Barack Obama and Joe Biden hit town!

Barack Obama and Joe Biden and their wives ate breakfast about a mile from our home Saturday morning.

The "surprise" visit (the media was on alert to be prepared for something the night before and were given an hour's notice of the precise location Saturday morning) really delighted the folks enjoying an otherwise typical Saturday morning breakfast at the Yankee Kitchen Family Restaurant.

You can read The Vindicator's terrific account here:

A Real Eye-Opener

En route to my shift at the Canfield Fair, Mary and I drove the the Yankee Kitchen Family Restaurant parking lot a short time before the campaign stop to gawk at the Secret Service and police presence. I really wanted to stop in, but the fair beckoned...

My favorite image from Sunday's newspaper is this one:


© THE VINDICATOR

Just some folks down the street from us enjoying breakfast... The Vindicator reported "Barack Obama had waffles, bacon and two eggs over medium at the Yankee Kitchen Family Restaurant in Boardman. Joe Biden ordered the French toast."

Imagine the pressure on the cook and the waitress!

This up-close-and-personal access is one of the many benefits of living in a key battleground state. We expect to see the presidential candidates from both sides in the area many times in the next two months.

More later,

Mark

The Great Tropical Storm Fay Bar Rebellion

One more memory from a truly odd vacation...

Last Monday, weather forecasters were already warning the Daytona Beach area of the looming nightmare of Tropical Storm Fay. Our biggest concern, from the sixth floor of the American Beach Resort, was really about our rental car. I can only imagine that a wrecked rental car will not improve the fortunes of a tropical storm-wrecked vacation and with the parents a few short miles away, using their garage seems like the better part of valor.

Well, we took a chance that Monday would be our best beach day and enjoyed walking the shore and checking in on some of our favorite haunts. Monday night, it was cloudy, but really not that ominous.

We awoke Tuesday to some wind and fine rain. We hit A1A to check out the sights and drove down to the Main Street Pier to learn it was pretty much all shut down (we did find a package store open to mail back some souvenirs). But bar after bar and restaurant after restaurant was closed. Soggy but sober, we got back to the Americano and I filmed the now-classic pool deck rant.

However, I was not going to let the closing of the hotel bar go without comment. Hence, the Great Tropical Storm Fay Bar Rebellion. I informed the front desk that my airline could not fly me out (and we were not going to spend an extended time in the airport waiting on standby). Other restaurants and vacation spots in the area were closed due to hysterical forecasts (that really never developed to any real degree where we were). We were a captive audience.

Therefore, we had no choice but to continue our vacationing ways.

We wanted the bar opened.

My rant was met with pretty much blank stares.

Undeterred, Mary and I mixed up our own drinks in our room and brought them down to sit at the bar to watch the unceasing Fay coverage on TV. Soon, other guests congregated to discuss why the bar was not open and to mock the "Bar closed due to bad weather" sign. Others, too, went to the front desk. In a short time, management heard our plea and realized our logic. And they responded in great fashion.

Harriet from housekeeping was sent to open the bar.

Harriet had previous experience and a great sense of humor (not to mention adventure). And she soon embodied the great tradition of customer service that makes us want to go back to the Americano year after year as she had the bar open in time for the 2-for-1 "Happy Hour." Quite a crowd of Fay-weary travelers gathered and a good time was had by all.


HARRIET

Now, another employee who always seemed to spend his time putting customers first was Timothy, who we first met at the bar when he was filling in for a missed shift. Over the course of the next several days, he was taking care of business at the bar or where ever else he was needed.


TIMOTHY

They both worked to keep the customers happy during an odd week. We look forward to seeing them again ... under better circumstances.

We were greeted with sunny skies, finally, when we flew out of Orlando Sunday and, again, when we hit Ohio this afternoon. Highly ironic.

And, the Americano is gifting the family with another week's stay, to make up for the the past miserable one.

Right now, however, we need a break from Florida. We're truly happy to be home.

More later,


Mark

More Bad News...

We actually got to WATCH the Bears last night...

(shiver)

It would have been nice for a couple of those over-paid defensive stars to make a tackle or two... Kudos, though, to Coach Smith for keeping the first defensive team out there for almost three quarters.

One thing I know to be true: That sucking sound Thursday night was NOT caused by Tropical Storm Fay.

More later,


Mark

This Storm is Sooooo Fay....

Here's the latest from the beach...

More later,


Mark

Fay Watch '08

We're on Fay Watch '08 and here is the latest from the National Weather Service:



So, it seems, after we leave Sunday, everything will be OK...

