Monday, July 22, 2013

An Update from the True Fan in Giants Territory

Remember when Ron Johnstone sent us a video of his son Casey professing his true Dodger fandom in a school full of Giants fans? And then the video went viral? And then Casey was invited to throw out the first pitch at a Dodgers game, and the Johnstones pledged the proceeds from their video to the Bryan Stow support fund?

Well, Ron was kind enough to write us with an update:

Hi guys, just wanted to check in and send thanks (again) for your coverage of my son Casey's graduation speech — your posts contributed significantly toward a wave of YouTube views that resulted in a decent amount of ad revenue on the video.

As you may know, our family decided early on that 100% of whatever we made via YouTube would be donated to the Bryan Stow Fund. So far, we've sent $1000 to the Stow family. I don't expect much more money will be made (Casey's 15 minutes of fame are clearly up!) but any additional/future earnings will of course continue to be sent to Bryan.

(Less importantly — but still important — it's getting a bit easier to be a Dodgers fan here in the Bay Area...since Casey's graduation speech, LAD is 19-9 [now 22-9] and SFG is 8-20 [now 10-21]!)

Thanks again for everything + Go Dodgers!

Thanks for the update, Ron, and good on you and your family for your generous gesture!

7 comments:

Orlando Zepeda said...

Would appreciate advice from Ron on how he successfully accomplished keeping his son from the dark side. Will most likely raise a family in SF (marrying a SF native and actual Giants fan, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YifKR0LNLhY)and would like to tip the odds in my favor.

Unknown said...

If you are willing to commit, it's pretty easy, actually. Brainwash early and often -- array of blue toddler shirts, Kemp Fathead on the wall, bedtime stories about Kirk Gibson, etc. When the kid resists going to sleep during the fourth inning of a weeknight game, promise to wake him/her up with good news when the Dodgers win. Constructive conversations about honesty and integrity every time a Giant gets suspended or indicted for substance abuse, and if you live anywhere near Burlingame, take a field trip to the old BALCO offices and tell stories from the car about a star player allowing his childhood friend (who had young children himself) to spend a year in jail. Suggest Jackie Robinson as topic for biography book reports, and show the movie "42." Get the MLB package from Directv so that when baseball is on in the background during the evening, young kids hear the soft, sweet sound of Vin instead of the Krukow / Kuiper din. Most important, however, is instilling enough self-confidence to withstand unending razzing from schoolmates, parents, coaches, etc. -- if your kid doesn't appreciate and enjoy their independence enough to beam with pride when a total stranger in the supermarket checkout line gives him/her crap about wearing a LA hat, there is no chance a Bay Area kid makes it past age 6 as a Dodgers fan.

BJ Killeen said...

Nice, Ron.

BJ Killeen said...

Nice, Ron.

Orlando Zepeda said...

Toddler gear, check. I still have the infant Steve Sax jersey that was draped over my crib the day I was born and the little league jersey I wore along with my glove with my number in blue nail polish. Robinson biography, check. Still have the copy I used in 5th grade. The bobblehead collection is ready for the future nursery. I could use a ring or two to cancel out the BS of the last 3 years. But I hear what you are saying. Living behind enemy lines isn't for everyone. My brother comes up for LA/SF games occasionally and I can see on his face how uncomfortable he is with the non-stop trash talking directed at him. I never go to the ballpark without Dodger blue regardless of who the Gnats are playing. Nothing makes me happier than my team irking strangers so much that they need to say something, well maybe the soft, sweet sound of Vin, which as always is brought to you . . . by Farmer John. Thanks for the advice!

- The biggest Dodger fan ever, that was named after an effing Giant.

Orel said...

Ron's response merits its own post!

Unknown said...

Orel -- I'm all for it...maybe the beginning of a blueprint for raising a fan in the shadow of a rival? I'm sure other readers could provide useful suggestions!