She's my Rushmore, Max...

Now THAT'S a dramatic ending

2009-06-13T02:52:00.003-04:00

On tonight's Yankees/Mets game:

Of course I'm Batman

2009-06-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

"This is for Jersey"

2009-05-22T19:01:00.008-04:00

"This is for Jersey," he yelled, prompting a cheer from the sellout crowd, as the goosebump-inducing violin intro to "Jungleland" began. I had my fingers crossed, but I didn't actually think I'd get to hear it. Damn, was it amazing.

Thanks Bruce and ESB for putting on one hell of a show last night. Amazing. Here are a pair of blurry camera phone pix - The Big Man soloing during Jungleland and Bruce just doing his thing on the side of the stage.

Word to your mother

2009-05-11T15:24:00.004-04:00

Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher celebrate Damon's HR during yesterday's Mother's Day game.

If these two don't crack you up, then you're clearly taking the Yankees' ~~disappointing~~ ~~sucky~~ typical April start too seriously. Also, check out http://voteswisher.com to get the awesomeness that is Nick Swisher into the All-Star Game.

Not my father's Star Trek indeed

2009-05-10T00:41:00.005-04:00

I have a half written really well-thought out review of Star Trek in the wings but really, it's much better just summed up by this portion of an AIM chat:

Yeah.

Swishing through the city center

2009-04-21T22:54:00.003-04:00

Nick Swisher is quickly becoming one of my favorite new Yankees, mainly because every time a reporter speaks to him, it's comedy gold. His latest bon mot? In an ESPN feature about Daniel Murphy of the Mets and our own Brett Gardner, Swisher says that Gardner is "the fastest white dude [he'd] ever seen."

Also, I really want him to use "The Swish" as his at-bat music because, seriously, how perfect would that be?

Score one for the good guys

2009-04-15T22:30:00.002-04:00

I know I don't have any readership so to speak, but nevertheless, I just want to put it out there that Vagrant Records has some awesome customer service. After finding out that there were a bunch of defective copies of The Hold Steady's live album "A Positive Rage" floating around out there, they reached out to the fans directly on the band's message board and offered to replace the CDs, no hassle.

Good on ya, Vagrant.

Happiness and Sadness in Screencaps

2009-04-12T22:34:00.006-04:00

Happy:

The Hold Steady are playing 4 sold out shows in NYC/Brooklyn and I have tickets to one of 'em.

Sad:
People are searching for something that doesn't exist but in a fair and just world, WOULD still exist. There is no season 4 of Veronica Mars because network executives are mean, cruel people who want to destroy everything I love. See also Arrested Development.

Good Ol' Crazy Carl

2009-04-09T16:14:00.004-04:00

Right now, Carl Pavano's ERA is 81.00. That is not a typo, but rather, what happens when you give up 9 runs and can't even get out of the 2nd inning in your very first start of the season. Schadenfreude at its finest.

Please be untrue

2009-04-08T18:15:00.004-04:00

http://www.buzznet.com/musicnews/blink-182-taking-weezer-summer-j3953391/

I do not, do not want Weezer to tour with Blink 182. Whoever thought this up is quite mistaken in the belief that there is a large overlap between the bands' fanbases.

Here's an idea. How about Weezer goes on tour with No Doubt and Blink 182 can have Paramore? That would make my concert-going summer infinitely more entertaining...

Happy Baseball!

2009-04-05T20:17:00.004-04:00

For at least a few more hours, everyone's undefeated. No one's in a slump. And it's all about hope for the coming season.

Happy Opening Day, all.

How a resurrection really feels

2009-03-31T20:18:00.004-04:00

Well, kind of sore. Hoarse of voice and with a bit of ringing in my ears. But good. Soooooo good. I hate to be redundant but, man, The Hold Steady are nothing if not the disciples of The Boss when it comes to the redemptive powers of good ol' fashioned rock and roll. And Craig Finn and I wear the same shoes. Because we're both so damn awesome.

Also awesome? When Craig shouted "We'll see you in June" before he walked offstage. Because The Hold Steady is coming back to NYC on June 8th. Oh hell yes.

Oh, and I'm totally getting this tattooed somewhere on my body.

Being poor is lame

2009-03-25T22:31:00.005-04:00

Fuck you, new Yankee Stadium ticket prices. Since I wasn't lucky enough to win a spot in the presale lottery and happened to be working during the general public on-sale, all that appears to be left are $900 tickets and seats obstructed by the foul poles. If I want to see the Yankees this season, it looks like I'll be doing it from the couch. Or Citi Field. They do have a Shake Shack there...

Sigh. For less than the cost of one of those tickets, I could take a nice weekend trip up to Toronto and see the Yanks play the Blue Jays. Or go to Baltimore.

And I promise you I will treat you well my sweet angel...

2009-03-22T23:00:00.003-04:00

I was browsing the Stone Pony's website for some info on the recently added Gaslight Anthem show when I found out that Toadies are apparently still together and touring - and appearing at said venue on May 24. If they aren't a blast from the one-hit-wonder past, I don't know who is.

All these years later, and I still don't think anyone knows what "Possum Kingdom" is about...

Music makes the scene

2009-03-16T18:27:00.002-04:00

I came away from Watchmen with 2 things:

I want to dress up as Silk Spectre I for Halloween.
The music supervisor referred to a list of "10 Overused Movie Tunes" instead of actually, I don't know, finding interesting and/or appropriate songs to use.

Those thoughts - expanded - and more to come.

Ricky Bobby, you taste of America

2009-03-11T23:02:00.003-04:00

The hand that types these letters high-fived the one and only Stephen Colbert yesterday. It felt, as you might imagine, like freedom.

On my train ride home from the city, I alternately dozed off and listened to The Hold Steady's cover of the Bob Dylan tune "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" I love when bands find songs to cover that fit their personality and sound so well, and this song fit the bill 100%.

Tragically Un-Hip

2009-03-07T01:28:00.005-05:00

From a post by Tyler Kepner on the New York Times' Bats Blog:

Other infielders had hip issues that were addressed this winter, including Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell and Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.

Sorry, A-Rod. You can injure yourself in a manner similar to that of Chase Utley, but it doesn't mean I'm going to have a crush on you.

