 Saturday, July 07, 2007
Run Reyes Run!
In the top of the 8th last night Jose Reyes hit a ground ball. If I told you nothing else, even if the ball was clearly foul, you know Reyes would run super fast to first base. Not last night. The ball was on the line and Jose did not run. To me the world stopped. As did for Willie Randolph. He said that if you "can't get out of the batters box, you sit." Jose was then benched for the rest of the game. Willie made the right call. This is behavior you'd expect from Lastings Milladge or Darryl Strawberry. Not Jose Reyes. Jose Reyes is the heart and sole of the NY Mets, he has to play 110%. Yes, he is held to even a higher standard. The best shortstop in the league is also the most exciting player in the league. I don't know if Jose thought it was foul or just was lazy in the 4-0 loss, but Jose is the spark plug and when he is not running, he sits. The questions is did Jose learn his lesson? Willie said that he does not have to talk to Jose, that Jose was embarrassed enough for being pulled and learned his lesson. I think Willie has to take Jose's temperature and see what his attitude is. If it was like "holy cow i just flaked" sure forgive and forget. If it is anything else, bench him until the All-Star Game. Posted by a stunned Steve in New York.
Friday, July 06, 2007
All-Star Sunb
It happens every year. This year it happened to the Mets. Mets ace John Maine was snubbed from the All-star game. John Maine leads the National League (tie) with 10 wins and has an 2.71 ERA. The Mets are a first place team and he is their ace, why is he not on the All-Star team? He is on pace to be the Mets first 20 game winner since Frank Viola in 1990. The good news for the Mets is that Maine looks even better than he did in April, his slider has gotten nasty and he has been relying on his fastball to challenge pitchers. He has gained his confidence and is a different pitcher since last year. Posted by Steve in New York.
Jello at Crash Mansion Sunday with Ava Luna, Twice As Bright & DJ Xerox
Dana Sterling Presents: Amateur Female Jello Wrestling!
Sunday, July 8 , 8-11:00pm (6:30 Wrestle Lesson)
at Crash Mansion (199 Bowery @ Spring, Manhattan)
Subway: 6 to Spring St., F to 2nd Ave, J to Bowery 
www.going.com/jellowrestle 21+ Admission:
Girls who wrestle: FREE
Girls who choose not to wrestle: $5
Boys who come with girls: $10
Single boys: $20 (get it? Bring a girl!)
Get $2 off admission with RSVP: rsvp@annierock.com Future Jello Wrestling Events: 7/22 @ WCCC Radio, Riders Cafe in Waterbury CT
7/29 @ Henrietta Hudson
8/5 Â @ Arlene's Grocery
8/19 @Â Henrietta Hudson
9/9 @ Jello (Location TBA)
9/23 @ Henrietta Hudson "Think the days of female empowerment through mortal combat were over? Think again--as this tongue-in-cheek sporting event brings ready-made deserts back to the ring where they belong." - TimeOut New York "Sterling has successfully created a space that gives women permission to forget the hassle of deflecting criticism for their bodies' inadequacies and regress to a time when they felt comfortable being ridiculous. All it took was a creative impulse and the help from a little gelatin." - New York Press
"After the match all the girls felt exhausted, but empowered (like the feeling you get when you watch the 'Charlie's Angel's' movie- watching fabulous females fighting evil and kicking some badguy ass.) Really makes ya wanna be a Rockstar Fighter Chick and change the world!" Uncoolkids.com
Thursday, July 05, 2007
A-Rod Alert
A-Rod was not in today's Yankee game and is scheduled to have an MRI. Fingers crossed. The Yankees need A-Rod on the DL like they need a hole in their head.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
The Fastest (and most disgusting) 12 minutes in sports
Live! From the corner of Surf and Stillwell in Coney Island. It is the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The results are in. A new world record!!! At 66 hot dogs consumed in 12 minutes Joey Chestnut brought the hot dog eating championship back home to the United States on Independence Day. Chestnut took down defending champion and former world record holder Takeru Kobayashi who took second at 63 hot dogs. Kobayashi has never lost in Coney Island before. The crowd went wild and chanted Joey! Joey! A truly great victory! Posted by Steve Live! from Coney Island.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Clemens Wins, Yankees Lose
An indication as just how bad the Yankees season is going, Roger Clemens earned his $1,000,000 last night with 8 solid innings but the Yankees lost A-Rod to a strained hamstring. A-Rod has not been placed on the DL and hopefully he will only sit a few days. Meanwhile, over in the Rocky Mountains, the Mets' bats fell asleep as they lost two starting pitchers to the DL in two days. Oliver Perez has joined Sosa on the DL. The Mets have Sosa, Perez, Alou, and Chavez all on the DL heading into the all-star break and desperately need them healthy. The all-star break is not coming fast enough for the Mets and Yankees. Posted by Steve in New York.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Mrs. A-Rod and the First Amendment
While Steve and the Tank are huge supporters of the freedom of speech and the first amendment, we think that A-Rod's wife should have shown some decency yesterday and not worn a shirt to Yankee stadium saying F%$# You. (We took out the word but you know what it is.) This is poor taste since a baseball game is suppose to be a family environment. In addition, it is in violation of Yankee Stadium policy. One can speculate why she wore the shirt, but it needs to be addressed by Yankee management. If the Mets traded Chris Benson because his wife Anna dressed like a call girl at the Christmas party, A-Rod should be have his wife use better judgement. This could not have come at a better time. The Yankees are 2-3 in the last 5 games and are a full 11 games out of first place, 9 out of the wild card and 4 games under 500. Relief pitchers are now burning their mitts. Even worse, their long shot silver bullet, $1,000,000 a start Roger Clemens, has not been working out. Steve fears the trade deadline. Remember the bust of the .COM bubble in April 2000? What happened when the desperate Venture Capitalists were in denial for the first month or two? They got desperate and made huge amounts of bad investments. Hopefully the Yankees management will realize that this season is a lost cause and will deal off some salary and treat 2007 as a rebuilding year and start new in 2008. Posted by Steve in New York
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Should there be a DH in the All-Star Game?
