Top Ten Of 2008

Just another lazy lonely New Years Eve for me!

No New Years toast, or midnights kiss.

No trip to Times Square, or party of friends.

No Cristal or Scotch or Slow Gin Fizz.

Just my laptop, my Sports Blog, and the ten best Games or Sports Events of 2008.

In chronological order:


1) Super Bowl XLII

Late in quarter number four.

The drive for New York started out exactly as predicted. The Giants were desperate, and struggling to drive the ball thru the New England territory. They even had to convert a huge fourth down with less then three minutes left in the game.

Then Manning at his own 43-yard line began a sequence of plays that will never be forgotten. First down produced nothing. Second down was more of the same. Finally it was third and five, the game on the line. Manning called for the ball and while looking down field, he quickly began to feel the pocket cave in around him. Jarvis Green and Richard Seymour of the Patriot defensive line tried a total of four times to sac Manning. Yet somehow someway the Giant Quarterback remained on his feet, dashing and slithering his way in and out of pressure.

As if Manning’s resilient scramble wasn’t amazing enough, what happened next was truly unbelievable! Manning threw the ball 30 yards down the field into a four-man defensive cover. Four different New England Patriots surround just one New York Giant.

That Giant was tight end David Tyree.

In an effort of desperation, Tyree leapt into the air and pulled down the Manning pass. The ball was well over Tyree’s head as he began to fall to the ground. Patriot safety Rodney Harrison was also trying to catch the ball. As both men hit the turf, the ball had settled in-between Tyree’s hands, directly on top of his helmet. Somehow someway Tyree held on to the ball and completed the catch. The Giants were alive and the momentum of Super Bowl XLII had taken a shocking dramatic shift.

Thirty seconds later Manning found Plexico Burress in the end zone for a touchdown.

Giants 17 Patriots 14

There was 35 seconds left in the game. The Giants defense that had been so dominate for 59 minutes 25 seconds never let up. Strahan, Umenyiora, Pierce, and Tuck all contributing heavily to stopping Tom Brady and the Patriots. With just one second left the Giants took over on downs. Eli took a knee and New York Giants had shocked the world.

Super Bowl XLII the Arizona Upset!


2) Red Wings Stanley Cup Champions

With under a minute to play the Wings held a 3-2 lead. It was a final save by old hand goalie Dominick Hasek in the closing seconds that propelled the Wings to the cup. The Detroit Red Wings made short work of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup. Four games to two, was all they needed to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins. Detroit winger Henrik Zetterberg was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Final MVP. Detroit, one of the original six, had re-emerged as the NHL’s very best in 2008.


3) Tiger and Rocco battle to exhaustion

Coming off one of the last tee-boxes, late in the day on Saturday, Tiger turned to his caddy and told him, “This is it for a while”. Tiger was positive he would have to shut his game down immediately following the US Open. Woods, having just had his third knee surgery, was still experiences a great deal of pain, and the pain was vastly affecting his game. Tiger figured he was within a few dozen holes of being done for 2008. Little did he know he would need 20 extra holes to finish out the Tournament.

Enter Rocco Mediate.

Rocco the 45-year-old veteran of the PGA was ranked 156th at the US Open, and had never won a Major. Mediate emerged on Saturday as a leader and a possible favorite, with Woods, to win the event. As the match played out on Sunday, Rocco and Tiger were tied thru the 18th, and were still tied after a 1-hole shootout. The PGA rules indicate the event goes into overtime tournament one on one match Monday.

Once again thru 18 holes Tiger and Rocco were tied.

Finally after yet another 1-hole shootout, Tiger found himself ahead one stroke. And then after Rocco failed to make a long putt, Tiger emerged victorious. By far the most exciting episode on the PGA tour in 2008. A very memorable US Open.

4) Celtic Pride

In the late summer months of 2007 Celtics head coach Doc Rivers took his Boston team on a road trip. The road trip was not to a foreign country or even to a neighboring Boston city. Rather, the road trip was around the streets of Boston. The trip was the victory parade route used for the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox in earlier championship seasons. Doc wanted his team to see the final goal, where the season’s journey would end. A man of vision, Doc got his team back to the victory parade path just months after their initial visit. But the second time, was for a parade of their own. The Celtics put together one of the best regular seasons in the history of the NBA, and defeated the Lakers in six games. Lead by the “Boston Three-Party” of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the Celtics were the toast of the NBA in 2008, and could be well on their way to a continued dynasty in 2009.

5) Josh Hamilton Wins The Homerun derby.

He hit 28 homers in the first round !!! Thirteen in a row!!!

And not one of Josh’s 34 total homeruns was a cheep shot. Josh hit one two thirds of the way up the black bleachers in centerfield, (an area that has one been hit by a handful of players in major league history). He hit several into the tier reserve sections of the right field upper deck (the only seats I can afford anymore at Yankee Stadium). He hit one into the old Yankee Bullpen in right, which bounced to the back outer wall of the house that Ruth built. He hit one into the last row of the right field bleachers!

Now I realize that the whole thing is an exhibition. Josh was hitting essentially batting practice homers. No one pitch that he launched was thrown faster then 65 miles and hour. However the display Josh put on in the final All-Star game at Yankee Stadium was a very special moment in his career and in the 2008.

Having shared many of the same demons in my own life that Josh has battled, I find both his comebacks so completely improbable and so remarkable that there is no way that my own words will ever do it the justice that it deserves. To me what makes Josh’s journey great is his ability to overcome the extreme challenges of sobriety and addiction, where most people die long before they can even assume normal lives and then once accomplishing that phenomenal feat, Josh climbed the minor league ladder alas reaching the majors. He overcame the skeptics, the minor leagues, and achieved the almost impossible dream to become a professional ball player. Other players have overcome injury, and substances to make MLB comebacks (Strawberry and Gooden are just a few). But Josh’s story is unique because he was at rock bottom both personally and professionally. A baseball player can’t be any lower then being banded from Single A. Josh is not just a comeback ball player, he is a comeback human being. And so his display in the homerun derby in 2008 was certainly in the top ten moments of the year.

6) Phelps cleans house at the summer Olympics

I pretend to be a sports expert and I do try to throw my knowledge and opinions around this sports blog. That being said, I am not a fan of the Olympics, nor am I a fan of competitive swimming. However what Michael Phelps this summer in Beijing was absolutely phenomenal! The man won 14 gold metals an all time record. Who can forget that picture of Phelps on the front cover of Sports Illustrated wearing all 14 metals in early autumn? Or the image of Phelps pumping of his arms, just outside the pool, after his final victory? The athletic accomplishment is something even a non-fan of swimming can admire. It was truly a top moment in 2008.


7) Yankees Stadium closes its doors forever

The House That Ruth Built, as it has been commonly called, closed its doors forever on Sunday night September 21st. For me Yankees Stadium has been like a home, and a place I will never forget.

Yankee Stadium has been my home away from home. A place that I knew vast comfort and entertainment in the city that never sleeps. I experienced great friendships and family moments over hundreds of games and thousands of innings. I went to games with girl friends, and after college visitations. I went on school nights and stayed up way past bedtime. I went to games on my own, and even took a British friend to his first ever American baseball game. (He tried to equate it to Cricket.) I went to playoff games and two World Series games, Game 2 of the 1996 World Series, and Game 1 of the 1998 World Series. I even took my dad to his first ever playoff game, last season against the Indians in the division series.
Since 2004 plans to build a new Yankees Stadium have been looming. At first those of us with fond feelings for the current Stadium denied that the day would ever come. Then there was a groundbreaking ceremony. Then over the last two seasons strong visual evidence began growing every day. Now the New Yankee Stadium is almost complete just beyond the third base side of the current Stadium. As the 2008 season began, the theme of endings had also begun. Last opening day, last season series, and last All-Star game.

