:: Life on Planet Dan-E ::

:: Coke's New C2 ::

I bought a bottle of Coca-Cola's new C2 last Sunday before soccer just to see how it tasted. I tried it once before but it was only a sip and I couldn't remember much about it. I've been drinking diet sodas for the last 3 years or so ever since I started the Atkins Diet so I'm accustomed to the slightly blander taste that most diet sodas have.

The new C2 is, as far as I can remember, quite similar to tasting to regular Coke since I had the same reaction to it after drinking a can of regular... "whoa this is sweet." So of course I finish it off and it kinda reminded me of of drinking regular milk after drinking the fat free stuff.

It also made me wonder if this whole low-carb thing has gotten a litte out of hand. Now, I've reaped the benefits of it as much as the next person and unlike what some might predict, I've kept the weight off. So while I'm not on it as much any more - (chips and beer are decidedly not Aktins-friendly) the stuff I eat nowadays is healthier... or at least less bad... than what I ate pre-Atkins - I'll happily be its posterboy. But some of the stuff that's trying to pass itself off as lo-carb seems a little ridiculous to me.

For starters, lo-carb beer doesn't make any sense, not just because it tastes nasty but also from a physiological standpoint. (I could go into the science of that but I won't.) Then there was that near-debacle where KFC tried to pass itself off as lo-carb which nobody fell for. Lo-carb wine? Lo-carb ice cream, chocolates, chips, and fast food? Come on. Now, I love the above mentioned items as much as the next person (especially fast food... mmmm french fries) but come on, a little self-control never hurt anyone and it's as much a factor in losing weight as any lo-whatever food stuff out there.

The really odd thing is that this "craze" didn't really start until Dr. Robert Atkins himself died. Go figure.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:08 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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I haven't written a decent entry in a while since the baseball park stuff... oh by the way, if you wanna see the photos they're up on at http://photos.yahoo.com/dan_hyphen_e/ ... since school and trying to find a job has been keeping me pretty busy.

Even those who are sports-retarded know by now that Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the MIami Heat recently. Seriously Shaq? Quit following me. In a similar way that I'm now a Marlins fan, I'm also a Heat fan and I couldn't help but get caught up in their very surprising and impressive season. Now, as much as I love the Lakers, I just wasn't sure that they'd win the NBA title so naturally I needed a backup.

So I'm probably the only (admittedly casual) Heat fan here that feels blasé about the Shaq trade. LA had seven good years with him and everything points to the fact that since his best years are behind him, the odds of the Heat winning everything this year or next are still slim.

Which bring me to my rant: NOW he wants to get in shape? NOW he's motivated? NOW he's hungry. NOW he wants to be part of a "team?" Where was this last year? Or the year before? This is the guy who, missed a part of the first half of the 2002 season due to toe surgury. A surgury for an injury that he had for most of the previous season that he could have had performed immediately after the season ended. But no, he put it off till September 11, 2002 knowing full well that he'd miss significant time. His rationale being (paraphrasing) "since I got injured on company time I'm gonna heal on company time."

His lack of fitness is well known. As much deserved flak Kobe receieved for being shut down during the finals, Shaps lack of conditioning gave him on one big game, since he's now unable to recover as quickly as he used to...

I'm watching a rerun of the ESPy's (the sports version of the Oscars) right now as I type this and I just saw a moving tribute to former football player and war hero Pat Tillman and a feature on a guy named George Weah. You guys who read my blog on Tillman a couple of months ago know about how I feel about the guy. On the other hand, George Weah is someone I've never heard of since he's considered one of the greatest soccer players in the world. (I'd rather watch paint dry than watch soccer.) Weah comes from a war-torn part of Africa the feature on him showed how he used his wealth and influence to to try to right the immeasurable injustices that's tearing apart his country. He sacrificed his own safety and that of his family to try to influence this change. I'm not doing it justice. All I know is that when he came up to receive his award, that moment simultaneously rendered sports irrelevant while showing that sports just might be able to change the world. Beautiful.

What was I talking about?

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:47 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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I finally have a TV! Wait, back up. I've had TV for a while but I haven't gotten around to hooking up the cable. I still don't have cable but I finally hooked it up to an antenna cable that seems to be randomly sprouting out from the side of my apartment. I thought (and hoped) it might be a pirated cable from my neighbor or something but it's only four network channels. So I have four channels now, which isn't much but it's better than nothing and at least now I can watch Dave and Conan. Still, I need my ESPN.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:58 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Tour Wrapup ::

"There's much to love about a ballpark -- even the homeliest, most desolate one,"
- Eric Neel

I didn't realize until I was sorting through the photo of the trip over the weekend but there's a small part of me that can't believe that we did this thing. I remember a series of Mastercard "Priceless" commercials about three years ago and it was about a couple of guys going around the country trying to visit every major league ballpark. Guys like us can't help but think that something like that would be royally cool but unfortunately for most, it's mostly a dream. If you were to tell me then that I would do what I just did, I'd probably laugh.

As great as the trip was, it'd be almost pointless unless you shared the experience with a good friend and fellow baseball enthusiast. It's better when someone else is there to take in the sights and sounds... and smells (mmmm Fenway Franks)... of your surroundings.

