The Jets and Giants are scheduled to meet tomorrow at the new Meadowlands Stadium in the first pre-season NFL game.  I’ve enjoyed tweeting over the past couple of weeks.

 

Monday’s game should be exciting.  I wanted to share some photos from the first ever event held there, at the Big City Lacrosse Classic, in April.  Lacrosse powers Syracuse-Princeton, Virginia-Carolina, and Hofstra-Delaware met in the day’s action. 

 

I first saw lacrosse in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University in the Spring of 1989.  I immediately fell in love with the sport.  Jesuit missionary Saint Jean de Brebeuf wrote about watching Native Americans playing it in 1637.

 

 

Though I never played lacrosse, I always admired its physical nature.  I grabbed a stick and checked out the nets setup outside the Stadium.

 

 

The new stadium is on the left and the old on the right.

 

 

Syracuse was the headliner. 

 

 

I got a ticket. 

 

 

The new stadium has lots of new food.

 

 

and beverage options.

 

 

Onto the action, Hofstra beat Delaware, Virginia beat Carolina, and I got there in time for the main event, Syracuse-Princeton.  They face off below.

 

 

Lacrosse is a physical game.  #41 from Princeton tried to level #20 from Syracuse.  This is the result.  The Princeton player ended up on the turf.  A Princeton player found out the hard way.

 

 

I got down to field level and got another faceoff photo.

 

 

Syracuse won the game.

 

 

I celebrate the victory afterwards.

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: The new Meadolwands Stadium is nice.  It is definitely an improvement on the old Giants Stadium.  There are more food and beverage options.  However, there is no retracable roof and the wind still cuts through the stadium. 

 

 

The Giants and Jets may really want to block the sides of the Stadium to reduce wind in the Super Bowl in the few years.   

 

Posted by The Tank reporting live from the New Meadowlands Stadium.  

AJ Burnett has some of the best stuff in the game.  He also has one of the worst tempers in the game.  AJ came out of the game after only 2+ innings in front of dozens of Old Timers, a packed Yankee Stadium, and a nationally televised game.

Why?  The original report was that he fell down.  The truth came out later.  He slammed his hand and got lacerations on his hand.  I couldn't believe when he came out.  An already hot day became even hotter and longer.  AJ is thankfully not expected to miss his next start.  Let's hope it doesn't have any long term effects.

The Tank's Bottom Line: AJ still has some equity in the bank after a great job in the playoffs last year.  But, his bank account is drawing thin.  The Yankees must get Cliff Lee in the off season, especially if Andy Pettitte retires.  AJ would then be the fourth or fifth starter (CC, Lee, Andy (maybe), Hughes, and then AJ).

Posted by a concerned Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium.

Part 1 on Friday night focused on Mr. Steinbrenner.  Saturday afternoon was more focused on Mr. Sheppard.  The first words I heard on Saturday were Mr. Sheppard’s “Welcome to Yankee Stadium”. 

 

 

 

Saturday was also Old Timer’s Day with a special tribute to the 1950 Championship Team featuring Jerry Coleman. 

 

 

Yogi Berra was also honored but fell down at his nearby home.  He is okay and will hopefully be back at the Stadium soon.  Get better soon Yogi!

 

 

The Yankees also honored the widows of past greats including Mrs. Munson and Mrs. Sheppard.  Members of the 1950 Championship team are in the foreground. 

 

 

There were photos of the in between innings of the statue of Mr. Steinbrenner.  I went to Gate 2 and took this photo.

 

 

 

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

I rushed out of work on Friday to get to the Stadium on time for the George Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard tributes.  The tributes were many and heartfelt.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, especially mine, as it was like mourning the loss of an uncle and grandfather.  I’ll divide this tribute into two, one for Friday’s game which was the first game back since their passing and the second for Saturday’s Old Timer’s Day.  Since pictures tell a thousand words, I’ll let photos tell the story.

 

All flags throughout the Stadium flew at half staff.

 

 

The Yankees tried to lighten the moment with this Saturday Night Live moment clip.

 

 

The Captain Derek Jeter spoke on behalf of the team. 

 

 

Military service was a part of Mr. Steinbrenner’s life.  Soldiers based at West Point presented the colors.

 

 

The playing of “Taps” summed up the sadness of day. 

 

 

Flowers and “Taps” equal sadness.

 

 

Fans showed their appreciation to the Boss and Mr. Sheppard.

 

 

After the draining pre-game ceremony, the Yankees and Rays played.  CC didn’t have his best stuff but the Yankees rallied to win.  Swisher singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning.  He ran out to right field and the team followed him there to celebrate. 

 

  

 

Posted by an emotional Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx. 

While America celebrated its 234th Birthday, the Yankees celebrated Mr. Steinbrenner's 80th Birthday.

The Yankees fell behind but took a 3-1 lead.  But, Toronto came back to take a 4-3 lead off newly minted AL All Star Phil Hughes.

Former Yankee Catcher Jose Molina tagged three Yankees out at the plate.  I've never seen that before.  Also from the rare department, Mariano came in late game but blew only his second game in 20 attempts.