Great...

More later,


Mark

LIVE! FROM THE BEACH!

Well, actually, "Recorded Live! From The Beach!" It's easy to get caught up in the media hype down here. This just in...



Here are some of my shots from today's excursion to the Ocean Deck, one of our favorite haunts, just south of the Main Street Pier. We were surprised to find it open and the view of the churning ocean was nothing short of remarkable.

>
THIS IS THE ACTUAL VIEW FROM OUR TABLE LOOKING OUT OF THE DOOR TOWARD THE OCEAN.


HERE IS THE VIEW LOOKING OUT FROM THE OCEAN DECK'S DECK.


ANOTHER HARDY SOUL REFUSES TO GIVE UP HIS/HER VACATION TO FREAKIN' FAY.

We're making do. Tonight, well be able to to watch the Bears game on the TV in our room (an odd turn of luck, given the trip so far). I guess I should predict the cable going out...

But, even that won't get me down. At some point, when things don't go as planned during your vacation, you have to go all Griswold and will yourself to have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny freakin' Kaye.

Right?

More later,


Mark

Breaking Vacation News!

I finally took the chance to record my Cantori moment on the pool deck of the Americano Resort. I apologize for the sound quality and the odd appearance of spittle. It is harder to breathe in 30-40 mph winds than it appears on TV.

The lowdown (or the downlow for you kids out there):

• The Freakin' Fay storm is barely moving.

• We are hanging at the resort tonight.

• Any thoughts of flying out early were eliminated by an airport slowdown earlier today and general travel conditions.

• Ditto tomorrow.

• Despite my protest during the storm/spittle rant on the pool deck, the pool bar was opened after some, uhm, negotiation.

• We are well and plan to ride this thing out far less sober than Tuesday.

More later,

Mark

The Nightmare Scenario

As you can see from the map above, Freakin' Fay has a mind of her own and could very well boomerang back at us extending this mess well into the week.

We are safe, sober and relatively disgruntled about our ongoing lack of vacation luck. We camped at the parents' house Tuesday night, keeping the rental car safe in the garage. It's windy, but, really, not at all dangerous here, yet (and we got several days worth of laundry done!).

Fay is so unpredictable that even long-time weather observers are at a loss. Conventional wisdom would have had the storm fading out not gaining strength once it hit land. No seems sure why it became so slow moving. And, just when we got used to the fact that it wasn't moving much, it appears now to be moving quickly toward open water again where the ocean is warm enough to replenish Fay with enough power to transform her into an actual hurricane.

Here's what I know: I am making all my decisions from here on out based on what WFTV-Channel 9 meteorologist Tom Terry says. He's the Tom Skilling of central Florida. He was right about Charley and he seems to think the above scenario is too rosy; that Fay could actually take aim for a direct hit onto Daytona.

Oh. Joy.

We feel bad for the folks living near our former home in Brevard County who really got whacked today. Be safe, everyone back there.

On Wednesday, we're venturing out to see what is left of the Main Street Pier and the Mai Tai Bar. Won't somebody please think about the Mai Tai Bar? If everything is normal, well be back at the hotel until Fay decides what she wants to be when she grows up...

Or, where she wants to go...

More later,

Mark

The Weather Should Start Getting Rough...

THE BEACH AT ABOUT NOON.

Well, lots of hysterical TV coverage, but very little in the way of Fay our way, yet.

It's 2:43 p.m. EST and actually sunny here in Daytona. Tonight, it is supposed to get worst, but, then again, that is exactly what they said last night. We're planning to take a break from the windy beach and head to the parents' house to do some laundry and see how this all develops...

The video is not transferring, though I am still shooting. It seems one of my application updates is at odds with the Flip cam operating system.

More later,


Mark

Our Vacation So Far...

Well, we hit the road to Florida to spend some time at the family condo for the first time in three years.

Those scoring alone at home are well aware of our vacation luck:

• 2004: Hurricane Charley. Fled from Kissimmee to hide out at the parents' Ormond Beach house where we stowed the rental car in their garage. After more than 24 hours without electricity, we fled to the condo which had air conditioning, but no phones or cable.

• 2005: Hurricane Katrina. Fled Fort Lauderdale when Katrina went across the southern tip of the state. Switched our departure flight to Orlando, which gave us a bonus night of fun at Old Town in Kissimmee.

• 2006: Lived in Florida. No hurricane.

• 2007: Lived in Florida. No hurricane.

