Draft Day Suit

Even Vikings fans have to find ways to be frugal in this economy.

[photo via Deadspin]

I don’t follow professional golf.  I don’t have any clue how to play golf, unless you count Putt-Putt…but even then, I rely on The Husband to keep score.  I don’t have any interest in golf at all.

I do, however, know who Tiger Woods is.  Is there anyone in this country who does not?  He’s easily one of the most recognizable faces ever.  So even if I don’t know the difference between a birdie and an eagle, I do know Tiger Woods is a golfer, and a very good one at that.

A few moments ago, I saw a tweet on Twitter that said something about Tiger Woods.  I opened up CNN.com to take a look.  And yes.  The breaking news screams that Tiger has been seriously injured in a car crash.

I was immediately concerned and checked all my news sites to see if there was additional information…but why do I care?  If it were some other athlete that I do not follow, I’d feel bad but would move on.  After all, I really don’t follow Tiger’s career and I certainly don’t know him.

Maybe it is because he is younger than I am, and I often marvel at his accomplishments at such a young age.  He is one of America’s icons, and I cheer heartily for his success whenever I flip past a golf tournament on TV (unless The Husband informs me Tiger isn’t playing).  He seems like a good guy, one who practices hard and wins big.

So even though I don’t know anything about golf, I recognize Tiger Woods.  I wish him a speedy recovery.

Coaches yelling at their players is nothing new. Hearing a TV announcer apologize for what “accidently made it on the air”  may become more common if the sidelines continue to be wired for sound.   Such was the case tonight during the Broncos Vs Giants game.  We didn’t even catch the incident as it was happening. Probably due to the L- tryptophan effect, so we  had to rewind our DVR to figure out what had transpired. As we hunted for the frames  depicting McDaniels’  meltdown my husband was fairly confident the head coach was telling his team not to have another false start.  Um no. It seems that Josh McDaniels singlehandedly  decreased the 7 Words You Can Never Say On Television to 6.  He didn’t say “Don’t have another false start during the game.” He said, “We’re just trying to win a motherfucking game.”   George Carlin is clapping his hands gleefully from The Great Beyond. I just know it.

Now this brings up an interesting point, should there be microphones on the sidelines and on the field?  I’m not convinced they belong.  But then again, I’m the type who leaps to turn off the TV  after the superbowl because I hate seeing the after effects of the loss.   Look, I grew up with Rosey Grier  singing about it being alright to cry. And it is.  But the cameras rolling on those big tough guys bent over on their bench boo-hooing  makes me feel like I am invading their privacy.   I just can’t watch.  And tonight, the replay of   Josh McDaniels losing  his shit, felt like eavesdropping.  I actually regret the replay in our very own living room.

So do you think we need to intercept every conversation or just let the play stand, silently,on the field ?

Okay, you’ve seen Part 1, which showed us what everyone already knows – that Tropicana Field sucks – and ranked the ballparks in the order I’d like to see them from #29 all the way up to #6.  The list, again, doesn’t include Comerica Park, nor does it include wherever the Twins would play.  An astute observer would’ve noticed that I listed Busch Stadium twice – at #16 and #13.  Maybe it’s just that good, I don’t know.  I think, however, that placing it at #13 was an error, and it’s rightful spot is between PNC Park and Nationals Park. 

Which brings us to the top five.  We’ve got two oldies, two newbies and the ballpark that laid the groundwork for almost all the ballparks that have followed it.

5.  Citizen’s Bank Park – The home of the reigning two-time National League Pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies, this park, to me, is downright beautiful.  It has a two-tierred bullpen, three decks in right field and two decks in left.  The lighted Liberty Bell and rooftop seating in centerfield that leaves no doubt about a Phillie home run.  And finally, cheesesteaks in Ashburn Alley.  Where do I sign up?

4.  Miller Park – When this park first opened in 2001 I didn’t like it very much at all.  It seemed like a big bowl and nothing more.  However, as time went on, Miller Park grew on me.  Bernie the Brewer still has his slide, although I’m pretty sure he doesn’t end up in a giant stein of beer like he did at County Stadium.  There are enormous windows that give the park a massive, imposing presence.  There are $1 seats with an obstructed view thanks to the mechanism of the incredible fanning roof.  This, in my opinion, is how stadiums like this should be built.

3.  Camden Yards – Can you believe this park has been open for 17 years?  Yeah, me neither.  I remember how everybody absolutely fell in love with Camden Yards when it first opened, with its classic style and charming atmosphere.  The outfield with its asymmeetrical walls and high porch in right field combined with the use of the B&O Warehouse brings to life for me the days when ballparks were shoe-horned into city lots in any way possible.  Camden Yards is the park that every new park since has tried to be and for that, I’ve placed Camden Yards at the top of the modern ballparks and third overall.

2.  Wrigley Field – I have no doubt that Wrigley Field is a barn.  Old Yankee Stadium was a barn, and I get the feeling that Wrigley would be the same, if not worse.  That doesn’t take away any of my desire to see it, though.  It’s 100 years of misery and goat stories and Steve Bartman and ivy on the walls and the epic manual scoreboard that calls my name.  It’s Tiger Stadium again but alive and unique.  It’s the place where Babe Ruth allegedly called his shot.  I want to sit on a roof outside the park then go down to Waveland Avenue and fight for home run balls the day after I watch a game from inside the park.  It’s 1060 West Addison – Elwood Blues’ published address with the Illinois DMV.  Wrigley Field may be at the top of the vacation list for the summer of 2010.

And if you haven’t figured it out already, #1 with a bullet…

image courtesy of ballparksofbaseball.com

 After visiting Yankee Stadium in the summer of 2008, there was no doubt that the next ballpark I’d like to cross of my list was Fenway Park.  I knew why, but here, now, I don’t really know how to put my reasoning into words.  While I thought about how I was going to describe what I love about Fenway, I got chills thinking of seeing the Green Monster, which is arguably the most recognizable feature of any stadium in sports.  I imagined myself and 34,000 of my closest friends singing Sweet Caroline.  Ted Williams played here.  Johnny Pesky gave us the foul pole in right that let us all think we could hit a ball out of a major league ballpark.  There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t want to be at Fenway Park.  Even today, although it’s probably cold and rainy in Boston right now.  Still, take me there.

So tell me, what’s your favorite?