It's just different in there. We live in a country that rightfully encourages individuality, and yet when you're inside a ballpark you're part of a mass that gloriously wishes misfortune on their hated rivals. Even when rooting for the visitors, you're still a part of a pocket of individuals standing firmly behind your guys. On the way there, you're just another guy in traffic or some anonymous passanger on a train. But once you step into a ballpark, you're part of a common vision.

On any given day, there's going to hundred of kids (of all ages) waiting eagerly for their chance to catch a fly ball that in reality, your odds of catching one is almost up there with buying the winning ticket. But that's what it means to love baseball. Having an unwavering faith and an undying loyalty, not just in your team, but in looking forward to and hoping for those brief, historic moments of greatness that stick with your forever.

There's that hallowed *crack* of the bat when your outfielder hits a homer. There's that righteous *pop* in the catchers mitt when your ace strikes out the guy to end the inning. The palpable murmur among fans waiting in anticipation whenever there's a meeting on the mound. And you can't help but smile whenever some diehards start that rally cry of "Yankees suck!"

At PNC, you have Manny's. Camden has Boog's, and Citizen's Bank has Bull's. All serving chunks of meat slathered in a sweet and salty barbecue sauce that would do most restaurants proud. There's the near-infinite varieties of sausages you can try (Italian, Polish, Bratwust) and sandwiches you can scarf (BBQ, Cuban, cheesesteak, and Primanti's). But you can't forget the one ballpark mainstay: the glorious, all-American hotdog. It's the perfect reason to order yourself a third beer. If I may paraphrase Gordon Gecko, gluttony is good.

These things are all inherently good. If Webster was a baseball fan, you'd see a picture of a baseball diamond next to the word "good." Even when the baseball is bad, people will still show up in droves because it's still good. This is what something as storied as baseball can do. It inspires. It draws people together and unites them. People will revere it, people will write songs and create movies about it. Families and friends will not only go to a ballpark, but will a make pilgrimages to one.

Baseball is good.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:22 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part VI ::

At last, the final review for our final stop. After this I can go back to being my arcane self and continue obfuscating the details of my what I laughingly refer to as my life.

TURNER FIELD - ATLANTA

Monday, June 28.

Watching the game at Turner Field turned out to be one of the more memorable nights of our trip due to factors completely unforeseen. For starters (pun not intended) all that talk about Atlanta being a furnace turned out to just that. It was our first game that was threatened by cancellation due to rain. It was the only place where we had direct contact with drunken fans (not to say there weren’t drunken fans at other parks; we just didn’t see them). It was the only place where we were rooting against the home team (they played the Florida Marlins). It was the only place where ordering a Pepsi might get you kicked out of the park. It was the only place were you could call in an order to the concessions and have an entire pizza delivered to your seat.

Architecture:
What started off as Atlanta's Olympic Stadium became the theme/ball park that it is now thanks to an extensive renovation in 1996. What opened up in 1997 is a strikingly attractive ballpark. It has an old-school feel with its brick, limestone, and steel construction in the enduring colors of red and green with some blue throw in.

Walk in through the main entrance and you see statues of Former Braves greats Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, and Phil Niekro. Above the main ticket booth is an impressive fascia with “Turner Field” across the top.

Move past the turnstiles and you’re greeted by an enormous billboard of a baseball and the number "715" next to it, paying tribute to Hall of Fame slugger Henry "Hank" Aaron. Walk around a little bit and you notice that the impressive sea of blue seats offer a pretty good view from everywhere in the park. Go up to the left field terrace and treat yourself to a great view of the Atlanta Skyline.

While it doesn't quite achieve that intangible "thing" that makes Camden so magical you’d still be hard pressed to point out any real flaws. It has a very modern layout and it's retro without being up front about it. And there's always that kids area above left field that features a giant coke bottle made from old baseball gear. How cool is that?

Ballpark Experience:
About those drunken fans - actually, back up a little - about that rain delay. We arrive plenty early for our game that was originally scheduled for 7:35. Right after all the pre-game ceremonies were over, in comes the downpour. The behind-the-scenes people were nice enough to broadcast a game going on elsewhere on the jumbotron. The people of Atlanta are either used to rain delays or are rabid Braves fans since it seemed like most of the crowd stuck around for a good hour and a half.

At around 9:00, it looked like it was going to finally let up and the groundscrew (who were applauded) went to work drying out the tarp. Right when the tarp was halfway removed, the sky decides to open up again. Ugh. This is where the crowd started thinning out.

The game finally started at 10:55 pm Eastern Standard Time. Yeah. For our patience, the announcer made known that everyone remaining is welcome to take any seat that wasn't occupied. Amazingly, there were enough people left to nearly fill up the first tier. And you kinda figured they're the hardcore fans. That or they didn't have jobs. Of if they did, it was of the variety that didn't need much sleep to perform.

We made our way down from the upper deck down to right field just behind the foul pole. It's a human truth that most bleacher seats house the rowdy fans and it was no different here. I've never seen a group of people so eager to be seen dancing around on the jumbotron. Not really a knock per se since I was a little louder than normal. Maybe it was the long day, the late hour, or perhaps that I finally got to root for my "real home team" but I was really into the game. It helped that there were maybe five other Marlins fans in the crowd and Atlanta isn't the kind of place were cheering for the visitors would might result is personal harm.

