ESPN 1050 AM reported a few moments ago that Yankees GM Brian Cashman received a three year contract.  Terms are not yet announced. 

Given the job he has done rebuilding the Yankees farm system, I think Cashman deserved a new contract.  You can't blame Cashman for this year's injuries.  I have agreed with most of Cashman's decisions except for dealing with Bernie Williams which emotionally scarred me.

I do think Brian has lots of work to do.  He has to get committments ASAP from Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte if they are returning next year.  I think Mussina is 50-50 and Andy is probable.  Joba's role has to clarified.  Is he a starter or a setup man (and eventual successor) to Mariano? 

Will the Yankees go after and get AJ Burnett and/or C.C. Sabbathia and/or another big free agent pitcher?

Will Cashman trade Robinson Cano (maybe), Phil Hughes (probably not), and Ian Kennedy (if anyone wants him)?  Maybe Kei Igawa can pitch for my 12 year old nephew's Little League team.   

How quickly will Carl Pavano clean out his locker?  Will fans be refunded for him quitting and not playing most of his four year contract?

Will the Yankees get another catcher to backup Jorge Posada? 

Will Jason Giambi be re-signed?  I think the Yankees should go after Texeira. 

Will Hideki Matsui be re-signed?  It depends upon his surgery and rehab.  Arn Tellum is a good agent and very professional.  He's much easier to deal with than Scott Boras or Drew Rosenhaus. 

This off-season will be longer than usual.  Cashman has lots of work to do.  Good luck Brian! 

I'll trouble-shoot the Mets soon.  The Mets need to be shook up.  I don't think Omar should have gotten a four year extension, especially to be leaked before the end of the season.  Given Wagner's injury and the theoretical lack of bullpen, the Mets must get K-Rod and sign my friend Nina.  Heilman and Schoenweis must be deported from the country and possibly planet.  I have to call my NASA friends.       
  
Posted by The Tank in NY.

Due to a prior committment for my Church's annual Circle Line boat cruise, I did not make it to Shea for yesterday's finale.  Steve expressed his pain earlier today but mine may be a little deeper for baseball and personal reasons.

I boarded the boat around 3:30 p.m. as the Mets were losing 2-0 and the Cubs and Brewers were tied at 1. 

My friends Igor and Catherine boarded right after me and we sat near each other to catch up.  Igor and Catherine are a great couple and publicly announced on the boat cruise that they are expecting their first child.  I congratulated them and am really happy for them.  Along with Steve and Kathleen as well as LI/Vermont Bill and his wife Jen, Igor and Catherine give me hope.  If marriage doesn't work for them, then what hope do I have? 

Strike 1: Igor and Catherine asked me when I was going to get married and possibly have kids.  Well, you know the the answer to that question.  You have a better chance of winning the Lottery.

But, wait, it got worse.  While Igor went to get drinks, I asked Catherine about Mira, my ex-girlfriend and Catherine's best friend.  Well, Mira just got engaged to some other guy.  No, not the "21st Street Loser" but some guy in Europe.  I really liked Mira a lot and we are both Montreal Canadiens fans.  She actually met Chris Chelios and Parrick Roy during the 1986 victory parade in Montreal.  How cool is that?!

Mira got busy with work last year, burned out, quit her job, and moved to Europe.  That's where she met her current fiance.  Not The Tank.  That really hurts.   

Strike 2: My fellow parishioners know I am a sports fan and were asking me for updates.  Steve and Linda were giving me updates and I was checking my Blackberry.  

Brewers rally to hit a go-ahead home run to win 3-1.  Darn it!

Strike 3: Mets tie the game at 2 but lose 4-2 on back to back home runs.  Linda questions the existence of the Mets bullpen.  But how can you blame the bullpen if you really don't have one?  Where is Nina?  Her Dad wanted her to come out of the bullpen.  She couldn't have done worse than Schoenweis.

If there is a charity auction to blow up Shea, Steve would win it.  Bill Gates and Warren Buffett and their billions wouldn't stand a chance against Steve. 

Is there somewhere I can hide from the bad news?  I go down to the boarding deck and couples are taking photos on the front of the ship like on the Titanic.  It reminds me of the stupid Celine Dion "My Heart Can't Go On" (AKA Titanic) song.  I'm on a boat and would like to jump off but I can't swim.  Where's my Deep Water Running belt?  At home of course.  So I have to stand and take it.  A three hour tour felt like a three day water torture session.     

Posted by The Tank trying to pick up the pieces of his broken love and sports heart.

You love the place and hate the place at the same time. You hate it since it is built on a swamp, right next to an airport and was the scene of so many bad memories such as the last game of last year and the last game of this year. But is also holds so many good memories, the Grand Slam Single, 1969, and of course Game 6-a moment that will continue to live in all of sports history. My last visit to Shea Stadium was a month ago and I had some quiet emotional time to say goodbye.

The Mets blowing yet another post season chance (more on that later this week) was a fitting end to Shea Stadium. I watched the game with low expectations and was not as down as most Mets fans when the post game “Shea Goodbye” ceremony took place. There were some emotional moments, Dwight Gooden, Mike Piazza, and Jessie Orosco. (Where was Mookie?????) I did feel a small sense of loss, but like most Mets fans April 13th, 2009 can’t come soon enough.

All the old timer Mets lined up and then touched home plate. Watching Willie Mays and Keith Hernandez touch home plate and Buddy Harrilson jump on it got me emotional, but boys don’t cry.

But then the Mets gods did something evil, they closed the day with Tom Seaver pitching a final pitch to Mike Piazza. That should not be allowed.

I held it together even as they pitched. (Tom pitched a one hopper to Mike.) So did most Mets fans. But then they embraced and walked from home plate to center field.

When they got to center field they closed the center field door and the lights went out. Not many dry eyes in the house.

(Photos from the AP)

Posted by Steve in New York, waiting for CitiField..

