Publication Date: Wednesday, May 05, 2004
COMMUNITY
A 'bulldog' spirit
A 'bulldog' spirit
(May 05, 2004) Girls softball team sponsored by a burgeoning superstar -- that happens to be a canine
by Jaime Marconette
Trailing by one run with two outs, Brie's Bat Girls softball team attempted a comeback in the last few minutes of play. A piercing tension filled the stands at Cubberley on the warm Wednesday night -- or, at least you'd think it would.
Instead, parents and players alike focused on one fan. She sat in the stands, a purple bandana tied around her neck to show support for the purple-uniformed Bat Girls. An ever-present figure at the Bat Girls' games, Brie is enough of a fan to sponsor the team of 10-year-old girls.
However, Brie is not your typical community-minded business-person. She's a 2-year-old French bulldog, and budding entertainment icon.
Sporting a pearl necklace and beautifully painted claws, Brie has her own Madison Avenue agent and graces the cover of several Recycled Paper greeting cards. Her owners, Cheryl and Scott Glaser of Menlo Park, steered the dog toward show business after noticing how much attention Brie attracted.
"She's a complicated woman trapped in a dog's body," said Cheryl, quoting Brie's officially licensed catchphrase.
Yet Brie, who spends her downtime throwing her head in front of sprinklers, is no above-it-all diva. She is a positive inspiration for the team that bears her name.
"They love the dog," Coach Gary Harpell said of the team. "It's a rallying point."
In fact, Brie's portrait hangs in the dugout at every game and the scrappy bulldog barks from the bleachers to encourage the players.
"She's the only sponsor that actually comes to our games and knows what were doing," said catcher and shortstop Madeline Spolin. "She's not just a dog, she's like a person."
Brie's involvement with the team stems from the Glasers' desire to have her "involved with women of all ages," according to Scott.
"They're our future complicated women," Cheryl added.
Brie sponsors another softball that sports the same name. The second group is made up of younger girls, aged 7-8.
Brie's interest in girls softball did lead to some confusing moments early in the season. The team didn't realize who -- or what -- was sponsoring them until the second game of the year.
"I thought Brie's Bat Girls meant dunu-nunu-nunu-nunu," Assistant Coach Hap Abbott said, mimicking the "Batman" theme song.
"There was initial confusion," said team parent Dave Torrey upon meeting Brie. "But we soon found out that Brie was not your average little pooch."
Intern Jaime Marconette can be reached at jmarconette@paweekly.com
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