ESPN was debating this topic today and I think it warrants commentary. First of all the DH is the worst thing that ever happened to baseball since the Black Sox scandal. That said we are living with it. So what to do about the all-star game? It is an exhibition game. Long ago we lost the notion that the best players play in the all-star game, but rather the most popular ones the fans select. Give the fans what they want. We want to see home runs against the best pitching in the game. Since David Ortiz is leading the first baseman category and the Barry Bonds just squeaked in as the last outfielder, yes each NL team should designate a DH in their ballots. It will make the game more exciting. Maybe MLB will listen to the fans and give us what we want. It is our game anyway. NY Mets picks to the all-star game are: Jose Reyes, David Wright, Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltran. The Yankees will be sending A-Rod and Derrick Jeter. Posted by Steve in Casablanca, Morocco.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Medford Bob's Day at the Brooklyn Cyclones
The Mermaid Parade
On Saturday I went to see the Brooklyn Cyclones, the single A short season team of the NY Mets at Keyspan Park in Coney Island. It also happened to be the first weekend after the summer solstice which made it “Mermaid Parade” day. Now, for those of you not familiar with what this is, “the Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island's forgotten Mardi Gras which lasted from 1903 to 1954, and draws from a host of other sources resulting in a wonderful and wacky event” (http://www.coneyisland.com/mermaid.shtml). If you’ve ever seen this thing, you shudder to think what those other sources might be and possibly may agree that some things are better forgotten. Need more info? “The Mermaid Parade is an art parade, not a showcase for naked girls” See, how that works is that the girls put ,ah, SHELLS and, ahm, small pieces of , ah, THINGS to cover the, ah, PARTS that would, ahm, CONTRIBUTE TO NAKIDITY!. Yeah. So, that way, it’s an ART PARADE! Even Republicans would agree with that, right? And because it’s an ART PARADE, it’s O.K. to bring kids. Of all ages. And if you want the party to continue, you can go to the Mermaid’s Ball which had live entertainment including such renowned acts as Bambi the Mermaid, Bunny Love, Jo Boobs, Little Brooklyn, Tigger, Dottie Lux and others. Because, it’s an ART BALL. To go with the ART PARADE! What it breaks down to is this: On this one day of the year, the lines for Nathan’s hot dogs are truly ridiculous, you don’t have to pay to see the freak show, and if you’re a twelve year old boy, you think you’ve died and gone to erotic heaven.(SPIDERMAN SPIDERMAN SPIDERMAN). It’s a day when auxiliary policemen can strut their stuff (“You can’t cross the street here. Only from the other side” “Why not” “I don’t know. I don’t make the rules.”) and no one can get to the bathrooms. (“I gotta get to the bathroom” “Then you have to find the end of the parade and cross there” “Where’s that?” “I don’t know. I don’t make the rules”). But the weather was glorious.
Before the Game
I was with my son John and we decided that the boardwalk and sidewalk were too crowded (“Please move up closer to the buildings. I have to keep a lane open” “Where do you want us to go?” “I don’t know. I don’t make the rules”) so we decided to go over to Keyspan a little early and eat over at the ballpark. As we approached the stadium, we hear a band playing really loudly in front of Peggy O’Neils. John started to comment on the age of the guitar player but then we come around the front of the platform and see the lead singer. This is a guy with a sleeveless shirt, a beer belly and flabby arms. It’s really hard to project edgy when you look like you should be sitting in a recliner holding a remote control and a Bud with a bowl of Cheetos. And a folk/rock version of “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks doesn’t cut it. But their album will be out in September. If only we could remember the name of the band.