Say this for the Shea Stadium, in its last regular season game ever, the stadium will host a must-win game for the Mets. The Mets after an ace performance by Johan Santana (and what Mets fan can deny that Johan was worth every cent) yesterday are in a must win game in order to earn a playoff spot. It is this simple, if the Mets win, they are in (either alone or in a 1 day playoff with the Brewers). The fate of their season is in their hands. Open memo to the Mets: don’t make us cry again.

Posted by Steve, too nervous to watch

Brooklyn Brant and I tried to play the role of Mr. G the Weatherman as we tried to determine if the Mets were going to get the game in at Shea tonight.  (BTW, Dr. Dan introduced me to Mr. G last year while I was finishing up the final 10 mile marathon training run in October 2007.)

I lost one of my nine lives on Wednesday as the Mets blew a lead and lost to the Cubs in extra innings.  My roommate invited me to the Sierra Club's showing of the "Battle in Seattle" on Thursday night at the Angelika Film Center.  I missed Charlize Theron by about a week at the premier as I was coming back from Everest Base Camp.  Tough call but The Tank can't be in two places at once.

Anyhoo, Brooklyn Brant and I decided to give it a shot to go out to Shea.

Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack reports that Mariano Rivera may have surgery on his shoulder.  I'm not jumping off any building yet.  I replied that it is better to have the surgery now rather than later like Posada.  Please keep the faith for a fast and full recovery.

The 7 train rumbles along to Shea.  Is this my last time at Shea?  I wanted to go with Jack, Linda, White Fedora Mike, and the rest of the Gang tomorrow (Saturday) but tonight is the Aussie Rules Grand Final until about 4 a.m. with Aussie Rod and hundreds of my closest Aussie friends.  JH unfortunately can't make it but is with us in spirit. 

Let's see if I can stay up to 4 am because of the time zone difference.  (BTW, I hold honorary Aussie, Canadian, Dominican, Kiwi, and Puerto Rican citizenships so I must go to the Grand Final.)

Brooklyn Brant beats me out to Shea.  "A loud cheer just went out," he reports.

I check my Blackberry as the train rolls along.  The Marlins lead 2-0.  Darn it!  Where's Nina?  Her Dad asked her to come out of the bull pen.  Is she still at work?  Is Maria Bartiromo available?  My right shoulder is hanging by a thread.  Time to suck it up and get a pain killer shot.

Random Thought: The Dr. Zizmor Subway ads push the limits of free speech and good taste.  I would welcome discussion but it's TMI.

Pelfrey hit on his pitching hand while I walked in.  Two on.  Mets don't score.  Darn it!

DW flies out to start the bottom of the third.  Delgado and Beltran single but Church grounds out into a double play.  Marlins 2 - Mets 0 at the end of three innings.

I receive an e-mail from former Bill Clinton strategist Dick Morris.  I am disappointed to not be invited to the first presidential debate but baseball comes first. 

Beltran makes a great diving catch to end the Marlins' top of the fourth.

Congratulations to Jose for winning Aerosmith Guitar Hero!  98 percent is awesome! 

Hanley Ramirez hits a leadoff single.  But, Ramirez and Delgado make great catches to end the top of the fifth.

Reyes and Church ground out.  DW gets hit by a pitch.  Delgado grounds out to deep second out.  It's still Marlins 2 - Mets 0 at the end of five innings.  Darn it!

Thank God the Cubs are leading 1-0 in the top of the second.  I'll ask Nikolaj to say some prayers for the Cubs during his breaks from writing his religious dissertation. 

Brant asks me about Eva.  I thought I made it clear in the blog last week.  Brant is supposed to be my future Attorney General when I'm elected President.  He'll be lucky if I put him in charge of the Civil Rights Division.  Our mutual college friend LI/Vermont Bill is still in line for Secretary of Energy, especially powering his home with biodiesel.

Yankees lead 1-0 at Fenway.  Yeah!

After a called questionable ball on 2-2, Willingham hits a solo shot to left field.  Darn it!  Marlins 3 - Mets 0 through the middle of six.

Brewers tie it at 1 in the bottom of the second.  Double darn!

Church walks with one out in the sixth.  Ramon Martinez hits a double to left.  I am going to the rally cap early tonight.  During a meeting at the mound, the "Let's Go Mets" cheer erupts. 

Red Sox 3 - Yankees 1 in the bottom of the first.  Darn!  Washington closes it to 7-4.

As the catcher goes to catch the foul ball, I yell "Drop It!l and he does.  Brooklyn Brant and the man behind us, Frank, are my witnesses.

Schneider grounds to short but Martinez is out at third on the throw.  But Church scores.  Marlins 3 - Mets 1.

Anderson comes in for Pelfrey.  Anderson strikes out on a lame swing.

Church doesn't field a ball too well.  The Marlins score.  Marlins 4 - Mets 1 with no out in the seventh. 

Brant and I go down memory lane with the Mets and Yankees.

Yankees 5 - Red Sox 3 in the top of the third.

Time to eat.

Marlins 5 - Mets 1 at the 7th Inning Stretch.  Forget booze or drugs, please pass the pain killers as Heilman is pitching.  I'm going to Bellevue and/or the cardiologist.

Brant brought up Franco and Benitez which is causing me to throw up and cry openly.  Brant has been demoted to Building Maintenance in a future Tank Administration.

DW gets on two out in the bottom of the seventh.  Delgado grounds out to first. 

Yankees 8 - Red Sox 3 in the top of the fourth.

Stokes is out to pitch.  The Marlins add another run, 6-1,  Schoenweis is out to pitch.  OMG!

At least the Yankees are winning 12-3 in Boston in the fourth. 

Church walks but Ramirez grounds into a double play.  Marlins 6 - Mets 1 at the end of eight innings.  Nothing happened in the ninth.  Marlins 6 - Mets 1.

Posted by The Tank reporting live from Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens.