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side

2009-03-02T23:28:00.005-05:00

This picture from an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair frightens me a little bit. Don't get me wrong, it's incredibly hot, but I can't help but worry that someone is actually tapped into my brain, stealing my fantasies. I have secrets in there! Very damning stuff! Is there a firewall I can get to prevent unwanted intrusions into my brain? Ack!

Beating the scalpers at their own game?

2009-02-28T19:45:00.008-05:00

I'm making good on my concert-going promise, and adding No Doubt to my roster of shows in the coming months. To be honest, the original intention of the resolution was to see more inexpensive shows in the city and check out some new bands, but I can't resist the nostalgic allure of Gwen Stefani and company.

I am intrigued by their ticket-selling model (and a little surprised by their $80 top ticket price). Instead of offering a standard mailing list pre-sale replete with password easily stolen by scalpers, ND's pre-sale is a bit more complex. Here's a direct quote from their website:

You can now validate your email address to be eligible to join the No Doubt Tour Club to get the best seats in the house for the upcoming 2009 Summer Tour featuring special guest Paramore. For a $15 per show membership fee (charged at the time of purchase), Tour Club members will receive the following...
GUARANTEED access to purchase up to 4 prime tickets (limited number of memberships per city!)
Tickets printed on custom designed commemorative No Doubt Tour Club ticket stock with club member name printed on each ticket
Exclusive No Doubt Logo Sticker
Exclusive No Doubt Tour Club Magnet
Exclusive No Doubt Tour Club Iron-On
Access to No Doubt Tour Club web page with exclusive photos and tour updates

The final scalper-beating measure requires that all Tour Club purchases be picked up at Will Call. In an article from the LA Times, No Doubt's tour manager admitted that he hatched the idea from hearing about how Bruce Springsteen held tickets for the first 10 rows at Will Call only - theoretically circumventing scalpers ability to keep the best tickets away from the biggest fans. Of course, Will Call or not, scalpers are still going to get their hands on these tickets, and such a model won't work for the entirety of a large venue (reportedly it's about 1,500 tickets per venue).

It's an interesting idea, and any initiative to put the best tickets in the hands of the people who really want them is something I wholeheartedly support. If you're not interested in paying top dollar for what's sure to be a fun summer concert, there looks to be $10 lawn seats for sale at many venues as well, so it looks like everyone should end up happy. Except for the scalpers, of course. And that's exactly the goal.

A lunch well spent

2009-02-27T00:17:00.002-05:00

Some days, you just need to spend your lunch hour taking a trip to H&M and buying $12 worth of metal bangles.

Today was one of those days.

But why are the tickets so BIG?

2009-02-25T15:31:00.004-05:00

So these

arrived the other day, which, yay. But can we take a minute to address the fact that they seem to be unnecessarily oversized? Here's a standard ~~demon spawn~~ Ticketmaster ticket for comparison:

That's a pretty big size difference. Maybe they're just trying to justify the service charge that amounts to 40% of the ticket price (Live Nation - now with more ticket for your money!), but how am I supposed to fit that in a pocket or teeny little clutch? I mean, there's just no room for a purse when you're rocking out at a GA show, and I like to keep my ticket stubs in good condition for my box of keepsake awesomeness. Oh well. Doesn't make me any less excited for the show!

Oh oh, look what you've done

2009-02-24T20:50:00.005-05:00

So far, 2009 has been better than 2008. The fact that I'm watching something on Def Leppard on VH1 Classic that might be the highlight of my week - and it hasn't been a bad week - should give you an indication of just how bad 2008 was.

And for good measure, let's throw this in:

Oh yeah.

Spring Training: Part IV

2009-02-20T13:56:00.004-05:00

The soft focus only serves to further enhance the idea that CC is intended to have a divine influence on the rotation...

[Photo Day, same old sources...]

Spring Training: Part III

2009-02-19T22:53:00.005-05:00

TINO!!

[Photos from Yahoo! Sp... oh, you know the drill]

I made it happen!

2009-02-18T01:02:00.006-05:00

About two and a half weeks ago, my Facebook status was this:

Lo and behold, The Hold Steady are playing a show to celebrate the first anniversary of radio station 101.9 RXP on March 30 at Irving Plaza. I'm not saying it was my doing or anything but HOLY CRAP AM I EXCITED. Now I just hope I can get tickets...

Spring Training: Part II

2009-02-15T22:48:00.003-05:00

Man oh man, is Spring Training ever here.

[Yahoo! Sports has the photo galleries that makes me happy]

It's here!

2009-02-13T20:53:00.004-05:00

Happy Spring Training!

[photo from the AP via Yahoo! Sports]

I made all of the ladies in the area pregnant

2009-02-03T14:32:00.005-05:00

As noted on many corners of the internet yesterday, Bruce Springsteen pretty much broke Ticketmaster (not until after I got a few GA floor seats for the Meadowlands, though!). He broke it so thoroughly, in fact, that I was concerned I wouldn't be able to get tickets to Flight of the Conchords. It seems my fears were misplaced, however, as I managed to snare a pair of pretty good seats. The description said "ORCH," so I just assumed they were decent lower level seats, paid for them and proceeded to get sick (unrelated to the ticket-buying process).

When I was finally able to go back and pull up a real seating chart, I couldn't find my seats. It wasn't until after I did a bit of digging that I discovered that the tickets were actually in the ORCHESTRA PIT. Holy close seats, Batman!

And oddly enough, my position in relation to the stage is almost identical to when I saw the Conchords last May - 3rd row left center. So excited!

Hee!

2009-02-02T23:06:00.003-05:00

It's the look on his face afterwards, the "heh heh, holy crap.... whoops!" that really sells it.

When Scooter and the Big Man bust the city in half

2009-02-01T23:44:00.004-05:00

I want this on a shirt or a canvas or poster or sticker or something. That, my friends, is the heart of the E Street Band. Love it.

And that was one hell of a halftime show.

Only 30 days late!

2009-01-31T15:12:00.002-05:00

It's about a month late, but I've decided on a New Year's Resolution: More live music. If I have to drag friends - with whom I share little to no musical interests - kicking and screaming to shows, so be it. They will be rocked.

I think I'm in love

2009-01-30T17:06:00.003-05:00

Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem covers "Backstreets"

It's Business Time!

