George Washington welcomes you to Tysons Corner Center
Tysons, Virginia
Last week I went out to the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center. On Tuesday the MLB All Star Game was broadcast on a large screen. On this occasion the sports talk radio station 106.7 The Fan was there to give away prizes for the Washington Nationals. Danny Rouhier emceed some of the games, and running president George Washington came to say hello!
Running president George Washington on the Plaza
Prior to this week, there was a concert stage setup right where the large TV screen was installed. Rachel Platten sang for the crowd, and this night she was now singing the National Anthem at the All Star Game! Above all, George Washington was the star of this event. Undeniably being the tallest person in the room helps to garner attention!
Washington Nationals running president greeting kids on the PlazaDanny Rouhier emcee for the MLB All Star Game event at Tysons Corner CenterGeorge Washington mascot at Tysons Corner Center Plaza
Luckily, the weather in Tysons was just as good as San Diego where the game was played!
A few weekends ago Denard Span of the Washington Nationals took some time out of his busy weekend to meet and greet with fans and a little league team at the Tysons Bullpen. The visit came in the middle of the season during a home stretch for the Nationals. If you have not followed the story of the team for this year, they are playing very well! In fact, they were in the middle for a long winning streak at the time of the photos, and Denard’s play was a big reason for their success.
For the time he was at the mall, he talked about his upbringing, his background in sports and the role it played in his development. He gave all of us an insight into what it is like to be a big league player. There are many perks, but it is a big responsibility. One of the best things I heard him say was that he still felt lucky and blessed to be doing what he is doing. To be a major league baseball player, and to have the support of his teammates and fans alike pushes him to keep working as hard as he can. He sets big goals for himself, and he is still working towards others.
Grant Paulsen from 106.7 The Fan radio station was there to get the discussion going. Hearing that baseball players play 162 games over 182 days really impressed how much of a grind it can be. There are not too many days off during the season. With all the games, travel, and playoffs if the team does well, I can see how it can be difficult. This was really eye opening for me, and seeing the difference between that and the little leaguers in the audience, you could tell that they appreciated the effort that he puts in to be where is today. It was inspiring to listen, and pushes me to do more with my own efforts.
He definitely made me a fan, and I’ll be looking to see how the Nationals do this fall as the playoffs loom. He was very nice to the little ball players, and the fans, and I can see why they root for him and the Nationals. Maybe they will be playing baseball in October in DC!
