If you haven't seen the "breast pump incident" from the Colbert Report from earlier this week, enjoy! I may have woke the neighbors Wednesday night. I haven't laughed THAT hard in quite some time...
More later,
Mark
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Green Bay Still Sucks
Hey, the Mahoning Valley Thunder may have lost to the cheatin' arena cheeseheads (aka the Green Bay Blizzards) 61-13, but a good time booing was had by all.
Well, me anyway. And I got our section to harass Green Bay at every turn, so that was fun. We had great seats in the second row in good ol' Section 205. That allowed me to shoot close up like this on my trusty LG phone:
A RARE PHOTO: GREEN BAY IS NOT SCORING!
We were so close, that sometimes, our view was obscured.
I THINK WE JUST MISSED A TD!
After the game, a surprise treat: We got to go onto the field (kinda spongy) and hang around for a memorabilia auction. I could not help myself...
IF YOU GUESSED I NOW OWN THE NO. 54 JERSEY, YOU KNOW ME PRETTY WELL...
The Thunder was kind enough to work on tracking down good ol' No. 54 Mike Lane to get him to give the jersey his autograph. After a 61-13 beatdown, Mike didn't hang around and I understand.
Next up on our Summer of Ohio Sports Tour '08: Induction ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton on Saturday. BUTKUS AND SAYERS ARE GOING TO BE THERE!
I'll bring along my trusty computer, digital camera, phone, Flip video, etc.
Did I mention: BUTKUS AND SAYERS ARE GOING TO BE THERE!
More later,
Mark
Well, me anyway. And I got our section to harass Green Bay at every turn, so that was fun. We had great seats in the second row in good ol' Section 205. That allowed me to shoot close up like this on my trusty LG phone:
A RARE PHOTO: GREEN BAY IS NOT SCORING!
We were so close, that sometimes, our view was obscured.
I THINK WE JUST MISSED A TD!
After the game, a surprise treat: We got to go onto the field (kinda spongy) and hang around for a memorabilia auction. I could not help myself...
IF YOU GUESSED I NOW OWN THE NO. 54 JERSEY, YOU KNOW ME PRETTY WELL...
The Thunder was kind enough to work on tracking down good ol' No. 54 Mike Lane to get him to give the jersey his autograph. After a 61-13 beatdown, Mike didn't hang around and I understand.
Next up on our Summer of Ohio Sports Tour '08: Induction ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton on Saturday. BUTKUS AND SAYERS ARE GOING TO BE THERE!
I'll bring along my trusty computer, digital camera, phone, Flip video, etc.
Did I mention: BUTKUS AND SAYERS ARE GOING TO BE THERE!
More later,
Mark
Friday, July 25, 2008
Rock 'n' Roll Weekend
Well, even though expected guests did not materialize, we spent Friday in beautiful downtown Cleveland. Our first stop, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
We spent four hours here and we could have spent four times that much. There is just so much to see, it is overwhelming! (But no more pictures because they don't allow photography inside.) Suffice to say we spent a lot of time at the Elvis exhibit and at the special Doors exhibit (a total experience!). From there it was back to the hotel to check in and then off to Progressive Field to catch the Cleveland Indians vs. the Minnesota Twins.
A nice mom and her daughter from the Boston area (by coincidence, staying at a hotel in our neck of the woods near Youngstown for the PONY softball tourney) took this shot of us. We had purchased a multi-ticket pack at Sam's Club and upgraded to aisle, box seats in Section 150 just minutes before the gates opened. A big crowd (33,500) saw a heckuva game including a wild first inning in which the Indians scored four runs despite awesome Twins' defense in which three high-risk outfielding maneuvers lead to two outs and one hospitalization.
Here's a view from our great seats. The usher told us, and she was correct, that we had the best seats in the house for the post-game fireworks.
After a 5-4 win (and a near repeat of the Randy Myers poster fiasco just moments after Mary uttered something about it), the fireworks show was amazing.
After this grand finale, we walked out and found a cab and hit the hotel lounge for a nightcap. A terrific day!
Saturday: our beloved Mahoning Valley Thunder arena football team ends its season against the team from Green Bay. I am warming up my booing...
Green Bay sucks! Green Bay sucks! Green Bay sucks!
Ah... That feels so good...
More later,
Mark
We spent four hours here and we could have spent four times that much. There is just so much to see, it is overwhelming! (But no more pictures because they don't allow photography inside.) Suffice to say we spent a lot of time at the Elvis exhibit and at the special Doors exhibit (a total experience!). From there it was back to the hotel to check in and then off to Progressive Field to catch the Cleveland Indians vs. the Minnesota Twins.
