4thGenJim

It happens. Fans are waiting in a designated area for autographs and a Major League player ignores them and just keeps walking.   There's nothing wrong with that.   But, the situation changes when a star player has a teammate announce, "Hoz won't be signing today,"  and casually walks with other players "shielding" him from 20 slightly bewildered fans (who are standing behind a tall fence).   That's what it's like to get Big Leagued.   The player is aware that fans are a big part of the Major League experience & Major League paychecks.   Fans buy tickets to games. Fans demand games on TV. Fans buy team & player merchandise.   But, the player can't possibly sign for each & every fan at every turn.   Some fan-friendly advice: Don't Big League your own Fans. You're a Major League Baseball player. We get it. You can gold-plate your SUV &...

Autozone Park is the downtown home of the Memphis Redbirds. Recently, Baseball America voted the park as the best in the Minor Leagues. Tonight was a big game! Game 4 of the Pacific Coast League's  American Conference Championship Omaha Storm Chasers vs Memphis Redbirds   Omaha was leading the best-of-five series, 2 to 1 It's a Royals vs Cardinals, Triple-A showdown! There was no need for a shuttle van-  we stayed right across the street from the stadium!   The ballpark is located right in the middle of Downtown Memphis. (only a few blocks from Beale Street) It features a nice, open plaza area with expansive views. Boo : *All of the 'boardwalk features' were closed (carnival-type skill games, rock climbing wall, kid's fun-ride) *The team store was empty, and closed early (nothing to add to DJ's foam finger collection) *No vendors selling anything in the stands (if you wanted anything...

It's the home of the Chicago White Sox! We were overtly cheering for the visiting Kansas City Royals! Thanks to Mike Moustakas, the Royals got the lead early, and ended-up routing the home team! They have ivy in the outfield here, too. (Not sure what Cubs fans think about this 'tradition-borrowing' from the iconic ivy of Wrigley Field) They may have borrowed the ivy idea, but preserving an old shower stall in the concourse is probably going remain a US Cellular Field original. Davis' game ticket was for seat #8. (Moustakas wears #8) It was Greek heritage night at the ballpark. Davis got to meet Moose before the game, he signed a baseball, and then came back for a photo. Moose went 3 for 5 at the plate with 2 HRs. White Sox fans were giving Davis high-fives during the game. It was an awesome game experience! A ballpark review/critique/rant about US Cellular Field: 1. Give baseball fans Comiskey Park back. Yes...

Blue hooves? Really? The Cards play the Cubs next, let's hope they get re-did. Welcome to the jungle? Really? Clean it up, STL. Undercover concourse cop? Really? Unattended deep-fried Oreos in section 449, take action, Bro. A longhorn on display underneath the Gateway Arch? Really? Turn the 'hook 'em sign' upside down, and let's go grub on some tasty cheeseburgers. Photobombed by a fish? Really? Get your own blog, fishy.

A double milkshake! We were so excited about his behavior card  that we didn't look in his homework folder  -until this morning.  Inside, we saw his quarterly grade report! Davis made all O's !!!  ('O' is for Awesome!) ...and...yet another note from his teacher... Such a wonderful compliment! This makes us so very proud as parents! The note really defines Davis as a person. Davis goes to school with the goal of making good grades. But, he will put the needs of others above his own. Even if it's a kid that he doesn't know too well. Even if he knows the kid 'well, isn't a good kid' (as Davis would say). Everyone needs someone at times. We all work better as part of a team, and nobody gets left off of a team. And every team has a leader. Coaches, managers, trainers, and assistants are essential parts of a team as well. In the major leagues, teams often employ specialized 'exercise coordinators' (yes, the...

It was a long, hot season.  But, Davis made some new friends  and really improved his tee ball skills. The awards ceremony was a great way to finish-up the season! It's Davis' second trophy! "Rewarding participation is the same as congratulating a loser" "Kids have to learn what it means to win, and there can only be one winner" "Participation trophies are for wimpy kids that don't care about winning" "You shouldn't reward mediocrity" When I hear someone rail against participation awards/trophies it only makes me smile.  Yes, it's a participation award -everyone that was on a team got a trophy. However, it is a very well deserved trophy. It takes something special to get out and play a team sport when it's so very tempting to stay indoors and be comfortable. There will always be these types of awards. When teams win, awards happen [or, in the case of T-Ball, simply playing the ga...

The first game of the 2009 season at Baum Stadium! (free parking, standing is allowed only where permitted, no outside non-alcoholic drinks. go hogs) (true- you're allowed to bring-in all the un-opened containers of brewski that you desire [thru the hog pen gate], but one half-empty extra grande sized ice coffee can be trouble. go hogs) (anytime a person implies something that would cause Mr F.Broyles to frown, end the statement with "go hogs" -and all is well) Davis parks his Razorback Mini-Hummer and heads to his luxury sky box. (he can dream right?) Front row on the outfield berm (he even received a special exemption to the 'No Standing' policy) The Diamond Hogs had their bats ready. (nothing too stealthy about the PING of an aluminium bat smashing a 90mph fastball) The Little Boy had his snacks ready. (confession: the smuggled-in [go hogs] McDonald's ice coffee [background, right side] belongs to Daddy, he figured ri...