In conclusion, a very special place that has been very important to my life will soon be destroyed and gone forever. What remains are photographs, videotape and a mind bursting with memories. Like so many other things in life, we can’t stop the clock. We cant stop the change, all we can do is accept the things beyond our control remember the past with a sense of fondness, and look to the future with a sense of hope.

8) The last place Rays win the Pennant

In early May, I remember thinking, “how cute.”

“The Rays are in first place. Enjoy it while it lasts guys. Cause in the Al East, this will never hold up!”

How could it possibly last?

A team with a 44 million dollar payroll ( fifth to last in all of baseball). An organization that has a ten-year tradition of mediocrity. A team that plays in the same division as the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox. Besides, there was almost five months of baseball left to play. I just laughed off the Tampa Bay Rays, and continued to laugh the rest of the summer.

But in October, the laughing had stopped.

The Rays held the best record in baseball. They defeated the Chicago White Sox in the division series. The defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games in the ALCS and fell just short of winning everything.

The Rays are for real.

9) The Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series.

For the first time since game one, Brad Lidge entered the game in a save situation. Chase Utley gather up the first out on a pop up to second base. After a Dioner Navarro base hit, and a Perez pinch running stolen base, Jayson Werth caught a Ben Zobrist line drive for the second out. Eric Hinski came up representing the last hope for the Tampa Bay Rays. On a 1-2 pitch Hinski weakly swung over the top of a slider from Brad Lidge.

Lidge fell to his knees. Catcher Carlos Ruiz ran out to hug him. Ryan Howard and members for the Phillies dugout ran the battery over. 46,000 Phillies fans went insane!
The call from Joe Buck was “The Phillies are World Champions”.

I could hear other apartments in my complex going crazy. Shortly after, I heard fireworks going off in the distance. An hour later Broad Street looked like Times Square on New Years Eve. The World Series was over. Almost entirely dominated by the Phillies. The World Series MVP award was given to Cole Hamels.

Philadelphia Phillies win game five 4-3. Phillies win World Series 4-1.

10) Texas Stadium closes its doors on a somber note.

Although I don’t share the same fondness for Texas Stadium that I do for Yankee Stadium, I still recognize the building as a holy shrine of football history. Everyone over the age of 25 remembers the opening credits of the show Dallas, and the aerial shot of Texas Stadium. It was the first building of its kind, with it’s partially closed roof. The concept would lead to the retractable domes that are very so popular in MLB in recent years. Unfortunately the final game at Texas Stadium was a devastating loss for the Cowboys. They were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, 33-24 . The loss made it difficult for Dallas to make the playoffs and marked for a very somber closing ceremony after the game.

These are my top ten sports moments of 2008. Now I am going to bed...alone!

NHL Winter Classic

The end of the calendar year always marks a glorious time in the world of professional sports. The NFL is wrapping up the regular season, and the best football of the winter is being played out. Each NBA team has about thirty games under their belts, and significant winners and losers are beginning to emerge. College football has announced it's Bowl Game schedule and exciting matches are looming. However, just last year a new event has been added to the season. An event I enjoy more then the rest.

The event I am referring to is, the NHL’s winter classic.

An annual out door hockey game played on New Years Day.

Is the NHL a struggling sport organization? Sure. Did the players strike three years ago damage the league in ways never before seen? Completely. Does the NHL struggle with its image, and players whose dark conduct bring negative headlines to the sport? Absolutely. However Gary Bettman and the NHL tried an experiment last year on New Years day in Buffalo New York. The experiment has gone a long way to improve the leagues image and created some badly needed buzz.

On January first, 2008 the Buffalo Sabers battled the Pittsburgh Penguins in an overtime game in front of a record 71,217 fans. It was the largest attended NHL game in history and the most watched NHL game in twelve years. I watched the entire game in the Burger Palace last year. Visions of frigid Buffalo fans, a hockey rink set up on a football field, and Bob Costas covered in snow still run strong in my mind a year later. After the game the NHL announced the event would become a yearly occasion, rotating from city to city. There was even talk of adding additional outdoor games to the NHL schedule (as many as three or four).

Over the summer of 2008 it was announced that Chicago’s Wrigley field would host the 2009 Winter Classic, and the game would be between the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings. The rink is to be set from first base to third base on Wrigley’s infield diamond. The two teams will switch directions halfway thru the third period two keep weather related factors even (wind, and or precipitation).

The Winter Classic is no doubt the greatest thing to come out of the NHL since Wayne Gretzky. The idea of taking an indoor game and having it in its natural settings, in a venue that holds twice the normal audience is fantastic. The NHL has stumbled upon a goldmine with the Winter Classic, and I certainly hope the league considers adding more outdoor games to the season schedule in the years to come.
I know that in the early afternoon on New Years Day, I will be grabbing some chips, a nice cold one of some type, putting on my sweatshirt, and I will make my way down the Burger Palace to watch the 2009 Winter Classic.

C.C. Reluctantly Lands In The Bronx

C.C. Sabathia, born Carsten Charles, in Vallejo, California, in July of 1980, is arguably the finest left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball today. On July 7th of this year, C.C. was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he preceded to pitch one of the most dominant half seasons in baseball history. He held an 11-2 record with a 2.70 ERA and was solely responsible for the Brewers winning their first ever National League Wild Card. (Their first post season appearance since 1982.)

The Cleveland Indians initially traded Sabathia because his contract was to expire after the season, and they knew they would not have the revenue to resign the big lefty. The Milwaukee Brewers were in no greater financial position themselves. So the scuttlebutt within the league from July to December was questioning what team C.C. would sign with over the winter.

Enter the New York Yankees.

For the first time in eleven years the New York Yankees missed out on the post season in 2008. The powerhouse franchise, that puts winning above everything has been determined to fix the problems this winter and come back with vengeance in 2009. When Yankee radio broadcaster Susan Walden signed off, and gave her closing thoughts after the final regular season game of 2008, she said that she fully expected New York to acquire C.C. Sabathia as well as several other lucrative free agents.

So in the very early hours of December 9th, the New York Yankees announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement with C.C. of 7-years for 161 million dollars. Sabathia took over 23 days to acknowledge the Yankees top offer and then another three before accepting it. And then still requested an additional 20 million dollars.

So what do I think?

As I have stated time and time again I am a Yankees fan first and foremost. So am I happy about my new lefty ace?

Not really!

Here is the problem- Simply stated C.C. does not want to be a Yankee.

As my uncle G.T. Steltz pointed out to me years ago, the MLB players union orchestrates the free agent market every off-season. Lead by union Chief Donald Fehr, the union works directly with player agents to squeeze as much money out of owners as humanly possible. (All at the expense of the fans- mind you.) The cleverest of the union’s operations is to always have the highest priced free agent players of any given off-season, sign the first deals of the winter. The idea is, if the top players signs the first deals for the top dollar, then the financial bar will be raised year after year. Last season's top free agents were Johan Santana and Alex Rodriguez. They both signed record-breaking deals, and the rest of last year’s free agents prospered as a result.

So long story short, the top free agent of the class of 2008 was by far C.C. Sabathia.

Now, I am exactly one month older then C.C., who has a wife (Amber of five years) and three young children. Amber is C.C.’s high school sweetheart, and the two have resided in California’s Vallejo area their entire lives. Most recently that have begun building a home in central California. Amber had been hoping that either the San Francisco Giants or Oakland Athletics would come forward with big contract offers.