Saturday Afternoon Update: Jack and Linda report a three hit Santana gem for a 2-0 Mets victory at Shea.  Cubs are beating the Brewers 2-0 in Milwaukee.  Keep the Faith!  "Don't Stop Believing!" as the Journey song goes.

After the Yankees won the game, it was time for even more photos.  The Captain addressed the fans and thanked us for our support.

The Yankees then toured the field and waved goodbye.




One fan got too enthusiastic and wanted to join the Yankees.




For his efforts, he was prompted escorted off the field to become a guest of the City of New York.




I was emotional as I walked out.  Was this my last step ever in Yankee Stadium?



I went to meet up with Jack, Killian, Adam, and his son Chris outside the Stadium after the game.




I also met up with the Bleacher Creatures' Bald Vinny.  He was very helpful with some hair care advice. 





I wanted to include a couple of bonus photos from last year which I meant to post.  TBS' Craig Sager after ALDS Game 3.




A mixed Yankees-Mets couple.  I'll see if he is wearing a shirt stating the opposite tonight at Shea. 




Posted by a grateful Tank reporting live from the House That Ruth Built in the Boogie Down Bronx.  Thanks for the memories!

After the drama trying to get to Monument Park and the Pre-Game ceremony, there was finally a game to be played.

Four up, three down in the Orioles top of the bottom of the first.

Johnny Damon grounded out to second.  Derek Jeter struck out.  Abreu also struck out.  0-0 at the end of the first.

2,000 strikeouts for Andy Pettitte.  Wow!

Orioles score a run on a force out to A-Rod.  Castro flies to center to end the top of the second.  Orioles 1 - Yankees 0.

Lou Gehrig's "Farewell Address" is compared to Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" in between innings.  Whoa!

A-Rod walks.  Jason Giambi flew out to left-center.  Xavier Nady grounds to first.  A-Rod advances to second.  Cano flies out to second.

I start talking to a Tigers fan who brought his wife and son here because his son was only five months when Tigers Stadium closed.

Orioles add a run while I had to run to the restroom.

Hit-Deki singles to right.  Molina singles to center.  Damon hits a three run shot to about 50 feet to my left and comes home to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

Jeter hits a liner to deep right.  Abreu flies out to center.  A-Rod walked.  Giambi walks.  Nady flies out to left.  Yankees 3 - Orioles 2 at the end of three.

Orioles tie the game with two out in the fourth.  Darn it!  At the end of the top of the fourth, Orioles 3 - Yankees 3.

Cano walks.  Matusi grounds out to deep second.  Molina hits a bomb to left field.  Yankees 5 - Orioles 3.  Damon lines out to center.  Jeter grounds out.  At the end of five, Yankees 5 - Orioles 3.

We are all just living in Disco Stu's world.

Abreu hits a drag bunt single down the third base line.  A-Rod flies out to left center.  Giambi grounds out into a double play.

The Met Life signs doesn't go from 1 to 0.  Yankee Broadcaster Michael Kay pulls the "Yankee Stadium Forever" Met Life sign.  The crowd goes crazy.   




Speaking of Michael Kay, we are pictured below on the ESPN 1050 Jets Cruise.  He's a great broadcaster and even better person. 




To the top of six., Andy Pettitte walks off after 84 pitches and 5.1 innings.  Andy jogs off.  Is this Andy's last time in pinstripes?  (I think and hope he comes back, touch wood.)




Jose Veras comes in to relieve Andy.  151,959,005 fans over the years.  I am grateful to have been one of those fans.




Nady flies out to left field.  Cano singles to center.  Matsui flies out to center.  Molina singles to left.  Damon walks.  Jeter called out strikes with the bases loaded.  You don't see it too often.

It's the final YMCA for the grounds crew.  Great job of keeping the field in great shape and entertaining everyone over the years!



After Joba comes in, Jeter makes a great stab going to his left.  The Captain still has it.

Dr. Ronan Tynan does a great job singing "God Bless America" during the Seventh Inning Stretch.

Abreu singles to center.  Abreu steals second while A-Rod is at bat.  A-Rod flies out to just in front of me. Abreu tags and goes to third.  Giambi bloops to shallow left.  Abreu scores.  Gardner is pinch running for Giambi.  Orioles pitching change.  "Come on!" everyone moans.  Nady hits to the shortstop who makes an error.  Britney Spears "Oops I did it again comes" on.  I get a photo with Jim Leyritz as the Yankees score another run.  At the end of seven, Yankees 7 - Orioles 3.

Joba comes out for the eighth.  Three up, three down.  1.2 innings on 14 pitches.  I think he should stay in the bull pen but circumstances dictated differently.

Molina grounded out.  Damon and Jeter are out to end the eighth.

"Enter Sandman" blares over the speakers as Mariano comes in.  Payton grounds out.  Scott grounds out.  Roberts grounds out for the final out.  "Ball game over, the Yankees win, the Yankeeesss win!"




Posted by a grateful Tank reporting live from the world's greatest stadium, the House That Built in the Boogie Down Bronx.

I was able transfer from the main Stadium to the Bleachers via the ambulance parking area.  I see a bunch of old time baseball players impersonating the 1923 Yankees.  They are pictured behind me below.

It was great catching up with Rob and Todd from GreatRoadTrip.com.  We had fun traveling to Fenway, Wrigley, and Toronto earlier this decade.  Wow!  The decade went by so fast.




The Pre Game Ceremony was an emotional packed including Reggie Jackson and Paul O'Neill below:




Willie Randolph treated us with a slide into second base. 



There wasn't a dry eye when Bernie joined Bobby Murcer's family in centerfield.  It was Bernie's first time back at the Stadium since he was unceremonially dissed by the Yankees at the beginning of last season.




Yogi was the old soldier at home plate. 




Babe Ruth's daughter comes out to throw the final ceremonial first pitch.




Speaking of Babe, he gives us one last wink.  To be continued...




Posted by a psyched Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.