2009-01-18T22:40:00.001-05:00

My life is so much better with new episodes of Flight of the Conchords in it.

Yeah, I'll admit it.

2009-01-07T20:54:00.003-05:00

Sure, I'm excited about Teixeira. But dammit, I'm gonna miss him:

May your mustache grow to incredible lengths (figuratively, of course) in Oakland, Jason.

I got a lotta old friends that are getting back in touch...

2009-01-02T19:58:00.004-05:00

I think 2009 is going to rock. I have no concrete proof of this. Just a hunch. But it's a good hunch, ya know?

Um, whoa

2008-12-23T17:30:00.004-05:00

Brian Cashman is so fucking stealth:

Yanks land Teixeira with eight year deal/MLB.com

The change was made uptown and the Big Man (and his scrawny buddy) joined the band

2008-12-18T18:11:00.000-05:00

Hello there, boys. Lookin' good in those pinstripes.

As is evident from the picture, CC and A.J. had their big press conference at the (old, *sniff*) Stadium today. Both said all the right things, and Burnett has begun the process of winning me over by being frank about his history of injuries and getting in a dig at former teammate Carl Pavano. Hey, someone's gotta say it now that Moose is.... aw, that makes me sad to write.

Anyway, neither guy has managed to get hurt or attack a cameraman yet. So far so good.

And now that this is all official, I have to ask, can we show a little love to Chien-Ming Wang? With all the talk of the "1-2 punch" that Sabathia and Burnett comprise, have we already relegated Wang to the number three starter in the rotation? Certainly some consideration has to be given to making him number two, no?

Brian Cashman knows something I don't.

2008-12-12T23:20:00.003-05:00

Brian Cashman knows something I don't. Brian Cashman knows something I don't. Brian Cashman knows something I don't.

That's what I'm going to keep telling myself. Because I can't find a reason otherwise for him to offer a mammoth 5 year/$82.5 million contract to injury-prone A.J. Burnett. High risk, high reward? We can only hope. The last thing we need is Carl Pavano 2.0. But I'm afraid that's what we got.

Dammit, I miss Mike Mussina already.

Facebook's ads need some work

2008-12-12T02:33:00.006-05:00

Ads I saw while looking at my FB profile yesterday:

So not only am I being advertised dating services for two religions - neither of which I have any interest in - but I'm being baited with THE SAME GUY. It seems that even the religious types will lie to get into your pants.

Things that make me want to punch people

2008-12-09T23:59:00.003-05:00

The fact that Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez is headed to the Mets and his jackass celebration every time he notches a save is now going to be on the New York nightly news more frequently than when the Yankees play the Angels.
The Yankees apparent continued pursuit of A.J. Burnett. Pavano 2.0, guys. Pavano 2.0.

"Hey, we got Cy Young winners over here!"

2008-12-08T23:06:00.005-05:00

Greg Maddux announced his retirement today, which a friend and I agreed makes us feel old. Congrats to him on an incredible career, and like Mussina, it's good to see him go out on his own terms.* It also gives me an excuse to post this old-school Nike commercial which I always found amusing.

Does Nike even make commercials like this anymore? Ah well. See ya in Cooperstown, Mad Dog.

*Speaking of which, having the two of them on the same HOF ballot makes Moose a lot less likely to get in on his first shot.

Baby, you're my lucky day

2008-12-02T13:05:00.002-05:00

I'm seriously in love with the latest track released from Bruce's upcoming album, My Lucky Day. I had a credit for Amazon's MP3 store, so the fact that it was free made it even better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T10:41:00.002-05:00

This year, I'm thankful for friends, family and a job. Also for Jason Giambi's mustache, Bruce Springsteen's increased musical output of late, Moose's 20 win season, frozen potstickers, Chuck, beating the boys at Guitar Hero and the bourbon-spiked pumpkin cheesecake currently sitting in the fridge.

Enjoy your turkey today!

How not to win customers

2008-11-24T16:54:00.002-05:00

I don't understand how ANY company can see Frank Caliendo - of the unceasing ads for his incredibly unfunny show FrankTV - and think, "Hey, people don't see enough of this dude and he'll TOTALLY help sell our product."

Even if DirecTV wasn't superbly inferior to cable, the fact that they put him in their commercials would be reason enough for me never to switch.

The gift of not being digested by a bear

2008-11-24T00:44:00.004-05:00

Truly, Stephen Colbert, your Christmas special is the greatest gift of all. And perhaps if you made out with Jon Stewart under the mistletoe it would've been even greater, were that even possible.

Also, I heart Elvis Costello. Seriously.

Call off the Moose hunt

2008-11-20T21:26:00.003-05:00

Above: A mother-effing collector's item

Well, we knew it was coming but that doesn't make it any less disappointing. Mike Mussina has officially retired, and damn if he didn't go out as high as he could (personally, anyway). Thanks for everything, Moose. The Yankee clubhouse will be a much less sarcastic place without you, and your awesome shirts from 80s Tees will be missed.

It's official

2008-11-17T12:25:00.003-05:00

From BruceSpringsteen.net:

Bruce Springsteen's new album "Working on a Dream" has been set for a January 27 release on Columbia Records. "Working on a Dream" was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album.

"Working on a Dream" Song Titles:

1. Outlaw Pete
2. My Lucky Day
3. Working on a Dream
4. Queen of the Supermarket
5. What Love Can Do
6. This Life
7. Good Eye
8. Tomorrow Never Knows
9. Life Itself
10. Kingdom of Days
11. Surprise, Surprise
12. The Last Carnival

Bonus tracks:
The Wrestler
A Night with the Jersey Devil

Ohhhhhh yeah.

Note to Self

2008-11-14T01:49:00.003-05:00

Black and red plaid Chucks are NOT broken in enough to comfortably make the trek to the Daily Show's studios out in the middle of nowhere on the West Side.

Do NOT pass go

2008-11-12T21:35:00.005-05:00

Monopoly is being turned into a Riddley Scott Movie [EW.com]

Monopoly the movie? Been there, done that, won me a spot in the Film Production I end-of-the-year showcase in '05. I want royalties, Ridley Scott!

Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in

2008-11-09T12:55:00.003-05:00

Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo

PURIFICATION OF WATER! PURIFICATION OF WATER! PURIFICATION OF WATER!