They did not.

However the Anaheim Angles and the Los Angeles Dodgers were in contact with C.C.’s agent. C.C. had been highly interested in playing for a California team and was also highly interested in staying in the National League.

So with a young family at home, California ties, and the most power of any free agent this winter, why would C.C. choose a team that seems to go against everything he wants out of life?

For two astronomical reasons- money and pressure.

C.C. no doubt felt the pressure of the players union to sign his deal so that the rest of this year’s players could follow. The same pressure caused him to pursue the largest finical offer. Sure Anaheim and Los Angeles would have made offers, but at the end of the day, their deals would have been no where near the Yankees- and the rest of baseball could not afford to wait around any longer for C.C. to make up his mind.

So what do the Yankees get? They get a lefty ace whose heart and mind will be elsewhere.

Man do I hope I’m wrong. There is a good chance that C.C. will embrace New York, be embraced by New York, win 20 games, and pitch the Bronx Bombers to their first World Series in five years.

But there is also a very good chance that I will be right.

C.C. could be a mental mess, injured, and opting out of his contract after just three seasons (a contractual right).

How will it play out?

Well Yankee pitchers and catchers report to Tampa Florida in just sixty days from when I type.

And oh by the way, C.C. prefers spring training in Arizona over Florida too!

NFL Blunder

On Sunday November 16, 2008 a very interesting thing happened in the NFL.

In Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Steelers were about to defeat the San Diego Chargers by a final score of 11-10. The Chargers had the ball with five seconds left in the game, and were on their own 20-yard line. Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers began a final desperation play to end the game. If the play some how succeeded the Chargers would win the game by a final of 16-11. However is the play failed, the game would be over with zeros on the clock, and the Steelers holding the 11-10 lead. The Chargers offense began a flea flicker play. The play is designed to keep the ball moving forward while passing the ball either laterally or behind, all the while avoiding a tackle. The ball was passed three times. The third throw was a reverse lateral that was dropped and picked up by the Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu. With the play clock dead and the ball having been turned over, the game was essentially over. However Polamalu ran the ball back into the end zone for a Pittsburgh touchdown. The whistle was blown, the clock was dead, and the Steelers controlled the ball in the Chargers end zone.

Final score 17-10 right?

Not so much.

First the play went under booth review because the possibility existed that the turnover occurred on a forward lateral. It was a play of controversy inside of two minutes left in the game. Standard NFL practice to review any such plays. However even if the ball had not been turned over, the Steelers would have declined any penalty, and the game would still have been over. To make the matter worse, the ball was not a forward lateral. It was a clean play, a clean turnover, and a clean touchdown. The game should have ended with a final score of 17-10. Still even so, the NFL officials were considering lining up the two teams for a meaningless extra point attempt if the touchdown had held up. Instead the ruling on the field was overturned and the touchdown did not count. The final score was 11-10. All the controversy, all the time to review the play, and the NFL officials still got the call wrong.

But after all who the hell cares?

A win is a win is a win. Why should it matter to anyone on the field weather the score was 11-10 or 17-10 or 18-10? Points do matter slightly when determining playoff stature in the NFL. However point spread is not until seventh in the determining factors. Meaning things like divisional record, rank higher in playoff standings then things like, total points.

So in the end, my question remains, who cares?

It matters very little to the players or coaches, but to the millions of Americans who engage in fantasy football and the millions more who bet on the NFL weekly, it matters big time.

It’s the giant elephant in the room that the NFL would rather not discuss.

Even I have engaged in some significant betting this football season. (About 500 bucks in the hole as I type!) If its easy enough for me, the “Average Joe Fan” to find myself a bookie, then imagine how many other common fans put down money on games each weekend. The estimated number of fans who bet on sports on the Internet is in the neighborhood of 1.5 billion according to google.com. When I did an Internet search to find statistics on sports betting, it only lead to over 7 million hits on sports betting websites.

Then there is fantasy football. An estimated 15 million fans belong to fantasy leagues. More then one billion dollars is spent annually on fantasy football. Total points scored by players and teams; largely determine the rules of these leagues.

Let us not forget Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, America's adult playground, is the only city in the country where sports gambling is actually legal. Individual Vegas sports books net an estimated 12.9 million on Super Bowl weekend alone. I am all too familiar with the roar of the Sports book. Fans going nuts over a late fourth quarter touch down, when the winners and losers of the game itself have already been long determined. Point spreads, and over under’s allow for higher betting risks, and therefore higher financial reward to the better. It also allows the house to set rules that cover them, and insure dealer profit.

The only problem with the whole system of gambling on NFL games is when the gamblers, bookies, and fantasy leaguers, off the field influence the activities taking place on the field. Up until recently a lot of league factors have indirectly supported each side. The NFL draft and its ability to keep all teams equal, is both helpful to gamblers and to the NFL. The salary cap is equally helpful both on the field and off it. However instant replay has become a harmful vice in the NFL. It seems like it’s more important to get the call right for those off the field then for those on it.

An estimated 32 million dollars was lost in bets from the referees blown call in the Pittsburgh game on November 16th.

Seeing games like the one in Pittsburgh only enrage me as a sport purest. (I know that sounds funny. The “average Joe fan” who considerers himself a purest yet admits to having a sports bookie.) However far too often actions are taking place in NFL games for no other reason then to appease the sports better and fantasy leaguers. My betting life aside, no organization benefits from outside influence with a financial agenda.

World Series Recap

On Wednesday night October 22, 2008 at 8:37 pm Fox Sports was finally done fumbling around with thirty minutes of pre-game, first pitch, national anthem and pageantry, and was finally ready for Major League Baseball’s 106th World Series.
Game one from Tampa / St Petersburg Florida featured the National League's Philadelphia Phillies versus the American League's Tampa Bay Rays.

At 8:38pm Eastern Standard Time, Tampa’s starting pitcher Scott Kazmir threw a 90 mph fastball at the knees to Philadelphia leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins. The pitch was a called strike and the World Series was officially under way.

After Rollins flew out to right field to start the game, the Phillies got down to business. The second batter, Jayson Werth walked and then second baseman Chase Utley launched a two run homer to right center. Three batters into the World Series and the Phillies led 2-0.

The 2-0 lead gave Philly starter Cole Hamels a lot to work with, as he held the Ray’s bats silent for the first three and two thirds innings. In the top of the fourth inning the Phillies added a critical insurance run when they went up 3-0 on a Carlos Ruiz RBI ground out.

The Rays began to chip away. First a Carl Crawford solo homer in the fourth inning, then an Akinori Iwamura double to the gap in the fifth inning scored shortstop Jason Bartlett. Cole Hamels had made only a handful of mistake pitches in the game, but now he and the Phillies were clinging to a 3-2 lead. To make matters worse the Phillies were stranding runners on base at an alarming rate. Eleven runners in all were left on base in game one.

But Cole Hamels continued to battle and did exactly what his team required of him. He pitched seven brilliant innings. On his 100 pitch of the game he caught a come backer to the mound to record his final out before turning things over to the very capable Phillies bullpen.

Ryan Madson worked a 1-2-3 8th inning. The ninth inning belonged to the perfect Brad Lidge. All season long Lidge had been flawless for the Phillies in save situations. The post season was no different. “Lights out Lidge” as Philly fans have begun calling him, answered the call in game one. With his devastating slider he successfully struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Phillies won game one 3-2. Phillies led World Series 1-0.


Game two’s first pitch came at 8:31 on Thursday October 23, 2008. It was a James Shields fastball low and inside for ball one. It was the only blemish on Shields record in game two. He worked five and two third innings of shout out ball.