So there was this group of guys behind us that clearly hung out near one of the many beer concessions during the delay. They were, in a word, amusing. A bunch of drunk, fun-luvin', redneck good ol' boys specializing in disjointed heckling. Depite it being against our team, we couldn't help but laugh. They even had some good-natured fun with us, a couple of them introducing themselves and one of them offering me a sip of his "special" coke. I declined.

Good thing they were there to liven things up since the game was a 6-1 blowout of the Marlins with our guys looking rather lifeless. That tomahawk chop that they do during rallies must get annoying after the first couple of times. Still, it ended up being a lot of fun. ****

Beer Selection:
Clearly, our new friends in the bleachers enjoyed what Turner Field had to offer but I was disappointed. It had the typical markup but the so called "Beers of the World" stand had only two imports: Heineken and Corona. I hate Corona. *

Quality of the Food:
One of the thing I noticed while touring the stadium was the remarkable selection of hot dogs available. Kosher Dogs, Bison Dogs, Chili Cheese Dogs, as well as Italian and Polish Sausages. Don't forget the pizzas that you can have delivered to your seat that one guys I asked said were "as good anything from Domino’s or Pizza Hut." The spendier types can even find things like BBQ ribs, burgers, and garlic fries.

I was impressed that they also had a few smoothie stands that sold them at a relatively cheap $5. Had it been as hot as it might get, it would have been a tempting choice.

Still, I went straight for the regular hot dog, which was still hearty and tasty. Good enough that despite all the other options available to me, I got myself another one. *****

Intangibles:
This was our last stop on our tour so we were hoping for a good one and overall, it was pretty damn good. As a baseball fan, if you can't have fun here, you're just not trying. There's a huge scoreboard at the entrance that's always on, a percussion band that featured a bongo drum bigger than a hummer, picnic areas, a stand were you could see bats and ball made right in front of you, and Looney Toons mascots roaming the area. There was a speed pitch game but there was another one that took it a step further by having showing you your speed as well as calling balls and strikes while you throw against a projected image of either Barry Bonds, A-Rod, Chipper Jones or Darin Estad (???). I was up 0-2 against Bonds before he blasted a homer off me.

And the fans. Year after year of winning their division might have jaded them by now but you'd have loved how the fans made a racket that belied that fact that only 5,000 or so remained. They cheered for almost anything that might start a rally, even a walk, after which they were chopping away. There was no time to let up, with the between innings entertainment coming the moment the third out was recorded. Those games and quizzes might seem silly to some, but that night, almost everyone was into it. I even got a few high fives from strangers when I properly guessed the hammer (you had to be there).

A hell of a way to end a trip. *****

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 12:47 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part V ::

Almost done. Only place left is Turner Field. I went back and added the dates we attended each place so you could track our progress.

ORIOLE PARK at CAMDEN YARDS – BALTIMORE

Saturday, June 26.

For a place that's still relatively new (opened in 1992) Camden Yards has an amazing classic ambiance. Perhaps it's the magnificent warehouse that serves as the right field backdrop. Perhaps it's feeling that you're surrounded by art and history. Perhaps it's probably the park itself. There's a sense of the days of old walking around the venue. And no wonder, since this is where Ryan Minor, Harold Bainse, Roberto Alomar, Albert Belle, Eddie Murray and the near-immortal Cal Ripken once called home.

Architecture:
Camden’s unique feature is that old B&O Warehouse - built in 1905 and restored brick by brick - that stands proudly alongside the park. As for the stadium itself, it's constructed of steel and brick that shares it's style and tones with the old buildings that surround it. Like PNC, it blends in quite well with its surroundings but PNC stands out as a piece of postmodern art. Camden on the other hand, feels familiar, like you've seen this place before. Like you've been here. The earth-toned brick, the green steel gates that swing wide open to welcome you in, the brick wall up behind home plate. It's as comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans.

Between the park and the warehouse is Eutaw Street. There are food and beverage stands and little shops so it’s fun just to stroll around and admire your surroundings.

If you go to a day game, get a seat high up along the third base line so not only are you treated to a scene of the warehouse and the skyline behind center, as well as a good view of the field, but it's probably the coolest spot in the park with the awning overhead. The seats themselves were quite comfy and those along the baselines were angled toward home to ease its guests from sore necks.

But no matter where you sit, the beautiful aesthetics invite you to look around and take in the sights, even after you've been there a couple of hours. Once there you can't imagine a better place to watch a good game... *****

Ballpark Experience:
...or so I imagine. Despite being twelve years old, Camden can still stand tall next to the newer ballparks. The only thing it can't do, is guarantee a good game. One negative part of this review is that the game was a snoozer. It ended up being a 5-0 loss to Atlanta. A couple of stolen bases couldn't help the fact that the Orioles fell behind early and never recovered.

