Amidst the Cubs and the Red Sox in the playoffs with a potential meeting in the World Series, and amidst the Marlins winning the World Championship, there was a far more improbable occurrence: Sausage-gate.
Last July 9 in Miller Park in Milwaukee, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Randall Simon struck the Italian Sausage during the traditional seventh-inning stretch sausage race. This is the story of that sausage. This is the story of UW-Madison sophomore Mandy Block, otherwise known as Guido, the Italian Sausage.
So Mandy, will you be running the sausage races again this year?
Probably not, just because I'm taking classes in Madison this summer so I won't be in Milwaukee. It was an awesome job; I'm kind of disheartened to leave it.
When Randall Simon attacked you while dressed as a sausage, did you ever think of reporting a hate crime to gain rights for linked meats everywhere?
No, that never really crossed my mind. That's really funny though. I did get a certificate of bravery from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Association. I didn't even know there was such a thing!
No way, could you read that for me?
...Whereas the Italian Sausage showed great character by courageously rising to its seemingly tiny legs following the clubbing and whereas the very next night Guido not only bravely resumed racing on the Brewers infield but managed to win the hotly contested event, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council today awards a certification of bravery to Guido the Italian Sausage for its courageous conduct and designates July 12 as Italian Sausage Saturday in honor of the character's heroic performance.\ I got a patch and everything. ... It's one of my most prized possessions.
Was it a traumatizing experience?
No, he didn't even hit me hard. I didn't even know he hit me until I saw the replay. I didn't even know what it was!
So, was it tough for you to face the demons and put on the costume the next day?
It wasn't actually me the next day. They wouldn't let me run for a few days. They thought it was a big ordeal and I was in danger.
Wow, talk about increased security. Simon was fined $2,000 and suspended for three games. What's your take on that?
Know what? I thought it was kind of ridiculous. I mean they handcuffed the guy and took him out of the game like he killed someone... he was just fooling around! I guess the media didn't see it that way at all.
Any advice to this year's runners to avoid being attacked?
Don't run next to dugouts.
I gotta ask: Is there a strategy to running the sausage race?
Oh yeah! You gotta get the inside... and you need to watch the other guys too... They'll corner you out.
