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-Digger's Daily-
Another week of sports news made headlines. Plenty to talk about from new ballparks to retiring legends.
GoodNew Yorkers were treated to the unveiling of new baseball stadiums. Yankee Stadium and Citi Field officially opened to tremendous fanfare. Unfortunately, both Yanks & Mets lost their inaugural regular season games.
Florida Marlins (10-1) hot start is turning heads. Florida has baseball's lowest payroll ($36,834,000 vs #1 Yankees $201,449,189). They're a great young team. This organization keeps rolling out baseball's brighest young stars. I've always admired how the Marlins were able to keep winning games year after year considering how they normally trade away star players due to tight budgets.
NBA & NHL Playoffs have begun. Early favorites in hoops seem to be Cleveland and Los Angeles Lakers. On the ice, Boston and San Jose try duplicating their regular season dominance. I'm thinking it'll be Lakers & Bruins as champs.
Rumors
NFL Draft begins this weekend (April 25). Rumors flying on what Detroit (0-16) will do with the leagues first pick? I wouldn't be surprised to see them deal off #1 for more picks which is exactly what this team needs. If they decide to go first, then their front office needs to get it right. Detroit has a young nucleus of players. 0-16 will be etched into the record books forever but these guys are only a couple of players away from becoming playoff challengers. All sorts of fantasy leagues are open for fans to guess how the draft unfolds.
Is it already hot seat time for Yankees Manager Joe Girardi? 2008 was his first year at the helm (replaced Joe Torre) and Yanks failed to make playoffs for the first time since 1994. Baseball's biggest payroll, new stadium, new monster free agents... if it doesn't fall into place soon, he could be MLB's first managing casualty of '09. 22-4 scalping by Indians couldn't have helped.
New York Giants shopping for a wide receiver. Rumors swirling around Cleveland's Blaylon Edwards. Giants need 2 speedsters for Manning. The coming days leading up to the NFL draft will be very interesting for many teams.
Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett is considering risking returning prematurely from his knee injury. Injuries suck, but KG would be foolish to risk his future. His injury is a great test for the C's to regroup. Many Championships have been won with stars injured on the sidelines.
Champs
The Masters handed out another Green Jacket. Angel Cabrera withstood a furious surge then fadaway by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to win his first Masters.
NASCAR's Mark Martin won the Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Phoenix (1st win of the season).
Hall of Fame former Oakland Raiders NFL Head Coach turned game commentator John Madden has called it a career after 30 years in the booth. As Raiders head coach, he became the youngest to win 100 regular season games. Retired from coaching due to ulcers after 7 division titles & 1976 Super Bowl victory. One of the most noted broadcasters and launched best selling video game (Madden NFL, EA Sports). I've always been a Madden fan. I'm going to miss is goofy in game comments and 8 legged Thanksgiving Day turkeys.
Chumps
New York Yankees, in their Stadium opening weekend, were embarrassed 22-4 by the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe's 14 run second inning was the most ever scored against the Yanks in a single inning. I'm betting the Joe Girardi stop watch has been set. If things don't get better in a hurry, he'll be gone (soon to be followed by GM Cashman). Their new $1.5-billion Stadium unleashed an MLB record 20 home runs (the most ever during an opening homestand at a new park). Apparent routine fly balls to right kept going and going and going... This can't be what the Yanks brass had in mind. Then again, maybe it was just their horrid pitching staff tossing up meatball after meatball.
New York Mets organization deserves chump status for failing to pay any sort of tribute to team history in new Citi Field. Most fan complaints have been how this new park seems more like a tribute to the Dodgers instead of the home team. Exec GM was lured onto local sports talk radio to field questions of fan concerns only to dig a deeper hole. Tax funded field fails to recognize the team for which it was supposed to be built. It's a mind boggling blunder.
RIP
Harry Kalas, a people's champion, died on April 13th. Kalas was a legend in the Philadelphia area, calling Phillies games since 1971. He was also known as the voice of NFL Films since 1977. There was never mistaking his voice for another.