*collapses*

Nerd Alert!

2008-11-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

Pop quiz, hotshot. I am:

A. Kind of awesome

B. Kind of a nerd

C. So happy that I have a job that's starting soon that I've been delving into the world of random crafts I would otherwise have no interest in

D. All of the above

Obviously, D, which is why I've been working on this. It would probably be done by now if I hadn't run out of black thread.

Also, Mike Mussina nabbed a Gold Glove today. That looks to be the sum total of offseason prizes the Yankees are going to score, unless you count CC Sabathia and Mark Texeiera...

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T21:43:00.001-04:00

Hi ho, Kermit the Jack-o-Lantern here!

MVP indeed...

2008-10-29T22:47:00.004-04:00

Congrats to the Phillies on finally getting that championship drought monkey off their city's back. And congrats to Cole Hamels for being a stud in more than one sense of the word...

Well, at least it's not Scientology

2008-10-29T18:13:00.007-04:00

Derek Jeter has mastered the art of talking without ever actually saying anything, as evidenced by this recent interview on SI.com. Even so, he still manages to get in an amusing quip here and there:

SI.com: Before we wrap up, as a Yankees fan, can I make one request of you this offseason?
Jeter: OK.
SI.com: Can you promise me and all Yankees fans that you won't start studying Kabbalah?
Jeter: (Laughing) Don't start with me about Kabbalah. I went to Catholic school.

If this were that SNL sketch with Seth Myers and Alec Baldwin slinging insults at each other, Derek would turn to A-Rod and go, "Ooooh ya BUUUUUURRRRRRRRRN!" Then A-Rod would start crying.

And when we kiss, fire

2008-10-25T11:14:00.002-04:00

I love this song.

That is all.

As always, Tim McCarver makes complete sense [/sarcasm]

2008-10-24T15:56:00.004-04:00

In the top of the 9th inning of last night's World Series game, Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch. It grazed his jersey, and as that does constitute getting hit by a pitch, he should've been awarded first base. Alas, he was not, and our... ahem, esteemed broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver replayed the pitch in question.

Upon said review, Tim McCarver remarked, "Not even close!" Ostensibly he was referring to the ump's incorrect call, but... well, that doesn't really seem like the right phrase to use when describing a pitch that actually DID hit a batter.

So... bendy

2008-10-10T00:08:00.003-04:00

Man, does that look unnatural or what? Gotta love a boy who's flexible (and wins the opening game of the series)...

2008-10-09T14:26:00.002-04:00

Ebay is a smelly pirate hooker. That is the only explanation for why I lost the auction for something I REALLY REALLY REALLY NEEDED TO HAVE. FUCK!

Ok, outburst over. Now back to your regularly scheduled baseball and pop-cult discourse.

Welcome to Bizarro Baseball World

2008-10-02T16:25:00.002-04:00

Things I never thought I would see:

A discussion of the "If the ball hits the catwalk" rules at Tropicana Field during the playoffs.

Mooooooooose!

2008-09-28T18:01:00.005-04:00

Congratulations on finally nailing down that 20th win, Mike. Now I can go wash the smelly shirt I wore out of superstition for your last 3 victories.

Seriously, it smells.

Some day we'll find it...

2008-09-25T17:20:00.004-04:00

Disney Prepares to Use Its Marketing Magic to Bring Back the Muppets/NY Times

This article about Disney's latest attempt to re-popularize the Muppets was in the New York Times this past Sunday, but it went under the radar thanks to that whole Yankee Stadium closing thing. I've always loved the work of Jim Henson and long considered him an inspiration. My elementary school library had a biography of Jim Henson, which I borrowed so frequently that I can vividly remember the book's opening, a description of Henson's memorial service in New York City attended by Muppet-tie-wearing businessmen and Big Bird himself.

I know that the Muppets have attempted a few comebacks in the past that never really took off (which, disappointing), and I thought the article was interesting, even if I was somewhat put off by the amount of corporate-speak it contained. But the really alarming thing?

And because the Muppets have been without a regular television gig for more than a decade, many children and younger teenagers don't know them.

Ms. Breier said recent focus groups indicated that some children could not even identify Kermit and Miss Piggy, much less ancillary characters like Fozzie Bear and Gonzo the Great.

Ugh, really? This makes me sad. I blame Disney's new puppets, Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers.

Johnny Damon and his penchant for breaking bats

2008-09-22T19:57:00.004-04:00

If you've listened to Yankees broadcasts this season, you know that Michael Kay is fascinated by the number of bats that Johnny Damon breaks. Such fascination has caused him to utter such bon mots as "I wonder what would happen if Johnny Damon faced Mariano Rivera? You know, they both break so many bats..." (Uh, Michael? You may want to peruse this page.)

Anyway, in one of the many articles I read about what the Hall of Fame was taking from last night's game, Damon said he was donating the bat he used to smack what I'm sure he hoped would be the last home run hit in Yankee Stadium. Alas, that honor would go to Jose Molina - who's donating his spikes - and with regard to the bat Damon used?

[Johnny Damon] borrowed one from outfielder Xavier Nady because, as Damon told [Hall of Fame President Jeff] Idelson, "mine are all broken."

Damon has been breaking bats at a record clip this year, so the bat on display from the home run will bear the name of another player.

"Xavier got a chuckle over that," Idelson said.

Heh heh. So did I.

And THAT'S why you always wear a fitted hat

2008-09-21T10:40:00.001-04:00

The day has come - and I agree with those who say it was too soon - for Yankee Stadium to hold its last game.

So much has been made about saying goodbye to the Stadium and all the memorable moments that have occurred within its walls, and of course I feel obligated to add my own most memorable moment, having seen my share of games there. Ultimately, it won't be seeing everyone's favorite mid-season callup Shelley Duncan hit two home runs*, or the Yanks-Sox game started by Joba and ended by Brett Gardner with a walk-off single, or sitting in the Stadium with a seemingly never-ending rain delay in effect the night before I took the SATs**. Admittedly, it's a bit more mundane than those.