A nice mom and her daughter from the Boston area (by coincidence, staying at a hotel in our neck of the woods near Youngstown for the PONY softball tourney) took this shot of us. We had purchased a multi-ticket pack at Sam's Club and upgraded to aisle, box seats in Section 150 just minutes before the gates opened. A big crowd (33,500) saw a heckuva game including a wild first inning in which the Indians scored four runs despite awesome Twins' defense in which three high-risk outfielding maneuvers lead to two outs and one hospitalization.
Here's a view from our great seats. The usher told us, and she was correct, that we had the best seats in the house for the post-game fireworks.
After a 5-4 win (and a near repeat of the Randy Myers poster fiasco just moments after Mary uttered something about it), the fireworks show was amazing.
After this grand finale, we walked out and found a cab and hit the hotel lounge for a nightcap. A terrific day!
Saturday: our beloved Mahoning Valley Thunder arena football team ends its season against the team from Green Bay. I am warming up my booing...
Green Bay sucks! Green Bay sucks! Green Bay sucks!
Ah... That feels so good...
More later,
Mark
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Fishin' is ... Nonexistent!
I woke up this morning all ready to claim Lake Sweetwood as my own.
My proclamation in hand, I eagerly pulled open the sliding door to the oration deck off of the master bedroom, fully prepared to announce myself the owner, in fact, king, of the newly formed Lake Sweetwood. The lake literally sprung up during the previous evening's cataclysmic rain storm. I knew the neighborhood would be seeking someone to foist his riparian rights upon the situation. And, as my first generous act, I was going to proclaim that everyone would be allowed to keep the first fish he or she caught.
However, my hopes were dashed.
The lake is no more.
Damn that dam!
The groundhogs? They were still there. They're alright. Nobody worry 'bout them.
You don't suppose these varmints have gills?
So, instead of showing you the non-lake here is the first photo of our new patio:
OK, not as dramatic as the flash flood, but, well, there ya go...
More later
Mark
My proclamation in hand, I eagerly pulled open the sliding door to the oration deck off of the master bedroom, fully prepared to announce myself the owner, in fact, king, of the newly formed Lake Sweetwood. The lake literally sprung up during the previous evening's cataclysmic rain storm. I knew the neighborhood would be seeking someone to foist his riparian rights upon the situation. And, as my first generous act, I was going to proclaim that everyone would be allowed to keep the first fish he or she caught.
However, my hopes were dashed.
The lake is no more.
Damn that dam!
The groundhogs? They were still there. They're alright. Nobody worry 'bout them.
You don't suppose these varmints have gills?
So, instead of showing you the non-lake here is the first photo of our new patio:
OK, not as dramatic as the flash flood, but, well, there ya go...
More later
Mark
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
Well, we're taking some time off from our camping trip to Lake Wallachookugah in colonial West Virginia. From our cabin is the breathtaking view above. How nice. Like the land that time forgot.
ANOTHER VIEW
Except: We are not on a camping trip to Lake Wallachookugah in colonial West Virginia. We are looking out our back deck over here on South Shore Drive in Boardman, Ohio. Funny thing about South Shore Drive : It was so-named because it used to be on the south shore of a lake, back in the day. Our backyard drops off into a beautiful park-like grassy plain. Down the block there's a dam because every now and then...
OUR NEIGHBORS TO OUR RIGHT
...a very hard rain is gonna fall. Several inches within an hour. Real wrath of God-type stuff. Dogs and cats living together. Groundhogs with snorkels.
Now our neighbors on both sides of us got it the worst: They have also reclaimed the most land back from the minor creek bed and protected wetlands that separate us from the neighborhood behind us which is about 400 feet away. The groundhogs, I hope, have drowned before seeking higher ground. My Bill Murray-like battle with them will be detailed in a later post.
OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE LEFT
Don't worry about us, though: We are safe. The basement is absolutely dry! The fine folks who re-sealed our basement after we bought the Brady Bunch house did an outstanding job.
Tomorrow: Fishing!
More later,
Mark
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Today is Her Birthday!
Mary's Mom, Grace, is visiting us and today we celebrated her birthday. Mary and her Mom enjoyed a day of fun and shopping followed by a feast topped off with a GIANT strawberry shortcake (topped off itself with a leftover from our fantastic Fourth of July celebration).
Saturday will include more touring, including a stop at The Vindicator office and dinner at what is quickly becoming a mainstay of our stops when folks visit our neck of the woods, the Rosetta Stone restaurant in downtown Youngstown.
HERE'S MARY AND HER MOM!