Showing posts with label Citi Field. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Citi Field. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Mets Fans Revolt Against New Ballpark!
Visit All World All Sports
-Digger's Daily-
New York Mets fans have voiced major complaints about their new stadium. Fans flooded airwaves, blogs, newspapers and whatever other means to state their obvious disappointment and outrage over Citi Field. Most of the outrage is how there is no representation of any Mets history. I agree wholeheartedly (as previously blogged). No mention of former players, World Series Championships, Division Titles, legends, Hall of Famers, former owners, William Shea... you name it, and it's probably not found in Citi Field. But, there's plenty of Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. Might as well call this place Jackie Robinson Field. My friends and I felt like we were watching the Mets play a road game.
Next up on the growing list of concerns is plenty of obstructed view seats from upper levels, behind the left field wall and Pepsi Porch. Not only obstructed by beams, wires and the like... but, also from lack of direct views of the field. Even Mets commentators complained they can't tell if balls hit are fair or foul down the right field line unless they look at their television monitors.
Food service opening night was pitiful on the lower level. Fans are still complaining as Mets management tries to get a handle on how to speed things up. Long lines clog up corridors and keep fans away from live action. We had a tough time even finding vendors on foot selling sodas to fans in their seats. When I went for a Nathan's Hot Dog and a drink I stood on line for 15 minutes before walking around the entire lower level searching for shorter lines. NONE! Ok, this is just my pet peeve and probably can be chaulked up to growing pains. Right? Maybe not.
Here's a replay of WFAN's Mike Francesa interviewing Mets Executive Vice President of Business Operations Dave Howard. Howard fumbled through his answers. Many of his responses were either inaccurate or inept. Especially when he's a EVP.
Some of Howard's choice answers to concerns raised during the interview:
(On Citi being more of Dodgers than Mets)... “There is NO homage to the Dodgers! There is, an appropriate tribute to a great American, someone who singlehandedly probably did more for the advancement of civil rights in our country than anybody, and by the way did that in New York … so we think that’s entirely appropriate, we’re honored and proud to do it … Rachel Robinson is thrilled … it’s not about the Dodgers, it’s about Jackie Robinson and all he did for America …”
My response: Hey that's great. How about a tribute for the team this stadium was built for? Prior Champions? Honor the people who created the Mets organization? Later on Howard fumbled and stated something will be done down the road. COP OUT.
(On obstructed views)... “Here is the issue, this is with regard to seating in fair territory in the outfield, which is something different that we have at Citi Field, that we really did not have much of at Shea Stadium. … the reality is … a little seating we had in fair territory in the outfield at Shea Stadium did have some blind spots on the field, it is NOT obstructed. The way we characterize “obstructed” is if you have an obstruction, something in front of you — a beam, a pillar, something that’s blocking your view. That’s not the case here. It is a function of the geometry of the building. And it is a conscious decision that we made along with the designers and the architects, that we wanted people to be lower and closer to the field, and have great views, and great views of the action. By doing that in fair territory, you are going to have situations where you are going to lose certain blind spots in the deep outfield of those sections. That is something we understood to be a factor. It is true in every new ballpark that has seating in the outfield …”
My response: Someone should take him on a tour of Citi Field. Pictures from obstructed view seats have been photo'd and are all over the internet.
(On parking concerns and concession lines)... “Two significant things about the parking, number one is, we now operate it, and we think we’ll do a better job of driving a better customer experience with regard to parking. … parking will be a significantly better experience all the way around … from a concessions standpoint … based on the last four events … we have been setting records — not just Mets records, but records for Aramark — in terms of business that we have done, so there’s no question that this ballpark, especially with regard to the infrastructure, and the way we have designed the food and beverage and the merchandise layout, it has responded very well.”
My response: So what's your point? Better parking experience? Setting record food sales? Or, just that Mets are making a killing? The way everything is designed actually inhibits the free flow of foot traffic between the foul poles. Try it sometime David.