It was September 2000, and I had arrived home from my first day of school to see my dad's car in the driveway. As far as I knew, he hadn't planned on taking a half day, and I was worried something might be wrong. Imagine my surprise when my sister greeted me at the door with Yankees tickets - we were going to the game that night. I quickly got changed and we headed out, keeping our fingers crossed for minimal traffic on our trek from North Jersey to the Bronx. On our previous trip to the Stadium, we sat on the George Washington Bridge for an hour and were hoping for a better result this time.

We remarkably arrived at the Stadium before game time, and made our way to the seats behind the Yankees dugout, where an usher diligently checked tickets and a waiter gave us the opportunity to overpay for chicken fingers delivered to our seats. Said seats were a far cry from the upper tier we found ourselves in the past few times we visited the stadium. My sister leaned over to me, barely able to control herself.

"Look who's sitting in front of us, two rows up."

The backs of the heads that I was staring at didn't immediately look familiar. But then it hit me.

"Oh my god," I whisper-shrieked to my sister. "Derek Jeter's parents. That's so cool!"

Perhaps this is not that exciting to you. But at 12 and 15 years old, my sister and I were, to steal a line from Bruce Springsteen, so young and in love with Derek, decorating our lockers at school with pictures of the Yankee shortstop (along with a few of his teammates) and swooning every time he came to bat.

There was a lot to cheer about during that game. A strong performance from El Duque and offense entirely provided by home runs from the heart of the order - Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, and Tino Martinez. Eventual domination by Mariano Rivera. But first...

About halfway through the game, a player on the Twins fouled a ball back, a pop up that was coming right towards us. The crowd surged around us, people literally coming out of the woodwork, hands reached up to the sky, hips ready to box out anyone who might come between them and their little horsehide treasure. My dad held out his baseball cap and we watched the ball fall into the hat...

...with such force that it caused the adjustable plastic band in the back to open up and let the ball bounce out and roll under the seats in front of us. Despite a last ditch effort on my sister's part, the ball was grabbed by someone in the row in front of us as we all stared at the hat in disbelief. As did Dr. Jeter.

"What happened?" he asked my dad. My sister and I gave each other OH MY GOD looks.

"Geez," said my dad. "You know, I had it! It just..." and he gestured to the back of the hat. He was still in shock.

"That's too bad. Think you need a new hat," Dr. Jeter said with a kind smile, and turned around and returned to the game.

"Wow," said my dad to no one in particular.

A month later for his birthday, dad got a nice fitted Yankees cap. The foul ball, however, remains elusive, no matter how many games we attend...

*I know he didn't even hit .200 this season, but what can I say, I've got a soft spot for the big lug.
**Maybe if the Yankees actually won that game. Although I did ace the verbal section of the test anyway. And yes, I suppose in a way that these footnotes are a tribute to the late David Foster Wallace.

Pick a Ticket

2008-09-08T11:46:00.002-04:00

My friends are counting on me to use my ticket mojo to grab some good seats for the Phillies game this weekend. And I know that Comcast Tickets has drops day of game (which I proved earlier by pulling up a pair of primo seats for tonight's game against the Marlins), but do I risk getting completely shut out of the game by waiting until Friday? Or should I go ahead and buy some less good, but slightly overpriced tickets off StubHub?

Dilemmas, dilemmas...

LOLGarza

2008-09-03T19:01:00.002-04:00

Matt Garza reacts after giving up a monster home run to Xavier Nady in last night's Yankees-Rays game.

Stumbling

2008-09-01T18:26:00.000-04:00

Above: It is physically impossible to get Dippin' Dots at the stadium sans helmet.

On my way into Yankee Stadium yesterday, I tripped, fell, and stubbed my toe badly. The ticket-taker - or ticket-scanner, I suppose - immediately helped me up and asked if I was okay, which, other than my pride, I was. A scraped hand, a bruised knee, a slightly bloody toe - all minor injuries, and I enjoyed the game well enough after I limped to my seat. Heavy handedness aside, what a metaphor for the Yankees' season. Stumbling, stumbling, stumbling, and limping across the finish line. Another pitching prospect unable to get a win. Stranding runners in scoring position like it's going out of style. Our opening day starting pitcher, DH and catcher all spending significant time on the DL.

All that being said, barring a miracle comeback, this season seems to have been about the little victories. Watching Moose be surprisingly dominant after a horrid season and seeing him win on my birthday. Seeing Giambi sport the epitome of a "so bad it's good" mustache. Being there for a walk-off win against the Red Sox. Watching Joba's - albeit brief - starting career. Despite the fact that the Yanks lost today (and the fact that my undefeated streak this year went bye bye), it was a gorgeous day and an enjoyable game. Some of the highlights:

A guy sitting two rows in front of me wore a Carl Pavano t-shirt. This made my dad and I laugh uncontrollably and I compared it to seeing a unicorn.
For the first time I can remember in all of my baseball-seeing days, I heard "Rosalita" played over the stadium PA. This made me practically giddy. The little things, people. The little things.
The 'Stache went yard! There were few offensive highlights, but this was a big one. I kind of want to write a fan letter to his mustache. He strikes me as the type of guy who'd be amused by it.
When Xavier Nady gets a hit, they put up a cool comic-book style X-MAN graphic. He wields baseball bats and sports superhero-style muscles. Because I am nothing if not 11 years old inside, I find this AWESOME. I didn't think to snap a picture of this and now I'm on the lookout for one.

The Mike Mussina Hall of Fame Page

2008-08-31T23:16:00.000-04:00

So I think this page is fascinating because, well, I love the Moose and agree that he should be headed to the Hall. But holy shit, the color changing hyperlinks are a MIND FUCK! Like, seriously. I start reading and then all I can do is stare at the colors changing.

I went to the game today. More on that later.

Getting yanked around

2008-08-30T17:07:00.005-04:00

You know that roller coaster at Great Adventure? The one with the super huge hill and then the majorly big drop and then all the less impressive bumps and hills and it's really long and then you get off and feel really dizzy and like you're going to puke and then you think why the hell did I go on this after I ate those chicken fingers and seriously am I really getting too old for roller coasters because I think I might be?

Pavano puzzles Jays as Yanks roll/Yankees.com

Cano error sets off Yanks' costly loss/Yankees.com

...yeah.

Sure, it may not be over until the fat lady sings, and she hasn't sang yet, but... she's in the wings. Let's hold her off, boys.

