Ballpark #1- Nationals Park May 8, 2010

Exactly one month before Stephen Strasburg made his debut for the Washington Nationals, I had the pleasure of catching a game at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. A bunch of friends and I descended on our nation's capital for a weekend of fun and games. We all managed to cramp ourselves in the apartment of a good friend who was living in DC for work purposes. In the meantime, he was living a mere 2-3 blocks away from the stadium, so a ballgame seemed like a no-brainer.

Washington's ballpark was a real treat for fans. As the franchise is still relatively new to the DC area, the ballpark is clean, new, and well-maintained. Green grass, bright and shining seats, uncluttered walkways...while some of this can be attributed to it being early May, the overall feel is that it is a fun place to be. Picture time!



Nationals Park. Benefits include: Proximity to public transportation, pick of good seats.


Towards the end of the season, the mascot may become more intimidating than the team. Not a good sign.

Sampling the fare at the ballpark...

Chili cheese dog. Verdict: Delicious! Not even 'delicious for ballpark food'. It was legitimately tasty.

Views from the stadium include: The Capitol! A very unique experience at MLB parks, from my experience.


Maybe it's just that it was a day game, or that it's the Nationals, but I thought it was a really tranquil place to catch a game...


Lounge area for when the Nats aren't worth the $24 bleacher seat ticket...


Easily navigable concourses. Well-lit and not overcrowded. Two big pluses.


View from the outfield concourse. Nothing like a well-manicured field..
Photographic evidence that I made it to Washington.


From the upper deck. Classy.


The good:
Thanks to a smaller crowd than I'm used to, the stadium felt very friendly. I managed to get around without any crowd issues, which meant I had plenty of time to take it all in (like a picture of the Capitol).
The hot dog was good, and the beer was cold. It can be a real crap-shoot when you go to the park to get food, but Washington delivered.
No line at the bathroom!
Friendly staff. People are vastly friendlier outside of New York, and so it was nice to get to experience that at a ballgame.
Scoreboard: having multiple places to look to find the score, lineups, etc. is an underrated part of the game. Understandably, it comes from the advances in technology (this would be a lone drawback at Fenway or Wrigley).
Atmosphere: Laid back. Nice for a relaxing afternoon watching a game.
Public transportation options. A stop only a block or so away from the ballpark. Tough to beat that.

The bad:
The frenzy of sport was lacking until late innings.
It didn't look like there would be great lighting at night games outside the stadium. While I went on a gorgeous day, I would imagine that the walk back to a car parked up the street a few blocks might be a little more ominous.

Perks: Got to see Josh Johnson pitch, and Tyler Clippard, too. Also, got to cheer for Josh Willingham and his game-winning homer skills. Big day for team Parmesan.

Ocean #2: Indian

During the Asia trip (more on that to come), we managed to hit some islands and get our swim on. While the Andaman Sea is the technical name for the body of water we swam in, it is an extension- as a border of Thailand- of the Indian Ocean. So there. Island hopping around Thailand featured exotic and beautiful views not afforded to us in America, and so it was a real treat to be able to admire the crystalline waters and take a dip. Truly relaxing. Truly a wonderful journey. Enjoy!

Celebratory splashing for hitting another ocean!

We managed to find some luxurious shopping on the beach...boi.

Ko Phi Phi: The new paradise.

Getting our toes wet, and walking wayyy out...

Ocean #1: Atlantic Ocean

Last summer featured three instances where I was able to swim in the Atlantic: trips to Miami, the Jersey Shore and the Hamptons, NY. Both featured my best friends, and both were wild times. By day we enjoyed some quality beach time (complete with sweet burns), which was a nice transition, as I am not typically a beach person (see aforementioned burns). In any event, here is some photographic evidence of my being at the beach (Note: I swear I went into the water, though only one shot will get me on my way out)...

Jersey Shore...managed to survive the trip, though it certainly wasn't easy...
One of these things does not tan...


Apparently, a LOT of people got the memo about coming to the beach. And we're allll cramped together on the narrow strip of dry sand. The Hamptons, 2010.

Fresh off a nice session of waves and waboba throwing...

Yes, I'm obliged to say "South Beach, bringin' the heat". No, I don't feel bad about it.

Book #14- Lardner on Baseball

Ring Lardner, using what used to be known as a "typewriter"...