The Yankees bailed him out in the 10th inning when Marcus Thames hit a game winning single for a 7-6 win.  Thames came off the Disabled List on Sunday morning.

It was a welcome end to an insanely hot day with temperatures around 100 degree day.  Speaking of 100, the Yankees are on pace to win 100 games with a first half record of 50-31.

The Tank's Bottom Line: The Yankees are lucky to have Major's best record given all the injuries.  Aceves, Mitre, Park, Timms, Posada, Granderson, Johnson, and others have missed significant amounts of time due to injury.  The Yankees have also suffered from scoring a low percentage runners in scoring position.  Let’s hope the Yankees click on all cylinders in the second half.

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

Steve traveled to South Africa last week for the World Cup.  He witnessed first hand the sound of the vuvuzula.  The vuvuzula is a horn that makes a very loud sound at Steve videotaped here.  The sound is so loud that it is hard for players to communicate and commentators to comment. 

 

Video courtesy of Steve and posted by The Tank looking for earplugs. 

Boxing returned to the Stadium for the first time since Ali-Norton III on September 28, 1976.  Saturday's fight was a championship fight but not of that heavyweight stature, especially the final fight in a classic.  I made a decision a while ago to see history at the new Stadium and glad I did.

 

There were several fights on the card starting at 6:30 pm and going until the main event at 11:30 pm.  It's really cool seeing the old footage of Ali and other greats prior to the main event.  The camera panned to Spike Lee and Manny Pacquiao in the crowd to loud cheers.

 

The Stadium was split in half with seating from the bleachers around the right field pole to home plate.  There was also seating on the field.
It's mostly packed around the ring in the blue seats.  There were white seats on the field behind the blue seats were mostly empty.  The paid attendance was 20,272. 

 

I stood for the Puerto Rican (Miguel Cotto) and Israeli (Yuri Foreman) national anthems.  Standing during our National Anthem goes without saying.

 

 

Michael Buffer stepped into the ring to announce the fighters and yell his trademark "Let's Get Ready to Rumble"!!!!!  Awesome!  It’s great to hear it live.

 

This picture is taken in the first seconds of the fight.  Fight on!

 

Foreman fell down twice in the second round.  He had a knee brace on but it looks he twisted an ankle.

 

Cotto appeared to have the points advantage.  He looked better on his feet. 

With a minute left in the 8th round, a white towel flew into the ring.  Did Foreman's corner surrender?  Most fans start leaving but not The Tank.  I want an clarification; I need closure.  After a few tense minutes, the round and fight continued.

 

 

Before the 9th round, there was a replay shows his corner did.  You gotta be kidding me!  I have been watching boxing for over 30 years and never seen anything like this.  Granted, I haven’t watched ever fight but never seen anything like this.

 

Foreman went down again in the 9th round with 2:32 left.  The fight was called a few seconds later.  Cotto won by TKO.  He is now the WBA Super Welterweight Champion and now 35-2 with 28 knockouts.  Congratulations Miguel! 

 

 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: I grew up a big boxing fan but have gone more MMA over the past few years.  I am glad I went to this fight to witness history.  That said, boxing has lots of work to do as there are four major governing bodies unlike one for major one for MMA, UFC.  I wouldn’t pay to see a Cotto-Foreman rematch at the Stadium unless there was another great fight on the card.  I would pay to see Pacquiao is the man I want to see fight.  He already fought at the new Cowboys Stadium and hope he wants to fight at the Stadium.  

 

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

What a beautiful day for a game at the Stadium!  It was about 85 degrees with hardly a cloud in the sky on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  It's a perfect day for baseball!

 

The game was close throughout.  The Indians held a 1-0 lead against AJ and the Yankees through most of the game.

 

The Indians added two in the top of the 7th to make it 3-0.

 

El Capitan had a two run single in the bottom of the seventh to close the gap to 3-2.  Derek is now tied for 9th place on the Yankees RBI list with Don Mattingly with 1,099 RBIs.

 

Granderson doubled to right.  Teixeira hits a three run text message to left.  Yankees 5 - Indians 3.  Mark now has 250 home runs for his career.  Congratulations Mark!

 

A-Rod strikes out to end the inning.  But, the damage was done.

 

AJ comes out for the 8th.  He looked great.  He struck out Austin Kearns on his 114th pitch.

 

45,706 was the official attendance which was announced in between innings.

 

Miranda hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 8th to make it Yankees 6 - Indians 3.  Cervelli sacrificed to right.  Swisher scored.  Yankees 7 - Indians 3.  Jeter grounded out to end the inning.

 

Mariano comes in to get some work in the 9th.

 

Russell Branyan went down swinging.  Jhonny Peralta went down swinging.  Luis Valbuena shattered his bat.  But, Mariano kept his concentration and thankfully got the ball and threw it to Teixeira to end the game.  Yankees win 7- 3.

 

Posted by The Tank reporting live from the Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.

Robinson Cano was the clean-up hitter for the first time in his career last night at the Stadium.  It was also historic because it was the first game that Editor in Chief and Perma Guest Outlaw Jack and I attended together at the new seats at the new Stadium.  I normally go with Killer during the season and went with Kai twice in the playoffs.