Sad Panda

2008-08-27T00:14:00.002-04:00

Can't handle my chronically underperforming baseball team or my chronically underperforming life. Ugh.

End of Days

2008-08-24T01:09:00.004-04:00

After hearing this quote during the Yankees post-game wrap -

It's amazing. This is what I get paid to do, this is what I live for. This is all I really want, to go out there every fifth day and do my job.

- I have to wonder. Where is the real Carl Pavano and who is inhabiting his body?

With Pavano at 1-0 on the season - and the apparent victim of a body-snatching alien - Apocalypse Threat Level: High.

...and I feel fine

2008-08-21T15:48:00.005-04:00

I've written before about signs of the apocalypse. But as dire as all of those were, somehow none seems more apocalyptic than this announcement from the Yankees.

This Saturday, the starting pitcher for the New York Yankees will be Carl Pavano.

If you have a bomb shelter, now would be a good time to make sure it's well-stocked with provisions.

More Office, Please!

2008-08-20T13:28:00.005-04:00

I'm a bit tired of NBC's overkill promotion for their new series My Own Worst Enemy. What I'm not tired of is the brilliant promo clips for The Office.

Michael on Beach Volleyball:

Jim invents a new Olympic sport:

Dwight and the Centathalon:

Brilliant!

Reservoir Bombers

2008-08-17T22:20:00.006-04:00

So I saw this picture from this afternoon's Yankees beatdown of the Royals...

...and immediately thought of this shot, which I couldn't find exactly and had to screencap

Let's see:

Jason Giambi is obviously Mr. Pink, the wisecracking loudmouth making inappropriate pop culture jokes and always good for a quote. Derek Jeter is Mr. White, the leader, the wise veteran. Bobby Abreu is Mr. Yellow, a brutal RBI assassin. And A-Rod? He's Mr. Orange. The guy everyone wants to like but, as it turns out, is playing for the other side. Cue "Little Green Bag" and imagine the Reservoir Dogs credits rolling...

Going for the Gold: Part IV

2008-08-16T23:21:00.004-04:00

I suppose that should really be Part 8. As in, 8 gold medals. Damn.

Congrats, Michael. And I thank you and your delectable physique for making this year's Olympics far more interesting than I anticipated.

Getting Back to Your Roots

2008-08-14T17:44:00.005-04:00

My blog, which I started in an attempt to collect my various pop-culture rants, has been a little light on the pop-culture lately, heavy instead on odes to the US Men's Olympic Swim Team and the chronicling of various voodoo rituals implemented in an effort to make the Yankees play better. To rectify that, 340 words devoted to The Hold Steady's excellent latest album, Stay Positive, which has been in heavy rotation on my iPod since purchasing it a few weeks ago.

Very little press about The Hold Steady goes by without evoking Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. To be compared to the Boss certainly seems to set up high expectations, but if Bruce came of age listening to The Replacements, The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle is going to sound a lot like Stay Positive. Craig Finn's vocals are slightly more... shoutey than Bruce's - certainly a punk influence - but the loners and losers who inhabit his songs are the same ones roaming the Jersey Shore in the 70s - kids who just want to get out, to be anywhere but here, to figure out what the hell they're supposed to do with their lives while they work dead end jobs. And come on, if you're putting a saxophone solo in a rock song today, you owe a pretty big debt to Bruce and the Big Man.

But there are plenty of Springsteen tribute bands out there, and that's not a job for which The Hold Steady is applying. Sure, their love of classic rock shines brightly through every song they play, but they just wants to rock at a time when good old straight ahead rock and roll with thoughtful lyrics and loud guitars seems to be falling off the radar in favor of god knows what. "Sequestered in Memphis," a tune about a one night stand and a murder investigation, is far catchier than its macabre subject matter might indicate. The title track roars in with a triumphant organ fill and a grounded but optimistic POV on the scene. The entire album is one relentless guitar onslaught crammed with riff after riff of music that makes you feel alive again.

The Hold Steady are big enough now to get a full review in Entertainment Weekly (the July 18th issue, if you're curious, and a ringing endorsement). I'm not sure what this says about them, that they're just a few issues removed from a review of the new Jonas Brothers album. Hopefully it's a good thing. After all, if they're following in the footsteps of their idols, it did take a few albums before the world as a whole picked up on the genius of Springsteen.

Going for the Gold: Part III

2008-08-13T15:45:00.003-04:00

I can has all three at once?

Ricky Berens, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps.

Go USA, indeed...

It's official, I love the Olympics...

New toy! New toy!

2008-08-12T19:22:00.006-04:00

Because running on the treadmill has caused me to nearly kill my iPod and nearly kill myself with my iPod, I opted to buy an iPod shuffle. Frankly, I think it's kind of awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I've spent the entire evening since returning from the mall clipping it to various parts of my t-shirt and jeans.

This just in: I am a massive tool.

Going for the Gold: Part II

2008-08-11T19:02:00.004-04:00

Oh my. I'll, uh, be in my room...

Going for the Gold

2008-08-11T13:36:00.004-04:00

Are the Olympics making anyone else feel lazy and underachieving? I mean, I feel lazy and underachieving on a daily basis, but this really seems to exacerbate the issue.

On the flip side, they're also, um, making me incredibly horny. What can I say, I dig the boys in the pool. And how could you not, after that performance that Michael Phelps and company put on to win the 4x100 free relay last night? Now if you'll excuse me, NBCOlympics.com has put up a gallery of delectable swimmer abs and... I think I need some time to myself.

The Moose gets no respect from FOX

2008-08-09T19:44:00.000-04:00

The less said about the Yankees' last two games about the Angels, the better. But I have to mention this:

If you frequent Yankees.com/MLB.com, you may have seen that fans voted Mike Mussina the Clutch Player* for the month of July. It's nice that Moose is getting recognized for having a great season when he was thought to be done at this time last year. Let's not forget that many people surmised that he would be booted out of the rotation for the eventual rise of Joba Chamberlain the starter.

FOX broadcaster Thom Brenneman was absolutely disgusted with this. "I guess a lot of Yankee fans voted," he remarked disparagingly during the Yankees/Angels game, as he brought up CC Sabathia's stats and dissed the baseball-loving public for voting for Moose instead of CC.

