I hope everybody had a terrific holiday season and a
great New Year!  I’m so excited for 2009
and already can’t wait for opening day. 
I was able to start off 2009 with some volunteering with a bunch of
employees from Nationals
Park.  The Washington Nationals’ Dream foundation
teamed up with Rebuilding Together, a non-profit organization dedicated to
improving the lives of families.  Rebuilding
together hooked us up with Angela who needed a new roof, painting, and many other
repairs to her home.  My friends at the
park who had special plumbing and carpentry skills (not me!) started the
project by re-roofing her home as well as re-storing her front and back
porches.  I was able lend a hand using my
amazing brush skills and helped paint the inside of the house!  The walls and the roof look so much better
now, and it sure feels good to help people in need.  I’ll be looking for all you Screech fans in
the community over the next couple of weeks, and hope to see you all at NatsFest
on January 25^th!

Hello again everyone, and it is great to be back
blogging!  I hope you all had a great
turkey day, and if you still have leftovers, I suggest throwing them out!  It sure has been a long time since my last
blog and since then, the Nationals finished their first full season in the beautiful Nats Park, the
Phillies won the World Series (argh!), a presidential election took place, and
most importantly, Teddy ran a marathon!

The other day, I hung out
with my cousin Slapshot from the Capitals along with other collegiate mascots
and helped him referee a “mites on ice” game during the first intermission of a
Capitals vs Thrashers game.  I was so
impressed in how great the mites played, because take it from me, that ice was
slippery!  I may have lost a few feathers
from slipping and sliding so often!

This past Saturday, John Lannan and I hung out at the ESPN
zone to meet and greet the members of the Boys and Girls club of Greater
Washington.  John handed out Christmas
gifts courtesy of the Washington Nationals to all of the children while I got
my dance on to all the great Christmas music! 
After everyone was finished receiving their gifts and eating lunch, I
was able to play the arcade games with all my new friends in the downstairs
level.  I got to ride some motorcycles,
jet skis, skateboards and go white water rafting….. all the electronic version
of course!  The event was so much
fun and really got me into the Christmas mood! 
I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all in the community in the near
future and happy holidays to everybody! 

Until next time, 

Screech!

It’s amazing how time flies!  Team comes back from being on the road, I turn 3 years old last week and we win another exciting game on a walk-off homerun!!!  It’s crazy.

Yes, your little eagle here turned 3 last week, and boy I’m happy to be growing up!  I spent my birthday watching the team play the Mets in the big apple, then got thinking about food and had some gummy worms and a Ben’s Chilli Dog for dinner.  I spent the rest of the night watching movies in my nest (sadly, I can’t use the 1,000 foot big screen to watch) and playing video games in the Playstation 3 Pavilion all night!  The Presidents surprised me with some gifts and the grounds crew let me run around on the field.  It’s the perfect birthday, and I’m hoping some of my fine furry friends get to celebrate with me before the homestand is over!!!!

I also spent the past couple weeks having fun with fans too!  I entertained some VIPs at the park during dinner in the PNC Diamond Club and then headed over to do some bowling at George Washington University’s campus in the Hippodrome.  Those college kids know how to bowl!

Well, after taking two of three from those Cubbies we’re going up against those Braves again and then the Pirates….I called the Parrot the other day to tell him we’re going to beat them!  He’s one crazy bird!

Until next week, have fun and I’ll see you at the games…free t-shirts tonight and Dmitri Young Bobbleheads this weekend!  Get your tickets now for some fun baseball at nationals.com!

GO NATS!!!!!!

Screech

There’s nothing better then the sweet smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of the crack of the bat, and the taste of half smokes on the grill!  That means only one thing….Opening Day!

It’s been a whirlwind week everyone as we kicked off baseball in DC for 2008 and at my lovely new nest…I mean the team’s lovely new home, Nationals Park.  It was a packed house of over 40,000 people and many more on ESPN as we beat the Braves with my man Ryan Zimmerman’s bottom-of-the ninth home run to win the game.  For this almost 4 year old eagle, it was one of the most exciting baseball games I had seen.  And, better yet, I was only 30 feet from the President when he threw out the first pitch!  I think we’re best buddies, since he has had me over to his house many times…I flew over for the Easter Egg Roll a few weeks ago, so it was only right to invite him to my house too.