When I saw that MLB umpire Kerwin Danley was working home plate for game 2 of the World Series I began to cringe. Danley has been one of baseball’s worst umpires in 2008. Kerwin had very recently blown several key calls in the American League Championships series in Boston. In the third inning with the Rays up with two outs, it appeared that Rocco Baldelli struck out on a check swing. Danley waved his hand as though to indicate that Baldelli had swung, and then immediately appealed to first base umpire Fieldin Culbreth. Culbreth awarded the batter first base to extend the inning. Two batters later B.J. Upton drove a single to right field. Baldelli scored and the Rays took a 3-0 lead.

Eleven more runners had been left on base in game two for Philadelphia. Now the offense, the umpires, and most important of all momentum were working against the Phils. Rays rookie sensation David Price pitched very well in relief of Shields and closed the door for Tampa.

Rays won game two 4-2. The World Series was Tied 1-1.

On Saturday October 25, 2008 rain poured down throughout the Philadelphia area. After a ninety-minute rain delay the World Series was ready to resume with a change of setting. Citizens Bank Park was hosting its first ever World Series.

The first pitch from 45-year-old Philly Jamie Moyer was a letter high strike right across home plate. Moyer worked a scoreless first.

After a lead off hit by Rollins and a walk to the second batter Werth, Ray’s starter Matt Garza unleashed a wild pitch. With two runners in scoring position Chase Utley grounded out to second, driving in the first run of game. The Phillies took the early lead 1-0.

Tampa came right back with a run of their own in the second inning. Carl Crawford doubled, stole second base, and then trotted home on a deep sacrifice fly by Gabe Gross. Thru one and one half innings the game was tied at 1-1.

The back and forth continued as catcher Carlos Ruiz launched a solo homerun in the second giving the Phillies the lead back 2-1.

From the bottom of the second to the bottom of the sixth, the game saw nothing but dominate pitching from both Matt Garza and Jamie Moyer. Then in the bottom of the sixth two old teammates paired up to do what they do best. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard belted back-to-back homeruns to right field giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead.

The Rays were not done. The chipped away as the game progressed and in the top of the eighth the came all the way back to tie it. Carl Crawford proved to be trouble yet again on the bases. An errant throw to third base got away from Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz. Crawford had successfully stolen third yet again, but when the ball got away from Feliz, Carl took home and the game was tied 4-4.

In the bottom of the ninth inning Ray’s reliever Grant Balfour hit lead off batter Eric Bruntlett. Bruntlett was awarded first base, and the next batter was center fielder Shane Victorino, who was showing bunt right away. Balfour’s pitch was wild and bounced of the backstop. The ricochet of the wild pitch came right back to catcher Dioner Navarro. He turned and threw to second. But the throw curved into right center field. Bruntlett ran to third and was 90 feet away from scoring the game-winning run.

Ray’s Manager Joe Maddon went to the mound with a very unorthodox plan of defense. The plan was to walk Victorino and the following batter, pinch hitter Greg Dobbs. So with the bases loaded Maddon took Ben Zobrist out of right field, and aligned his infield with five players. The strategy was to throw the runner out at home with anything hit on the infield. The drama and pressure was as intense as ever.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz came to the plate to face Grant Balfour. On the fifth pitch of the at bat, Ruiz squibbed a grounder down the third base line. Third baseman Evan Longoria charged the ball, fielded it, and attempted to lob the ball over the runner Bruntlett to get the out at home. The lob was over catcher Dioner Navarro’s head and Bruntlett slid in safely scoring the game-winning run.

Looking back, it was the end of the 2008 World Series. Although the series would still go two more games and three more nights, the Rays never mentally recovered. The home field advantage, starting pitching, and core of Champions on the Phillies were now in complete control.

Phillies won game three 5-4. Phillies led the World Series 2-1.

Game four was all Philadelphia.

The first pitch from Philly starter Joe Blanton was an 88 mph fastball inside for ball one.

In the bottom of the first, it was another blown call by the umpiring crew that led to the first run of the game. Jimmy Rollins was called safe at third base, loading them up for Pat Burrell. Pat drew a walk and the Phillies were up 1-0.

The bottom of the fourth was the break out inning for the Phillies. Up 2-1 Ryan Howard came to the plate and delivered a three run homerun to left field. The opposite field swing was a missing link for Howard this October. He had found the error in his ways, and the Phillies were up 5-1.

The Phillies would score five more runs before it was all said and done. Another home run by Howard, a two run shot, a Jayson Werth two run homer, and a solo home run by starting pitcher Joe Blanton.

The Phillies rocked the Rays 10-2. The Phillies led the World Series 3-1.

I blame THE OLD MAN for all of game five’s drama.

TOM decided he wanted to come down to my place in Voorhees to watch the Phillies win the World Series. He wanted to watch all the local coverage on my flat screen, and he wanted to take a possible trip into Philly to watch the locals celebrate.

We went out for dinner after I got home from work, and when leaving the Cherry Hill Red Lobster, we both noticed the steady down pour falling from above. TOM proceeded back to my place and passed out on the couch! So much for his trip to relish in the atmosphere!

The game began in the pouring rain, and Cole Hamels first pitch was a 90 mph fastball called strike. Hamels first inning was dominate. The same could not be said for Scott Kazmir. Scott who is notorious for always having a high pitch count threw almost 30 pitches in the first inning. He walked two and hit one. Shane Victorino came up with the bases loaded and lined a double to left scoring two. Phillies had the early lead 2-0.

In the top of the fourth inning Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, who had been held hitless in the series, finally came through. Pena doubled to lead off the inning and Longoria drove him in with a single. The score was 2-1 Phillies.

Kazmir left the game in the fifth inning with 103 pitches as the rain began to intensify.

In the bottom of the 6th inning the game became unmanageable. The pouring rain made it difficult to watch the action on TV let alone play baseball in it. The infield was covered in water. The water soaking each player uniform. B.J.Upton reached first in the top of the inning on a Jimmy Rollins error. Under normal conditions Rollins fields the ball easily. Upton then stole second base, and Tony Pena drove him in to tie the game at 2-2.

After the top of the 6th, the decision to suspend the game became easy. If the score had remained 2-1 then technically the Phillies would have been crowned World Series Champions. But with no creditability or authority Bud Selig and his boys stepped in and insisted on suspending the game and continuing it as soon as weather permitted.

Game five was suspended in the bottom of the sixth.

With TOM back in New York, it was some 46 hours later when game five of the World Series resumed. Grant Balfour remained in the game for Tampa. His first pitch was a ball, and his fifth pitch was a double to right center by Geoff Jenkins. Rollins moved Jenkins over with a sacrifice bunt, and then a shallow fly ball to center fell in for a base hit for Jayson Werth. Phillies retook the lead right away 3-2.

In the top of the seventh Tampa Bay’s Rocco Baldelli knocked a solo homer to left, re-tying the game 3-3.

In the bottom of the eighth Pat Burrell led off with a double off the wall in straight away center. On any normal summer night the same hit would be a homerun. Victorino moved the pinch runner to third. Pedro Feliz came up, and his base hit up the middle was the last RBI of 2008. The Phillies took the lead 4-3 and Brad Lidge immediately got up in the bullpen.

For the first time since game one, Brad Lidge entered the game in a save situation. Chase Utley gather up the first out on a pop up to second base. After a Dioner Navarro base hit, and a Perez pinch running stolen base, Jayson Werth caught a Ben Zobrist line drive for the second out. Eric Hinski came up representing the last hope for the Tampa Bay Rays. On an 1-2 pitch Hinski weakly swung over the top of a slider from Brad Lidge.