I'm in the line for the field and Monument Park.  Different security and NYPD said it closed a while ago around 3 pm.  I arrived at 3:10 pm.  But, the cutoff is 4 pm so I'm giving it a shot, touch wood.

The line went from behind home plate up to the Loge up to the Tier all the way over to the Right Field Side and then all the way over to the Left Field Side and then down to the Field, God Willing!

Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack is looking for a ticket.  Good luck bro!

As Dave the Rock Climber said, "I don't want to say in 50 years that I sat on the plane for ten hours NOT to stand in line for three hours to try to get onto the field."  That sums up my opinion.

Karen is a hard core Brooklyn Dodger fan.  Her grandmother and uncle took her to her first game, Dodgers at Yankees.  Karen seems a lot like Linda's Mom, hates the Yankees but respects the game.  I don't agree with it but can respect it.

Erin the Engineer and Dave the Rock Climber are "friends".  Kind of sounds like Ciaran and Sheena from Everest Base Camp.  Ron is a 27 year old fan from New Jersey whose Dad has had tickets in Section 6 since 1975.  Wow!

I can't write what Dave is willing to do to get onto the field.  Not even in our future premium content section.

Adam checks in at 5:10 pm.  I gave him my location at Tier 18 on the Tier.  In 90 minutes, I've made it most of the way, touch wood.

Beer doesn't go on sale until 6 pm according to Karen.

An older gentleman says it's six wide downstairs.  He says we won't get in but still another 80 minutes until pre-game starts at 6:50 pm.  It's worth a shot.  "You gotta believe sir!"

A NYPD cop says we won't get in.  Not good but no nobody leaves the line.  We have too much invested it in.

On the ramp back down, another NYPD cop puts his hand on my shoulder and says I'll be turned away.  "I have two hours invested in this line sir," I replied.  No one is quitting either.  Hey, I'm having a great time talking to Ron, Dave, Erin, Karen, and other fans.

Karen says that she spoke to a Yankee official who said the line is about an hour.  It is now 5:40 pm.  We have 65 minutes left until we have to go to our seats for the pre-game cermony.  It's worth a shot!  We have nothing better to do.  Watching Orioles batting practice doesn't count.  I don't think they care about it either.

Editor-In-Chief and Perma-Guest Outlaw went to Stub Hub.  He and Killian are in Main box 326, Row D $450 each for 2 Tickets.  "Had to do it," Jack writes.  You gotta respect it..

Group photo.  Karen refuses.  No photos she says but takes one of me, Dave the Rock Climber, Erin the Engineer, and Ron the Giants Fan.

6:05 pm.  We are told the line is closed.  Karen bails.  Erin and Ron bail and then come back.  I have to go around to get to the bleachers anyway.  Most people stay.  I have no choice because I have to get back to the lower level to get to the Bleachers.

"Let us in!" I start to chant at 6:12 pm and others echo it.  Still 30 minutes before we have to go to our seats.  Three hours of waiting to be 50 people from getting in.  That sucks!  No one is leaving.  There is a stand off.  Four NYPD and four security guards man two barricades.  A TV camera shows up while we scream "Let us in!" and "Five hours!".

"Call George!" someone screams.  "Call Hank!" another person screams. 

Officer Otero threatens to throw us out.  More NYPD arrive while they move a barricade.  20 minutes left. 

Officer La Trenta and his colleagues try to clear us out.  Not even little children are safe. 



A cool NYPD lieutenant (no name plate) discusses the issue with us.  Our point was if it was 6:45 pm then it is justified to cut off the line, but NOT at 6:15 pm.  He says there is supposed to be another public viewing day in a few weeks (as well as a rumored Springsteen concert or two).  I will try to do an afternoon tour, touch wood.  Cooler heads prevailed and we took a photo below with the NYPD lieutenant and Dave the Rock Climber -- no hard feelings, at least with the NYPD lieutenant. 




"Is it harder to go to Monument Park OR Everest Base Camp?" to answer a man's question from earlier in the day.  It's unfortunately harder to go to Monument Park on the last game of the season.  So close, yet so far away.

Posted by a disappointed Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.

The Bleacher Creatures were lucky to the have "The King", Jim Leyritz, stop by during last night's emotional finale.  I was even luckier to get a photo with the 1996 World Series hero. 
 

I also saw Joba's Dad.  It was a crammed zoo like fire regulations scary that EMTs were trying to clear the bottleneck behind home plate so no photo with Mr. Chamberlain but I got a photo of him and his family.




One post won't do last night any justice.  Please keep checking out the blog for photos and perspectives all this week.

Posted by a psyched Tank reporting live from the Baseball Cathedral, Yankee Stadium, in the Boogie Down Bronx. 

Today marks the final regular season game at Yankee Stadium.  The Yankees odds of making the post-season are not good so this is probably the end of the line for the 85 year masterpiece.

I am grateful to Steve for moving the Everest Base Camp trip up a few days.  I am also grateful that we motored to Everest Base Camp and back.  I didn't want to have to choose between Everest and the Yankees.  I couldn't live with having to choose between two life changing experiences.  I don't need to deal with another closure issue. 

I'll try to see long time Bleacher Creature friends as this year's ticket plan has unfortunately taken me to the Left Field Bleachers and Tier.

It will be tough to say goodbye.  Memories of Reggie Jackson's three home runs against the Dodgers helped give me hope as a young impressionable seven year old.  The loss to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series took much of that innocence away as an 11 year old.  The pain from the rest of the 1980s was only numbed by Donnie Baseball and following the Oneonta (A) Yankees.

There are too many memories from the last 12.5 years living in the world's greatest City to list.  There will be very few dry eyes starting from the final Roll Call to the last out.  Mine won't be one of them.

Posted by an emotional Tank in NY.

The US Federal Reserve bailed out insurer AIG a few days ago.  AIG happens to sponsor my favorite English Premier League Team, Manchester United.