We walk in the Park and they are giving out piggy banks to the kids. I remind them that I am with my son but the girl at the gate says “but he’s taller than you are”. Evidently, Brooklyn has a height requirement. So we don’t get the crappy giveaway (actually, I saw some kid with it and it was really cool. A big baseball with a slot in it and the words “Brooklyn Cyclones” on the side. Damn those restrictions!) but we decide to go and get some food and watch a little of the pregame warmups. We cruise the concourse and pass most of the stands because I’ve been there before and I know where the outside grille is so that even if we can’t get to Nathans for a tube steak, we can have a burger from the barbie, and I know it’s going to be good because we’re early and they’re just starting to cook them. So, you’re probably asking yourself, how do you mess up barbeque on a propane grille? I’m no expert but I’m guessing that starting to cook without the burners on is the first step. And I’ll bet that the frozen patties melted in the sun which is why they had that glazed dead meat look to them when the barbequer took them off the grille. We decided not to eat there. We grabbed some food from the concession stand and sat down. The loudspeakers were blasting some bad rap during the warmups and John commented that classic rock might be more appropriate given the setting and I couldn’t agree more (“Dust in the Wind, All we are…” Hey! There was a continuous breeze blowing off the ocean). For those of you who have never been to Keystone, it is next to the boardwalk at Coney Island, right on the ocean. If you look to left field, you can see the amusement park with the famous Cyclone wooden roller coaster (both a New York and National landmark) so it’s really nice in a Brooklyn kind of way. The crowd was coming in and King Henry (think of Ralph Kramden and Bobby Bacala’s love child) was greeting people at the top of the stairs in a loud voice, there was a brass and horn section playing classic ragtime (no rythym section, just the horns in a musical scratch the blackboard with your fingernails kind of way), and maybe every third guy coming in was wearing a wife beater t-shirt with a Cyclone’s baseball hat. Just a normal day at the ballpark in Brooklyn. We spent the rest of the pregame watching the starting pitcher warming up in the bullpen. The pitching coach was out there eating a bag of peanuts, talking to the pitcher in English and the catcher in Spanish. Communication is the key to all things.
THE GAME
We made our way to our seats and found a couple of people from the office there. The reason we were at this game is that it was our annual summer department outing to see the Cyclones. This is our fourth year and I definitely always look forward to it. We were expecting over twenty folks but at the beginning of the game there were only about eight of us. Must be a traffic problem (Mermaid Parade?) and the stadium was filling up slower than usual. They announce the ceremonial first pitch, several times, (so we’re not sure which one was the actual FIRST pitch) and then the national anthem, to be sung by a young woman in tribute to her father. Even though we didn’t know why, it seemed like a nice gesture. The boy scout color guard came marching on the field (because it was boy scout day at the ballpark. Right after the Mermaid Parade.) and they marched to the front of the pitching mound facing the crowd. That’s when about 50 other people came from out of the stands, walked to the infield and stood facing the flag in center field. We didn’t know where to look! The young songstress stepped to the mike and began. “Ohh say can you see, By the dawns early light …” Smooth opening. So far so good. “Twas so proudly we hailed, at the twilights last gleaming” Starting to quiver on the upper notes, but what the heck, it’s for her dad. And it went on like that for the first part of the song. I wasn’t sure she was going to be able to hit the high notes but I knew I was pulling for her. She finished up the rest of the beginning of the song in the same fashion and then, it happened. On the line “And the rockets red glare” she dropped down four octaves so that in the blink of an eye, our budding mezzo soprano became a Budweiser frog, in a completely different key. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. But it was for her dad, and we were in Brooklyn, on the beach, with the Boy Scouts and the Mermaids and DAMN. She got a standing ovation! Ok, we were already up, but it was a moment!
The game starts and we realize that there is a cheering section for the opposing pitcher that had come down from Hudson Valley with matching t-shirts and hats. John suggested that maybe they were the pitchers roommates and that he finally got them to come to a game (“C’mon dudes. It’s on the beach and I’ll buy the beer”). Between us and them was a couple of rows of little smart aleks, half in Yankee shirts, dissing our buddy The Tank (“I don't want to be old like you" when I catch a foul ball), and generally working on growing up Brooklyn. Both the out-of-towners and the little brats had a freakoid who looked like he now lived in the gym after he got out of prison, so nobody was pushing too hard. On the field, Hudson Valley gets off to an early 1-0 lead and the roommates are losing their minds. Meanwhile, more of the people from the office arrive including the big boss, Director Steve, wearing a hat that looks like a Bensonhurst version of the one on the cover of Frank’s “Songs for Swinging Lovers”. Sweeet! The Cyclones get out of the inning and the madness begins. Minor league baseball in Brooklyn is different. They stop playing the game and loud stuff starts happening. From tossing water balloons, to throwing beanbags through holes, to dancing on the dugout, the whole idea is to keep everyone engaged and give away stuff. Several times they come out and throw T-shirts to the crowd. I’m usually never near any of these things but this time one went flying over our heads, bounced off a guy with crutches, and popped back into the arms of one of the women in our group We had a t-shirt winner. I think we were all proud of that. The game goes on and the Cyclones start chipping away at the roommate. The cheering section is quiet. But now the score is tied, then the Renegades go back on top, but here come the Cyclones. And so it goes till around the sixth inning. And then it’s time for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Race.