Lidge fell to his knees. Catcher Carlos Ruiz ran out to hug him. Ryan Howard and members for the Phillies dugout ran the battery over. 46,000 Phillies fans went insane!
The call from Joe Buck was “The Phillies are World Champions”.

I could hear other apartments in my complex going crazy. Shortly after, I heard fireworks going off in the distance. An hour later Broad Street looked like Times Square on New Years Eve. The World Series was over. Almost entirely dominated by the Phillies. The World Series MVP award was given to Cole Hamels.

Philadelphia Phillies win game five 4-3. Phillies win World Series 4-1.

Philadelphia Chronicles

9:50am- The alarm clock buzzer began to sound, waking me from a short night of sleep and a very big day both personally and in Philadelphia sports.

Wikipedia defines the word dating as, any social activity performed as a pair with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as their partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse. The word refers to the act of agreeing on a time and “date” when the pair can meet and engage in some social activity.

The definition although strong, doesn’t even begin to describe the anxiety involved.

The time was to be any time around 11:00am. The activity, the Philadelphia Eagles versus the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field for the NFL’s week eight match up. I had been conversing with Jacqueline for a few weeks through an on-line dating site. After acquiring digits, I asked her if she would be interested in attending an Eagles game. I knew from her e-mails and her profile that she was a huge Philadelphia sports fan. And I also know the key to any sports fans heart is a live game. Since I have been living vicariously thru Philadelphia fans all October, I figured an Eagles game was the perfect social activity. The tickets cost me a small fortune but so would have a wasted weekend alone in Atlantic City. Attending a football game with a very attractive lady was a far better alternative, regardless of the money.

11:07am- I received a text message that Jacqueline was close, and I rushed down the stairs from my apartment to meet her in the lot. Shortly after she pulled up and I met her for the first time. My stomach in knots, my mind in a million different directions, I shook her hand and began walking with her to my truck. It was then that I noticed she was wearing a number 36 Eagles Jersey. I asked her who number 36 is.

My question almost blew the whole damn date!

A look of shock and disgust crossed her complexion and I would swear in court that she appeared to make a slight turn back to her car. In hindsight I can’t say I blame her. If someone took me to a Yankees game and asked me who number 2 was within the first 30 seconds of meeting them, I would probably be looking to bail too! I blame THE OLD MAN! TOM, that pain in my backside had me up until 3:00am on the phone the night before. He was talking my ear off about John McCain, and other idol nonsense! The sleep depravation had me in an obvious state of mental bewilderment!

Number 36 is of course Eagles Running Back Brian Westbrook. Lesson learned!

11:15am- Jacqueline decided to join me anyway, and I began our drive over the Delaware to South Philly.

11:47am- We parked three lots away from my usual spot. The atmosphere on Pattison Ave was insane! Part of the reason I wanted to attend the game was to see the city with both an Eagles game and a Phillies World Series game all in the same day. Eagles / Falcons and game four of the 2008 World Series with the Phillies up two games to one.

The tailgaters were out in full force. The sounds of Tom Petty and AC DC were blasting on stereos throughout the lots. The smells of beer and grilled hotdogs were in the air everywhere. The crowds gathered like herds of cattle throughout the lots.

12:11pm- We entered the turnstiles and walked the lower square before climbing the stairs to the main concourse. We made our expedition to section 210 row 4 seats 15 & 16. They turned out to be very good end zone seats, with a great aerial view.

12:49pm- The National Anthem was sung and we were moments away from kick off. The sea of Phillies red attire and Eagles green digs being worn by fans throughout the stands made Lincoln Financial look like Christmas.

1:01pm- The Falcons won the coin toss and elected to receive.

1:37pm- As the first quarter began to close, neither team was able to score and both sides looked pour on offense. Eagles defensive end Trent Cole knocked Falcons QB Matt Ryan to the turf late in the first. Although an exceptionally hard hit, the play resulted in a very questionable roughing the passer penalty against the Eagles. The NFL going above and beyond to protect thier QBs! The disgusted Eagles crowd began to boo. It was by far the loudest I have ever heard a crowd boo in all the events I have been to.

1:42pm-A drunken Eagles fan sitting behind me began to heckle me. He assumed that because I was not wearing any Eagles green that I must have been an Atlanta Falcons fan in disguise. (The logic of a drunkard!) Even a neutral football fan is not safe from the Eagles fanatics’ wrath at Lincoln Financial! Lesson learned!

2:03pm- Matt Ryan passed deep down the middle, complete to Roddy White. The play resulted in a 55-yard touch down at 9:05 in the second quarter. Atlanta scored the first points of the game and took the lead 7-0.

2:14pm- Donovan Mcnabb infiltrated the end zone from three yards out for the first Eagles T.D. of the game. The game was tied at 7-7.

2:22pm- The Eagles got the ball right back and just before half time David Akers converged on a 36-yard field goal.

At the half the Eagles lead 10-7.

3:43pm- The Eagles dominated the third quarter and after a 16-yard Brian Westbrook touchdown run, and another David Akers field goal, Philadelphia was up 20-7.

4:00pm- Matt Ryan and the Falcons tried to make things interesting, but in the end it was another Westbrook touch down that sealed the victory for the Eagles 27-14. Jacqueline was thrilled with both Westbrook’s performance and the overall Eagles victory.

4:17pm- We began our departure from the 200 level and walked the properties between Lincoln Financial and Citizens Bank Park. We were both exhausted and quickly made our way back to my truck. I enjoyed the game thoroughly. Although it wasn’t an ideal date to get to know someone, it was a perfect activity nonetheless. We parted company quickly once back at my place. And I fell asleep for a few minutes while watching the end of the Giants game.

11:39pm- The Philadelphia Phillies clobbered the Tampa Bay Rays in game four of the World Series. Two Ryan Howard homers, and five RBI’s for the big man helped Philly take a 3 games to 1 lead in the series. It was the competition of a perfect day in Philadelphia sports. One more win and the Phillies will be World Champions. It is now Tuesday as I finish writing this Blog article and I am still not recovered from all of the events from Sunday!

World Series Preview

It started just days after the 2007 National League Division Series.

The Philadelphia Phillies were knocked out of the post season in three speedy games last season. General Manager Pat Gillick went right to work. The biggest issue haunting the Phillies was the lack of pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen. With pitching at a premium in Major League Baseball, and teams wasting money on lack luster stars, the Philadelphia organization knew their options were limited.

Pat got creative.

Instead of wasting money on Johan Santana or Tom Glavine or Carlos Silva, the Philly G.M. went in a most unconventional direction. He traded center field prospect Michael Bourn and bull pen pitcher Geoff Gery to Houston for Astros closer Brad Lidge. The move was two fold. First, it gave Philly a legitimate closer, and moved current closer Brett Myres back into the starting rotation where he had been most successful. The trade resulted in Philly gaining a closer and indirectly gaining a high quality starter too.

When April rolled around the pitching moved to the back burner while the offense exploded. Pat Burrell and Chase Utley carried the team early in the season, while Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins picked up the slack in August and September. All season long the Phillies epitomized timely hitting.

With contributions from all 25 players on the roster, key trades, (including the addition of starter Joe Blanton from Oakland) tremendous timing, and a city dieing for a winner, the Philadelphia Phillies put together a magical season. The Phillies surpassed the wildcard Milwaukee Brewers, defeated Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez in five games, and now find themselves in St Petersburg Florida for the 2008 World Series.

927 miles south of Philly it began over ten years ago.