But there was that party before and during the game. In an effort to get people back to Camden, Orioles execs sponsored a summer concert series just outside and we were treated to some great ska music by a band called... something something Senators (I can’t quite remember). It featured a guitar, bass, a horn section and a drummer who also happened to be the lead singer (hard to do). During one of the solos, we witnessed a cowbell exhibition that would have brought tears of joy to Christopher Walken.

There were vendors out on the street that were selling not just hot dogs and burgers, but chicken and steak sandwiches and at surprisingly low prices. Combine that with the park’s policy of allowing outside drinks in and we took full advantage. ****

Quality of the Food:
As good as everything looked outside, there were some wonderful smells emanating from with Camden and we, or rather, I had to try some stuff out. The hot dogs here, considering how great everything else was, were merely ok. I think it may have been a conspiracy to lure the attendees into buying the higher priced albeit better tasting alternatives.

That smell I was alluding to earlier came from Boog's Barbecue out on Eutaw St. Like the BBQ places at PNC and Philly, they sold pulled pork and beef sandwiches. My inquiries into their quality resulted in a some enthusiastic comments. Unfortunately, my budget only allowed one indulgence and I chose to do so in the form of a pretty good crabcake sandwich. After all, this was Maryland. I can only imagine just how tasty the other items on the menu might be. ****1/2

Beer Selection:
There's the standard selection of beers around the concourse as well as the numerous beer stands (you really have to try to get dehydrated here). But beer snobs are in for a treat if they stop by the Baltimore Brew Pub, right inside the warehouse. Nice and all inside but you notice an impressive eight different beers from around the world available at the bar. Reasonable prices too. Nothing you can't find at an average restaurant but a particularly nice touch at a ballpark. *****

Intangibles:
Had the game been a little bit better I'm sure my overall impression would have been a little better, but that’s like saying my project could have been a 99 instead of 90. Maybe because the game was boring the audience was surprisingly placid. Even when introducing the starting lineup the cheers weren’t what you’d expect of a near capacity crowd. And it was in stark contrast to the boisterous mood of the crowd out on Eutaw as well as before the game.

Still, this was beautiful Camden Yards. Those who don't know would be surprised to find out that it's twelve years old, with an equal mix of "it's already twelve?" and "it's only twelve?" Somehow the designers of this place achieved that magical "just right" feel. History was made here. History will continue to be made here. And in the meantime this will be a place where kids will go to dream the dream; where fathers take their sons and daughters to teach them the joys and intricacies of America's pastime; where fans come to witness the great moments that can happen during a ballgame. *****

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 12:18 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part IV ::

Happy 4th of July everyone! I don't know if you guys heard about this but the now (in)famous Takeru "The Tsumani" Kobayashi from Nagano, Japan has once again won the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition. He did once again in spectacular fashion by beating his old record of 50 1/2 hot dogs with a total of 53 1/2... in 12 minutes. Somewhat impressive for a guy that's 5'7" and 132 pounds. Seriously, my right leg almost weighs that much.

I really shouldn't be as impressed as I am but I just can't help it. This guy is my idol. I mean, i can wolf down a large meal as well as the next fat guy but... geez. I'm not worthy. Anyway, here's the next ballpark.

SHEA STADIUM in NEW YORK CITY

Thursday, June 24.

Like Fenway, I wasn't expecting much from Shea Stadium. Even less and as it turns out, I was right to, only not so much. Shea has been around 1964 and like Fenway, it shows its age but unlike Fenway its owners haven't done too much about it. Like many of the stadiums built back in the 60s such as the now-imploded Veteran’s Stadium, it was designed to be massive enough to see a mile away while housing not just baseball, but football and other sports. Like the Vet, it’s shaped like a huge bowl. Appropriate in this case since it’s located in Flushing.

Architecture:
Large, grandiose even... and a little bland. It looks impressive from a distance with the different tiers having their own color but it can’t compete with Dodger Stadium’s classic yellow-orange-blue-red arrangement.

Up close, it seems like one massive structure that architects raised just for the sake of putting something there. At least the relatively new blue paint on some of the outside panels give you the impression that Mets owners are actually trying. Within the panels are minimalist line drawing art of players in various action poses, which I thought were a nice touch.

Walk inside and you’re treated to more of the same: otherwise dull expanses of concrete with a blue trim on the posts, piping, and other places to try to liven things up a little. Walking around inside gives you the impression of walking around in a factory instead of a sports stadium. Part of this is because of the miles of ramps, the dark lighting (despite being a day game), and because the ushers and other employees don’t seem nearly as cheery as those at the other parks. You look around and you’d be hard pressed to blame them. On the plus side, the bathrooms weren’t nearly the stomach-churning hellhole that I heard they’d be.

It didn’t help that the grass lacked the typical checkerboard pattern that you’d find on other fields. Instead, there was an oddly spaced series of “V”-shaped marks pointing towards home that didn’t even line up properly. A rather half-hearted attempt at best.

