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Last Sunday I was at the NJ Devils vs NY Rangers outdoor hockey game. We arrived, dress for the elements our seats were located in section 407 (upper, upper deck) that over looks right field. To say it was very, very cold would be and understatement, and the game started 98 minutes late do to ice glare.

By the end of the first period my feet were starting to feel numb, I had not been that cold since I was in Germany, and did winter mountain training in the Army (1967-68). But last Sunday the only place that I wanted to be was at that hockey game like the other 50,000 plus people who were there. Yes, It was cold, it was fun, it was an amazing experience, and we knew it would be cold, and I did not hear anyone complain.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday, for weeks-on-end all the noise has been about the weather. The sun is out the sky is blue with clouds and the 6:30pm kickoff projected temperature (the weather channel) is 44° and at 10 pm 39°. The NFL network loves broadcasting one of the most famous games ever played “The Ice Bowl”. Today I would venture to say football fans know more about The Ice Bowl played in 1967 then Super Bowl II. The NFL should not look at this as a one-time cold weather Super Bowl, but remember the games roots come out the central and northeast section of the country.

Other big event today is its Groundhog Day. Winter this year has brought us cold stretches and snow that we have not seen in over 20 years. So, with that in mind Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow or not, was more important to me then Super Bowl. Alas, he saw his shadow, and as legend goes six more weeks of winter. So I look for comfort in this news release “The National Climatic Data Center has put Phil’s forecasts to the test and found them sorely lacking, declaring the groundhog has “no predictive skill.”

Other big event today is its Groundhog Day. Winter this year has brought us cold stretches and snow that we have not seen in over 20 years. So, with that in mind Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow or not, was more important to me then Super Bowl. Alas, he saw his shadow, and as legend goes six more weeks of winter. So I look for comfort in this news release “The National Climatic Data Center has put Phil’s forecasts to the test and found them sorely lacking, declaring the groundhog has “no predictive skill.”

The countdown clock for The Bowl is now 5 hours and 30 minutes, and the countdown clock I am thinking about is, in 25 days, I will be in Florida for 30 days of spring training games…

  

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What does The Baseball Hall of Fame and the Grammys have in common? They both don’t get it. Baseball fans can tell you of great players passed over year after year only to get elected after they have passed away. It’s not like they hit another home run or won one more game. Think of Ron Santo, passed away, and they vote him in.  As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Beatles invasion of America and appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show tomorrow night January 26, the Grammys will give them the Lifetime Achievement Award. As a Rock-n-Roll and Beatles fan “Too little, too late…

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Earlier today I posted a link to Jayson Stark’s Blog on “Inching towards collision ban.more replay” little did I expect this announcement: MLB clubs unanimously approved expansion of instant replay. MajorLeague umps will serve as replay officials, who will make final call; All replays may be shown in-park…

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/Headlines/ExternalArticle?articleId=284866

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Jayson Stark blogged yesterday on ESPN MLB, about the use of replay and, the ban home plate collision exploring issues that the fan may not have taken into account.

If MLB, the player and umpire’s union approve of replay I think that the way the NHL reviews plays should be looked at…

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jayson/id/10298992/future-expanded-replay-home-plate-collision-ban-mlb-unclear?src=mobile

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Two stories from yesterday:

Manny Ramirez 41 wants to return to Major League Baseball:

http://shar.es/UnszN via @sharethis

 Johnny Damon 40 still has not closed the door on his Major League Baseball career:

 

http://shar.es/Unsur via @sharethis

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Yankee Stadium 2008 www.ballparkprints.com
Yankee Stadium 2008
http://www.ballparkprints.com

Starting off the new year one of my primary goals is to blog at least once a week. Not being a natural, fluid writer is the reason that I am putting this pressure on myself. Being a visual person my skills in art and photography afforded me a fantastic career and because of that my writing skills weakened. I mostly wrote business outlines, proposals, and short brief letters. But, my goal is also to share my photography and, the photography of Ozzie Sweet (that can be purchased at http://www.ballparkprints.com) of ballparks that I travel to and, the occasional brief comments on the greatest game in my opinion baseball, and other interest that I have. So bear with me as I start this new  journey in my life

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It is nice to see that two of the three players going into the Hall of Fame, will have nicknames on there plaques; Gregory Alan Maddux (Mad Dog or The Professor)  and Frank Edward Thomas (Big Hurt). Except for AROD, I cannot thing of a players nickname.  Time to revive a great baseball tradition that gives the game that extra color….

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While reading  the various obituaries about  former ballplayer and Cleveland broadcaster Mike Hegan, I kept thinking they omitted  one of the great trivia questions; in 1973 who was the last player that made the final out in the original Yankee Stadium?   Mike Hegan a fly ball to CF.HEGAN-obit-web-articleLarge

Mike Hegan, left, and his father, Jim, at spring training in 1962 Associated Press

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Growing-up near Yankee Stadium afforded me the opportunity to hang out there and get ball [players (almost all would sign) autographs as they walked to the stadium from the, subway, their cars and [1]The Concourse Plaza. I remember those days and have some stories about a few encounters, but Jerry Colman was one of the good guys and would sign and sign gain. There was the usual small group of us that showed up most days, and after awhile the players would recognize you, and Jerry was one that not only recognizes you but also talk to you.

With his active career over I encounter Jerry Coleman in the 1958-59 again, back then for a few years the Yankees would bring up their triple A farm team from Richmond VA and have them workout on the ball field that is now 161 Street Garage. Living just up the hill from the ball field where we played baseball everyday, word spread the Yankees farm team was working out there. I cannot say how kids showed up, but it was a lot. Out of that sea of kids like me Jerry Coleman called me over and let me be the back up batboy told me, be alert, and do not get hurt. I can still see talking to me dressed so neatly and wearing brown and white loafers…

[1] APA: Concourse Plaza Hotel – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concourse_Plaza_Hotel The hotel was located within walking distance of Yankee Stadium, which was home to baseball’s New York Yankees and (until 1976) football’s New York Giants. Many star players from the home teams – including Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris of the Yankees and Frank Gifford of the Giants – stayed at the Concourse Plaza, and visiting players would also stay at the hotel.[2][3]Yankees Second baseman Horace Clarke was reportedly the last Yankees player to make the hotel his in-season residence during the 1960s and early 1970s.