Who really came up with Breakfast Town, USA?
by Dex on Aug 12, 2009 7:18 AM PDT
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As time passes between the present and our evening with Tom Garfinkel, I find myself getting more and more hazy in regards to what we were allowed to talk to and what was off the record. One of the things Garfinkel mentioned was how he came up with Breakfast Town, U.S.A. I'm pretty sure it's OK that I tell the story, but if not, prepare for retribution from on high.
Anyways, the story. Who knows if I remember it right anyways...
We were sitting behind home plate and JBox had ribbed Mr. Garfinkel for what must have been the dozenth time about the Breakfast Town thing. Garfinkel finally looked at us and said, "You know how I got that Breakfast Town thing?"
"How'd you get it?"
Garfinkel leaned in close like he didn't want people nearby to hear. "I was at a function and meeting some different people. I got to talking to Rolf Benrischke and he said to me, 'You oughta do something with breakfast. This is a breakfast town you know.' I looked at him and told him that he was like the fourth person to tell that to me and Benirschke said it's cause it was true."
"So wait. That's it?" we asked.
"Yep," Garfinkel said. "Rolf Benirschke."
"The kicker from the 1980s."
"Yep."
"The guy who had the bowel thing who does all the blood drives?"
"Yep."
Well of course he would say the place is a breakfast town. All he ever does is blood drives. As far as he's concerned, you're only worth meeting if you've eaten breakfast, you're not afraid of needles and you weigh at least 110 pounds. San Diego may just as easily be Enjoys Eating Cookies and Drinking Small Cups of Orange Juice Town to a guy like Rolf Benirschke.
The moral of the story: A unit of donated blood may be used to save up to three lives. So go eat breakfast and donate.
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Rolf was also the host of Wheel of Fortune for one season
During Pat Sajak’s ill-advised late night talk show phase…
Every time my wife is watching wheel of fortune I remind her how Sajak stole Rolf’s job after his talk show when down in flames…
by Stephen (shaynes41) on Aug 12, 2009 7:52 AM PDT reply actions
Shortly after this post
Dex was found dead. Choked on a breakfast burrito. I would keep my mouth shut jbox something doesn’t sound right about this.
www.400in94.wordpress.com
These are the things that happen
in Drinking Small Cups of Orange Juice Town
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Aug 12, 2009 9:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Dex must have received an "A" in Creative Writing
Pretty far from the actual story, but when I shared the idea with many long-time San Diegans, no less than 4 of them responded with “that’s a great idea, this is a breakfast town!” And yes, Rolf was a supporter of the idea.
by TOM GARFINKEL on Aug 12, 2009 9:37 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Geez having "no less than 4" people mention something to you
is all it takes to make a major marketing decision for a Major League Baseball team?
www.400in94.wordpress.com
Can we call you Fink?
"I bleed powder blue." - Antonio Gates
by matthewverygood on Aug 12, 2009 9:49 AM PDT reply actions
?
Prince changed his name to a symbol. Can we refer to you by posting Art Garfunkel images?
It absolutely is a breakfast town, by the way. On a Saturday or Sunday morning you see lines outside of good breakfast places, but that rarely happens at dinner time.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Aug 12, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
There's "no less than 4" of us
on here that would prefer to call you Fink or Finkel or even refer to you as random pictures of Art Garfunkel therefore I think it would have to be OK. Am I correct?
May I suggest placing NAPA, Home Depot & Kellogs Corn Flakes ads across the new Red, White and Blue FRIARS Padres jerseys next year??
www.400in94.wordpress.com
What I mean to say is...
The president of your favorite baseball team is participating in a forum and we’re concerned with what sorts of nicknames we can come up with?
by Dex on Aug 12, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sorry Dex
We know no other way.
Honestly though, I think some of us don’t want to overwhelm Tom with questions that he either doesn’t know the answer to or isn’t allowed to answer. I doubt he’s breaking news in the GLB comments section anytime soon, no offense.
When we have nerdy fan questions, we go to Depodesta. What purpose does Tom serve for us other than being another fan of the team?
Also, in our defense, he started it with his Austin Powers references and mentioning of a sleeping “Gimp”. Perhaps we think we’ll win him over by matching his humor.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Aug 12, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm just wondering why
he’s wasting his time here when he could be coming up with some more brilliant ideas.
Padres 2010 Promotional Schedule (July)
July 1st Breakfast Night
July 2nd Macarena night
July 4th Unveiling of the new Red, White & Blue Jerseys
July 5th Breakfast Day
July 6th Friar Demolition Night *
July 7th Breakfast Night
July 14th Where’s the Beef Night
July 15th Rolf Benirschke Blood Donor Night *
July 16th Bobblehead Day (First 150 through the gate) **
July 17th Breakfast Day
July 18th Re-retire Steve Garvey’s #6 Night
July 19th Padres vs White Sox Jake Peavy Night****
July 22nd Dex & jbox Wine & Dine Night in conjunction with Breakfast Nights in San Diego
Bring all your items that have the term “Friar” on it to destroy
*Give blood and get a free Orange Juice
*Depending on how many season ticket packages we sell this year the bobbleheads will range from the Tom Werner/Mike Pagliarulo/Doug Mirabelli/Matt Bush “F U San Diego” set to the Tony Gwynn/Dave Winfield/Randy Jones/Jerry Coleman Padres HOF set
**Sweet Home Alabama will be played with a video tribute before Jake Peavy starts for the opposing Chicago White Sox
www.400in94.wordpress.com
need to add
June 8th, un-retire Steve Garvey Night
August 23: un-retire Steve Garvey Night part II
Sept 1st: re-retire Steve Garvey Night
"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
I think it's pretty cool that Tom at least reads your comments
so I’m not sure what the purpose of making up nicknames and being kind of disrespectful is. Unless you’re just trying to get him to stop being involved by annoying him and the rest of us.