But I’ve been one busy eagle to, as I’ve been flying all over the DC area having fun with fans young and old.  Besides Opening Day of our season, I helped open up little league seasons this past weekend, including my friends at Alexandria Potomac, who just happened to have the best team take a picture with me!

I also got a chance to help out at the MS Walk in downtown DC this weekend and get a sweet picture at the Canadian Embassy which you can check out below!  They kept saying that my buddy ACE was the better bird up in Toronto, but we’ll see….

Well, it’s back to the field as I get ready for tonight’s game against the Marlins as we continue the homestand until Sunday, and make sure you come get your magnet schedule and car flag this week because they look super cool!  You can always get tickets at nationals.com or gameday tickets at the box office.

Catch you all next week, and congrats to my fine furry friends Gwiz and Slapshot on their playoffs!

Go Nats!!

Screech

Well, it?s 2008 and the start of a new year.  And what does the first week of 2008 bring?   Cold weather and then warm spring like temperatures!!  It feels like baseball is right around the corner!!!  The season can?t get here soon enough!

It?s also been a little over 5 months since my last post!  It?s been a whirlwind 4 and half months and suddenly, it is winter, and Spring Training is only a few months away.  But it?s been far too long since I?ve let you know what?s going on here in my life, so lets get to it!

I?ve been one busy eagle over the past few months, as after the All Star Break and throughout August and September we had baseball to play.  The fans were so much fun and for everyone, it was sad to see the season end, and with it, baseball at RFK Stadium.  I?m sure going to miss that place!

But what better way to go out in style then having me fly in to deliver the shovel to the Lerner Family to dig up home plate with Manny Acta! 

And I can?t wait until opening day 2008 as we open new Nationals Park here in DC.  I?ve been stopping by every so often to make sure everything is going well, and now that the grass has been laid down, it looks ready for a game!  You can still buy your season tickets @ nationals.com so you can join in the fun.  There?s only a few months left before it opens, and it?s going to be one awesome place!  And, my nest is oh-so comfy!

But now the season is done and I miss baseball?  I?ve been keeping busy by flying around the DC area to see Nationals fans and take part in some fun events.  I?ve been helping out the federal government with the Combined Federal Campaign, visiting the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy and other offices!  I?ve also been to a few youngsters? birthday parties and help celebrate the wedding of two big Nationals fans in VA?.I even got a dance with the bride, who was so surprised to see me there!

Well, it?s time to celebrate 2008 with the Presidents, who just one an award?Gameops.com voted them the Best In-Game Promotion of 2007, and it went straight to their heads?.hehehe, a little mascot humor!  And check out nationals.com to see where I’ll be over the next few weeks with our awesome Winter Tour with players, Manager Manny Acta and more to get fans excited for 2008!  I?ll be back here in a little while to keep you up to date on all the fun, and feel free to write me @ screech@nationals.com!!!

Screech!

You?re probably thinking, ?Geeeeee, Screech got lazy and hasn?t been posting on his blog lately?? And to that I?d say no way jose! I?ve been very very busy since my last post right before the All Star Game, and I just have not had a chance to sit down and put something up for you all!
First, let?s go back a few weeks to the end of the series vs the Brewers. The All Star Game was coming up on July 11th and I was ready to fly west, but only after we finished our series on Sunday. Right after the 7th inning stretch, the Nat Pack helped me pack up my blue suitcase and I flew off the dugout, off to head west to meet all my friends in San Fran.

A few hours later I was on the ground, and the fun didn?t stop! I spent one day over at DHL Fan Fest (sadly, I missed the Mascot Home Run Derby a few days earlier, which TC won, and I didn?t get to make up for my poor, poor 2005 showing?I was a new eagle at the time!). I greeted tons of fans from all over the world and even saw some Hall of Famers during the day. I then flew over to the real home run derby at AT&T Park and got a chance to see the entire park, as well as see the field?.from the field. We all got a chance to jump around on the dugouts and then got a great picture of us fur balls in centerfield thanks to hometown fav Lou Seal.