When the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the American League in 1998, they quickly became the laughing stock of the all of baseball. They had tried everything in the first nine years. Acquiring former greats like Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff in an attempt to build a winning team.

Old Veterans didn’t work.

They brought in Sweet Lou Piniella, one of baseball’s most famous and successful managers. After two losing seasons Lou skipped town, clueless on how to fix the organizations troubles.

Lou didn’t work.

The front office began blasting music on the public address system and began promoting the fan favorite “cowbell”, in an attempt to create “false noise” in an empty Tropicana Dome. Desperate to create buzz and attendance the Rays averaged 12,000 a game.

The buzz didn’t work.

Then this season, second year manager Joe Maddon came into spring training starting a slogan of “nine equals eight” among his players and staff. The slogan has lead most everyone to ask, “What the hell is nine equals eight”?

As the season went on we all learned that nine equals eight refers to nine players, playing hard for nine innings, resulting in the acquisition of one of the eight-playoff spots in the post season.

Joe Maddon’s coaching worked.

In the late hours of May 13th this year the laughing stock of the American League ceased to exist. That night the Rays moved into first place for the first time ever that late into any season. The Rays haven’t let up a day since. Ten years of scouting finally developed a core of tremendously gifted baseball players. Finishing the regular season in first place in the most competitive division in baseball, the Rays are champions of the American League.

Now today the World Series begins.

I am pulling for the Phillies, my official B-team behind the Yankees. However I think the Rays will win in six. It is sure to be one of the most exciting, well-played World Series in years. It’s a shame too, because all signs point to the lowest ratings since 2000.

Tail Gating

Tail Gating

It is as Joe Cahn (self proclaimed Commissioner of Tailgating) called it “America’s last neighborhood”. For millions of Americans every football season begins a new chapter to the time honored tradition of attending football games hours before the gates open and eating, drinking and socializing without end. For millions more in America tailgating serves as a business of stable economic growth. Thousands of companies set up tents and trailers and promotional events in the lots at professional games all over the country. I personally have worked well over a dozen tailgating events, and my current employer conducts 35 percent of its business thru outdoor marketing events associated with football tailgating. These marketing promotions filled with giveaways for fans and marketing for capitalists create work everywhere in the country.

But is it possible to have too much of a good thing?

That is what organizations like the New York Jets and Giants have begun to ask. For the first time this season Giants stadium (home to both the Jets and Giants) is limiting access to its parking lots. More specifically four hours before the game and four hours after is all fans are permitted to tail gate. There reason: alcohol consumption and potentially dangerous situations developing in the lots around the Meadowlands.

On September 14th I attended the Jets home game at the stadium against the Patriots. As a working vendor I was permitted access to the lot just outside gate D nine hours before kick off. But at 7:00am, when I entered the lot, fans were already lined up on the streets outside, waiting for lot attendants to allow them access. While talking to Jet fans I began to understand their perspective of disgust. As one fan told me “we only get 8 games a year as it is, and many of these folks here in the lots are like family”. The sprit, preparation, and creative influence all seem to be restricted by “The Man”. As if these fans haven’t suffered enough. With personal seat licenses, and the ticket boom from companies like Stub Hub, fans are already feeling the crunch.

However I also see the other perspective. It’s the perspective of ownership trying to avoid a NASCAR situation in the NFL. NASCAR tailgating is largely affective because of the nature of their events. Stock Car events are usually weekend long races with venues built on the outskirts of towns. Most Speedway parking lots are set up to accommodate fans in RV motor homes and tailgaters with a strong desire to linger. Where as Giants Stadium, for example, is just 9.42 miles from down town Manhattan.

However a big part of this new mandate is not for the safety of fans. It's not to promote responsible drinking, and its not proximity of stadiums to cities, really. It's because beer revenue is down inside the turnstiles and up out in the lots. Ownership revenue is the most important thing in professional sports.

Period.


But what can fans do?

Owners hold all the cards. So as much as I enjoy tail gating myself and count on it as part of my livelihood, it would seem as though the tradition has reached its peak. I expect more of the same to follow. More teams and more cities will begin to limit the access of parking lots for Tail Gaters and fans.
It seems as though even America’s last neighborhood has a timetable to extinction.

Letter To The Commissioner

Dear Commissioner Selig

My name is Ryan Dugan, and I have been a baseball fanatic my entire life. For the last 28 years the National Past Time has been webbed into my life in very extreme ways. I have been to 29 of the games 30 home ballparks. I have seen a half dozen games in the Grape Fruit League. I have sat in the front rows for post-season games. I have been to the World Series. Over the last three years I have become an independent amateur Journalist and Sports Blogger. As I type this on the evening of October 1, the 2008 Division Series has just begun. As this paragraph plays out on my laptop, the Cubs find themselves down 7-2 against the Dodgers in the 9th inning of game one of the NLDS.

Which brings me to the point of my letter.

I will refrain from commenting on my concerns for baseball’s economic escalation that is bound to lead to disaster. I will exclude my thoughts on elitism in the seats at the park. And I will avoid writing about troubles I see in the marketing of today’s game in the media.

Instead I write you regarding a much lighter topic, but one that seriously troubles me.

My letter is a plead to you and to Major League Baseball to Change the format of the division series from a best of five series to a best of seven series. My problem with the current format is this: teams work all summer long to make it to October baseball, and regardless of effort, numbers, or record, all teams find themselves in the position of being eliminated as early as 72 hours after the post season begins. It’s simply not fair to the players, and maybe more importantly it’s not fair to the fans.

As a life long Yankees fan, over the last three seasons (prior to this year) I have seen my team eliminated in less then a week. The preparation and dream seem to be gone before even starting. And it’s not just my Yankees either. Believe me I realize I am spoiled by my organizations successes. But take Philadelphia as an example. Last season, after waiting fourteen years to return to the playoffs the Phillies were eliminated in three lightning fast games. The Atlanta Braves too. (Prior to 2005) Year after year they work all summer just to return to their prior point of elimination and continue to get knocked out inside of five games. There is just too much at stake to decide these games in a best of five series.

As each breath of our respective lives passes, the great game’s history and tradition continues to build. The more it builds that harder it becomes to make changes. I could continue to site examples or scenarios that support my request, but I am certain you’re already well aware of them all. I believe this change would be for the good of the game. It would be a vast improvement for fans and players, and for the record books too.

Now I realize that this is baseball’s hot topic, and the odds of any Commissioner seriously listening to some scoob such as myself are hopeless. But as I continue to devote countless amounts of my time, money and resources to the great game, I feel as though I have to try.

Thank you for reading my request, and any consideration you might give it.

Regards,

Ryan J. Dugan

State Of The Yankees

Ok, my last Yankee Blog for a while I promise!

It’s just that a team that struggles to play .500 ball for most of 2008 and yet has a payroll close to 200 million is bound to leave thousands and thousands of Yankee fans asking why? 2008 will mark the first post season that doesn’t include the New York Yankees in thirteen years.

So as an avid Yankee fan and a sports blogger I recently conducted an open forum with my three favorite Yankee allies in the Bronx. My allies are as follows, my sister B.L. she is a huge Yankees fan and an eternal optimist. My uncle Gary also a huge Yankees fan and an eternal pessimist. And lastly my father, THE OLD MAN, enough said.

Here are the questions asked, in chronological order.


1) What just happened?

B.L.- Our wonderful boys in blue missed the playoffs, but they are still wonderful.

G.T.- The exact same thing that happened to the Detroit Tigers, a team with a veteran roster got real old real fast. Injuries, age, and declining performance were the result.