Well, that's enough griping on Citi Field. It is what it is. And, more importantly, what it is not!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Citi Field Opens to New Generation of Mets Fans!
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-Digger's Daily-
Say goodbye to rustic, old, run down, antiquated Shea Stadium. Citi Field officially opened last night as the new Mets home. New York's new stadium is an eye catcher. I was one of the fortunate fans to be at opening day. Citi's exterior design replicates an old NY favorite, Ebbets Field. It's entrance pays tribute to Jackie Robinson (Robinson Rotunda). Fan reaction has been wide ranging and thoroughly mixed.
Citi Field will provide the new generation many great memories. It's very pleasing to the eye. Each seat is angled for optimum field views. Fans can watch games from most locations while walking around the park. New field dimensions will challenge both hitters and fielders. Tall outfield walls, deep distances from home plate, Pepsi Porch in right field. Outstanding new centerfield scoreboard. And, yes, the Mets Big Apple was transported from Shea and now sits in center too. Better concession stands highlighted by Nathan's Franks and specialty foods. It really is a great place to watch a game.
Transportation couldn't be easier from rail accessability to parking. Security was in plain sight and plentiful. Even New York's finest were on hand using their most technological surveillance including bioligical warfare dectectors, helicopters and sharp shooters who were stationed in not so descrete locations.
For younger Mets fans... it's a great place soon to create memories spanning generations. They'll love it. Tradition rich older fans... it's tough love.
I've been thinking of how best to represent Citi Field in this brief blog. Most of my childhood baseball memories were from days spent rooting on my favorite New York team from great seats in Shea Stadium. At Shea, there was no mistaking it was home to the New York Mets. The famous scoreboard in right field was one of a kind when first built. Mets memories splashed everywhere within its' vast structure. Mets pennants blowing from flagpoles. Shea hosted some of baseball's most memorable moments. It also hosted many great venues from famous concerts to religious leaders. Let's not forget, this was also home for the New York Jets football team too.
I, and many others in attendance last night, had an overwhelming feeling while viewing the game. I felt as though I was watching the Mets in someone else's beautiful new home stadium. Los Angeles Dodgers players will love it. It was built more for old Dodger fans than old Mets fans. Mets Owner Fred Wilpon grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and it shows. More tribute was paid to Brooklyn than to the Mets. How odd!!!!
Citi Field barely displays the Mets name. I counted 4 places where the Mets were represented. 1) "Let's Go Mets!" on the scoreboard. 2) Big Apple in center. 3) A "few" banners buried outside the park. 4) 1969 & 1973 banners on one flag pole. That's it! Nothing, zero, nada on interior walkways, corridors. No Mets emblems. No pictures of current/former players. No World Series moments. No Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub or player tributes. Nothing to speak of for "Mets" history. Not even outfield fence colors represent the Mets!
Plenty of Dodgers stuff though. Laughable. Citi's main entrance features Robinson Rotunda filled with Jackie related "Brooklyn Dodgers" moments. Complete with engraved marble flooring, a huge Dodger Blue "42" (Robinson's uniform number) and plenty of Dodgers pictures in panoramic view. Interior walkways are filled with Ebbets Field references with no Mets themes. I appreciate the exterior design emulating Ebbets Field. A tribute to Robinson is also nice but NOT as the main attraction for a "New York Mets" team. In practical theory, there's absolutely no connection between Robinson and the Mets.
It's obvious to me Mets owner Fred Wilpon is still infatuated with Brooklyn Dodgers memories from his youth. Most Brooklynites from back then still rightfully hold their deep love and appreciation of their childhood Dodgers stars. However, with Citi, Wilpon seems to set aside the plain and simple fact this is home to the METS!