One of the many things I love about baseball is its rich history in the American narrative. From the origins of the game all the way to present day, baseball more than any other sport has become interwoven with American history. Between countless movies, documentaries, television specials, online articles, lists, etc. it is the most accessible sport we have. Tennis and golf are individual sports. Football has taken the "most popular" title from baseball, but has also taken with it the negative frenzy and over-exposure that baseball benefited from (and was also hindered by). Hockey sadly lacks the mainstream access and coverage in America, and basketball is coming on strong, but is still seen as an individual-driven sport (which is a different debate for a different day). Baseball is blessed to have teams who are institutions of their own (Boston, New York Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, et. al.), so the talk about stars being bigger than the teams themselves is rendered false (when Jeter retires, the Yankees will still be a hugely profitable and popular team. The Cleveland Cavaliers are finding out how life without LeBron James can be, driving your franchise upwards).

Historically, the period before Babe Ruth was known as the 'dead ball' era, based on the fact that there were few true stars in the developmental days of MLB. Perhaps the most famous of the writers who covered this era was Ring Lardner. This collection of stories from Lardner- a collection of satirical chapters about Jack Keefe, a fictional, beleaguered pitcher; a series of short stories about life of ballplayers off the field; and non-fiction posts throughout the 1919 World Series (known today as the Black Sox scandal)- present ballplayers in a more human, less otherworldly light. It's a great read, as though Lardner knew of the disappointing fall from grace so many professional athletes have had in the eyes of America over the last 90 years. What results is a portrayal of professional baseball players as strangely- and sadly- human characters.

The 1910 NY Giants starting lineup. The Giants were the faceless villain of Lardner's characters. NY still has it.

Jack Keefe, for example, is a character featured in a number of short stories collectively called "You Know Me, Al", which is a compilation of letters from Keefe to a hometown friend. Keefe overestimates his skill without realizing what everyone else clearly sees: that he is, as a player, overrated. There's an idea that the most elite people at their profession don't see shortcomings. Call it blind optimism. Athletes on the decline are rarely aware enough to admit that they are declining (see Derek Jeter's 2010 contract negotiations). Whether it's a stubborn refusal or the fact that they have competed at the highest level of competition within their field, it is interesting to read this well-written piece of fiction about a player who suffers from this exact thing...which is still relevant today.

Another talent of Lardner's is combining just the right combination of in-game information (even fictitious games) and 'other'. While many people spend time thinking about how famous people in any industry live, Lardner presents life on the road (from experience) as dull and full of immaturity (big boys playing boys games),sometimes downright ugly. We collectively marvel at what life must be like as someone famous, to which Lardner glibly replies "it's interesting, but nothing great". I argue that Lardner's writing is interesting AND great.

Detracting from this book is simply the language. Lardner writes exactly how you might expect a sportswriter from the 1910s to write: gruff, full of unfamiliar lingo, and fairly basic. Not that these are all bad things, but they DO make for a slow read on occasion. Also, I couldn't read through more than one of the short stories at a time, since it would require introduction to an entire series of characters one after another. Unlike a novel where you become acquainted with a set number of people per book, Lardner's short stories- while entertaining- are diverse enough that I could only handle it one story at a time (and I'm a reader whose appetite for books can be described as voracious). All in all, Lardner on Baseball is a humorous and unpretentious look inside the lives of ballplayers. In the event that Lardner takes creative liberties to add brushstrokes of depth to his characters, it i done so with a wink and a nod to what can only be a captive audience of sports enthusiasts.
Life of ballplayers isn't always pretty...right, Randy?

Book #13- Derek Jeter: The Life You Imagine

The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams

As baseball season is in full effect, I thought I'd introduce a few baseball-related books for the review. The first of three is one co-written by Derek Jeter, famed shortstop for the New York Yankees. When I first saw the title of the book, I thought, "wow, what a self-important title"; as I read, I realized that it was a little bit different than a holier-than-thou manifest about how great Jeter's life is.

The book is structured as a motivational how-to for setting goals and reaching them. It is devoid of scandalous or sensationalized stories, which does not surprise me; Jeter takes great care to keep his personal life in an air-tight bubble. The book also lacks a ton of information about his playing days to that point (released in 2000, the 2001 World Series, the 03-04 epic Red Sox showdowns, the Torre firing, and 2010 contract negotiations are nowhere to be found here, though I'm sure they turn up in his new biography, The Captain). If we don't have access to adult personal life information and we lack access to playing with the Yankees, what does that leave us with? The answer, briefly put, is that this book comes across as a motivational speech. Jeter- along with Jack Curry- outline 10 tips for "living the life you imagine". Huh?