Still, better than what I expected since, from what I was told, they cleaned it up quite a bit recently. ***

Ballpark Experience:
It wasn’t the quietest game with planes from the airport flying overhead every few minutes. Our seats were in the uppers tier, right behind home plate and we had an almost directly overhead view of the field. (And at $12, a little overpriced.) At least the game was pretty interesting. We were treated to a pretty good pitching duel between future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine vs. Cincinnati’s Cory Lidle. We anticipated maybe an historic moment beforehand in being able to see Ken Griffey Jr.’s 500th homerun but he already hit it a view days before. What he did first time up was an unexpected, and amusing, attempt at bunting down the third base line to thwart the Met’s infield shift.t

Funny moment came when Mets center fielder Mike Cameron dropped a routine fly ball in the sun and allowed two runs to score. Funny because Cameron is a two-time Gold Glover and you wouldn't expect something like that from him. Did I mention that he also stuck out three times? For a stadium that was less than helf capacity, the boos were quite loud. ****

Quality of the Food:
You hear about how New York City is home to some of the best hot dogs in the country and if that’s true, they didn’t make their way into Shea Stadium. Don’t get me wrong, they were fine but for $4.75 they should have been larger and grilled. Maybe the kosher dogs might have been better.

I also tried an Italian sausage that smelled good when I walked past the stand but it ended being, like so many things about Shea, a little bland. For $6 I should have been able to choose a spicy sausage and it also should have been a little larger. I left the game hungry.

Which brings me to my next point: this being New York, be prepared to pay a little extra if you show up hungry. Most items h, ere are anywhere from fifty cents to a dollar more than what you’d find elsewhere. It’s not bad, just pricey. ***

Beer Selection:
You know whenever someone in a movie orders a beer, all they say to the bartender is to give them a “beer?” It’s like that at Shea. And like the movies, it was yellow, slightly bubbly and drunk by people who just want something alcoholic. **

Intangibles:
Despite all of Shea’s shortcomings, there’s still something cool about watching a baseball game in New York City. The place was quite barren for our midweek day game but the people who were there, at least in our section, were cheerfully rowdy. The fans certainly knew the game and the heckles thrown down upon the visiting team reflected that. There was even a particularly diehard Mets fan who started chants of “Yankee’s suck!” Never a bad thing.

There isn’t much to do before or after the game once you’ve checked out the stadium and even that isn’t very interesting. Shea is enclosed in a labyrinth of streets and freeways and if not for our mapquest directions, we would have easily gotten lost coming and going. It does have a nice view of the Arthur Ashe (tennis) Stadium across the highway.

From what we experienced, it was clear that we came on the wrong day. One can only imagine just how fun it might be to see a game against the Yankees or the Atlanta Braves. But I can’t judge it on what might have been. And the best I can say about it is that it was better than I expected. ***1/2

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 11:26 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part III ::

FENWAY PARK - BOSTON

Wednesday, June 23

I admit I wasn't really expecting much from Fenway Park other than being swept up in the history and atmosphere of the place. I couldn't have been more wrong and even GB, the native Bostonian and Red Sox fanatic, was surprised at how nice the place had become.

When new owners bought the Red Sox a few years ago, there was talk about building a new, larger stadium with either a replica of the Green Monster, or even the possibility of moving the Monster and incorporating it into the new place. Considering what a dump some older stadiums have been and just how nice most new ballparks turned out, there was, and still is some temptation to follow through with this plan. Now take it from someone who’s only been there once:

That kind of talk needs to die and die now.

Yeah, Fenway is almost a century old. Yes, its seating is crowded, obstructed, and has the potential to give you splinters but there is the history; there's the unrelenting, almost inveterate loyalty of the fans who've suffered through things like the Curse of Bambino, Bill Buckner, and Grady Little (who really didn't deserve to get fired, but that's another post). It's because of great moments like Carlton Fisk's homer off the left field foul pole. It's because you can still feel the ghosts of Ted Williams and Cy Young roaming the field. And then there's the Park itself.

Ask a Bostonian about Fenway and their typical answer is something along the lines of "it's a dump, but it's our dump." Usually with stronger language. So anyone who isn't from Boston who takes the time to visit Fenway knows it's history and what to expect and in many ways, that's a good thing.

Architecture:
Walking up to it, quite frankly, isn't really all that special being as it's surrounded by a bunch of buildings of similar height. From some angles, parts of it look like just another building.

Then you notice the back of the Monster. Walk around the entire facility and you admire the brick exterior, which looks like it was raised using good ol' fashion hands and elbow grease. The front entrance, with "FENWAY PARK" across the front, is as postcard-worthy as any neon hotel sign on Ocean Drive.

Go inside and gaze upon the field, the first thing your eyes are naturally drawn to is the famed Green Monster looming in left field. Look around a little more and you almost can't believe that it seats a little over 33,000 people. Then you notice that almost everything is green. I don't know what it is but green just seems to be the perfect shade to color a baseball park and here it's everywhere.

The seats themselves are pretty tiny. Our right field grandstand seats were in the first tier, blue section, which means we sat on the very same flat, hard, wooden seats that were around since 1912 when Fenway first opened. For a guy my size, who's of average height and (slightly above) average width, the seat itself was alright, but I was constantly rubbing elbows with the guys next to me and the person in front would occasionally back into my knees when leaning back a little too far. Not only that but our seats were one of the many with the "obstructed views" and sure enough the support beam to my left Still, I couldn't complain just because I felt like I was sitting on a piece of history.