OLD MAN- The Pope came to the Bronx this year! But Robinson Cano underachieved, and too many pitching injuries resulted in a poor season.


2) Who is most to blame?

B.L.- I blame myself! I just haven’t been a big enough Yankee fan this year.

G.T.- Brain Cashman. The misuse of money on player contracts is disgraceful.

OLD MAN- Chin Ming Wang is to blame. By no fault of his own, his injury destroyed the seaon.


3) Does Brian Cashman come back next season?

B.L.- I wouldn’t be surprised to see him.

G.T.- I hope not, but a more qualified replacement must be found first.

OLD MAN- Yes Cashman will be back, but Yankee executive power will return to Tampa. And Hank will assume a more active roll.


4) Does Joe Girardi and his coaching staff come back?

B.L.- Joe will return, but there will be staff changes.

G.T.- Yes, Hank has already given Joe his blessing. But staff changes will take place, as someone will have to take the blame.

OLD MAN- Yes Joe will be back and yes he will make changes.


5) Would a Joe Torre Yankees team fall this badly this season?

B.L.- Not sure. Torre was a great Yankees manager but there were so many issues this season.

G.T.- Joe’s Yankee team would have been better, but still would have missed the post season.

OLD MAN- Torre’s team would have made the first round, but would have been eliminated yet again in the first round.


6) Free Agents… Who stays and who goes?

B.L.- Pettite and Mussina will be back, but not sure about the rest.

G.T.- Andy Pettite will retire. Jason Giambi is surely gone. Mike Mussina and Bobby Abreu will be back.

OLD MAN- Jason Giambi needs to go away!


7) If you were Hank Steinbrenner who is the one player that you would bring in?

B.L.- C.C. Sabathia

G.T.- Mark Teixeira

OLD MAN- C.C. Sabathia


8) If you were Hank Steinbrenner, who is the one player that you would get rid of?

B.L.- Undecided

G.T.- Alex Rodriguez

OLD MAN- Jason Giambi


Now in conclusion, since this is my blog I will get the final word.

What concerns me most about the New York Yankees past, present, and future is their offensive offense! Hitting with runners in scoring position, or runners on base in general is not something the Yankees have done with any sort of success this season. They are third in the American league in hitting into double plays, and rank second strikeouts (behind on the dreadful Seattle Mariners). I would love to put together a highlight tape of the all their double plays and strike outs, but I don't think there would be enough videotape. Their overall offensive numbers rank pretty high in the league, but numbers don't translate directly to wins, and that more then anything that is why the Yankees will be home this October.

As for the off-season changes, all we can do is speculate. As fans seeking answers these questions at least gives us some comfort. But this current Yankee organization has a lot of work to do before 2009 rolls around.

Yankee Stadium

On May 5th, 1922 a little piece of land just east of the Harlem River and north of Manhattan was selected by men of wealth and power to be brought out of darkness and into light. These creators had an idea to build a place where people could veraciously watch the performances of great men. In turn these watchers would develop their own unique performances. Experiences both impending and past would culminate in this spot. Friendships, bonds, and love all prospered.

Those who have shared in it need only to close their eyes and all the senses return in an instant. The feelings of hot summer sun, and anxious October chill. Smells of hotdogs and char grilled pretzels, cigarette smoke, and beer stained concrete. The taste of Peanuts, and Cracker Jacks. The smacking sounds of a glove in hand, and the snap of bat connecting with the ball. Or the voice of God over the P.A. system.

And of course the sights!

The bright blue seats! The white concrete façade! The dank and dim concourses. The steep narrow upper deck. The Ambulance parked outside the garage door out past monument park. The black bleachers in center.

And that short porch in right! Oh that short porch!

Reggie Reggie Reggie! The Giambino! The O’Neill targets! Phil’s call of the Roger Maris record breaker! Jeffery Maier! And the Babe in his own house!

The view of the courthouse above the scoreboard and façade.

The place I am referring can be found at East 161st street and River Avenue in Bronx New York. It is the most recognizable sports setting in American history.

It is of course Yankees Stadium.

The House That Ruth Built, as it has been commonly called, will close its doors forever this Sunday night. For me Yankees Stadium has been like a home, and a place I will never forget.

My first trip to Yankee Stadium came somewhere around 1986 with my father. I was too young to remember much then, and my father is too old to remember much now. What we do remember is that it was a Yankees / Red Sox double-header. I remember the Trail- Ways bus that took us to the Bronx, and I remember all the floodlights that lit up the evening sky. But I mostly remember the dark concourse ramps that my father and I jogged up and down to keep my six-year-old energy in check.

My next Yankee Stadium experience would come just a few years later. This time my mom and little brother would be joining us, along with my uncle Gary and my great aunt Marge. The six of us all in one car, with my sick brother stinking up the back seat. The Yankees were facing the Detroit Tigers in a Saturday afternoon game. My uncle had Saturday season tickets so this was a regular event for him. After entering the turnstiles our parties split. Marge and Gary proceeded to their seats in the main reserve (section 13 row E seats 1 & 2), while my immediate family and I proceeded to the upper deck down the third base line. The experience was down hill from there. The Tigers destroyed the Yankees on the field, while the majority of the fans were drunk and unruly off the field. It was there that I first learned what marijuana smells like, as the fans in our section were toking up. We left the game in the seventh inning knowing full well we might have to wait three innings back at the car for Marge and Gary. When we got to the car, we found that they were waiting for us. Their experience was no better then ours. My mother vowed to write George Stienbrener a letter, but never did.

By 1991 my aunt Marge was attending fewer games with my uncle Gary. Between adult influence, pre-puberty, and little league, my interests in Major League Baseball began to grow tremendously. My uncle Gary saw this and began asking my brother and I to accompany him to Saturday home games at Yankee Stadium.

The 1991 Mayors Trophy game between the Yankees and Mets was not only a practice game for both teams, but also a practice game for me as a fan. I knew that if I appeared to be bored, disinterested, too antsy, or made too many trips to the bathroom, then it would be the last game I would attend with my uncle. My brother’s audition did not go as well as mine, but nonetheless he and I would alternate Saturday games with my uncle for the next ten years.

Shortly after the 1991 season, my brother and I became spoiled rotten. My father began taking us to Tuesday night games along with my sister. Between my dad and my uncle, I was now seeing a ton of great games in the house that Ruth Built.

As I began to grow up, Yankee Stadium became my home away from home. A place that I knew vast comfort and entertainment in the city that never sleeps. I experienced great friendships and family moments over hundreds of games and thousands of innings. I went to games with girl friends, and after college visitations. I went on school nights and stayed up way past bedtime. I went to games on my own, and even took a British friend to his first ever American baseball game. (He tried to equate it to Cricket.) I went to playoff games and two World Series games, Game 2 of the 1996 World Series, and Game 1 of the 1998 World Series. I even took my dad to his first ever playoff game, last season against the Indians in the division series.

In recent years my sister has become a huge Yankee fan. She has attended a great many games with my father, uncle and I. Her newfound joy for the Yankees and constant optimism for the Yankees have made it wonderful attending games at the stadium with her.

Since 2004 plans to build a new Yankees Stadium have been looming. At first those of us with fond feelings for the current Stadium denied that the day would ever come. Then there was a groundbreaking ceremony. Then over the last two seasons strong visual evidence began growing every day. Now the New Yankee Stadium is almost complete just beyond the third base side of the current Stadium. As the 2008 season began, the theme of endings had also begun. Last opening day, last season series, and last All-Star game.
As the Yankees scheduled their lasts, so did I.