Funny little known fact is there's more of a historical Mets connection to the New York Giants. Mets first owners (Payson) were also co-owners of the Giants who fiercely opposed their moving to San Francisco. Giants director, Donald Grant, also voted against the move. He became the Mets Chairman of the Board. Mets team colors closely resembled Giants old Navy/Orange. Mets played their first two seasons in the Giants home (Polo Grounds).
A beautiful stadium with a sour taste. How can anyone build a new park which does not honor the home team for which it was built? I'm hoping additions will be made representing Mets history but don't expect to catch me blue in the face from holding my breath! Without some sort of team history, Citi Field is nothing more than a new generic ballpark.
As for the Mets first ever regular season home game. 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
-Digger's Daily-
Say goodbye to rustic, old, run down, antiquated Shea Stadium. Citi Field officially opened last night as the new Mets home. New York's new stadium is an eye catcher. I was one of the fortunate fans to be at opening day. Citi's exterior design replicates an old NY favorite, Ebbets Field. It's entrance pays tribute to Jackie Robinson (Robinson Rotunda). Fan reaction has been wide ranging and thoroughly mixed.
Citi Field will provide the new generation many great memories. It's very pleasing to the eye. Each seat is angled for optimum field views. Fans can watch games from most locations while walking around the park. New field dimensions will challenge both hitters and fielders. Tall outfield walls, deep distances from home plate, Pepsi Porch in right field. Outstanding new centerfield scoreboard. And, yes, the Mets Big Apple was transported from Shea and now sits in center too. Better concession stands highlighted by Nathan's Franks and specialty foods. It really is a great place to watch a game.
Transportation couldn't be easier from rail accessability to parking. Security was in plain sight and plentiful. Even New York's finest were on hand using their most technological surveillance including bioligical warfare dectectors, helicopters and sharp shooters who were stationed in not so descrete locations.
For younger Mets fans... it's a great place soon to create memories spanning generations. They'll love it. Tradition rich older fans... it's tough love.
I've been thinking of how best to represent Citi Field in this brief blog. Most of my childhood baseball memories were from days spent rooting on my favorite New York team from great seats in Shea Stadium. At Shea, there was no mistaking it was home to the New York Mets. The famous scoreboard in right field was one of a kind when first built. Mets memories splashed everywhere within its' vast structure. Mets pennants blowing from flagpoles. Shea hosted some of baseball's most memorable moments. It also hosted many great venues from famous concerts to religious leaders. Let's not forget, this was also home for the New York Jets football team too.
I, and many others in attendance last night, had an overwhelming feeling while viewing the game. I felt as though I was watching the Mets in someone else's beautiful new home stadium. Los Angeles Dodgers players will love it. It was built more for old Dodger fans than old Mets fans. Mets Owner Fred Wilpon grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and it shows. More tribute was paid to Brooklyn than to the Mets. How odd!!!!
Citi Field barely displays the Mets name. I counted 4 places where the Mets were represented. 1) "Let's Go Mets!" on the scoreboard. 2) Big Apple in center. 3) A "few" banners buried outside the park. 4) 1969 & 1973 banners on one flag pole. That's it! Nothing, zero, nada on interior walkways, corridors. No Mets emblems. No pictures of current/former players. No World Series moments. No Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub or player tributes. Nothing to speak of for "Mets" history. Not even outfield fence colors represent the Mets!
Plenty of Dodgers stuff though. Laughable. Citi's main entrance features Robinson Rotunda filled with Jackie related "Brooklyn Dodgers" moments. Complete with engraved marble flooring, a huge Dodger Blue "42" (Robinson's uniform number) and plenty of Dodgers pictures in panoramic view. Interior walkways are filled with Ebbets Field references with no Mets themes. I appreciate the exterior design emulating Ebbets Field. A tribute to Robinson is also nice but NOT as the main attraction for a "New York Mets" team. In practical theory, there's absolutely no connection between Robinson and the Mets.
