Spirit

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary at AngelsWin.com we've focused our attention on our writers, contributors & website members. Today we put the spotlight on Cory, one of our longtime members. Cory, or HaloCory as he once was has been an active member on the forum and attendee at our fanfests and softball tourneys over the years. A great guy and passionate Angels fan, Cory like many of us here has made so many friends from AngelsWin.com. Oh and finally, if you weren't around back in the day, ask him about a certain story he shared in a thread on our old Gentlemen's forum for some laughs!  
Let's get to know Cory a bit more in today's Member Appreciation Interview.
AngelsWin.com: When and how did you first come to AngelsWin.com?
Cory: I first started lurking on here around 2005/2006. Never really posted much since I was only 15/16 at the time but I always came on to read the articles and get different point of views from fans. Chuck first came to me back on MySpace when I ran a profile called "Halo Space" and I was an avid poster on the Angels Group on MySpace as well. Chuck was able to get a few of us from there to make the move over. Haven't looked back since! 
AngelsWin.com:  What keeps you coming back to the site?
Cory: Where do I start? This place is like a second family to me. I've made so many friends here through the years. I have AW to thank for introducing me to some of my closest friends. The humor is definitely the reason I keep coming back though. I'm on here daily and I never go a day without laughing at something. We're all a bunch of a-holes and we know it. This is my place to go and be myself. I don't have to hold back and filter myself. Its a great feeling. The Hangout threads, arguments, AO's self bans, Trout p0rn. This place has a little of everything. Gotta tip my cap to the writers on here. They put through some very solid content for both the major and minor leagues.
AngelsWin.com:  What have been some of your favorite articles and threads?
Cory: So many classics. The Tripod thread, A-hole actions of IEBruin, Firefighter thread, common courtesy, the Red Sox collapse thread, the results are in, the Meatloaf thread. Recently, the Point/Counter point threads have been my favorites to read. Glen and Nate have great chemistry together. The "If you follow me on Twitter" thread is gold. Shows you how easy things can go wrong for a new guy. I also like anything TDawg posts. Same goes for AJ. Love his crazy stat threads.  Oh, of course... The "Breakup thread"
AngelsWin.com: What in-person events have you attended from AngelsWin.com (Spring/Summer Fanfests, Charity Golf, Charity Softball)?
Cory: Made my first appearance back in Tempe 2010 for Fanfest and haven't looked back since. I try to make most events. I'm always at the summer fanfest events. Oh boy, some good stories about those. (Save those for the After Dark forum perhaps.) My most infamous tale is the 2011 ST Fanfest where I bought close to 20 shots of Patron for people. That was a good night. Been one of the captains on the AW Softball Tournament for two years now. Haven't made the past two spring training fanfests but I'll be back! 
AngelsWin.com:  Why is AngelsWin.com your internet home for the Angels?
Cory: This is the Mike Trout of websites. There's no other place with the overall content AW provides. I get all of my news from here. Whether its baseball or non baseball related news. There's always something to talk about on here. Always an article to read with insightful content. Always a thread waiting to explode.
AngelsWin.com: In your opinion, what is AngelsWin.com’s best feature: the articles, charitable events, game-day chat, message boards, Fanfests, podcasts, etc?
Cory: Tough call here. I have to go with the fanfests and message boards. Chuck and everyone here has done such a wonderful job in taking these fanfests to new heights. Going from Hail Mary's to a giant conference hall for Spring Training is incredible. Been amazing to see the growth of this place through the years. All of the friends I've made through this site are mostly thanks to these events that bring us together. Being able to jump on the board at any time of day and know you're going to get a good laugh out of it. Can't possibly replace the chemistry on this board.

Ligther Side

AngelsWin.com:  Where do you live and what do you do?
Cory: I'm 24 and I live in Camarillo, CA. Born and raised in Ventura County. Pretty much the only Angels fan in the area. I'm currently a manager for a Verizon FiOS third party retailer. Been here for 4 years now. I'm also going to school working on getting my degree. I'm working towards being a sports psychologist. Maybe I'll be able to fix CJ? 
AngelsWin.com: Why are you an Angels fan?
Cory: Although I grew up in Ventura, I spent a lot of time in the Anaheim area as a child. Most of my family lives down there so I'd be down there quite frequently. Most of my relatives were Angels fans so I picked them up right along with them. The movie Angels in the Outfield also helped (Yeah, makes a lot of you feel like old farts huh?) Lets be real here.. Did I really want to be a Dodger fan? No.
AngelsWin.com:  What was your first Angels game that you remember? Who’d you go with?
Cory: The first game I remember going to was in 97. It was an Angels/Mariners game. It was a close 11-9 pitchers duel. I went with my parents and a few friends from little league. The Mariners are by far the team I've seen the most against the Angels.
AngelsWin.com:  Who have been your favorite players? Why? Any great stories or interactions with them?
Cory: Jim Edmonds and Darin Erstad were my favorites growing up. As the years went on I started migrating more towards pitchers. Scot Shields was the man during his good times. I always campaigned for him to close over K-Rod. I'll still argue that to this day. Percy was always great to watch pitch. I loved to sit in the RF seats and taunt Jeff Davannon when he played CF/RF. He was a good sport about it. My favorite story regarding players though definitely has to be from 2012 involving Vernon Wells and Chris Iannetta. Both were on the DL and after a game a group of us from here all went out to a dive bar on Katella for drinks. We happen to walk in and what do we see? Vernon and Chris sitting at a table surrounded by some of the nastiest cleat chasers. It made our night. 
AngelsWin.com:  How do you survive the offseason?
Cory: Hockey! The Ducks are my main focus once all is said and done with baseball. I follow them as much if not a bit more now than I do the Angels. I also put attention towards college football. Regardless of how bad USC has been over the years. *In before Rally's did you go there post* This board keeps me entertained as well. I live in the hangout during the winter.
AngelsWin.com: What’s one thing you’d like everyone in AngelsWin.com to know about you?
Cory: I'm a very open person. I say what's on my mind and sometimes that bites me in the arse. I love to laugh and make others laugh.