From there it was a bit of relaxation, but then back to the fun as I helped open a new Boys and Girls Club with Willie Mays!!! Then, off to the Pre-Game Party where I took more pictures, danced to Macy Gray and tried some exotic foods?this eagle learned he doesn?t like shrimp. Sadly, no gummy worms were on the menu.

After that, we all got a chance to enjoy a game as a fan, and it was a treat. The game was great, and my buddy D Young was there for the Nationals! I cheered really loud from my seats in left field for him, but once again the NL lost?..and boy, did the AL Mascots rub it in! Next year is our year in NYC, the big apple!

After the trip to San Fran (and yes, I rode a cable car and toured the Golden Gate bridge), it was back to fun times in DC with our series against the Astros and Rockies, and what a series it was, with our boys going 5-2 at home!! I also got a chance to greet fans during the morning around DC as 2008 season tickets went on sale for our new park!! Get yours today!!! After that homestand, it was time for a little R and R for this eagle. I spent some time with Teddy at the National Martime Intelligence Center?s family day, cleaned up my nest, and caught a little DC United soccer to. And to cap it off, I hung out with Pax this past Saturday at the WNBA?s Mystics game?.he?s such a fun panda. But we play 3 games against the Reds, so I?m headed back to the field to help the groundskeepers get the field ready, and maybe a short nap..I?m beat! Until next time, go Nats!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Nats fans!  It?s been a few weeks since my last post, but I haven?t had a chance to get to my computer as I?ve been one busy eagle these past few weeks.  Since my last post we?ve swept the Orioles at Camden Yards, finished off interleague play and I got to slam some cupcakes and cakes in the faces of opposing fans!  Don?t worry, I ordered extra cake so I could have some after the game.

Outside of all the games, I got to travel down to the great state of Texas to visit with my friend Rangers Captain for a mascot party.  My friends Bernie Brewer, Ace, Dinger and Mariner Moose all joined me in Arlington for a few games, some fun and even a music video, which I hope I can post soon.  It was fun to be in a different ballpark, see some fans, hang out with my friends in fur and have some fun!  We got to travel around in style, see the sights, and sing Deep in the Heart of Texas!  And the best part was there were a few Nationals fans at the games who loved seeing me and the crowd went nuts for my trademark split when I was dancing on the dugout.

But I have to cut this post short as my gummy worms are ready and I?ve got to take the field for tonight?s game?and then pack for my big trip out west to San Francisco for the All Star Game!!!!!!  I?ll try and post from the west coast (hey, that rhymes!) and fill you in on all the fun and adventures that I have at the game, Fan Fest and with all my major league friends?..until next time, GO NATS!!!!!

Hey hey Nats fans!  Spring is warming up, which means summer is right around the corner?.and we?re already a good ways into the 2007 season!  It?s been great having the team back in DC, and they?re playing great too!  I?m having so much fun seeing many of my fans, friends and kids around the park, and I?m glad everyone is so excited to be at a game.  And just so you know, I love two things?signing autographs and taking pictures, so don?t ever be afraid to stop by and say hello?.just be aware I may try and take your food. 

And I want to remind all you young Nats fans to sign up for the Jr. Nats Club online at nationals.com!  We have a lot of great deals for you and it?s a lot of fun to be a member?I wish I could join, but they tell me since I work for the team, I can?t.  Oh well, I?ll just hang out with all you members in the mean time!

So, as many of you noticed (thanks for the cards, gummy worms and gifts), I turned 2 years old this past April, and I felt it was time to go through the old mail bag of fan e-mails and letters to answer some of your questions:

Q: What do you do when the team is on the road?
A: Well, I get to have fun!  The Nat Pack, Clint and myself go out and see the town, filming videos for the scoreboard, hang out at the ESPN Zone (I love the virtual reality pitching cage!) for Nat Pack Nights and Viewing Parties and cheer on the team.  Sometimes the Racing Presidents and I just hit the town for some fun and hand out free stuff, which people seem to enjoy;)  But I spend most of my time catching up on sleep, watching the games on TV and on the radio and helping take care of RFK.  The grounds crew let?s me play around on the grass, and I get a great seat for DC United soccer games thanks to my buddy Talon!