No offense.
at least his nickname was original....
NOT!
Don't hate the game, hate the nerds!
by thenerdhater on Aug 12, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
agreed
espesscially since he really really needs to lower the price of beer.
In-fact can we get an Actual Beer Garden at Petco. Filled with all the local Micro Brews we have in the area? It should be a little court area with the 4-5 local distributors set up, street tacos, breakfast burritos, etc.
"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
by Ron Mexico on Aug 12, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I always wondered
why we didn’t have more local brews. You go to almost any other ballpark and they have tons to choose from. Plus the Mexican food has to be legit too….not Rubios. I’m with Axion on that one….I’d go to games just for that.
www.400in94.wordpress.com
Agreed on no Rubios
Franchises turn me away, unless it’s something specific to another region. I am discouraged by all the Ruby’s signs that have shown up in the ballpark, too. I know it’s the same thing, but I liked it better when it was some Generic Padres Food name. Friar Franks beats Weinerschnitzel any day.
Also interested in what the breakdown is of people that buy the good beers (microbrews) as opposed to that sparkling yellow water that is available for much cheaper. Like, would it even be worth it to set that up if the majority of fans aren’t beer connoisseurs?
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
side note
I remember at the Q. going behind homeplate just to get the Hebrew National Dogs. Winershnitzel dogs suck.
"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
A win-win situation
Stone Brewery Beer Garden inside the park. Up here in the thriving metropolis of Portland we have a Widmer Brother’s beer garden in the park and it is constantly packed. if you want to get a table you have to arrive super early to the game and… you end up consuming more, which translates into profit for Stone and Padres and drunk happy fans.
"Get on board early," Black said, alluding to, what he feels, is a crop of up-and-coming players.
"I would tell those fans that we're going to play good baseball. We're going to play hard. We're going to have exciting young players..." -Bud Black
Awesome
That would almost be enough to show up for, game or not.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
Are you talking to me?
Sorry didn’t mean to annoy you jbox. I’ll stop I guess. I didn’t come up with any nicknames though that was the other 3 guys (John/Mato/Alvarez). My whole point that I was trying to make is yes Tom Garfinkel seems like a nice guy on this board and yes from what I’ve read of him seems like a cool guy but he is the most out of touch guy I have ever come across in this great city. And you guys thought the same too back in the day. But I guess those days are long gone. Oh well.
www.400in94.wordpress.com
Here's the thing
his answers in that Q&A were edited so while they did seem upsetting, once he gets a chance to explain it’s not really that bad. As I say when/if we can still do an interview hopefully he’ll get to explain in more detail.
Honestly, I still don’t get the Breakfast thing entirely, but there’s no harm in it. The Padres do all type of events so that they can stay profitable.
What we did learn from meeting Tom is that he is open to criticism and new ideas, but I don’t think anybody likes to be taunted repeatedly.
How about this...
you ask some of your nerdy fan questions either by email or here in the comments and we’ll ask him in the event that he still wants to do an interview with us.
How about you put that in your pipe and smoke it
Don't hate the game, hate the nerds!
by thenerdhater on Aug 12, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm sure Tom has had a lifetime's worth of Garfunkel jokes
I think we should pride ourselves on avoiding the low-hanging fruit.
With that, I submit:
Party on, Garf.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
by Axion on Aug 12, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
funny
"Get on board early," Black said, alluding to, what he feels, is a crop of up-and-coming players.
"I would tell those fans that we're going to play good baseball. We're going to play hard. We're going to have exciting young players..." -Bud Black
Wait a second...
I see a strong resemblance to Allen Covert, “sidekick to Adam Sandler in all his movies” fame…
www.400in94.wordpress.com
Finkel would be better
just so this clip can be used
C'mon guise,
would this man sell you a less-then-awesome breakfast?
I don’t think so.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
and I just used then instead of than
I hate me
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
I believe you meant to say
“I hate myself”
You’re welcome.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Aug 12, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
While making this, I made a discovery
I don’t wanna sound like a queer or nothin’, but Tom Garfinkel is an attractive male.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
Typo tumor
Science still has no answer. But I bet Tom could ruin a few keyboards, too.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
Hi Tom ;-)
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." - Earl Weaver
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Aug 12, 2009 11:41 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
You and Tom
Will be GLB BFF ASAP IMO. BTW LMAO.
"Get on board early," Black said, alluding to, what he feels, is a crop of up-and-coming players.
"I would tell those fans that we're going to play good baseball. We're going to play hard. We're going to have exciting young players..." -Bud Black
by The Kipper on Aug 12, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s the hardest I’ve laughed in a while. I don’t know what I found that so funny.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Aug 12, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
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