June 27, 2012

Baseball Stadium Count: 15

One thing I definitely love to do is see different ballparks and stadiums across the country. Here a list with a picture for each stadium I've been to and maybe my favorite memory/part of each one:

1. Fenway Park










The Don of ballparks (So it gets 2 pics). 100 years old and still going. Smallest stadium in the league. Obviously been here many more times than anywhere else- I remember sitting in the hot sun of the centerfield bleachers with my Dad as a kid. Favorite memory I suppose would have to be the 2007 World Series Game 1. Beckkkkkket dominated, and this is back when everyone loved him. I went to the game with Jenna, my sister.











2. Original Yankee Stadium
Great ballpark. I saw 2 games here. First time was an epic weekend of Sox-Yanks on the Saturday, and Jets-Pats the next day. Worst thing ever is the no-alcohol rule in the bleachers. WTF?

3. New Yankee Stadium
Not a huge fan of this place. It looks kinda like the old park, and they still have the rule of no alcohol in the bleachers.

4. Shea Stadium (Mets)

This is probably the worst ballpark I've ever been to. My buddy Jeremy and I went to a game and sat in the last row. The apple in centerfield was literally the only cool thing in the park and from the angle we were at it looked like shit.






5. Coors Field (Rockies)

Awesome stadium. Great location downtown, they have a single row of purple seats across the stadium where the official "mile-high" point is. This was the first stop on a 3 day tour Jenna and I went on while traveling cross country. We of course moved up to the 1st row after purchasing $4 tickets






6. Busch Stadium (Cardinals)


Another incredible place to watch baseball. Great fans in St Louis. Jenna and my 2nd stop on our mini-ball park tour. The view of the Arch from the 3rd base side is awesome. 



7. US Cellular Field (White Sox)

My good friend Caleb and I drove from Umass to Idaho in the Summer of 2007. Hit up this cool park on the way. The pinwheels in left field are cool looking but nothing really stood out about this place. 

8. Safeco Field (Mariners)

I used to drive up to Seattle from Boise every Summer when the Red Sox were in town to play the Mariners. This ball park is great. Right next to Qwest field where the Seahawks play. Incredible location in downtown seattle, in fact I-90 literally ends right at the stadium. This place has a retractable roof but out of the 5-8 games I saw, they never had to close it. 

9. Nationals Park (in DC)

This stadium is in a very sketchy area. Modern looking on the outside, and the inside I swear looks exactly like Gillette stadium where the Pats play. Jimmy the Mormon, Wilson, and Jeremy and I went to Opening Day 2009 at this park, so it was a sell out, and the Phillies broadcaster died in the booth right before the game. Good times. 


10. Camden Yards (Orioles)

This is one of my favorite ballparks. Reminds me a lot of Fenway. Eutaw street and the building behind it are awesome. Pictured L to R is Jeremy, Me, Wilson, and JTM. Great trip. 

11. Comerica Park (Tigers)

First off, I've only been to Detroit once, and all I did there was go to a game. The location of this park is MINT. Right next to Ford field. Awesome HUGE tiger statues out front. The game Jenna and I went to had a 4 hour rain delay, game started at 11:05pm. Clemens pitching for the Yanks. We moved up to the first row behind the NY dugout, Robby Cano tossed me that ball in my hand (despite my sox jersey) and Carlos Guillen hit a walk off Homer in extra innings at like 3am. Easily the craziest game I've ever seen. 




12. ProPlayer Stadium (Marlins)

I actually saw a World Baseball Classic game here on Spring Break in 2009. Great park but of course no one was there, and it felt/sounded like we were at a Soccer game. Team USA got smoked by Venezuela. Pictured L to R is Beckerman, Me, Jeremy, and Brit.






