I have two friends from Chicago who swoon every time it's the 7th inning stretch during a game by the Cubs. It means that it's time to sing along with some celebrity to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." They peer at the broadcasters booth hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever celebrity is on hand to sing. What started out as a tradition at Wrigley Field, one of the last few original parks along with Fenway (now that Yankee Stadium is due for demolition after the season) is now sung at most ballparks.One of my friends was at Wrigley when Ozzy Osbourne took the microphone and ad libbed his way through the song (some swear he whimsically butchered it). My friend says that Cubs fans never laughed so hard or cheered for a celeb when Osbourne got fans going with his "da-da-das" when he couldn't remember the lyrics. No he wasn't boozed up. It's just Ozzy, you know.
I've only been to Wrigley once and it was Hootie and the Blowfish's Darius Rucker who lead the crowd that day. That was some soulful rendition if I may say so. No, I didn't change my pinstriped loyalties, I was in the Windy City to stalk Michael Jordan. Hahahaha!
As the 72nd Annual Baseball All-Star Game kicks off at Yankee Stadium on July 14, I've been waxing nostalgic about the grand old game and some favorite haunts. As a kid, I so desperately wanted to go to a ballgame, eat hotdogs or Cracker Jacks, roar when the bugle sounds for "Charge," bring my mitt to catch a foul ball, and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." A game, any game a dad goes with his kid is like a communion of sorts. Something you take with you forever. I've kept every single ticket of every single baseball game I've been to. They're inside my closet along with some medals, trading cards, books, and other prized memorabilia I've spent a life collecting.
In yesterday's game between the Yankees and the division leading Tampa Bay Devil Rays, some 20,000 fake mustaches were distributed to 20,000 fans in support for Jason Giambi's bid to join the Home Run Derby. The Yankee slugger has been on a hot streak since wearing facial hair.
While it sure would have been fun to get that collectible (I've always loved those game day freebies even if sometimes I couldn't get them as they were either for kids or for moms), the more important question is, does any believe that Giambi will not be allowed to participate? It's Yankee Stadium, darn it and they need token pinstriped participation.
Incidentally, this American summer marks the 100th anniversary of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
That's the chorus from that Tin Pan Alley song made popular by the Andrews Sisters. Only I didn't know that until I was well into my adult years. But I've always enjoyed it how everyone in the stadium would stand up and sing along complete with hand gestures when it comes to "for it's one, two, three strikes you're out."
It's not the Mexican Hat Dance, a stadium of arena fare for decades (and for the longest time, the only music you'd hear at the old Boston Garden before it was replaced by rock anthems, hip hop, and R&B) because it's way more lively and fulfilling.
I yearn for a lot of things. Some of which seems years from my grasp. So instead, I look for more earthly pursuits, ones I recall from my adventurous youth. I thought I'd be back in New York this time of the year and instead I took on a new job here. My timetable is like this, if I do get this job that I really like by October, then I guess, I'm staying for good. But if not, then I'm off soon after that.
By then the old Yankee Stadium will be rubble. It will take away some memories, but there's the new one next door with its very corporate feel. Along with traditions like singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" it won't take much to make new memories.
I've only been to Wrigley once and it was Hootie and the Blowfish's Darius Rucker who lead the crowd that day. That was some soulful rendition if I may say so. No, I didn't change my pinstriped loyalties, I was in the Windy City to stalk Michael Jordan. Hahahaha!
As the 72nd Annual Baseball All-Star Game kicks off at Yankee Stadium on July 14, I've been waxing nostalgic about the grand old game and some favorite haunts. As a kid, I so desperately wanted to go to a ballgame, eat hotdogs or Cracker Jacks, roar when the bugle sounds for "Charge," bring my mitt to catch a foul ball, and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." A game, any game a dad goes with his kid is like a communion of sorts. Something you take with you forever. I've kept every single ticket of every single baseball game I've been to. They're inside my closet along with some medals, trading cards, books, and other prized memorabilia I've spent a life collecting.
In yesterday's game between the Yankees and the division leading Tampa Bay Devil Rays, some 20,000 fake mustaches were distributed to 20,000 fans in support for Jason Giambi's bid to join the Home Run Derby. The Yankee slugger has been on a hot streak since wearing facial hair.
While it sure would have been fun to get that collectible (I've always loved those game day freebies even if sometimes I couldn't get them as they were either for kids or for moms), the more important question is, does any believe that Giambi will not be allowed to participate? It's Yankee Stadium, darn it and they need token pinstriped participation.
Incidentally, this American summer marks the 100th anniversary of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowds;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.
Take me out with the crowds;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.
That's the chorus from that Tin Pan Alley song made popular by the Andrews Sisters. Only I didn't know that until I was well into my adult years. But I've always enjoyed it how everyone in the stadium would stand up and sing along complete with hand gestures when it comes to "for it's one, two, three strikes you're out."
It's not the Mexican Hat Dance, a stadium of arena fare for decades (and for the longest time, the only music you'd hear at the old Boston Garden before it was replaced by rock anthems, hip hop, and R&B) because it's way more lively and fulfilling.
I yearn for a lot of things. Some of which seems years from my grasp. So instead, I look for more earthly pursuits, ones I recall from my adventurous youth. I thought I'd be back in New York this time of the year and instead I took on a new job here. My timetable is like this, if I do get this job that I really like by October, then I guess, I'm staying for good. But if not, then I'm off soon after that.
By then the old Yankee Stadium will be rubble. It will take away some memories, but there's the new one next door with its very corporate feel. Along with traditions like singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" it won't take much to make new memories.
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