 Saturday, August 11, 2007
Run to Home Plate, Saturday at Shea, Part 1
What is the Run to Home Plate (RTHP) you may ask? The New York Road Runners and the Mets combined to give the average fan a chance to run to home plate at Shea like a Met. What a thrill!
This is my second year doing the RTHP. It was rescheduled from a few weeks ago which was when I was battling a slight tear in my left calf. Today is my first race back so I am a little nervous.
The 7 Train thankfully made good time out to Shea as there is hardly anyone on it is almost midway between the finish of Friday night's game and the start of Saturday night's game. I looked up from writing and happened to see PS1 which Kathleen suggested as a group get together. My idea was to
see Erasure and/or the Beastie Boys at McCarren Pool. So many good ideas, so little time.
Time to get ready for the 5k (3.1 mile) race that begins in the Shea parking lot, goes to and around the Unisphere in Flushing Meadow Park, run back around Shea, and into Shea through center field, take a quick left, run along the warning track to the right field line, and then a quick right down the first baseline to finish at home plate. The thousands of us didn't actually step on home plate because of possible damage to it and the field but you get the idea.
Back to the start in the Shea parking lot. There isn't much of it left as cranes move metal and concrete around to build the new Citi Field.
I am grateful that the regular NYRR announcer isn't making his usual annoying announcements. The regular announcer must be in Central Park at training run. Steve and Kathleen and Linda are somewhere are in Denmark and Upstate, respectively, smiling. 
The new announcer does double duty and a great job singing the National Anthem. The starting horn is about to go off as I pray for a healthy race.
"Errrrr!" blasts off at the Start Line and I am off. I have to stay within myself and run slow and steady. I promised my roommate and other friends to take it easy. It's hard to do as my juices get flowing as
the "Let's Go Mets" theme plays after the starting horn goes off. My left calf tightens about a quarter mile in and I had to stop to stretch it out. Back on the course. I pass under the Grand Central Parkway
coaching myself to keep it slow and steady. The pain diminishes slightly as I get to the first water stop which I walk through to rehydrate and rest my legs. Time to move and I get to the Mile 1 marker in 8:45. OK, slower than last year but I need to finish this year as my third of nine qualifying races for guaranteed entry in the 2008 NYC Marathon.
I see the Unisphere and know if I get around it that I am more than half home. I start getting a good rhythm where I get good speed and can bear the pain in the left calf. I run the second mile in 8:33 (17:18 total) because I didn't have to stop to stretch and the walk stop is on the other side of the Mile 2 marker. I walk through the water stop to rehydrate and rest.
I can see Shea and know it's almost home. Through the parking lot and by my normal gate, Gate B, and around Shea to the entrance. I reach Mile 3 in 8:02 (25:20 total). Only a tenth of a mile (0.1) left. I
usually love running on a softer surface like along the reservoir in Central Park but I have to extend and pull the calves too much to get traction. Therefore, slow and steady and I finish in 26:25. Hey, a minute slower than last year but I'll take it. "Put it in the books!" as Mets radio announcer Howie Rose would say after each Mets win.
My fellow runners and I aren't allowed to hang out around home plate except for those with medical emergencies. My left calf is tight but okay thank God.
Posted by a grateful Tank live from the Run to Home Plate at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Happy First Birthday SteveAndTheTank.com
Yesterday marked the first of hopefully many birthdays for SteveAndTheTank.com. Yes, the concept began Memorial Day 2006 when Steve and I interviewed Linda's Mom. Of course, this was off-the-cuff but it was our first pilot show. We then finalized the SATT name during the Team InfoSys departmental outing at the Brooklyn Cyclones game on July 29. I then registered the domain name a few days later and Steve posted an introduction to the world and then the first full post a year ago today.
Though lots of work (this is the 368th post), it has been fun and I want to thank everyone for their support especially Steve for co-creating, believing in, and maintaining and hosting the website. Who thought we would have thought we would have covered everything from baseball and football to jello wrestling and pillow fighting or lasted as long? I have met childhood heroes like Dave Winfield and Walt "Clyde" Frazier and a supermodel. All in a years work for you, our loyal readers.
Mucho mega thanks also go out to Linda, her Mom, PermaGuest Outlaw Jack, Dana "The Queen of Jello Wrestling" Sterling, Brian Van, Colin the Karaoke King, Melanie, Captain Zorikh, The Doom Maidens, JH, PG, Rod, Medford Bob, Score's Mike, White Fedora Mike, LI Mike, "Johnny Versace", Super Twin Gil, Maria, Director Steve, Buffalo Steve, Vermont Bill, Brooklyn Brant, MTA Ray, and all the other people who have made SteveAndTheTank.com a success. Last but not least, Steve's girlfriend Kathleen deserves special recognition as she says she doesn't believe in us but deep down, I know she really does. "Don't Stop Believin'" Kathleen!
Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Barry Bonds' 756*th home run
The most hallowed record in sports, the home run record, was broken last night in San Francisco. Under a cloud of allegedly using steroids, Barry "Steroid Boy" Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs against the Washington Nationals. Mr. Aaron's absence told volumes as he and everyone else "knows" that Bonds abused steroids. Some have criticized Mr. Aaron a while for not following Bonds around. Why should he? Mr. Aaron encountered racist death threats before breaking Babe Ruth's record in 1974. Bonds allegedly cheated to break the record Mr. Aaron risked his life to set. I wouldn't show up to dignify it. Would you? Exactly. Ever the gentleman and probably under lots of pressure from Major League Baseball, Mr. Aaron compromised and sent in a very carefully worded congratulations via video.