Since the Federal Reserve injected $85 Billion to save AIG, an argument can be made that American citizens now indirectly sponsor Manchester United.  For instance, a CNN reporter walked around Manhattan asking people if Man U's jersey should have "Federal Reserve" instead of "AIG" on the front.  Granted, it's somewhat of a reach but there is a point.

Though I am part owner of Ebbsfleet United, I did not ever expect nor wish this kind of scenario to happen with AIG.  I do want everyone to root for Man U of their own free will, instead of as taxpayers against their will.

"May you live in interesting times" is a famous Chinese proverb.  Given the current turmoil in the markets, I can go for some boredom right now.

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

Two weeks together produced many laughs.  Many are inside jokes which will be explained when and if we add premium content to the website.  

Until then, enjoy these nuggets.


Gautam: "Turkish #@! toilets!"  (Gautam told many great Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa stories.  Awesome guy.)

Joel: "If you want to have boys, call 800.BOYJOEL."  Chinese translation also available.  ("Ni Hao, Joel San here...")

Linda: "EVO for the table."

Mychal: "I can't eat this.  I'm going to bed."

Remi: "No filter."

Richard: "That's a shame."

Rod: "Yes, Joel has Barry Manilow posters all throughout his office."  (Scary, eh?)

Steve: "Sherpa Getty (Girls)!"

The Tank: "Give me a F-I-G-J-A-M.  What's that spell?  FIGJAM!  Louder!  FIGJAM!"

Tom: "How can you say that Steve?"  (In response to Steve's political stances.)

Vassil: "No woman no crime."  All Bob Marley songs should be sung by Vassil in a Bulgarian accent.  Bob is somewhere smiling.

Posted by The Tank back home in the world's greatest city, NYC.

We met many great people in Nepal, especially Ngima, all the Pembas, and RT2.

We haven't reported yet on Ciaran and Sheena, two UK university students.  They met in Kathmandu a few weeks ago and decided to trek to Everest Base Camp.

We met them in Gorak Shep and assumed they were a couple.  Well, you know what assuming gets you.

Anyway, Steve started questioning them about the future of their relationship.  They replied that they didn't think there was one.  Team Figjam snapped into action and decided they should live together in Inverness.  Inverness is in between London where Ciaran studies and the Shetland Islands where Sheena studies.  Richard started to work on transportation arrangements.

Yes, Team Figjam is a group of hyper active A+++ personalities who don't take no for an answer.  Ciaran and Sheena were total strangers a few moments earlier but were like old friends by the end of the British Parliament style Question Time.

Sheena's parents have met Ciaran on Facebook.  But, Ciaran's parents have not met Sheena on Facebook because Sheena didn't ask.  "Whoa!" Team Figjam cried out.  Ciaran and Sheena were spared further interrogation as Joel's birthday cake arrived a few moments later. 

I was grateful to get away from Steve's non-stop head shaving and Eva references.  BTW, she canceled dinner in June because of work (first time -- acceptable) and fever (second time -- more believable in February than on Father's Day).  The straw that broke the camel's back is the canceling of brunch about a month ago.  She said that she ran out of food but I could hear some guy laughing in the background.  It was probably her "romantic interest", AKA "West 21st Street Loser".  I might be an idiot but not stupid.  Eva is beautiful but she's not interested in me or at least can't make up her mind.  It's time for me to turn the page and look for someone else. 

Ciaran and Sheena, May your future be better than mine in the past year.  Team Figjam is looking forward to getting wedding invitations in the mail.  If Morrissey can't make it to sing "Irish Blood, English (Scottish) Heart", I will step in to be the Wedding Singer. 

Posted by The Tank in transit on his way home in Bangkok, Thailand.

Yes, it's true, The Tank had his head shaved yesterday in Kathmandu by a professional barber, NOT Steve.  I trust Steve with my life but NOT my hair.  I am a man of my word and promised everyone on the trip that I would get my head shaved as part of my "Extreme Makeover, Nepal Edition".   

More importantly, I am running to benefit children's cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Fred's Team.  If you wish to sponsor me, please use the secure Fred's Team homepage. 

Homepage:
https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_id=113

If you wish to sponsor me offline with a check, please use this donation form:

Donation Form:
https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=donateForm&user_id=35640&event_id=113

which has a link to a PDF form.  Please fill in my name at the top -- many thanks in advance.

On my Fred's Team website, I have a picture of Aubrey Barr, now a 40 year old woman.  When she was a little girl, she was diagnosed with cancer and given little hope to live.  Now, she is the mother of two children and has finished 25+ marathons.  Besides my Mom, Aubrey is one of my heroines.   

You will also note a picture of Frosty the Snowman.  I included it because I dressed up as Frosty in December 2001 to cheer up my colleagues after the September 11, 2001, attacks.  My office was nine blocks south of the World Trade Center.  I was and am grateful to be alive to dress up as Frosty. 

I also used the Frosty photo as I am planning to run the North Pole Marathon in April 2009, God Willing and global climate change permitting.  (I am not a good swimmer if the ice melts.) 

The November 2, 2008, New York City and April 2009 North Pole Marathons are my two final marathons in my marathon career due to injuries. 

All donations are greatly appreciated.  No money goes to me.  All funds benefit children's cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  Please check with your accountant to double-check tax deductibility (which it should be).  Thank you very much and see you at the finish line!

Posted by a grateful Tank in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Sept 16 - Breaking news just in from Group Leader Stephen. The Tank is now. . . BALD. He's a cue ball. Chrome dome. Daddy Warbucks. KOJAK BALD.

Now I suspect that they will say Stephen used his inherent barbering skills (this man did shave a checker board into my head once) to give the Tank his new look. But I suspect it just fell out naturally due to the stress of being on a mountain when the Yankees are facing imminent early season ending elimination for the fist time in 13 years. The Red Sox are now 0.002% behind the Rays and 9 games up on the Yanks. Added to that are the Mets going 5-5 for their last 10 and losing to the last place Nationals again in September when they needed to win. They now lead the Phillies by 0.5 games who have gone 7-3.

