I sang a wrong word

I sang a wrong word. i have to admit it and it's on film. Ok film that was probably erased a minute after i left but it still happened. Friday morning was my try-out for the second annual 7th Inning stretch competition at Wrigley. it was a warm day and I was lucky to be in the first round of singers for the day. This year I heard they only had one day of try-outs with approximately 1,100 people invited to sing. In two days last year that was about the number of people that showed up even though about twice as many were invited. That's what was passed on to us by the escort we had to lead us around Wrigley. He escorted us down into the bowls of Wrigley. There we sat in the stuffy heat of the hallway while we waited to be called. After the first person went, there were technical problems that had to be solved before the next person could sing. We had about 35 minutes to check out our surroundings and chat with each other.

Across the way from us hung the chains they use in-between the innings to smooth out the dirt on the infield.

To the left of me sat stacks and stacks of the "kitty litter" they use on the field to soak up the puddles after a rain delay.

To the right of me sat sandbags and the rakes they used to tidy up the field.

A rather interesting place to sit and wait. Did i mention that it was warm down there? I was glad to have brought some water even though it went fast. Finally it was time to get going again, good thing because we were starting to melt. the next three people went in and came out, then it was my turn. I was warm and a little nervous. I joked with my escort, as we entered the air conditioned room with some showers, and asked if i could take a quick shower. I entered the next room which I learned was the umpires locker room. It was small but had some nice big comfortable looking recliners. I stood up there and started singing... "take me out to the ball game. take me out with the park..." what? what did i just sing? keep singing. keep singing. "I said a wrong word. I'm so sorry. I've never done that." i blurted that out as soon as i was done. "yah you did but you sounded really good while you did it," was one of the judges response. "I'm sure you've noticed that most people who sing don't get the words right. Don't worry about it." The judge asked a couple of questions and then thanks me for singing and i'm on my way. I can't believe i mess-up. I've never done that before. I was hoping to at least make it to the next 50 this year but doubt that will happen now. Even with the extra waiting time I was done and outside by 10:30.

One piece of sad news was announced on the news Friday morning, the young man that won the 7th inning stretch competition passed away. He was battling cancer last year and lost his battle just as the competition for this year was starting. My prayers go out to his family.