• 2008: Hurricane Fay is threatening our vacation and we may drive over to Ormond Beach to stow the rental car in the parents' garage.

I'm sensing a pattern...

But we are having a good time nonetheless and here are some of our vacation photos to prove it...


IN OLD TOWN, I CONTINUE TO RULE THE GAMES. HERE, MARY IS CASHING IN A FEW OF MY WINNING TICKETS. WE WON A SONY IPOD SPEAKER SYSTEM/CLOCK RADIO.


SATURDAY NIGHT, WE RECREATED THAT FATEFUL DAY 11 YEARS AGAO WHEN MARY SHOVED SOME CAKE INTO MY MOUTH.


JOINING US FOR THE ANNIVERSARY DINNER WERE MY DAD AND MOM AND OUR FRIENDS, LISA AND CLINT KICINSKI.


ON SUNDAY, A FEW FOLKS FROM THE OLD HOMETOWN NEWS TEAM JOINED US AT THE MAIN STREET PIER FOR DRINKS AND FUN. JOINING MARY, ME, CLINT AND LISA WERE GRETCHEN SAUERMAN AND ROB SHELBURNE.


ROB WON THE FIRST SWEETWOOD SKEEBALL CUP INVITATIONAL. ROB IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET AND MARY AND I WERE STILL SINGING HIS VICTORY SONG ON MONDAY: "THAT DRUNK EX-SPORTS GUY SURE PLAYS A MEAN SKEEBALL."


MAYBE THIS IS THE "BEFORE" SHOT: MONDAY WAS A GLORIOUS DAY AT THE BEACH, WITH NO SIGN OF FAY OR ANYTHING ELSE OMINOUS. THIS IS THE AMERICANO BEACH RESORT AS SEEN FROM THE OCEAN.


THE WATER WAS COOL AND INVITING! WE WALKED ABOUT THREE MILES UP AND DOWN THE COAST.


FROM THE MAIN STREET PIER: THE AMERICANO IS A MILE-AND-A-HALF DOWN ON THE LEFT.


THE MAIN STREET PIER SKY RIDE, HOWEVER, WAS CLOSED DOWN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE STORM.

We're having a grand time, so far. We'll keep you posted as things deteriorate, probably with more photos and video, if need be (I want to pull a Jim Cantori and get video'd in the driving rain). The Americano bar has a wireless connection so we may have to hang out at the bar to keep updating the Web site. The sacrifices we're willing to make on our vacation...

More later,

Mark

Gale Sayers, The Redskins Nation, Fred Dean and Me

I am sitting here in our comfy room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Akron South reliving the past 24 hours. Let's tally the checklist of one of the coolest days ever:

• Arrive early at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and secure all-day parking that did not require a shuttle. Check.

• Tour the Hall of Fame. Check.

• Meet Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. Check.

• Hang out all day with great football fans and talk football in early August. Check.

• Attend the induction ceremonies from the last row in the joint. Check.

• Sneak onto the Fawcett Stadium field. Check.

• Attend the 49er's post-induction ceremony party as a guest of Youngstown's DeBartolo family. Check.

• Have my photo taken with two Hall of Famers and shake the hands of a couple more. Check.

• Arrive at the hotel some 14 hours later both exhausted and giddy and hit the TGI Friday next door for last call and more cool football fans. Check.

This past week was a blur of preparation after the newspaper got a call from a representative of the DeBartolo family offering invitations to a post-induction ceremony bash for Fred Dean, one of six 2008 inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. By Wednesday, I had secured tickets to the pre-ceremony fan party, seats to the induction ceremony and, thanks to a great rep from Marriott (and my silver points status), the very last hotel room within 11 miles of the hall.

The only fret we had was parking, since most parking to the event was about a mile away and required a shuttle that would stop shuttling well before the post-induction ceremony party even started. We arrived at the hall at about 9:20 a.m. and after explaining our plight to security, they directed to the neighborhood surrounding the Hall of Fame. Throughout the neighborhood, folks had carved up their yards for parking (a tradition, we are told, that dates back to the beginning of the hall ceremonies in the 1960's).

A guy on Barr Avenue let us park in his driveway for $20, which was a bargain, I have to tell you. We explained we probably would not be back much before 11 p.m. and he assured us the car was safe.

After a short walk to the hall, we grabbed our tickets at "will call" and started to hit the booths in the Mall of Fame, the tented shopping area. Immediately, we found Gale Sayers' booth. Gale was the most accessible Hall of Famer on Saturday and by 10 a.m. I had shaken his hand, gotten my picture taken with him and secured an autographed copy of his new book.