As I am in Chicago on business I may just have to pick up a Cubbies hat. If neither NY team is going all the way I'm going root for a team that deserves it.

Update by Steve from Kathmandu

First of all the Tank did not let me shave his head at altitude, fearing a checker board. Second of all, he looks like a badass now:

Sept 11 - The morning started with the sobering reminder of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones lost in September 11th.  May the memories be eternal, rest in peace.

We left our cold, but cozy home in Periche on route to Loboche.  Our heads were literally in the clouds.  We thankfully made good time to our lunch destination.  Along the way, we saw a 72 year young German trekker.  The Tank suggested a sing-a-long with Gautam because we had not yet mastered Gautam's German hiking song.  The trekker was from Erfurt Saxony, Germany.  Since he lived in East Germany during the Cold War, he was not allowed to travel until the Berlin Wall fell.  He has made the most of his freedom and this is the fourth time in Nepal.  His granddaughter was slightly embarrassed at his singing but Gautam and the German trekker raised everyone's spirits.

Fried rice, fried noodles and fried lipitor were the cholesterol lunch menu features.  After lunch we hiked up yet another hill.  We stopped for a group photo.  Everyone was in the photo because of Linda's wise decision to purchase a guerrilla tri-pod with a camera timer.  We played frisbee with Linda's aerobie with the Sherpas, porters and Team Big Champ.  Lots of fun for the Tank who hadn't played frisbee in years.

After the frisbee we hiked to Loboche where the LA guys had already ordered dinner at another Teahouse to beat the rush on Loboche's food supply.

RT2 was not far behind and we presented a Team Big Champ t-shirt in the best traditions of British knighthood.  Linda played the Queen, presenting RT2 a Team Big Champ t-shirt while he was on one knee.

The Eagle Lodge was the Taj Mahal of TeaHouses.  The Tank's and Linda's desires for creatures comforts were satisfied.  Hot showers and electricity with solar power.  The dinner debate was when to shave the Tank's head as part of his extreme makeover Nepal edition as well as a fundraiser for Children's Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in NYC.  The Tank resisted because he trusts Steve with his life but not his hair.  Steve claims to have wild root beautician experience but the Tank wasn't buying it and would not risk at that altitude and using a non sanitary razor.

Wisely the Tank wanted RT2s professional medical opinion before consenting.  Especially in the event of bleeding at high altitude with the closest hospital hours away in Katmandu.  In the meantime, the Tank puts his faith in the certified hair professionals at his hotel in Katmandu.  Watch this space closely for more hiking and hair stories.

Written by The Tank in Gorakshep, Nepal.

Mt. Everest Report (Day 11): Gautam's Blog - Next Satellite Phone Installment

Sept 10 - Woke up to sunny morning with great views of the mountains.  After breakfast, we headed over to the Pengboche monetary but it was shut, blinds drawn, nobody home.  All that was missing was a "gone fishing" sign on the door.

Since the monks were away, we headed over to the boss' house.  Lama Geshi greeted us with a big smile and asked us to come in.  Il Lama is the head Buddhist religion authority for the region, and Lama Geshi is the head of the Mount Everest Region.  If we were expecting a solemn, stern religious figure, we were in for a surprise.  Lama Geshi is a joker of the highest order who loves to laugh and it is a rather infectious one.  We went into his living room where he said a prayer on our behalf and invited each one of us forward to:

a: lightly touch our forehead with his,
b: have a cream colored scarf placed upon our neck,
c: have an orange string tied around our neck.

He gave each of us a hug and also presented us with a card with our name and a blessing.  His living room is filled with pictures of trekkers and climbers who have come by to receive his blessings.  Sherpas refuse to summit Mount Everest without his blessings, and the Lama has walked to Mt Everest in his robes and slippers to provide such blessings.     

After his ceremony, we headed back to the teahouse where we found the little girl who lives there throwing the freshly cut grass around in the court yard.  Unbeknownst to her, a plane was helping in the hay making process for the coming winter.

We've encountered a lot of children on this trip and had a great time playing with them and engaging them in conversations.  The day before, we had a friendly soccer game with a couple of kids on our way out of Bazaar.  Michael Coman our 22 year old fellow trekker from Portland Oregon, has a lot of little toys with him that he hands out to kids in every village that we encounter them.  The pure joy that the kids exude has been a highlight of this trip.

Since we had about 90 minutes before lunch, I went and found a big rock next to a raging river and basked in the sunshine for a while.  I appreciated the alone time and was rejuvenated for the walk to Pheriche after lunch.

The walk to Pheriche was only 2 1/2 hours and not that physically demanding, although we did gain altitude ending up at 14,000 feet.  The hike out to Pengpoche quickly brought us to highlands with some bushes, heathers and a lack of trees.  We were literally walking through the clouds and it was considerably cooler than the rest of the trek.  We started seeing a lot of the local bovine, the yak (male) and the nak (female).  These animals have a thick coat of black/white fur and what's most amazing to watch is how they move their weight up steep inclines.

Pheriche is a small village with a new memorial devoted to those who have died climbing Mt Everest going back to 1923.
Not much else to do here.  But we spent September 10th here as well acclimatizing and getting used to the Turkish style toilets.

Posted by Gautam via Satellite phone

Wow it's been an exciting few days in sports. PermaGuest Outlaw Jack here. I apologize for not updating the site but work has gotten more hectic than normal and I haven't yet received any updates from the FIGJAM expedition.

 

On to some sports highlights. . .