Look, I get it. Neither FOX nor ESPN has any respect for the Yankees, because every saga needs a villain. But at a time when the Yankees have been desperate for good pitching, Mussina has stepped up and filled that need. If that's not clutch, I don't know what is. And come on, dude, give it up. It's a silly little award voted on by fans. CC Sabathia is likely going to get a HUUUUGE free agent payday come this offseason, so I think it'll be a pretty good consolation prize for losing the July Clutch Player of the Month award.

And come on. Give the Moose (who's also pretty funny) some props. He deserves it.

*I refuse to mention the sponsorship inherent in the name of this award.

Xtina hearts the X-Man

2008-08-06T22:52:00.003-04:00

I really can't handle this right now, so instead let's talk about what a great acquisition Xavier Nady has been for the Yanks.

I was at the game on Sunday and he put on quite the show - going 4 for 5 including a home run with 6 RBI. Since becoming a Yankee, he's batting .382 with 7 extra base hits. As I type, YES is replaying his beauty of a diving catch from the bottom of the 6th in tonight's game. And because it can't be ignored: he looks fiiiine in pinstripes.

So kudos, Brian Cashman. It's still too early to say but this one has the potential to be up there with the David Justice and Bobby Abreu midseason acquisitions.

I'll take creative answers for $200, Alex

2008-08-05T19:10:00.003-04:00

The category on Jeopardy: Black & White

My sister, before seeing any of the answers: "Oooh! What is Derek Jeter!"

smacks forehead

2008-08-05T00:43:00.003-04:00

Joba leaves with stiff right shoulder/Yankees.com

Oh fuck me.

Maybe Phil Hughes will ride in from Scranton on a big ass horse (a la Wade Boggs) and be our knight in shining armor. Maybe he'll bring Shelley "Team Cheerleader" Duncan with him...

Requiem For the 'Stache

2008-08-04T21:10:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm sad to say the 'Stache is no more. In a way, I feel honored to have seen its last game in person.

Picture taken yesterday by yours truly.

The 'Stache was 0-3 with 2 walks.

So tonight we celebrate the 'Stache. Pour out a little Jack Daniels in its honor. And look forward to the future. The 'stache-less era has gotten off to a great start - in his two ABs so far in tonight's game, Giambi has an RBI single and a solo homer.

And all is not lost: one mustache dies, and another is born. Michael Phelps, you rock.

Movies you should not pay for

2008-08-01T14:34:00.003-04:00

You may think that Will Arnett can't sink any lower than Let's Go to Prison. You'd be wrong. Exhibit A: The Brothers Solomon. Thank goodness he parlayed the excellence that was G.O.B. Bluth into a primo reoccurring guest spot on current greatest comedy on TV 30 Rock...

Dear Mr. Ramirez,

2008-07-31T19:45:00.004-04:00

Adios mofo! We will not miss you "being Manny," except when it means you go up to bat against Mariano Rivera and decide not to take the bat off your shoulder. Also, we find it super ironic that once again, you are going to be Joe Torre's headache.

Enjoy LA.

Kindest Regards,

The New York Yankees and their fans

P.S. Mike Mussina wants to know where to send the thank you note.

Take that shift and shove it...

2008-07-30T15:17:00.003-04:00

As a Yankees fan, I'll admit to having a rocky relationship with Jason Giambi, who has been with the team since 2002. He replaced Tino Martinez, then there was that whole steroids mess, then he just kind of sucked and always looked greasy. But in this season, a contract year for him, I confess that he's been one of my favorite parts of watching the Yanks (along with Moose's improbably successful season and the rise of Joba the Starter). There's the 'stache, of course, and then there's this little number from last night.

The scene: Giambi has a base hit stolen away by the shift. In his next at bat, well, let's go to the tape:

Heh heh.

Bonus (for when the non-fun-loving bigwigs at MLB inevitably take down Giambi's little gesture):

The 'Stache talks about... the 'Stache

Oh Jason... it is ALL '70s porn star.

Tramps like us...

2008-07-29T01:04:00.004-04:00

A-frickin'-mazing show by Bruce and the E Streeters tonight.

But for now, exhaustion. And disappointment at Moose's inability to to hold his former team in check for the 2nd time this season (albeit disappointment tempered by the Rays and Red Sox also losing... although that should be even more disappointing because it means we could have picked up a game on each if we won... oh fuck it, I'm going to bed).

Come on!

2008-07-27T14:34:00.002-04:00

The national sports media has such a hard on for Yankees/Red Sox series that every time one comes around, the games get snatched up by Fox and ESPN. Which means that today's game is the Sunday Night Baseball game, which means it's on at the same time as the season premiere of Mad Men.

Not cool.

Ladies love Bats too!

2008-07-26T18:25:00.006-04:00

One of the best parts of Friday afternoons has always been reading a just-arrived Entertainment Weekly. This week's issue featured a cover story on The Dark Knight, fairly unremarkable until I got to this passage:

Despite all of the records being shattered, perhaps the biggest revelation about The Dark Knight's opening weekend was who was sitting in the audience... A reported 48 percent of The Dark Knight's audience was female, and that number probably would have been even higher had so many women not flocked to Mamma Mia!

Whether they were drawn by the rubberneck curiosity surrounding Ledger's last fully realized performance or simply felt that this comic-book movie had something to say to them, too, The Dark Knight's audience represents a huge demographic shift for studio marketers to wrap their heads around.

As a female moviegoer who had The Dark Knight's release date marked on her calendar for some time (although considering the fact that it coincided with my birthday, it was pretty hard to forget), I'm kind of offended, not to mention confused, by these comments.

To review: people out there think that a movie starring Christian Bale, sex object since the days of Newsies* (oh come on, he was 18 then!), Aaron Eckhart, who emerged as a smart woman's sex symbol in Thank You For Smoking, and Heath Ledger, who stole every teen girl's heart in 10 Things I Hate About You, isn't going to attract female viewers?

And this is Batman we're talking about here. He's not some obscure superhero from the 70s resurrected from the DC Comics vaults in the hopes of squeezing out a few more dollars from the comic book cash cow. He's a part of American culture and mythology.