More later,
Mark
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Everything Is On The Internet
Last time, I mentioned the infamous Randy Myers Poster Day fiasco at Wrigley Field and, wouldn't you know, there's a great video all about it on YouTube.Com.
Check it out!
More later,
Mark
Check it out!
More later,
Mark
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Take Me Out to the Stadiums...
Our recent adventure to Progressive Field made me reflect on all of the stadiums I have caught a game in during the first 48 years.
Yikes. I'm old.
Anyway, from Wrigley Field in 1970 when my grandparents took me to my first Cubs game through last week's trip to the ol' Jake, here is where I've been:
Wrigley Field
• Wrigley Field. I recall women in mini-skirts flirting with Joe Pepitone, that wonderful first Wrigley Field "redhot" and the singing peanut man. Most of all, I remember through 10-year-old eyes climbing up those stairs for my first glimpse of that marvelous ballpark. I've spent many good times there over the years. One summer when I lived in Oak Park, a friend, Jim Rice, had bleacher tickets to every weekend game. Dear lord. Great times. I wish I could remember more about them... Mary and I also took Angela and Matthew to witness the now-infamous Randy Myers poster day.
Soldier Field
• Soldier Field (old and new). In the 1970s, my family had season tickets to the Bears, although in those Abe Gibron days, you went to see who the Bears were playing: Roger Staubach, for example. Dad gave up hope on the Bears of that era and gave up the tickets just as they brought in this new rookie: Walter Payton. Still I saw many, many games in ensuing years and also attended the first Bears game in the new Soldier Field when get this, I bought Bobby Douglass a beer. Cool kismet, eh?
Old and New Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park (old and new). I went with a friend and his dad to the old Comiskey when I was a kid (I preferred Wrigley) and also went to the new park as editor of the Northwest Herald for a carrier promotion. I got my picture taken on the field at the renamed U.S. Cellular Field and we sat in the first row along left field. Cool, but I still prefer Wrigley.
United Center, Chicago Stadium
• Chicago Stadium. Also went with a friend and his dad, this time to watch the Bulls game. I remember big girders or poles blocking sight lines and that's about all.
• The United Center. I saw a couple of Bulls games there during their amazing run in the 1990s. It was an amazing experience, especially when my boss gave me tickets that were about 13 rows from the floor.
Tampa Stadium
• Tampa Stadium. During a Florida vacation in 1976, I goaded my Dad into taking the family to watch the first ever showdown between the Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a preseason game and my brother and I got an autograph of some old guy who was holding court: Red Grange. I still have that autograph!
Shea Stadium
• Shea Stadium. In the early 1990's, when I was editor of The Leader in Corning, N.Y., I caught a New York Mets game. What I remember most is Todd Franko got busted by a cop for walking off of a bus with a beer. Like New York cops have nothing better to do than to bust rubes walking off of buses with beers. Sheesh. Great sight lines, though.
Giants Stadium
• Giants Stadium (the Meadowlands). Also while at The Leader, the sports editor took me to watch the Bears get trampled by the New York Giants during the playoffs in January 1990. It was a humbling experience.
Fulton County Stadium
• Fulton County Stadium. In the mid-1990's, during a NEXPO newspaper conference in Atlanta, I attended a Montreal Expos vs. Atlanta Braves game at the old Fulton County Stadium. We had great box seats (they took your order and BROUGHT you your food!) right behind the Expos on-deck circle. I mean, so close. I could mock. Which I did (with a Braves cap on). The first Expo batter braved my onslaught, stepped into the batter's box and banged a lead-off home run. As he rounded third, he pointed at me in a kind of salute. The real Braves fans all told me to shut the hell up.
Lambeau Field
• Lambeau Field. In the late 1990' s, friend took me to watch the Bears take on the Packers from his family's seats at the frozen tundra. I dressed in Bears orange and blue from head to toe (even Bears logo shoes). A.) Everyone treated me nice, even though they were stinkin' cheeseheads; b.) its a really great place to watch a football game. That was hard to type.
Miller Park
• Miller Park. I was invited to watch a Milwaukee Brewers game when I lived in Crystal Lake a few years ago. I was impressed with its relative proximity (and no Chicago traffic to deal with) but it really was sort of a nondescript ballpark. With a roof.
Progressive Field
• Progressive Field. Because of the rain delay, we really got to crawl around the inside of the Cleveland Indians ballpark last week and we were really impressed. Lots of new amenities but they managed to maintain some old park charm. However, like everyone else, I am going to keep calling it "The Jake" (unless I get some free insurance).