Q: What?s your favorite part of being the team mascot?
A: The fact that I not only get to cheer on the team and play around on the field, but seeing all the happy fans in the crowd and making you laugh!  Everybody loves having fun, and I?m glad I get to be a part if it.

Q: What size jersey do you wear?
A: It?s an XXXXL?.the clubhouse has to specialty order it for me so it fits just right.

Q: Who is your favorite mascot friend?
A: My favorite, wow?I don?t know who to pick!  I love getting together with my other Major League Baseball friends for birthday parties, special events and our big ?family reunion?, the All Star Game?I get to fly out to San Francisco this year!  I also love exploring DC with Talon from DC United, Slapshot from the Caps and GWiz from the Wizards?..he?s teaching me how to dunk!

Q: Are you excited to move your nest to the new stadium next year?
A: Yes I am!  I really love RFK?hey, I was hatched here!……but I got a chance to tour the new stadium the other week for a kids day at the park and it looks fantastic!  They showed me all the design plans, took me through the construction site (they had to get a big hard hat for me) and showed me where my next will be next year, and it?s going to be so much fun.  I can?t wait to see the stadium progress and all the new additions that will be there!

Well, that?s all the time I?ve got as we have a game against the Braves so I have to go help the Presidents get ready for the game?.maybe Teddy will finally win one!

And feel free to e-mail me at screech@nationals.com with pictures, questions or fan mail!  Until next time, go Nats!!!!

There’s nothing like baseball being back! It’s been a whirlwind week here for this young eagle as we opened up the 2007 season with a bang at RFK Stadium, our third year in the city and the last season at RFK! I’m going to miss calling RFK home and flying around the park, but the team’s new stadium is looking really nice…..the perfect place to build a new nest next season.
This opening homestand was great, with over 40,000 fans coming out to Opening Day and the great weather, and the free Tickets.com hats! I saw many old friends, and met a lot of new faces at the park and its sure going to be a great season. A fan even gave me copies of my own limited edition Topps baseball card for my nest……not many 2 year old eagles that can say that!

And I wasn’t the only one in flight that day as Teddy decided that all his off-season training wasn’t worth it and tried to win the Presidents Race by zip-lining in to the finish line. Too bad I had to disqualify him for illegal use of a zip line! I’m going to make sure he gets back on that treadmill and loses a few pounds (like I’m one to talk!).

And as if the 7 games were amazing to start the season, this eagle got to get up close and personal with the best house in the countryâ?¦the White House. I took my Presidential friends over to the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House to play with all the kids and join in the fun. We had our pictures taken with just about everyone there, and I saw the First Lady and many Cabinet members. Check them out in the Fan Forum! Sadly, I wasn’t allowed inside the actual White House, despite the fact that I was with four former Presidents! Also, they have a no 6 foot eagle policy too!

I’m looking forward to keeping you all up to date with what’s going on with me here in my blog, and keep sending me your questions and fan mail to screech@nationals.com! Go Nats!!!!!

The sweet smell of fresh grass, the crack of the bat, and getting a tan?..all sights and sounds of Spring Training!  I can?t believe it?s time to start another season here in DC and with the team in Florida, you know it?s right around the corner.  While our Nationals get set for an exciting 2007 season down in Viera, Florida, your fluffy eagle here has been living it up in DC!  I?ve been flying all over the area for a lot of events with fans, and even got to help two younger fans celebrate their birthdays?.they had some of the best cake and ice cream, but I?ve got to watch my weight;) 

But when I?m not entertaining fans this month, I?ve been preparing for the season myself.  I?ve been working with the Nat Pack on some new fun stuff for the upcoming games, have been training with the Presidents for this year?s races (Teddy did an extended program with the team in Florida) and have been practicing my driving skills in the Safeway truck for the T-shirt launch!  It?s March already, so I?ve got only a few short weeks before our first game against those Orioles here at RFK (we?ll see if my fine feathered friend the Orioles Bird dares to come down!) and then Opening Day.  I?ll have more for you in a few weeks, so keep your eyes on the blog and let?s go Nats!

Always online: screech@nationals.com!!!!!