13. Progressive Park (Jacobs Field, Indians)

I went to an Indians game alone on a business trip in April 2012. It was a cold tuesday night and again I moved up to the first row. The park itself was great, but the game had no feel, no passion, no one cared at all. It was pretty boring.
14. MinuteMaid Park (Astros)

This was cool stadium, the first game I've ever seen indoors. It was so Hot in Houston when we went to the game, they closed the roof. Best part about this ballpark are the random things located throughout the park commemorating other famous parks... You can see a mini-Citgo sign in left field as an example. I went to this game with Kait and my cousins Andrew and Nicole in May of 2012. 


15. Target Field (Twins)

I just went to a game here last night with my cousin Megan. Had a great time. Not 1 bad seat in the whole place, very modern feel and literally kinda looks like a Target store. You'll have to either take my word for it or visit yourself. 

June 26, 2012

Could David Ortiz be the greatest Red Sox player of all time?



I just watched the Sox highlights from tonight and Big Papi launched 2 more HR's to break 20 on the year pre-all star break. Yesterday the Sox of course traded Youk and so Ortiz is the last man standing from the 2004 World Series history-changing Red Sox. Ortiz was the best player and most clutch player during that run-and he was also a key member of the 2007 world series as well (hit .370 that year in the playoffs.) So if the Red Sox somehow, miraculously, win the World Series this year, you have to figure Ortiz will be a big part of that. He will have won 3 world series in a span of 8 years, the only guy on all 3 teams. He made the Red Sox relevant again. He HAS to be in the conversation as best Red Sox player of all time right???



June 15, 2012

Bruins won the Cup 1 year ago today

Bruins won the cup on June 15, 2011. Here are some of my favorite videos and pictures from the stanley cup run. I didn't have this blog up and running back then, so I'd like to at least have a quick link to all this awesome Bruins Stanley cup swag:


Top Videos:







Top Images:

Ference giving the Canadien home crowd the finger after scoring a goal


Best taunt ever


Me and some other Bruins employees w Krejci after the parade (We were on the same boat as him and Looch)

This pic was on the front of the Boston globe. Thats me with the sunglasses on. See me taking a pic? 



Me and Stanley


Greatest Photo Ive ever taken


Linemates
Incredible photo when you take into consideration the small pic on the left in the background... that's Bobby Orr drinking from the cup almost the exact same way Chara is! The Bruins put those photos n the lockerroom before game 7 for inspriation. Worked. 
Me and fellow Idahoan Beets Johnson, equipment manager for the B's right before the parade

Great Story here: This was taken in the Bruins offices on the morning of 6/16/11 right after the Bruins got back from VAN. Rask was wasted, Shawn Thornton wanted to make the rounds around the office to congratulate everyone (he's the man!) so he told Tuukka (Who was relying on #22 for a ride home) to chill w the conference trophy because he couldn't be trusted w the cup

Me on the Garden Ice a few hours before Game 7 


Me and Bobby Orr at Ice level in the Garden before Game 3 

This was painted in the bathroom of the Bruins Office

Handshake line after beating the Lightning. Standing next to friend and co-worker Sarah Fucigna  while taking this

Handshake line after beating the Flyers. Was sitting w my buddy Dan Cosgrove for this one

Handshake line after beating the Canadien. Sweated this incredibly nervous OT with buddy/ co worker Chris Silvia 

Cam and LB discussing who's more bad ass before one of the game sin Boston. 

Rene and the colorguard for Game 3 of the Finals. Rene fist bumped me almost every game during these playoffs before he went out to sing
The jacket. Awesome. 
My mom and blades outside the Garden before Game 4



Me on the Duck Boat! In the middle white T shirt hanging out taking a picture. 






View of the top of the ring




Bad view of the side of the ring, Has my name "BROWN" and says "SALES" at the bottom

My Aunt and Uncle who sit on the glass and have had season tickets for 15 years 


The Crew I watched Game 7 with. Adam, Bill, Paul, Kelly, Abe, Dennis, Jenna, Kait, Homer



Jenna and Kait at the Parade 



Me "inside the ropes" at the Parade 


Me on the Duck Boat 



Sales Team pic with the Cup