 

While watching the early NFL games on Sunday, they break in with news and replays showing the Patriots Tom Brady going down with what would become a season ending injury.  I think Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard, who put the hit on Giselle's Boy Toy (another reason to hate Brady) in the first quarter, summed it up the best by saying "He was in a lot of pain. When you hear a scream, you know that,"

 

 

The Jets' new super star QB Brett Farve had a good game. The final score of 20-14 wasn't really indicative of the entire game. Yes recently cut Jet QB Chad Pennington final 3 minute drive into the Red Zone made it a bit of a nail biter, but the Jets pretty much controlled the field from start to finish. Mr. Green’s first TD Pass as a Jet was a 56 yard wobbler to Jerricho Cotchery who reeled it in at the 10 and crossed the line two seconds later. After our kicker Mike Nugent hurt himself on the ensuing kickoff, Coach Mangini had them go for it on 4th and 13 from the 20. Farve under blitz conditions was classic Farve throwing a Hail Mary that seemed like it would only come down when it knew it would hit a jet and it did! Chansi Stuckey anyone? Who is this kid?!  Again due to Nugent's condition Coach had them go for 2, but it was incomplete. Things got interesting then when Jets Punter, Ben Graham had an ugly kick off and they had back up QB Kellen Clemens kicking off a tee into a net on the sidelines. Seems he may have had some experience back in high school a decade ago. . . . oh boy. But with Brady out, I think the Jets have a legit chance at the wild card.

 

Mets Closer, Billy Wagner is done for the season and possibly all of 2009 let alone maybe his career. It was announced on Monday that he would need to go in for Tommy John surgery. With luck and some confidence of what they've done since early August the Mets pen need to hold the line down the stretch to show that they are not the same collapsing team as last year. Though if they did, that may be good for Willie Randolph's legacy as you could say "Look! It wasn't Willie!". Time will tell.

 

 

My Yankees. . . Yeah they bounced back Tuesday night after a crushing 12-1 loss on Monday, riding Rookie Alfredo Aceves, Jr's first Major League start giving up 5 hits and 1 run over 7 strong innings to a 7-1 win. But unless the Rays and the Red Sox start playing .300 ball this will be the first time in 13 seasons we go home after 162 games. Just think, in his entire Major League career to date, Derek Jeter, who passed Babe Ruth on the Yanks' all-time hit list last night, has always played October Ball.

 

Finally 36-year-old Lance Armstrong said he will come out of retirement to go for a record eighth Tour de France win in 2009. Team to be decided.

 

Now I

Sept 8th - We set out from Nam Che Bazaar at 8:30am. For some reason the first half hour or so of every day hike seems to be the worst.  We got over it and hiked on side of the mountain along the Doodh River.   This river had been along with us since Lukla. 

All of a sudden we came across a memorial in the middle of the trail.  It a was a memorial celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first summit of Mt Everest in 1953.  It was in honor of Penzig Norgay and the Sherpas of Everest as "true tigers of the snows".  The memorial as shortened had been paid for by the descendents of Penzig Norgay as well as Rolex Geneva.  Go Swiss.  Penzig Norgay was the Sherpa who accompanied Edmund Hillary to the top of Mount Everest in 1953. 

After Mr. Hillary become famous for his summit, he spent many years building schools in Nepal.  He loved Nepal so much that he turned down an offer by a Hollywood movie company to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his climb with big movie productions and promotions.  Instead he came to Nepal to celebrate with the Sherpas without whom he could have never climbed Mt. Everest.  Mr. Hillary died last year, I believe, but is revered by the Sherpas for the good work he has done for Nepal.  Lest we forget.

We again had great views of all the peaks surrounding us including Mount Everest and Ama Dablam.  The sun was shining and we were hot hiking up and down the sides of mountains. So we were mostly in shorts, t-shirts, hats and tons of SPF 55+ moisturizing lotion.  A little further down the trail we came across a man, Mr. Pasang Lama Sherpa who from afar looked like he was manning a lemonade stand.  A bit old to be manning a lemonade stand.  And for once I was right.  It turns out he's been maintaining the trails that lead up to Mount Everest Base Camp out of a sense of social duty.  I confirmed this with our Sherpas and I was happy to leave a donation.  I think I'll leave a bigger donation on the way back because he's doing tremendous work.  By the way, I did ask our Sherpas why the government did not maintain the trails.  Their answer verbatim, "Government has no power.  Only man has power".  That's a sobering thought. 

As we were enjoying our down hill hike, disaster struck.  Remy, our checker from Amsterdam, Holland, was experiencing boot failure.  The soul of his brand new Dutch hiking boot had separated from the body of the shoe.  Super Sherpa came to the rescue.  He took the shoe to the tiny village we just passed, had the soul sewn back on for $1 and was back in 20 mins.  Good for Remy. Because the next hour or so was a severe hill climb to the town of  Tengboche. 

We had stopped for lunch.  There for the third time on this trip, we ran into Random Trekker 2 (or RT2 for short).  But more about RT1 and RT2 on a later date.  Now lunch was interesting because even though we arrived last, we got served first.  Why was that? Was it because as RT2 said, even our people knew people? No.  It was because we figured out how the tea houses work. Tea houses don't start harvesting, cleaning, chopping and cooking the food until the order is placed.  So rather than wait to order until we were seated, we would send one of our Sherpas ahead of us who would arrive there an hour before we did.  We knew what to order because all the tea houses basically served the same food.  So when we get to a tea house for lunch our food is ready, our water boiled and everyone else is just wondering how this rather boisterous group gets their food so quickly.   The answer, never underestimate the power of 11 Type A+ personalities on a trek. 

At Tengboche we visited the local monastery, which was beautiful.  I must explain that in addition to learning about Buddhism the monks are taught sciences, history, geography and other things about the world.  Since many of the monks in training are in school and are college aged boys and young men, this approach makes sense to me. 

No rest for the weary.  After the monastery we trekked for a few more hours through the town of Pengboche.  We walked through Rhodadendrum Force and along Kashi River, since we had turned away from the Doodh River at it's source.