Quality of the Food:
Unlike the newer facilities, which try to bring some local flavor to their menu, Fenway sticks with the tried-and-true Fenway Franks. You could get Papa Gino's Pizza or chicken fingers but people everywhere were chowing down on Fenway Franks.

Some elucidation: New England hot dog buns are a little different from what everyone else is used to. Take a regular bun, trim off about a quarter inch of the edges, and instead of opening it from the side, there’s a slice right down the top of the bun. (Not just Fenway, most of New England.) In it you plop in a thick, juicy sausage that's been grilled to perfection and you have what just might be the best ballpark hot dog on the east coast.

A surprisingly recent addition to the concessions is clam chowder (or "chowda") from the local Legal Seafoods restaurant. Surprising because you'd think they would have had it all along. I didn't have any since I just had some excellent chowder from the Boston Chowda Co. earlier but from what the locals told me, it's as good as anything you can get in the state.

Out on Yawkey Way, there are rows and rows of street vendors selling sausages, sandwiches and burgers. While it doesn't have quite the aroma of a good BBQ stand, what's there is still hard to resist. I wolfed down on a huge Italian sausage with peppers and onions before the game and it was the best non-hotdog sausage I had on the trip.

Just don't miss out on the Fenway Franks. *****+

Beer Selection:
Yes, they do sell Sam Adams and not too overpriced at $6.25. You could even get Guinness on tap if you desire something heavier. Otherwise, the same old selection. ****

Ballpark Experience:
You haven't been to a ballgame until you've sat in Fenway and went along with the fervent chants of "YANKEES SUCK!" Bear in mind, the game we saw was vs. the Twins. Having said that, no group of fans was as behind their home team as this group was. Starter Derek Lowe struggled (not unusual) through seven innings and while, say, Philly fans might have booed him when he came out in the seventh, the only thing you heard here was cheers of encouragement.

ESPN columnist Jeff Merron said it best about Red Sox fans: "suffering leads to insight." There wasn't a more knowledgeable, passionate, and loyal audience on our trip and because of that the game itself was fun, despite the Red Sox losing (also not unusual lately) thanks to some late hits that threatened to score. And the atmosphere created by the boisterous fans that by far was the best. *****

Intangibles:
Remember those idiosyncrasies I alluded to earlier? Fenway is full of them. The three of us decided to take the tour to check out the innards of Fenway. It was like the one at PNC, only not nearly as comprehensive and more costly. What we did see was the .406 club behind home plate, the gallery of former Red Sox greats, and views from almost everywhere. Having been up there, I can say the seats atop the Green Monster presents the most unique left field views anywhere. We also saw the brand-new right field rooftop section that should also provide a new and different viewing experience.

And there's Yawkey Way. Not only is it the best-named street address for a baseball address but also two hours before game time, they close it off to automobiles becoming a street festival with food vendors, souvenir shops, and a cheery crowd that is Red Sox Nation. You could easily spend an hour or more here, admiring the park, browsing the souvenirs, and eating till your waistline resembles the one on Mo Vaughn.

Unlike other venues, Fenway doesn't try to bombard you with between-inning entertainment. It lets the game speak for itself. There is music between the innings but it wasn't overwhelmingly loud. Plus I have to give it bonus points for playing "Sweet Caroline" during the seventh inning stretch.

Pittsburg and Philly might have newer, grander parks with more amenities and for that matter, seats that are comfortable neither compares to the ambiance at Boston. You haven't seen a game till you’ve seen a game at Fenway Park. *****++

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:20 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part II ::

If my reviews seem rather similar to the way ESPN.com did theirs, then it's purely intentional. They're also probably rather long-winded but that's only because there's so much to write about and I'm anal about details. Here's Philly and Boston.

CITIZEN'S BANK PARK - PHILADELPHIA

Sunday, June 20

Everyone outside of Philly who’s heard and thing or two about old Veteran’s Stadium would think that all architects had to do was just put any type of decent, nondescript building, call it “Not Veteran’s Stadium” and the people would forms lines that would make the end scene from “Field of Dreams” look like the outside of a theater playing “Gigli.”

They really outdid themselves.

What the rabid fans of Philly are now treated to is a beautifully crafted steel and brick gem of a ballpark that stands in contrast to the attractive but industrial looking Lincoln Financial Field (what’s with the bank names anyway?!?) just across the street. Many of the new ballparks (Cincinnati for example) are decent but lack those idiosyncrasies that make places PNC and Camden Yards so magical.

Philly’s latest isn’t particularly original – brick structures are nothing new – nor does it possess a distinctive feature like Camden’s warehouse, SBC Park’s ocean view or even Dodger Stadium’s simple, timeless beauty. It’s just an amalgamation that’s considerably more than the sum of its parts.

Architecture:
Like I mentioned earlier it’s beautiful from the outside, and not just because its surroundings is a drab industrial area. But you have to be inside to truly appreciate the thought that went into making it fan-friendly. Walk in through the main gate and head right towards Ashburn Alley, where the first thing you’ll see is a nice little souvenir shop. But walk past that and you’ll run into a row of concession stands that emanate a mouth-watering odor. It’s main attractions are two Philly institutions: Tony Luke’s and Geno’s Steaks. Go a little past it and you arrive at the play area that has stuff both kids and adults will love. There’s speedpitch, a run-the-bases, and a homerun hitter pinball game (and you play for free!).