I had been planning it for some time. I wanted to send my home away from home off right, and give Yankee Stadium the honor it properly deserved. To do so I wanted those family members closest to me by blood and Yankee bond to be there to witness the end. And so I got tickets one last time for my father, my uncle Gary, my brother, my sister, and I and on Tuesday September 16th 2008 we attended our last Yankee game at the Stadium. It was an emotional game full of highs and lows. The five of us shared in all the usual laughs, but we also had a polite amount of pain and mourning. My father got a bit emotional when he revisited his old seat in right field. Gary was nostaligic when remembering games past from his old seats in section 13. My sister had her moments and my brother refused to accept the move, vowing never to go to the new stadium. My heart skipped a beat when I entered the park and flipped the turnstile one final time.
A very special moment occurred in the bottom of the first inning, when Derek Jeter collected his 1270th hit at Yankee Stadium to pass Lou Gerhig for the most hits all time at Yankee Stadium. It was a fitting end, and I was thrilled to be there to witness the Yankee Captain make history.

It was the only highlight from the game itself. The Yankees will miss the playoffs for the first time in 13 years this season. The game itself carried no playoff ramifications. The Yankees struggled to score runs and in the ninth inning they were down by four. The last batter of the game was Johnny Damon. Johnny hit a high lazy fly ball to the short stop Orlando Cabrera. As the ball landed in the shortstops glove my heart once again skipped. I lowered my head and finished writing up my scorecard. Not a word was spoken, and it felt like the entire stadium was silent as Frank Sinatra sang New York New York. None of us wanted to leave and we took our sweet sweet time moving from section 14 of the upper deck. We stopped for photos, shared our feelings and cracked some jokes. Finally we were forced out of Yankee Stadium and departed from the gates in left field.

The end had arrived.

Now all that remains is the final weekend series, and a Sunday night game on ESPN that will officially mark the end of an era in baseball and in history.

As I conclude this blog and write my final thoughts on Yankee Stadium, I will refrain from commenting on the change. I will not offer an opinon regarding power, or wealth, greed, or progress, or old versus new. I will simply say in conclusion that a very special place that has been very important to my life will soon be destroyed and gone forever. What will remain will be photographs, videotape and a mind bursting with memories. Like so many other things in life, we can’t stop the clock. We cant stop the change, all we can do is accept the things beyond our control remember the past with a sense of fondness, and look to the future with a sense of hope.

The bright blue seats! The white concrete façade! The dank and dim concourses.
The steep narrow upper deck.

And that short porch in right! Oh that short porch!

Colorado Chronicles

2:49am EST- The sound of an alarm springs me to my feet, only to quickly discover that it’s the OLD MAN’s malfunctioning cell phone alarm waking me three and a half hours early.

5:15am EST- The sound of an alarm springs me to my feet yet again. This time its for real. The start of a long exhausting day.

8:15am EST- Philadelphia flight 2886 to Denver Colorado leaves gate D4 heading west.

10:15am MST- The wheels of flight 2886 touch down on the runway of Denver International. The OLD MAN and I officially arrive in Denver. It’s a family tradition that dates back to the summer of 1993. Every single MLB season since has consisted of at least one family baseball trip. In the early days the whole family would jump in the back of the OLD MAN’s pickup and head cross-country. Now a day it’s just the OLD MAN and I, and we fly.

12:00 pm MST- The OLD MAN and I arrive at 21st and Main St. in downtown Denver. We park our rental car and spend the rest of the afternoon touring downtown Denver while waiting for the gates to open for the first game of a three game set between the Colorado Rockies and the Cincinnati Reds. The match up we have traveled over 1700 miles to see is not a very good one. The Rockies are in third place in the NL west with a record of 59-70 eleven games under .500 and 9 games out of first place. The Cincinnati Reds are even worse. They were in dead last in the NL central with a record of 56-72 and 21.5 games out of first place. However both the OLD MAN and I have a baseball agenda beyond the games we are in town for.

In addition to taking in our first ever game in Denver’s Coors field, I plan on paying particular attention to Rockies Left Fielder Matt Holliday. I am also scoreboard watching all the games in the American League East, while the OLD MAN looks for autographs and Rockies memorabilia.

5:33 pm MST- The Gates are open and we enter the turnstiles in right field.

5:42 pm MST- The OLD MAN receives an autograph from Reds All-Star rookie Edison Volquez. A player he predicted to be a star, and new favorite of his.

6:10pm MST- The Reds leave the field completing batting practice. The grounds crew begin striking the nets and batting cage.

7:02pm MST- Four umpires emerge onto the field and a coach from each team greets them with lineup cards behind home plate.

7:07pm MST- The first pitch is delivered. With poor attendance and little cheering I begin to wonder if I’m at a baseball game or a golf tournament.

7:12pm MST- I am quickly reminded that I am at a ball game when the third batter of the game, Brandon Phillips, launches a two run home run over the wall in left center field.

7:23pm MST- Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday hits a mile high fly to right field for the second out of the bottom of the first. A little more distance and less height, it would have left Yankees stadium. As much as I love Holliday’s power intertwined with his .344 average, I quickly realize some dilemmas with the Yankees acquiring Holliday. First off is that left field is his natural position. I had thought he was a right fielder, which is what the Yankees will be looking for this off-season. Also Holliday is a right-handed hitter. The Yanks will be looking for a hitter between Jeter and A-Rod in the lineup, and the ideal player would be left-handed. (Especially with the dimensions of Yankees Stadium)

7:36pm MST- A very mild, but steady rain beings to fall. It lasts only a few minutes.

7:48pm MST- The scoreboard is updated in right field and the Yankees have retaken the lead in their game against Baltimore. 16 game winner Mike Mussina is on the mound in Baltimore, but I have no idea if he is still on the mound, or the pitcher of record.

7:58pm MST- The flood gates up and the boos filter down as a Chris Dickerson single gives the Reds a 6-0 lead. It’s the fourth run scored in the inning, and it chases Rockies starter Livan Hernandez from the game.

8:31pm MST- The wave begins circling the stands, as the Yankees game goes final on the scoreboard. Yankees win 9-4.

8:45pm MST- In Holliday’s third at bat, he pops up to the shortstop with the bases loaded. My infatuation with Holliday begins to fade. The last thing the Yankees need is another hitter that can’t produce with the bases loaded. The Boston Red Sox game goes final on the board. Sox win 8-4 in Toronto.

8:50pm MST- The OLD MAN and I begin to talk about our great seats for Saturday’s game. Tonight we are in the upper deck, but tomorrow we will be sitting just thirteen rows from the tarp, and just two sections from the third base dugout. We each paid $40.00 for the tickets. Just out of curiosity I look up the cost of the same ticket at
Yankees Stadium in my handy dandy pocket schedule. The cost for one seat on the third base line just two sections up from the dugout at Yankee Stadium is $380.00!!! I can’t believe it! I knew the prices were out of hand at Yankees Stadium, but I had no idea it was that bad! No baseball ticket is worth $380 bucks! The discovery leads to long conversation about baseball’s elitism between the OLD MAN and I.

9:35pm MST- Another game goes final on the Scoreboard. Tampa Bay wins yet again!

9:41pm MST- The Rockies mount a comeback scoring three in the seventh and now two more in the eighth. They pull to within 8-5.

9:56pm MST- Fransisco Cordero comes into the game for the Reds looking for his 25th save of the season.

10:07 MST- Cordero gets his save and the Reds win game one of the three game set. The day is complete and now another baseball journey is in the books. The OLD MAN and I are now within a handful of baseball parks of having seen them all. We leave Coors field and retreat to our hotel in Colorado Springs for some much needed rest.