Linda, Remy and Nima stopped by the medical center run by a local nurse trained in India and dropped off the over the counter medical supplies Linda had brought along from New York City.  We arrived at our tea house in Peng Peoche at about 5:30.  We had dinner and were in bed by 8:30.  Long Day!

Authored by Gautam Gujral, called in by Tom Djurdjevich via Satellite phone from Pheriche Resort, Nepal

Today we are resting from our trek up the hill yesterday to build red blood cells to deal with the altitude. Some of our team are feeling a little slow due to the altitude, but in general we are all fine.

Today we got up as the Sherpas brought us tea in bed (score!) and after breakfast hiked up the hill for our first views of Mt. Everest and the valley. We spent a lot of time hanging out there, taking a few gigs of photos between us and joking with the Sherpas.  We also spent time talking to other trekkers from Belgum (who made fun of Remi from the Netherlands.) Gautam and the Tank were talking to a Nepal Army commander about life in the Nepal Army.

We went down to Namche for lunch.The afternoon was spent walking around town and buying trinkets.

Tomorrow we will be going to visit a Buddhist Monestary in Tengboche, the largest in Nepal, the same one where Sir. Ed. Hillary was blessed before he went on to the summit. Then we trek on to Pangboche (12,700’). A long day but last of the long hikes, from here on in the mileage is shorter but we go slow due to the altitude gains.

Posted by Steve in Namche Bizarre.

Saturday, September 6, was when I relearned to become a mountain goat.  I first learned in the side path to reclimb to the Great Wall at Mile 20 of the Great Wall Marathon in May 2005.  Let's just say that I hurt just as much in climbing five to six miles from Phakding (9,500') to Namche Bizarre (11,500') yesterday as I did in the entire Great Wall Marathon which was the hardest of the 12 marathons I have thankfully completed, touch wood.

We started out dressed in gaiters to keep the water out of our boots.  But it dried out and we removed them to keep our feet from getting to warm.  I normally have an issue with cold feet in a figurative and literal sense as some of you may know.  A slight drizzle came down to cool us down and made a hard day somewhat easier. 

We crossed swaying metal suspension bridges which were just above the foaming white water rushing just below.  We saw some of the most beautiful water falls that you will ever see.  (It would give Victoria Falls a run for its money.)  A slight drizzle came down to near one, I was able to keep my head below water longer than Steve and Joel.  Some of you know that I have practice keeping my head below water as I almost drowning twice when I was 10 and 18 years old.  Steve is a great swimmer but I had a brief moment in sun (water). 

After a contentious political debate at lunch, Steve pushed us as punishment and to beat the two British climbers just ahead of us.  The two British climbers were led a female sherpa ("sherpa getty") who had climbed Everest a while back.  Steve wanted to trade one of our sherpas for the female sherpa.  Ngima wouldn't have any of it.

Steve pushed us up hill after hill.  "Are we almost there Papa Smurf?" lost its meaning by the tenth hill where we thought we were getting closer.  Gautam and I were going to translate "Una Paloma Blanca" into a German as our hiking song.  By the end, I would have lived with Rammstein's "Du Hast".  We arrived at the same time that the porters did.  Wow!  We were cruising.

I had the best shower of my life after getting to the tea house.  We had a good relaxing dinner and I slept like a baby. 

Posted by The Tank in Namache Bazaar, Nepal.  

I apologize for not updating the blog over the past couple of days.  Besides Internet access issues, I woke up extremely depressed on Friday morning for personal and business reasons.  However, Team Figjam tried to lift my spirits as we left the hotel for the Kathmandu Airport for the flight to Lukla.  I tried to cheer myself up by being thankful for not a job in the 78th and 79th floors of the World Trade Center after Bay Ridge Bob got me the interview in August 1999.  (The second plane went through the 80th floor just above on September 11 and my persumptive boss Jonathan escaped with jet fuel on his shirt.  Four people in that company died.  I grateful that Bay Ridge Bob and I weren't the fifth and sixth.)

Steve was very pessimistic because he didn't think we would leave on time.  Instead of the in flight meal and movie, the stewardess gave us cotton balls so our ears wouldn't pop.  Our seats were bleacher seats with cardboard on top.  Just like with my fellow Bleacher Creatures at Yankee Stadium.

We loaded up for an incredible flight over the mountain into Lukla.  If you have ever skateboarded, our runaway was like a 50+ degree skateboard ramp where you touch down low and then taxi up to stop the momentum and brake.  The pilot banked around the mountain and then dipped to nail the landing.  Take that Tony Hawk.  

We couldn't pose for X Games Victory photos and medals because there were people waiting for up to 12 days to get out of Lukla.  The pilots hustled people in and out as we stay in the local lodge for a couple of hours.  You would have thought we were at JFK.

We went to the local lodge for some yak (mountain goat milk) tea.  Delicious!  Just like back on parents' dairy farm.  We adjusted our poles and Steve introduced us to Ngima Sherpa and the rest of the sherpas. 

As we started hiking from Lukla (9,000') to Phakding (9,500'), the depression slowly started to wane.  I don't have full closure yet but it's not often that I have full closure?  Keep the Faith and keep your eyes glued for emotional and trekking updates.  

Posted by The Tank in Namache Bazaar, Nepal.

Wow!  What a day!  We visited some of the holiest places in Buddhism and Hinduism today.  Incredible views of Kathmandu.  I know Bob Seger is smiling somewhere now that I have made it here. 

Seriously, we witnessed a Hindu burial today.  It was one of the most moving experiences in my life.  We have a pretty slow Internet connection here so posting photos will come later.  I offered to troubleshoot the issue but it was in a far away place which I could not troubleshoot remotely.  Hey, I'm a geek and that's why I'm on this trip. 

We will hopefully fly to Lukla in the morning.  Exciting stuff.

 

(2) NFL Picks: The NFL Season is about to kickoff in later today.  Wow!  I haven't studied the season much but I have to keep my promise to Buffalo Steve to exchange picks before the season starts.  Here goes nothing:

AFC

Div