Sam Arkwright Diary
August 8th, 2022 (continued)
The face staring at me intently wasn't MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. It was not A's President Dave Kaval, though the man was wearing a green and yellow ballcap. No, this was the last person I would ever expect to see at a video game convention.
I quickly pressed record on my transcription device.
Quote:
[Begin Transcription, 4:40 pm Pacific, 8/8/22]
John Fisher: Sam Arkwright!
Arkwright: John... Fisher...
Fisher: You're a tough man to find.
Arkwright: Are you here to get an Arkade for your nephew?
Fisher: (chuckles) No, I'm here to see you.
Arkwright: Really...
Fisher: I hear you're the one who gets things done in Las Vegas.
Arkwright: Who told you that?
Fisher: The Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
Arkwright: Is that so?
Fisher: Absolutely. Rob spoke very highly of you. He said you could be a useful ally in this town. And I could use a friend right now.
Arkwright: What kind of a friend?
Fisher: The kind of friend who can grease the wheels for me. I'm running into some... resistance.
Arkwright: Are we talking about the stadium site in Henderson?
Fisher: That dump? No way. I'm not building in that hell hole. I'm looking at a site in Vegas. It's on the Strip. It's perfect.
Arkwright: So what's the hold-up?
Fisher: Apparently, I'm not the only one who wants it. Now I feel like I'm getting jerked around by the seller. Are you familiar with the Tropicana?
Arkwright: The ballpark in Tampa?
Fisher: No. The casino.
Arkwright: Vaguely familiar.
Fisher: What about Bally's?
Arkwright: Rings a bell.
Fisher: You know... for a guy who's supposed to be connected in Vegas, you don't seem to know a whole lot about the town.
Arkwright: I'm not much of a gambler. And I try to stay off the Strip as much as possible.
Fisher: Good. Then I feel a little better about letting you in on this. Last thing I need is another bidder.
Arkwright: So what does all this have to do with Bally's and the Tropicana?
Fisher: It might be best if you actually see what I'm talking about. Got time for a quick road trip?
Arkwright: I've got a better idea.
[End Transcription]
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I pulled out my phone and texted my Sol squad. I told them I'd be skipping out early, but that I'd be back in time for the closing ceremonies at 6pm.
I ushered Fisher to a private access door at the back of the hotel. We hopped on an idle golf cart parked in the alleyway, and we drove across the Sol campus to the main tower. I pointed out different sites along the way -- things avid gamers and tourists eat up -- but Fisher showed little to no interest. Unless this man has the best poker face in the world, he avoids video games and tech like the plague. I attempted to change the subject on the elevator ride up to the top. I mentioned Sean Murphy's recent hot streak. Four multi-hit games in his last five games. A 50-point jump in batting average from mid-June to now. Like I said, this stuff is always running in the background. It amazed me that Fisher had genuinely no clue what I was talking about. Does he even watch the team that he owns?
We mercifully reached the rooftop at Sol. The elevator door opened, revealing my experimental aircraft. As Fisher tried his best to hide his amazement -- again, not much of a poker face -- I pushed a button on the phone app, remote starting the turbine engine. Almost instantaneously, the rotors spun at full speed, simultaneously sending Fisher's ballcap flying into the air, exposing his bald head. He cautiously followed as the cockpit hatch opened right in front of us.
Pictured: A's catcher Sean Murphy