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I was able to sit down and have lunch with Mike during Halloween weekend.  My gf and I brought him Spaghetti w/ red sauce from BJ's Restaurant.  It didn't sit well with me to see Mike bald and thin, I wanted to hit cancer over the head repeatedly with a bat.  When I arrived I could see him sitting on the front room recliner playing online poker on his phone.  I've played poker with Mike at a few home games, even at a few AW events. He genuinely loves the game. His dry humor is memorable, honest, and always appreciated by me at the table and at social functions.  As we began eating at the dinner table, I was happy to see he had not lost his appetite.  His conversing skills were still in form, the good ol' Percy with a few painful coughs mixed in from the stupid pos cancer.  He told me a story that I've heard before, but It had been a while and I love to hear refreshers.  
 
He was at the Bellagio back before poker's black friday.  There were big named pros sitting in Bobby's Room (A private glass room in the Bellagio set aside for the big game) playing their normal variety of games. He spotted Gus Hansen in the game, who was a decorated backgammon champion.  Mike (being a backgammon enthusiast himself) walks over and asked the host if he knew where to find backgammon games out here in Vegas.  The host then says, "Gus is big on backgammon, I'm sure I could ask and he'll start a game for you.  I'm thinking he'll play $25k a point"  Mike then replies, "Hmm, $25k... Why doesn't Gus stop being such a tight ass and play me for $100k a point" (*Im sure this was executed with the Percy stare of seriousness)  The host replies while reaching for his phone, "Heh... I'll text him, I'm sure he'll accommodate you."  Mike then stops the host as he's about to type "I'm just kiding, sorry, but thanks"          Mike told this story with a big smile.  He capped it by saying it was the time he almost played Gus for grips of money at backgammon (a fanboys dream) 
 
Mike tells this story much better than I wrote it, I hope I did it justice, Mike.
 
By this point Mike is nearly done with his full serving of spaghetti, while pinpointing that BJ's is great, but they need to work on their garlic bread. "This bread is crunchy as F  and no one needs to eat croutons with a meal, Derek"  He then lights up and offers us desert, Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.  He told us it was his favorite and after trying it, I can see why. It was absolutely delicious, thanks again Mike. 
 
Throughout the visit there were some emotional points, which I would rather keep between us. Cancer is a POS.
 
We say our good byes.  After a long hug, we make plans to see each other at spring training.  Mike PercySquint Sword still remained confident, positive and strong despite his fear and pain. 
 
I love you, Mike and it was an honor to have shared moments of life with you. 

This is a big loss, first for his loved ones.  Then for all of us at AW and all Angel fans.  This is so sad.  RIP Mike.
 
I seriously propose to rename Spring Fanfest the Annual Percy Squint Memorial AW Fanfest with proceeds going to cancer research.

The first time I saw him was at Throwbacks...that picture seems to capture his personality to a T....effing Skanks!

One of my favorite parts of Spring Training every year was seeing Percy and his hat.  I really missed seeing him and the hat last year.
 
RIP Mike.

One of my favorite parts of Spring Training every year was seeing Percy and his hat.  I really missed seeing him and the hat last year.
 
RIP Mike.

RIP Percy
 

I think we almost had Adam convinced that he should refer to Jeff as:  J-Fletch

The questions were Great, and the answers were great. A far more interesting interview than what you will get out of something on am830.

For when they get dirty. 

Guy Goes To Mexico To Kill Himself, Spends Week Doing Coke And Banging Hookers, Decides To Keep Living.
 
 
http://totalfratmove.com/guy-goes-to-mexico-to-kill-himself-spends-week-doing-coke-and-banging-hookers-decides-to-keep-living/
 
 

Late start time equals more -ish and less sober. 

The right or left one?

I'm bummed.  I don't know that I ever wanted a player to live up to expectations more than Hank.  He just never quite got there.
 
Hopefully he can reset and restart in Houston.  I wish him well.

I'm bummed.  I don't know that I ever wanted a player to live up to expectations more than Hank.  He just never quite got there.
 
Hopefully he can reset and restart in Houston.  I wish him well.

I'm bummed.  I don't know that I ever wanted a player to live up to expectations more than Hank.  He just never quite got there.
 
Hopefully he can reset and restart in Houston.  I wish him well.

It is always good to be on the right side of an argument.  Congrats.

I'm bummed.  I don't know that I ever wanted a player to live up to expectations more than Hank.  He just never quite got there.
 
Hopefully he can reset and restart in Houston.  I wish him well.

I did not.

Freedom Fries Friday!