitting down the first baseline for a game against the Angels with him coming by.

**MotownWebGuy** · 05-20-2004, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by 10458
MWG> That guy was awesome! I have mentioned him on an earlier thread and nobody seemed to recall him. He would throw a bag of buns past the upper deck overhang and catch them! He always had some cool buttons and pins on his vest too! I miss that old guy!

Yep, that's him. He had his little "attention" tatic, but it wasn't something that was irritating. He tossed the buns in the air to alert people he was around, caught them, then sold some dogs before moving on to a new area.

It was fun just watching to see if the old guy would drop his buns.

**OldTimey** · 05-20-2004, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by holygoat
I can: the ones who sell me a product without any guff and move the hell on. Those are the vendors I like.

There was one African American guy probably 40-50 years old that said "waaasssuuuuup" a lot. He would talk a bit during the transaction then move on when it was done. I liked him.

**Oblong** · 05-20-2004, 03:56 PM

There was a beer guy last year and in years past who looked like Joe Sakic.

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by OldTimey
There was one African American guy probably 40-50 years old that said "waaasssuuuuup" a lot. He would talk a bit during the transaction then move on when it was done. I liked him.

That is so funny. This guy that your talking about yells "wasaasss upp" and "get your ice cold bottom feeders" and then procedes to press cold beers against the necks of unsuspecting fans. The guy is a grade A crack head, no doubt. But he's cool, right?

**WMUDan** · 05-20-2004, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by Oblong
There was a beer guy last year and in years past who looked like Joe Sakic.

I know who your talking about, his name is escaping me though, he's a good guy. Still down there too.

**OldTimey** · 05-20-2004, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by WMUDan
That is so funny. This guy that your talking about yells "wasaasss upp" and "get your ice cold bottom feeders" and then procedes to press cold beers against the necks of unsuspecting fans. The guy is a grade A crack head, no doubt. But he's cool, right?

I never had a beer pressed against my neck. If did that then I hate that guy. I thought the wassuuup stuff was lame as all get out. But I talked to him once and he made me laugh. Again, if he pressed beer against people's neck then he was a fool.

**DET Mr Malefic** · 05-21-2004, 12:17 AM

I remember the "Wassup" guy too........it was one of those things that was funny the first time and got worse and worse as it went on.

There's this one guy there though, I just like the way he talks. He'll talk about nothing at all and then relate it to beer. He'll come up the steps and go "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR BASEBALL! A NICE COOL NIGHT.................*lowers voice to Billy Dee Williams-like smooth talk*............but wouldn't it be better, with some cold beer?"

Or on opening day.......he saw me and my brother eating a pizza, and he was like "Mmmm.....that pizza looks good...........but I'll bet it'd taste better if you wash it down with some cold beer!. Then a couple of innings later he came by and saw that I had some water and he said "Boy I bet that water was refreshing! But nothing beats the taste of some cold beer!."

I like him, he's funny.