The Nathan’s Hot Dog Race is where they show a film of 3 guys dressed in hot dog suits running down Surf Ave from Nathan’s to the corner of the ballpark where the left field gate flies open and Live, and in Person, the 3 dogs come running in, bumble their way down the line, and someone wins. Big Whoop! Except this year. When the tubers were somewhere between first and home, a drunk comes barreling out of the stands and slides into home plate. Safe! He’s announced as the winner by King Henry, everyone cheers, and the cops lead him away. (“I don’t know. I don’t make the rules”). Also, right around this time, we’ve become aware of the fact that a couple of rows down from us, a group has started putting on hazmat suits. And because we’re in Brooklyn, nobody notices or cares.
The Cyclones finally break open the game in the eighth inning and now all they have to do is get through the ninth and the game will be over. Easier said than done. The relief specialist comes in and he must have watched the “Bad News Bears” before the game because two guys are immediately on base. The crowd is getting restless but we have a four run lead. Now the outfielders start dropping fly balls but miraculously, no one scores. Finally, someone finally catches one and the game is over. As we start to leave the park, the announcer comes and tells us “If you’re going on the Belt Parkway, go to Nathans and have a hot dog. It’s backed waaaay up”. Priceless.
At the end of the day, I was at a baseball game with my son and some friends, enjoying a hot dog and having a great time . And I gotta say, it just doesn’t get any better than that. We’re going back to Steve and Lori’s for a little after game get together, and just for a moment, life is perfect. And we’ll be coming back again next year to do it again.
Written by Medford Bob and Posted by The Tank.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Remembering and Running for Doug Stern, R.I.P.
I lost a great coach and friend, Doug Stern, to kidney cancer on Monday morning, June 25, 2007.
After I pulled my right hamstring at Mile 20 of the Berlin Marathon on September 25, 2004, I was referred to Doug by another friend and physical therapist Dr. Dan Hamner.
Like other injured runners, I went to Doug, the father of Deep Water Running, to heal my various injuries on Monday nights at John Jay College. But I found much more, especially priceless lifelong friendships with Nina, John, Bruce, Hank, Sharon, Kathleen, Stu, and many others.
Some of you may know that I almost drowned twice when I was 10 and 18. Therefore, swimming in anything deeper than Jacuzzis and kiddie pools was a challenge that brought back the ultimate fear of being helpless while drowning that I pray none of you ever experience. As Doug said about his fear of heights, "don't let your fear own you. You own your fear."
Since I was "focused" on my goal of Seven (Marathon) Continents, I had to overcome my fear of swimming in deep water. I put my floatation device around my waist and gingerly walked from the shallow to the deeper part of the pool. I thankfully started to kind of float though my head bobbed up and down in the water.
Almost immediately after getting in the deeper water, I heard this sarcastic voice yell "this is your elbow and this is your *ss. Learn the difference!." I thought of yelling back "hey, bro, I am literally trying to keep my head above water. And, yes, I do know my body parts," but I was too busy trying to keep my head above water. Doug was in his element breaking in a new student, yours truly. He didn't discriminate yelling at all students of all ages and races. Before long, I became accustomed to other "Sternism" like "arms drive legs", "f*ck you, keep going!"
Anyway, I worked hard and thankfully became faster than many of my lighter land only based runners. Thanks to Doug and Dr. Dan I finished eight marathons on seven continents in 21 months. I met many great friends like Steve, Linda, Jeff, Kal, and others all over the world.
It is often said that a pebble dropped in a pond makes a ripple affect all over the world. Since hundreds (if not thousands) of other runners and myself will be able to run injury free for the rest our lives, we are his legacy of good health and happiness. Doug is a boulder in the pool of life that will have a ripple effect long after we all have passed from this world.
Weeks before he died, I received permission from Doug to raise money for kidney cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a member of Fred's Team. To donate, please go to my Fred's Team webpage and click "Donate". If this link does not appear, please copy and paste the one of these links into your browser:
All proceeds benefit kidney cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Thank you very much in advance for sponsoring me in running in Doug's memory.
Though Doug wasn't the most religious person, I think Saint Peter is learning all about "arms drive legs", "keep your legs pointed straight down", etc. Doug, hope to see you in Heaven's deep water pool.
Posted by a sad but grateful Tank in NY.
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