Ok, I digress, that's not so much architecture as it is amenities, of which there are plenty. One of the coolest things about CB is the near-360 degree views from the concourse at all levels. You can walk around the entire stadium, order a cheesesteak or three and never miss a moment of the game. This is good since the game we attended was sold out and the only thing left was standing room tickets. Standing room counters went around the entire park and at game time you’d be hard pressed to find a gap to set your beer down for an inning.

Atop the aforementioned concession stands is yet another standing room only section that features an area that can be roped off for private parties. Even this section of the park had good, if slightly distant views of the action. Like PNC, there isn’t a bad seat (or counter space) in the place.

The stacked bullpens are built right behind the right-center wall so spectators can look down at the relief pitchers warming up as well as enjoy an outfield view. This being Philly, the visitor’s mound is up against the walkway to make it easier for fans to shout obscenities at the visiting players.

Outside the ballpark, the Philly skyline is distant enough to be almost insignificant. In comparison, Pittsburg’s park hits you the moment you see it and when you walk in whereas the virtues of Citizen’s Bank Ballpark sometimes sneak up on you. Especially when you’re inside, you notice not just the beautiful design but the thought that went into making sure every attendee has a great experience. *****

Quality of the Food:
First thing people think of when you mention Philadelphia is cheesesteaks - at least when you’re talking about food. There’s not only one but two well known Philly institutions here: Geno’s Steaks and Tony Luke’s. (Where’z Pat's?) And well, Geno's didn’t disappoint, except once again I ate at their restaurant outside the park. My buddies didn’t share the same enthusiasm, saying it reminded them too much of “Steak’ums.” Maybe they got a little too worked up over the anticipation of their first Philly Cheesesteak while actually in Philly. I found it to be everything I expected; slightly greasy, cheesy, and yummy. Maybe we should have gone to Pat’s? Whatever, get it with Cheez Whiz and onions.

As for the stuff in the park? I only had the hotdog from one of the many carts around the concourse and like Pittsburg, it was satisfying but not much else. When I ordered I hoped to get one of the sausages right off the grill but instead I got one that was already packaged placed in the warming oven. Still, it was a nice hearty size and grilled.

One thing I should have tried was Bull’s BBQ that was at the end of Ashburn Alley. You can’t miss the smoke coming from three massive wood grills they use to cook the ribs, pork and beef and you certainly can’t miss the great smell. The only that stopped me was the huge line that already formed ninety minutes before first pitch and never got any shorter. But from the happy, satisfied looks I saw on people scarfing down on their meals, they looked liked they’d be at least as good as Manny’s BBQ. *****

Beer Selection:
Like most ballparks with the standard selection of domestic (Bud, Bud Lite) and imports (Heinekin, Corona) and a few local Philly Brews. I was really impressed that you could get Red Hook ESB and an India Pale Ale, all off tap and none of it costing over $6.00. ****1/2

Ballpark Experience:
There was a part of me that was hoping that the Phillies would lose, or at least fall behind in this game just so I could witness firsthand the near-legendary fervor with which Philadelphians boo their own teams, never mind the opposing players. As it was, they were playing Kansas City so chances of that were slight. Still, the boos were quite plentiful when the starting lineup for KC was being announced and cheers for the home team were even more boisterous. Despite it being a blowout, it was still an exciting game thanks to Jim Thome’s two homers and Jimmy Rollins’ inside the park homerun. Homeruns are fun to cheer for but they don’t nearly compare to the excitement of seeing an inside-the-parker. That Rollins is a speedy little bugger.

And the atmosphere of the place didn’t disappoint, and the place being sold out didn’t hurt either. Philly Phans are every bit as enthusiastic as you might hear. They’re surprisingly friendly too, when they’re not hurling epithets at the players. There was genuine interest from various people whenever we mentioned that we’re on a ballpark road trip. They were curious as to what we thought of the new place and we didn’t have a single negative comment about it, partly because the place was in fact, so nice, but also because we were a little frightened for our lives should we say anything bad. ****

Intangilbles:
The only bad thing about the place doesn’t really have anything to do with the park but with its surroundings. Like I mentioned earlier, there isn’t much outside of CB Ballpark so the only thing to do is tailgate before and after the game. Driving through the city to get to Geno’s after the game, you eventually learn that a lot of Philadelphia is pretty crappy. Really, this place is a dump. Not really its fault, having been around since colonial times but you’d think they’d invest in a street cleaner or two.

Being tourists, we stopped by the historic area of the city before leaving for New England. It turned out to be both a pleasant surprise and a disappointment. A pleasant surprise because that area was much nicer and a disappointment because we couldn’t get closeup look at some historic shrines like the Liberty Bell. There were barriers everywhere and the only reason we were able to take a half-decent picture of some stuff was thanks to GB’s camera and its awesome 300mm zoom lens.

Still, there’s something extremely cool about walking around such an ancient part of America and seeing various information and artifacts on how our (still) great country came to be. Overall, I give it a ****

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:14 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part I ::

PNC PARK - PITTSBURG

Friday, June 18.