I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MY HAND IS DOING

Gale is raising funds for his new Gale Sayers Center and is using his fame and his accessibility in the most positive way imaginable. He is just a great guy.

That new book, "My Life and Times," has a forward written by Dick Butkus, who was arriving at about noon to sign autographs as a guest of the Mounted Memories memorabilia company. Hence, I bought a full-sized replica Hall of Fame helmet and Gale and Dick signed it. And they both had to listen to me explain the great family story of how they were involved in my very first autograph almost 40 years ago when Dad took me to father and son night at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Kankakee, Ill.


DICK ENJOYS MY STORY

Dad answered Dick's trivia question first: Who had tackled Gale Sayers when his knee got blown out? Dad knew it was Kermit Alexander of the San Francisco 49ers. A few weeks later, in the mail was a flat football signed by members of the 1969 team including Dick, Gale, Brian Piccolo and others.

They were both polite as I regaled them. Dick has a great handshake.

By early afternoon, the Hall grounds were getting jammed by thousands of fans. Because Darrell Green and Art Monk were getting inducted, the place was becoming a virtual Washington Redskin fan convention. We discovered these are fun, loyal, old-school fans who really enjoyed a good time.


HOF GOES HOG WILD!

In the old days, the induction ceremony took place on the steps of the Hall of Fame, right before the preseason game kickoff at Fawcett Stadium next door. Due to its enormous popularity, they have taken the induction ceremony and made it into a several-day fan festival moving the actual ceremony to the stadium, too. While that is probably a good idea (there's no way the steps area would ever accommodate 15,000 Redskins fans, for instance), the festival is in serious danger of over-running the grounds.

Getting a bottle of water meant a wait of upwards of an hour in a food line by later in the day. There's no place to sit. Until we took our seats in the stadium, in the first eight hours we were there, we probably sat for less than an hour, including a film presentation in the hall and some curb-side relaxing.

At the pre-ceremony fans party, we saw an elderly gentleman pass out while standing at a table. The only chairs were marked for handicapped use. The folks at the Hall need to add benches and water-bottle booths (even the food area in the Hall was taken over for some other event). Luckily, temperatures were in the low 80's for most of the day but had it been a bit warmer, there might have been more problems.

That's really my only complaint.

Some might say the induction ceremony was a bit long (also among the six were Emmitt Thomas, Gary Zimmerman and Andre Tippett) but there were many moving moments, especially when Green and Monk were introduced by their sons.


THE VIEW FROM THE BACK


FIREWORKS!


WE SNEAK ONTO THE FLOOR OF FAWCETT STADIUM

Fred Dean spoke from his heart and stole the show and I would say that even if i was not a guest at his terrific party. It was nice, too, to see Eddie DeBartolo back in the 49ers/NFL fold. His speech introducing Dean was warm and Dean returned the favor when he told the massive induction ceremony crowd and the ESPN audience "...I know the one thing I've learned from Mr. Eddie is that not only does he talk the talk, he walks the walk. And I hope to one day see him in this position of the enshrinees."

The 49ers' post-ceremony party took place in an unbelievably cool tent just a short walk from the stadium on, believe it or not, Barr Avenue where our car was parked a few blocks away. The room was decorated in 49er reds and golds and Dean was joined by other 49er hall of famers like Bob St. Claire, whose hand I also got to shake.


BOB ST. CLAIRE AND SOMEONE WHO IS NOT ME (AND EDDIE'S HEAD)

A newspaper photographer from Dean's hometown snapped a few pictures of me and Fred.


WHAT A GREAT GUY! (ALTHOUGH I LOOK WEIRD, AGAIN!)

I also got to shoot some pictures of the DeBartolo family and players posing together.


THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ER CREW CELEBRATE FRED DEAN'S DAY


THE DEBARTOLO FAMILY ENJOYS THE MOMENT


All in all, an incredible day. Still, the hotel was a welcomed sight at about 11:30 p.m. (we were the last ones to check in for the night) and the hotel staff and the TGI Friday folks were still talking about the Redskins horde which had descended on the area.

What a day! Sunday morning we awoke as Bears fans still enjoying the 49ers and Redskins afterglow with fond memories of a truly remarkable experience at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

More later,

Mark

Stephen Colbert: Funny Guy or Funniest Guy?

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

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

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

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

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

The Dark Night Opens Today!

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

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

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