This is just a list of pro sporting events venues, mind you, if I start factoring rock concerts, wrestling, etc., the list gets even longer. Like, the time we sat in the ninth row at Rich Stadium in to enjoy The Who and were deaf for two day after... A project for another day...
More later,
Mark
Yikes. I'm old.
Anyway, from Wrigley Field in 1970 when my grandparents took me to my first Cubs game through last week's trip to the ol' Jake, here is where I've been:
Wrigley Field• Wrigley Field. I recall women in mini-skirts flirting with Joe Pepitone, that wonderful first Wrigley Field "redhot" and the singing peanut man. Most of all, I remember through 10-year-old eyes climbing up those stairs for my first glimpse of that marvelous ballpark. I've spent many good times there over the years. One summer when I lived in Oak Park, a friend, Jim Rice, had bleacher tickets to every weekend game. Dear lord. Great times. I wish I could remember more about them... Mary and I also took Angela and Matthew to witness the now-infamous Randy Myers poster day.
Soldier Field• Soldier Field (old and new). In the 1970s, my family had season tickets to the Bears, although in those Abe Gibron days, you went to see who the Bears were playing: Roger Staubach, for example. Dad gave up hope on the Bears of that era and gave up the tickets just as they brought in this new rookie: Walter Payton. Still I saw many, many games in ensuing years and also attended the first Bears game in the new Soldier Field when get this, I bought Bobby Douglass a beer. Cool kismet, eh?
Old and New Comiskey ParkComiskey Park (old and new). I went with a friend and his dad to the old Comiskey when I was a kid (I preferred Wrigley) and also went to the new park as editor of the Northwest Herald for a carrier promotion. I got my picture taken on the field at the renamed U.S. Cellular Field and we sat in the first row along left field. Cool, but I still prefer Wrigley.
United Center, Chicago Stadium• Chicago Stadium. Also went with a friend and his dad, this time to watch the Bulls game. I remember big girders or poles blocking sight lines and that's about all.
• The United Center. I saw a couple of Bulls games there during their amazing run in the 1990s. It was an amazing experience, especially when my boss gave me tickets that were about 13 rows from the floor.
Tampa Stadium• Tampa Stadium. During a Florida vacation in 1976, I goaded my Dad into taking the family to watch the first ever showdown between the Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a preseason game and my brother and I got an autograph of some old guy who was holding court: Red Grange. I still have that autograph!
Shea Stadium• Shea Stadium. In the early 1990's, when I was editor of The Leader in Corning, N.Y., I caught a New York Mets game. What I remember most is Todd Franko got busted by a cop for walking off of a bus with a beer. Like New York cops have nothing better to do than to bust rubes walking off of buses with beers. Sheesh. Great sight lines, though.
Giants Stadium• Giants Stadium (the Meadowlands). Also while at The Leader, the sports editor took me to watch the Bears get trampled by the New York Giants during the playoffs in January 1990. It was a humbling experience.
Fulton County Stadium• Fulton County Stadium. In the mid-1990's, during a NEXPO newspaper conference in Atlanta, I attended a Montreal Expos vs. Atlanta Braves game at the old Fulton County Stadium. We had great box seats (they took your order and BROUGHT you your food!) right behind the Expos on-deck circle. I mean, so close. I could mock. Which I did (with a Braves cap on). The first Expo batter braved my onslaught, stepped into the batter's box and banged a lead-off home run. As he rounded third, he pointed at me in a kind of salute. The real Braves fans all told me to shut the hell up.
Lambeau Field• Lambeau Field. In the late 1990' s, friend took me to watch the Bears take on the Packers from his family's seats at the frozen tundra. I dressed in Bears orange and blue from head to toe (even Bears logo shoes). A.) Everyone treated me nice, even though they were stinkin' cheeseheads; b.) its a really great place to watch a football game. That was hard to type.
Miller Park• Miller Park. I was invited to watch a Milwaukee Brewers game when I lived in Crystal Lake a few years ago. I was impressed with its relative proximity (and no Chicago traffic to deal with) but it really was sort of a nondescript ballpark. With a roof.
Progressive Field• Progressive Field. Because of the rain delay, we really got to crawl around the inside of the Cleveland Indians ballpark last week and we were really impressed. Lots of new amenities but they managed to maintain some old park charm. However, like everyone else, I am going to keep calling it "The Jake" (unless I get some free insurance).
This is just a list of pro sporting events venues, mind you, if I start factoring rock concerts, wrestling, etc., the list gets even longer. Like, the time we sat in the ninth row at Rich Stadium in to enjoy The Who and were deaf for two day after... A project for another day...
More later,
Mark
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