J A X…HE’S JAX-TASTIC!
Former Cannons Fave Welcomed Warmly at World Headquarters

West Hartford, CT (AP)—Jason Jackson--the Cannons’ career leader in appearances on the ESPN family of networks, one of only twelve Cannons to hit a home run in regular- or post-season play (a memorable blast versus the New Haven Cardinals at Balf-Savin Stadium in New Britain), the only West Hartford player to this point to have an entire Cannons Jeopardy category dedicated to his legendary on- and off-field antics and the first Cannons player to have a team award named in his honor (the Jason T. Jackson Cannons Lifetime Achievement Award was soon followed by the Michael F. Weber Cannons Service Award and the Michael K. Patenaude Cannons Pitching Award and will be joined this season by the Tom "Mr. August" Bogiatzis Playoff Most Valuable Cannon Award)--ended his near two-year estrangement from Cannons management when he visited the team’s World Headquarters during his vacation from Florida last week. Jackson, who turned 34 on May 12, was welcomed back on Wednesday, June 28 with open arms by Manager Matt Celio and enjoyed surf and turf Cannon-style and his new favorite drink—Grey Goose on the rocks rather than a selection from the Mike’s Hard Assortment—as the two parties reconciled what had been a rocky relationship since the end of the 2004 campaign when JJax and the team officially parted company. “Jason was always touted as # 24 in your program and # 1 in your hearts and truer words have never been spoken. Cannon Nation is happy to have Jax back,” Celio told reporters after the Jackson family—wife Shirelle and sons Justin and Jordan also appeared—left following the five-hour visit. When reached for comment Jackson said briefly, “My Sundays have been empty without Cannons Baseball. I thought the love was gone but now I’m in talks to re-sign with the team in a limited role for the 2007 season and beyond.” Jackson was brought on board during the 2002 off-season—along with other big-time signings such as Bogiatzis, Tom Luby, Kevin McGann and Ed Poland—and logged much of his time at first base. Perhaps best known as a defensive specialist, Jackson was once quoted post-game saying, “I might not have much of a bat but I can field like a motherf****r.” A powerful post-season performer, Jax raised his batting average by a solid .77 points in August and was on-base in three out of every ten plate appearances in the playoffs. A frequent SportsCenter anchor, Jackson went on to host the wildly popular Jax Show on ESPN Radio (WPOP 1410 AM in the Hartford market) before moving to the Miami area to work for the National Basketball Association Heat, winners of the 2006 NBA title (he is being sized for a ring at this moment).

Cannons News and Notes: Jackson and Luby were spotted by members of the paparazzi at Grant's in West Hartford Center over the holiday weekend; 2005 Cannons Fan of the Year Marybeth Smiley ended her two-year relationship with left fielder Mike McGann, lending credence to the legend that the Fan of the Year Award is cursed (three-time Cannons Wife of the Year winner Molly Borst later divorced Manager Emeritus Andy Borst and 2004 FOTY winner and Bogiatzis girlfriend Deanna David didn’t last through the off-season after winning the "coveted" award…nobody has defended the title since 2003)…who will this year’s winner—or loser—be?; M. McGann and former Cannon Mike Santee were involved in a near bar brawl on Sunday when Santee tried to, unbeknownst to the younger McGann, hook him up with an unwanted team groupie at Harbor Yards in Middletown…no charges were filed; the Cannons return to action on Sunday, July 16 against the Newington Capitals in games that could have significant playoff implications; Patenaude’s Porno Pool Party 2: Electric Boogaloo takes place immediately following the July 16 double header.