On the bright side, congratulations to Mets fan, Matt Murphy, wearing a Jose Reyes jersey for catching 756*. I hope a collector gives him lots of money for the historically tainted baseball.
I hope and pray that A-Rod or someone else breaks Bonds' record soon. I'll go as far as throwing 500 batting practice pitches to David "Big Papi" Ortiz in a single game so he can break Bond's record. If Bonds doesn't retire at the end of the season, we'll see if the federal government will indict him as reported next month.
Posted by a disappointed Tank in NY.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Redemption at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony
Six NFL greats were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend in Canton, Ohio. Included is Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills who is 12th on the all time rushing list. Thurman changed the game by catching passes out of the backfield on a regular basis. For me, Thurman was the biggest cog in the great Bills offense of the early 1990s which included Andre Reed and Jim Kelly. Thurman was my first and only NFL jersey until I bought Reggie Bush's jersey last year. Congratulations to a great player who finally got his due.
Congratulations are also in order for fellow inductees Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Gene Hickerson, and Roger Wehrli!
Saturday night's induction ceremony was highlighted by none other than the Playmaker, Michael Irvin. Michael had a great career for the Dallas Cowboys including three Super Bowl championships included two over Thurman Thomas and my beloved Buffalo Bills.
Michael also weathered a number of off-the-field issues including drug related issues which he referenced during his speech. Michael wept when talked about going to the threshing floor to asked "God, why must I go through so many hills and valleys?"
He asked his family for forgiveness and told his sons to be like his teammate, Troy Aikman, who was/is a model citizen. It took a honest and humble man to put someone else ahead of him in front of the whole world. Michael thanked his wife for being there "for better, or worse."
Michael's redemption was due to his spiritual advisor, Reverend T.D. Jakes, and his Mom's faith. She raised 17 children and said that there would be better days. Saturday night was one of those better days.
Michael left us with words to live by "look up, get up, and don't ever give up."
Posted by an inspired Tank in NY.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Glavine Wins His 300th Game
Tom Glavine became only the 23rd pitcher and fifth left hander to win 300 games in the Mets 8-3 win at Wrigley Field last night. Given pitch counts, relief specialists galore, and other reasons, Glavine maybe the last pitcher to win 300 games. Randy Johnson is next closest at 284 wins but back issues and surgery has ended his season and possibly his career. Mike Mussina won his 246th game yesterday but has been running out of steam for the last couple of seasons so he maybe at the end of his career.
Congratulations Tom! See you in Cooperstown.
Photo courtesy of the Mets.com Flushing Flash. Posted by a happy Tank in NY.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
A-Rod Finally Hits #500
A-Rod became the youngest player at 32 years and eight days to hit his 500th home run yesterday against the Kansas City Royals at the Stadium.
I hoped to witness it Friday night but glad that he got it out of the way on Saturday and focus on a run to the playoffs.
Congratulations A-Rod and may you catch up and overtake Barry Bonds ASAP! God Speed!
Posted by a grateful Tank.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
A-Rod Tries to Hit #500 and Be Like Robert Redford in The Natural
A-Rod is going for 500 home runs in the Tank's latest visit to the Stadium Friday night against the Kansas City Royals. He has been stuck at 499 home runs since July 25. A family sitting near me hopes that A-Rod hits #500 to them.
He grounded out in his first attempt so they'll have to wait a while longer.
Cano hit a solo shot with two out in the second inning to right field. Yankees 1 - Royals 0.
Royals tied it at 1 in the top of the third.
Jeter walked with two outs in the third. A-Rod doesn't hit a home run in his second at bat but he doubles and Jeter advances to third. Matsui grounds out to first to end the third.
Duncan singled to center. Cano also singled to center. Phillips' bunt advances the runners to second and third. Molina hits a sacrifice fly to left field. Duncan tags third and goes home. Yankees retake the
lead 2-1. Damon hits a ground rule double to third. Cano scores and the Yankees lead 3-1. Cabrera grounds out to short to end the inning. At the end of four, Yankees lead 3-1.
The natives are getting restless in the fifth as A-Rod is walked with one out.
Dotel gets the hook after he walked Cano on four pitches to start the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Braun relieves him. Philips singles to left. Molina bunt goes to the pitcher who throws to third to force out
Cano. Damon walks to load the bases. Cabrera's hit goes off Braun's foot into the stands. It is scored a double and the Yankees take a 5-1 lead. Jeter is walked and the bases are loaded for A-Rod. A-Rod flies out to right but Damon tags and scores. The Yankees lead 6-1. Matsui flies out to end the sixth.
After the leadoff man got on in the eighth, Wang is pulled but gets a standing ovation as he walks off the field. Wang threw 98 pitches giving up one run on seven hits in 7+ innings. Myers and Vizcaino finished the inning. I am pictured below with some Taiwanese fans after the game celebrating Wang's win.
Molina grounded out. Damon got on first on an error. Cabrera singles. Jeter hits to second and KC tries to turn two but the ball is wild. As A-Rod comes to the plate with two outs in the eighth, storm clouds roll in, the rain returns to the Boogie Down Bronx as it poured before the game, and the thunder crashes. Will A-Rod hit his 500th home run off the top of the stadium lights as Redford did in "The Natural"?
The remaining crowd rises to its feet to cheer him on. "The Natural" theme song goes in my head. Others around me start making the same reference. As the crowd grows to a fever pitch, A-Rod flies out to right to end the eighthgame. Darn it! But Mariano came in the top of the ninth to get some work in and to insure the Yankees 7-1 victory.
Posted by the Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
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