Before I took into account that this book was published 11 years ago and that Jeter was that much younger and that much more flawless (sabermetrics were born in the 20th century, but matured in the 21st), I thought that it would be a lame sort of 'go get em' book for young people. That remains part true. Bits of advice like "The world is not always fair" doesn't sound as meaningful when dictated by a millionaire shortstop for the world's most recognizable sports franchise.
Post-season heroics are not discussed. Too bad. 2001 WS thoughts would have been interesting...

Of course, things that get glossed over as know-it-all adults can still be put to good use if we as adults take the time to look a little closer (the closing chapter, "Life is a Daily Challenge", should be plastered on walls and billboards the world over). It is here that Jeter's stories have some legs to walk around on. We the general public tend to think of our athletes and entertainers as unflappable. As any Yankee would tell you, there's a whole lot of history behind those pinstripes. So as a teenager, to put that uniform on- to do any adult thing, really- can be frazzling if you're unprepared. Luckily for Jeter, his talent carries him through. For the world in general, there's a lot to fight for, and you've got to be prepared to fight it out daily. This is a valid point for any reader of any age.

While I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone who isn't looking for advice, it was certainly interesting to put things into perspective. Everyone could use some advice, and nothing- no matter how glossy the surface- is perfect.

Furthermore, Jeter does do a tremendous job of highlighting those things which have been widely-reported as important to him: Family. There's a lot of attention paid to the success and ability of individuals, Jeter included. To his credit, he has always gone out of his way to mention his parents and sister for their influence on him throughout his entire life. Kids today can learn a LOT of valuable information from the way Jeter conducts himself and who he keeps closest to him.

Lastly, I've always been interested in how Jeter handles the race card. Born to a bi-racial couple, Derek Jeter has always taken the high road whenever race has come up in any sort of fashion. This book didn't dig deep into it, but it WAS referenced, and the general consensus is that it's unfortunate that some people feel the way they do. While that may be a vanilla response we've come to expect from modern-day athletes, what it DID do was shine light on the fact that Derek and his sister were seen as outcasts in their family since they were part-black. Did not know that.

As an aside, this book came out just after Jeter was dating Mariah Carey, so it was fun to walk down that memory lane again, as well as reminisce about the Boston Brawl, the A-Rod comments in SI, A-Rod coming to NY, Clemens on steroids, Torre's departure, the talk about his shameful Gold Gloves, the 2010 negotiations...NONE of which had happened at that point. Long decade for Mr. Jeter.

A younger Jeter and Mariah Carey. Handled that press like a pro.

Movie #3: Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs: worth the hype

At #74 on the AFI list, Silence of the Lambs remains in my short list of most disturbing movies ever (Requiem For a Dream is at the top). It is a different sort of scary movie in its realism and its psychotics: Hannibal Lecter (played absolutely brilliantly by Sir Anthony Hopkins) and Buffalo Bill (played by Ted Levine) don't look like traditional slasher types like Michael Meyers or Jason Voorhees. I decided to pick this movie up around Halloween and gave it a watch. Here are my notes:

1) Just before Starling goes to see Lecter the first time, when Chilton says “you might have suggested this in my office, saved me the time” and she responds “yes, but then I wouldn’t have the pleasure of your company” shows a brief tongue-in-cheek moment, and a demonstration of her personal strength and character. It's Jodie Foster at her best.

2) Wonder what the auditions were like for the inmates…Miggs’ “I can smell your c---” line must have required a few reads-through, right? (by the way, Lecter'ss “I,myself, cannot” is the most underrated line in the movie)

3) Our first look at Lecter with the imposing music builds him up perfectly. The wide eyes in the first close-up…stunning. There are few times in the movies where the anticipation is handed off to pure dread and fear, rather than being scared.

Hair's are raising on my neck just searching for this picture...

4) For as famous as it is, the fava beans and Chianti line comes out only 20 minutes into the movie...sort of a big gun to bring so early. Still, a witty character, this Doctor Lecter.

5) The autopsy scene is particularly gross. As they turn the victim over, it unlocks a piece of the puzzle…which uncoincidentally kick-started my hatred for bugs. Woof.

6) The newscaster on TV who announces that victim in well…bellhop from That Thing You Do?/father/principal from Dawson’s Creek? (Update: Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, Obba Babatunde!)

7) What makes this a scary movie is that it is truly a disturbing movie…the “its rubs the lotion on its skin” scene is nuts, particularly when it reaches its climax of Katherine screaming as she sees the blood and such on the wall of the well. Just an avalanche of disturbia.

