Pocket pancakes? Brewers selling ballpark flapjacks after Pat Murphy’s viral moment

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. shove / ʃʌv / (v.) – to push something quickly or carelessly into a place
    Example:

    She shoved her books into her bag because she needed to leave fast.


  2. snack / snæk / (v.) – to eat a small amount of food between meals
    Example:

    He likes to snack on nuts while working.


  3. dugout / ˈdʌgˌaʊt / (n.) – (in sports) a covered area next to a baseball field where players and coaches sit when they are not playing
    Example:

    In the dugout, the coach reminded the team of the game plan.


  4. spawn / spɔn / (v.) – to cause something new to start or develop
    Example:

    The funny video spawned a new trend on social media.


  5. crumb / krʌm / (n.) – a very small piece of bread, cake, or other baked food that breaks off when eaten or handled
    Example:

    After they finished eating, they cleaned up all the cookie crumbs on the table.


Article

Read the text below.

The Milwaukee Brewers are bringing manager Pat Murphy’s strange eating habits to fans.


Murphy went viral in a recent interview for pulling a pancake out of his uniform pocket and taking a bite—sharing the flapjack with the reporter—as he detailed different ways he shoved food into his pockets to snack on in the dugout.


The moment has spawned quite the movement in Milwaukee. The ballclub announced that “Murph’s Pocket Pancakes” would be sold at American Family Field during Sunday games for the rest of the season, starting with the August 10 series against the New York Mets.


Murphy was asked before a game what he thought of the promotion.


“A little late, we’ve been doing this since 2017,” said Murphy, noting he occasionally has been keeping food in his pocket for about that long. “I guess I never did it during an interview (before). It used to be mostly bagels. I had bagels in the morning. … I’d always have one (at) day games usually—a bagel, a waffle, a pancake rolled up, something. Day games, the day gets away from you and need a little something.”


The Brewers haven’t lost since Murphy whipped the pancake out of his pocket a few weeks ago, building the best record in the Major Leagues. He went on to continue eating his pancake in the postgame press conference while detailing other food items he had brought into the dugout. “Waffles, pancakes, pizza,” Murphy said then.


Murphy was then asked how he could put a slice of pizza in his pocket without staining the uniform. “If it’s cold pizza, you fold it up like a sandwich, you know what I mean,” Murphy said. “You can eat it during the game. And then when I wear a hoodie, I have the pocket right here, and that’s full of crumbs.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The article says Murphy often keeps a bagel, waffle, or pancake in his pocket during busy day games because the day can get away from him and he needs a quick snack. Do you think it’s better to eat quickly while working or to take a proper break? Why? Discuss.
  • If you had to keep a snack in your pocket for a busy day, what snack would you choose? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The Brewers haven’t lost since Murphy whipped the pancake out of his pocket a few weeks ago. Do you believe the pocket pancake is the team’s good luck charm? Do you believe in good luck charms? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The ballclub announced that “Murph’s Pocket Pancakes” would be sold for the rest of the season. What do you think of this business strategy? Discuss.