 

Back to the game.  Cano had a great night including a grand slam in the seventh inning.  The video is here.  HIs grand slam sealed the deal for Phil Hughes and the Yankees who won 8-2.  Hughes was awesome including striking out the first five batters he faced.

 

Posted by an excited Tank reporting live from Yankees Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.

Friday was the first time that I have been to Yankees-Mets at Shea or Citi.  I had always been out of town, or work, or some other reason.  Anyway, since I didn't purchase a Mets ticket plan this season.  So I had to walk up, NOT scalp, a ticket.  Sure enough, there was a ticket available at decent face value.  It speaks to the bad economy and the Mets season.

 

As I went to buy the ticket, I saw Mike Piazza.  He wasn’t doing photos with fans like because he was getting ready for media interviews on the SNY set right in front of the entrance to Citi Field.  Mike is pictured below reading his Blackberry before going on stage.

 

 

Darryl Strawberry was already on stage and he is pictured below.

 

 

I was able to get a photo with the NY NY Sports Sports guys.  We are pictured below.

 

Time to go into Citi Field and get ready for the game.  Congratulations to Vietnam Veteran Joe Romagnoli.  He and his family are seated in Section 118.  Thank you for your service Mr. Romagnoli!

The Yankees threatened in the top of the third.  Cervelli walked.  Russo got his first MLB hit.  Congratulations!  Vasquez laid down a perfect bunt in front of home plate.  Textbook.  He should teach it. 

Captain Eddie Grant born on May 21, 1883.  He was the first MLB player to enlist in WWI.  He was a scholar, athlete, and soldier.  The New York Giants honored their fallen hero with a plaque at the Polo Grounds.  Thank you for your service Captain Grant!  May your memory be eternal!

In the top of the fourth, A-Rod hit an infield single with one out off Takahashi.  Cano doubled to left center.  Swisher struck out swinging.  Darn it!  This is a huge issue for the Yankees not being able to score a running with less than two outs. Cervelli flew out to center.  Double darn!!  Still scoreless after the top of the fourth.       

The Mets get a walk in the bottom of the 5th but that's it.  Pagan breaks up the no hitter with one out in the bottom of the 5th.  Darn it!  Barajas grounds into a double play to end the 5th at 0.

My buddy A-Rod doubled to right with two out in the 6th.  Cano struck out on a 3-2 pitch.  Darn it!

Dessens relieves Takahashi to start the top of the 7th.  Swisher singles to center.  Cervelli hit a bloop to Cora.  Cora overthrew Reyes at second.  Swisher advances to third and Cervelli to second with no out.  Russo doubles to right.  Swisher and Cervelli score.  Yankees 2 - Mets 0.  Vazquez bunted towards third.  Perfect!  An unidentified Yankee fan and I promise to go to Church on Sunday.  Thank God!  Jeter comes up with Russo on third with one out.  Jeter grounds out to Reyes but Russo stays at third.  Darn it!  Come on! 

Ollie Perez comes out of the pen to a chorus of boos to pitch to Brett Gardner.  Ollie should have gone to the minors.  Gardner walks on 3-1.  Teixeira flew out to center.  Yankees 2 - Mets 0 at the 7th Inning Stretch.

David Robertson relieves Vazquez to stay the bottom of 7th.  Winn replaces Russo in left.  Cora hit a shot past A-Rod.  Bay flies out to center.  Marte relieves Robertson.

Davis hit it toward first.  Cervelli's throw hits Davis in the back.  Everyone is safe.  DW comes up with one out and runners at first and second.  Joba comes out of the pen.  Joba struck out DW on 3-2.  Pagan works a 3-2 count but struck out swinging.  Cervelli drops the ball but throws to Teixeira.  Inning and threat over.  Yankees 2 - Mets 0 at the end of 7th.

Nieve starts the 8th.  A-Rod works a leadoff walk.  Feliciano comes in to face Cano.  Cano strikes out.  Swisher flies out to Reyes in deep short.  Cervelli works a 3-2 count but strikes out swinging. 

Barajas comes out to Tupac's "California Love".  Joba strikes him out.  Francoeur grounds out to Jeter.  Carter pinch hits for Feliciano.  Gotta love the theme music of Hulk Hogan's "I am a real American" theme.  Carter flies out to Winn to end the 8th.

Fans start leaving.  Beat the traffic!  Good, I'll get home sooner.

Acots comes out to face Winn.  Winn singles to left.  Miranda pinch hits for Joba.  Miranda works a full count but grounds out into a double play even though Winn started earlier.  Jeter grounds out to Reyes to end the top of the 9th.

Mariano comes out to the top of the Yankee lineup in the 9th.  Reyes flies out to Winn.  Cora grounds out to Mariano.  Bay hits a 1-2 pitch to deep left center.  Davis doubles to deep right center.  Bay scores.  Yankees 2 - Mets 1.  DW grounds out to Cano to end the game.  Yankees win 2-1.     

Posted by an excited Tank reporting live from Citi Field in Queens.