8) Lecter is tremendously charismatic, if offensive and erotic. Looks like an uber-creepy Bing Crosby…or Frank Gorshin.

9) Dr. Chilton is undoubtedly one of the most unlikeable characters in cinematic history.

10) Lt. Boyle, security guard, was also in…(update: RAMBO! He's Murdock! Also part of the innuendo sequence in the second Austin Powers movie. Thanks, IMDB.)

11) If it’s more possible to be as stylish and as brutal, I’d like to see it. You certainly don’t in anything this side of Talented Mr. Ripley.

12) "Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus is a pretty sweet song. Speaking of the tuck scene, all I can think of is David Lee Roth. I'm not THAT far off, am I? Also, nice ring collection.

Diamond Dave would never tuck.

13) The dead body in the bathtub was gross, of course. I’m not sure if it was more disturbing than, say, the fatsuit of skin that Clarice sees before her pursuit of Buffalo Bill in his basement. Again, the lack of corn syrup being sprayed all over the place makes this movie SO frightening.

14) Buffalo Bill in those night-vision goggles could have been stunt-doubled by Craig T. Nelson.

From a psychological and chill factor's perspective, Silence of the Lambs stacks up against any movie in history, in my opinion. Verdict: Fantastic.

New York City: The Late Show with David Letterman

The Late Show with David Letterman
A little outdated, but here goes:

In June of 2010, I managed to cross off the first of my NYC checklist items off by going to see The Late Show with David Letterman. I had gotten the tickets from a buddy of mine who comes to Monday night trivia; he knows a guy who works at CBS and is able to score periodic tickets. With the weather changing and nothing on the agenda for an afternoon, I went to see what the fuss was about with my brother and brother-in-law. I had long been a fan of Letterman since I was old enough to stay up late to catch the Late Show. Letterman struck me as generally funnier than Leno in part due to the biting nature of his work in the 90s; Leno struck me as cheesy and a bit hokey. In any event, Letterman remains a more logical show to see live, as Leno is out west.

We started off with a nice burger and a pint right around the block from CBS studios in Manhattan. The guests that day were: Helen Mirren, Colin Hanks, and musical guest Cyndi Lauper featuring Allen Toussaint. Show went down like this:

Lots of standing on line. Our tickets were of the VIP variety, but we had to arrive an hour or so early just to ensure that our tickets would be held, and for the sake of getting a good seat. We ended up in the balcony, third row, with a solid view of bandleader Paul Shaffer's keyboards. The constant movement of cameras gave us solid-though not constant- views of Letterman's desk.

VIP. Feels good, though it didn't get us out of waiting on line...

My initial thought is that Letterman looked old: too much makeup and sloped shoulders, a little cantankerous and off-putting during the breaks. I tried to think about how a show in mid-2010 must be for this guy by that point, nearly 5000 appearances in to his television career, and came around to a sort of "what a pro" mentality. Everything until the musical portion of the program was done in one take (which, I gather, was part clockwork, part wanting to come of as self-deprecating in the event of any slip-ups, which has been an endearing part of Letterman's general allure: the man's not afraid to screw up every once in a while), and so I gained a profound respect for the people who work on that set and the way they go about their business.
Compelled to give a few pictures, since we weren't allowed to take any indoors.

Dame Helen Mirren was stunning...not even for an at-the-time 63 year-old. She is just a good looking gal. She carried herself with that sort of whimsical charm that brings out the best of the English, and received a huge round of applause from the crowd for both her pro-USA soccer sentiments (on the heels of the 1-1 draw against England the previous Saturday) and her condemning words for BP (at the height of the oil spill...feels like ages ago, no?). In the meantime, I can't be alone in saying that she was an exceptional guest.

Colin Hanks was next, and was largely forgettable. I remember seeing him on Roswell back in the day, and hadn't seen anything of his since. Still, a nice enough guy, coming fresh off of a wedding. So there's that.

The only snafu of the show was the musical portion of the program. There was a re-take because the announcing team and intro cues were mixed up. Mr. Letterman looked REALLY peeved that this was taking place, and wasn't quite fuzzy for the rest of the taping. Lauper sounded great, for what it's worth. She was plugging her then-new album, and performed a number from the album. It was no "She-bop", but it was entertaining. Toussaint's piano skills were very impressive; I had heard some of his work through college in what was about a semester-long New Orleans kick.

All in all, a good program. I'm glad to have gone, and would gladly do so again. Tickets are free, if you're willing to wait a bit. A highly recommended excursion while Letterman's still plugging along.
A fun afternoon in the city with family.