The writer of this article - a dude, of course - surmises that women either went to see the movie because of all the hype surrounding Heath Ledger's death or because they thought it might "[have] something to say to them too." I'm not exactly sure what that latter reason means, but why can't a girl go see this movie because she, too, wants to go see a big ol' summer blockbuster? Are blockbusters not so because EVERYONE goes to see them? Last time I checked, women were included in "everyone." And it's not like this was a shitty summer blockbuster like Armageddon or Transformers. There's Oscar buzz for this movie and quality films appeal to people regardless of gender. No debate necessary.

Maybe my point of view is so hopelessly skewed when it comes to film that I'm talking out of my ass here, arguing for naut. But I don't think that's the case. Come on, Hollywood. Women love movies just as much as men. Stop acting shocked when we show up to see them.

*I admit I have an ironic appreciation for Newsies whereas everyone else my age seems to embrace it sincerely. But it's an appreciation nonetheless, right?

A social conscience gets me hot and bothered

2008-07-25T20:28:00.006-04:00

Hot, talented, and he saves kitties. Lordy. Although, admittedly, the 0-12 in the series against the Mets is kind of a ladyboner-killer.

In more substantive news, thoughts on The Dark Knight and its monster opening weekend and The X-Files: I Want to Believe later.

Time to build a bomb shelter...

2008-07-24T13:18:00.005-04:00

This just in from the signs of the apocalypse department:

1. MTV is remaking The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

This is so bizarre that I really don't know how to respond. Except with concern that the powers that be at the channel that ruined music might cast Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson as Brad and Janet. I shudder at the thought.

Although, I confess, I'd kind of like to see Jack Black play Eddie.

2. A Boston Globe columnist advocates the abolition of the "Yankees Suck" chant.

But I am a Red Sox fan, have been all my life, and so that means I don't like the Yankees. My two sons don't like the Yankees either. But here's the critical difference: I respect the Yankees, and I've taught my sons to do so, too. They are 14 and 11, love baseball, and know that Derek Jeter plays the game as well and as hard as anyone has. If I were picking sides in the schoolyard, Jeter is the guy I'd pick first.

Whoa. Logic and civility coming out of Boston. That did not happen in the 4 years I spent there...

Dear BigTimeBats.com...

2008-07-23T13:45:00.003-04:00

Please stop making weird Yankee Stadium final season collectibles and advertising them on YES. It's a long season and I don't want to buy any of your weird collectibles.

Also, if we could additionally do away with the Fox News commercials on YES, we'd be golden. However, all that would leave us with is the MHR Hair Restoration system...

Ah, the perils of the regional sports network.

Birthday Weekend = Epic Win

2008-07-20T21:03:00.006-04:00

To review:

The Yankees sweep the A's (while the Red Sox get swept by the Angels) and I'm in attendance Friday night (that would be my birthday) to see the Moose pick up career victory number 262, a warm but enjoyable Saturday night on Broadway, and Sunday afternoon at the movies for the mind-blowing experience that is The Dark Knight.

Awesome.

Extra bonus awesome: Picking up the Hold Steady's new album. If you're a Bruce fan, you owe it to yourself to check out these guys.

1 2 3 4

2008-07-17T11:49:00.002-04:00

Somehow, through it all, Sesame Street has remained the coolest show on TV. Proof?

Yes, that's Feist. This show gets better musical guests than Jay Leno. [insert rim shot here]

Awkward Joba Part 2: Not Awkward

2008-07-16T21:48:00.004-04:00

Awwww. He cleans up so nice. And doesn't look awkward. And might even get the 'swoon-worthy' tag...

Joba at the All-Star Week Club 33 Party

Awkward Joba Chamberlain is Selling Me Coffee

2008-07-16T00:36:00.003-04:00

Ricky Gervais is one of my comedy heroes. That being said, I feel a bit guilty that I've spent the last 6 months pouting about the fact that of the three shows he was doing in NYC, I managed to buy tickets to the only one that was the same day as the MLB All-Star Game. Apparently, I was deluded enough to think that I had a chance to get tickets to said game (which, now in the 13th inning, appears to be somewhat of a bust).

Anyway, Gervais was hilarious, brilliant, and a whole mess of other superlative adjectives. I can't really get into it now as I am needing sleep, but I have to share this. I had some time between the end of the show and my train home, so I found a Dunkin' Donuts and got an iced coffee. There, staring at me from the window of said Dunks (TM Nikki), was one Joba Chamberlain, in quite possibly one of the more awkward photos I've seen of him. So I started laughing uncontrollably (you know, it's not like I had spent the previous two hours laughing or anything) and said to my mom, "Oh look, awkward Joba Chamberlain is trying to sell me coffee." And this story is pretty lame. I think there was more to it at one point but alas...

Derby, Part Deux

2008-07-14T23:30:00.005-04:00

So... Justin Morneau? That's a bit shocking, considering the superhuman first round (and human interest story) Josh Hamilton had. Morneau looked like he almost felt guilty for winning. My boy Chase didn't make it past the first round but he still looked pretty good, so I guess it all evens out. Also, I think his f-bomb caught on national TV makes me love him more.

As excited as I am to see Ricky Gervais tomorrow night, I'm still a bit bummed to be missing the All-Star Game.

Back - back - back - GONE!

2008-07-14T19:27:00.000-04:00

It's just about Home Run Derby time, which I'll be watching from the comfort of my couch rather than Yankee Stadium because, again, broke. Since the 'Stache decided not to participate,* I'm pulling for Chase Utley. If his sheer awesomeness doesn't make the ball jump off the bat and into the stands, the short porch in right field and the fact that he's a lefty might help.

That being said, if Chase does manage to work his awesome in such a way, does that make him the Chuck Norris of baseball?

*He was offered a spot but declined since he didn't make the All Star Team, and I can't say I blame him.

Take me out to the ballgame?

2008-07-10T23:10:00.007-04:00

Does anyone have pity on a Yankees fan who can't afford StubHub prices and want to send her and her bestest best pal to the game on her birthday (7/18)? Or baring outright charity, a willingness to sell her seats at or near face value?

That's all I got. Yeah it's desperate but when the game's sold out and bleacher seats are starting at $50, what's a girl to do?

ETA: Goddammit! The Moose is pitching on my birthday and I still have no tickets. Boo.