[AZTarHeel]

Early July 2002

Andrew Zarzour spent the 2002 All-Star break with his family in Bunn, N.C. Everyone was there for a couple of days -- older sister Mary Katherine, little brother Timmy, mom and dad. It was a magical time just hanging out as a family.

They watched movies, they went to play Putt-Putt (Andrew played one-handed so as not to bother his healing shoulder), they played endless rounds of spades and other card games, they stayed up late and slept in. They talked and caught up on each other’s lives. They ate more home-cooking prepared by Mom Zarzour than they thought possible.

Though Andrew has always dreamed of pitching in an All-Star Game, he was glad this year to have this special time with family.

On the night of the All-Star game, the Zarzours had a massive neighborhood cookout. Friends, neighbors, former teammates at Bunn -- they all came by to eat and watch the game. Andrew and his dad were in charge of the grill, which had everything from ribs to steaks to burgers and dogs. Mrs. Zarzour made four of her special peanut butter pies to go with all the other deserts that folks brought over.

The game itself was wild indeed, with some of Andrew’s teammates right in the center of the action -- for good and for bad.

A-Rod had three hits and three RBIs (with a home run). Paul Lo Duca also had three hits with two RBIs. Ramon Martinez pitched briefly and well, but closer Trevor Hoffman got rocked. Coming into the game in the 10th inning, Hoffman was charged with four hits, five earned runs and SIX walks. Yikes! Hoffman took the loss, and the American Leaguers prevailed 12-10 in 10.

Larry Walker earned MVP status after recording three hits and four RBIs. A-Rod or Lo Duca may have earned the award had the NL won. Zarzour still couldn’t believe how bad Hoffman was. It certainly wasn’t how Hoffman had pitched all season to that point.

Once the party broke up and folks went home, the Zarzour men stayed up in the den, taking in the late, late SportsCenter highlights and a Seinfeld re-run. About 2:30 a.m., Timmy Zarzour -- who had been quiet much of the night -- finally spoke up.

“Well, I’ve decided to enlist in the Marines,” he said. “Hank from the baseball team, too. We report to basic training in six weeks in South Carolina. Hopefully, I‘ll get to fight in Afghanistan…”