One way to look at it is that this place set the standard for all other ballparks and everything else was downhill from there. Another way is to see it as one freakin’ spectacular way to start off of baseball park road trip. Never mind that it was a beautifully designed stadium, or that the view from the third base line provided for one of the most picturesque sights you’ll ever behold from any park. Or that the Primanti Brothers sandwich is so gloriously constructed that its mere existence joyously flips the bird at health nuts.

The complete experience starts when you drive there from the outskirts of downtown Pittsburg and enter the city through a tunnel from the southwest, which spits you right onto the Fort Pitt Bridge. Exiting the tunnel hits you with a breathtaking view of bridges, skylines and the three rivers that gave the former home of the Steelers and Pirates its name. You don’t expect it. Entering the tunnel, all you’ve passed was a typical, bland grass-roots American city. Then the view just hits you in a way similar to that of the first time you see Princess Leia’s ship being pursued by the impressive hulk that is the Imperial Star Destroyer. Or maybe not.

Architecture:
This is a completely modern ballpark with a few retro touches such as the bleachers in left field and a press box modeled after the one in Wrigley Field. The comprehensive tour ($3 for students) provided us a walkthrough of almost every nook and cranny of the place: the press box, home dugout and indoor batting cage/bullpen, the walkway underneath the seats where the players walk from their lockers to the dugout, as well as the luxury suites, galleries, and museum of sorts honoring past great pirates. All led by a highly knowledgeable guide who seemed like he was around when the Pirates just formed.

PNC already looks beautiful when seen across the Allegheny River. The steel (what else?) beams compliment the limestone walls form an epic park that Frank Gehry would weep over. It fits in perfectly with the surroundings. Forget parking there, use one of the lots and walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge (which closes on gamedays) and slowly take the view in as you approach it. This is modern architectural art at its finest.

The asymmetrical outfield has a short right field porch that was supposed to allow for power-hitting lefties to hit splash landing homers and since the inaugural opening there has been a grand total of: one. Wherefore art thou, Barry?

The view from the upper deck provides not just a pretty good view of the field, but also a spectacular view of the Pittsburg skyline, the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and the Allegheny River. The capacity is a little under 40,000 giving it a nice, intimate feeling. All seats along the baselines were canted slightly towards home and they were all comfortable. You’ll have good sightlines no matter where you sit. At $9, our upper deck seats situated between third base and the foul pole were reasonably priced and perfect for what was awaiting us after the game. No matter what you pay, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. *****

Quality of the Food:
I ate a hot dog at every ballpark on this trip just because and PNC’s wasn’t bad. A big, juicy, grilled (a definite plus) frank served on a warm bun and reasonably priced. I found it rather odd however, that the Pirates Mascot, unlike other cites, used a hotdog cannon instead of the usual t-shirt cannon.

But there’s more. You must have a sandwich from the Primanti Brothers stand. Primanti Brothers is to Pittsburg what the cheesesteak is to Philly (more on that later) only better, cheaper, and less famous. Picture a typical sandwich: your choice of meats (roast beef, pastrami, Italian sausage, etc) with cheese between two thick slices of white bread with a hearty portion of fries and cole slaw on the side; only in this case the sides are served inside the sandwich forming one massive, messy, gastronomically glorious (yes I like alliteration) sandwich that for $5, was the runaway stadium food bargain of the trip and the best tasting. (I should probably point out that I ate here twice – once before, once after the game – at their restaurants outside of PNC.)

As if that wasn’t enough former Pirate cather Manny Sanguillen runs Manny’s BBQ behind the right center wall and for $7.50 you get a very good pulled pork sandwich. And, Manny is right there smiling and signing autographs. *****

Beer Selection:
A decent selection of local and mega brews, all for $5.50 or under. Excellent for stadium concessions. The local Penn Pilsner was the perfect compliment to my hotdog and sandwich. ****

Intangibles:
Downtown Pittsburg might look great from the outside but it’s also cool to walk around the area just before the game. Market Square is a small area that has a few shops, bars and restaurants (one of them being Primanti’s) to check out before or after the game. The centerpiece is a skyscraper and it’s accompanying buildings that look to be made entirely of glass. Quite beautiful.

The game itself (vs. Seattle) was pretty good. Seattle ace Jamie Moyer and his scorching 86mph (a speed which, according to radar, he exceeded exactly four times in six innings) fastball befudded most pirates batters for six innings until a near-rally against the relievers had them pulling within one in the ninth. At about 80% capacity, the Friday crowd was energetic and really into the game. Bonus points for being one of the few parks where people didn’t bring inflatable objects to the game. The between-innings entertainment displayed on the huge, crystal-clear jumbotron was, surprisingly enough, entertaining. It had a - wait for it - pirate theme. Maybe I’m just easily entertained but I also found the peiroge race fun to watch.

But none of that compared to the grand finale. We were fortunate enough to arrive at a Fireworks Friday game. During the late innings, a barge floats up the river and weighs anchor right outside the stadium behind right center. Once the game ends, it shoots off an impressive fireworks show that would rival almost any July 4th event.

A great way to end a game and one hell of a way to start the trip. *****

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 7:06 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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