It's obvious to me Mets owner Fred Wilpon is still infatuated with Brooklyn Dodgers memories from his youth. Most Brooklynites from back then still rightfully hold their deep love and appreciation of their childhood Dodgers stars. However, with Citi, Wilpon seems to set aside the plain and simple fact this is home to the METS!
Funny little known fact is there's more of a historical Mets connection to the New York Giants. Mets first owners (Payson) were also co-owners of the Giants who fiercely opposed their moving to San Francisco. Giants director, Donald Grant, also voted against the move. He became the Mets Chairman of the Board. Mets team colors closely resembled Giants old Navy/Orange. Mets played their first two seasons in the Giants home (Polo Grounds).
A beautiful stadium with a sour taste. How can anyone build a new park which does not honor the home team for which it was built? I'm hoping additions will be made representing Mets history but don't expect to catch me blue in the face from holding my breath! Without some sort of team history, Citi Field is nothing more than a new generic ballpark.
As for the Mets first ever regular season home game. 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Baseball's Opening Day.. Creating New Memories, Reliving Times Past!
All World All Sports
-Digger's Daily-
Major League Baseball's 2009 Opening Day is finally here!
Opening day has different meanings to millions of fans and players everywhere. New seasons intensify many emotions from pennant dreams to memories of times past on and off the field. Moments defined by "where were you when....?" events that changed or highlighted America's favorite pastime. Some of these historical "Where were you when's...?" include: Jackie Robinson's first game; Lou Gehrig's final game; Bobby Thompson's "Shot Heard Around the World"; 1969 Mets World Series; 1986 Mets Game 6 victory over Boston? Bucky "(expletive)" Dent? Roger Maris' 61st home run? 2004 Boston "Reverse the Curse" Red Sox stunning come from behind 4 games to 3 ALCS win over Yankees on their way to World Series Championship fame and glory. The list is endless.
In days of old, fans huddled around the nearest radio listening to their home team's opening game. Some kids ditching a school day to buy bleacher tickets. Even grown adults calling into work sick.
Today's technologies afford fans diverse opportunities to catch games from local and satellite radio, ESPN, MLBTV, podcasts, local tv etc. Fans no longer need to miss school or work for a front row seat to watch the action.
My all time favorite moment used to be having a catch with my dad. Every opening day we would either stand in our yard or head to local park and play catch. Sometimes it was early in the morning before school or after he returned home from a long day of work... there was rarely a moment either one of us passed up an opportunity to burn a few fastballs at each other.
Those days are long gone. 2009 is a new year, a new season. New memories will be made for millions of fans and players. So go ahead parents... have a catch with your kid(s). In years to come today's memories will become new "where were you when...?" questions.
An exciting season for New Yorkers. Both teams have tremendous brand new state of the art stadiums. Yankee Stadium and Citi Field will be the talk of the town for a new generation of baseball in the Big Apple.
-Digger's Daily-
Major League Baseball's 2009 Opening Day is finally here!
Opening day has different meanings to millions of fans and players everywhere. New seasons intensify many emotions from pennant dreams to memories of times past on and off the field. Moments defined by "where were you when....?" events that changed or highlighted America's favorite pastime. Some of these historical "Where were you when's...?" include: Jackie Robinson's first game; Lou Gehrig's final game; Bobby Thompson's "Shot Heard Around the World"; 1969 Mets World Series; 1986 Mets Game 6 victory over Boston? Bucky "(expletive)" Dent? Roger Maris' 61st home run? 2004 Boston "Reverse the Curse" Red Sox stunning come from behind 4 games to 3 ALCS win over Yankees on their way to World Series Championship fame and glory. The list is endless.
In days of old, fans huddled around the nearest radio listening to their home team's opening game. Some kids ditching a school day to buy bleacher tickets. Even grown adults calling into work sick.
Today's technologies afford fans diverse opportunities to catch games from local and satellite radio, ESPN, MLBTV, podcasts, local tv etc. Fans no longer need to miss school or work for a front row seat to watch the action.
My all time favorite moment used to be having a catch with my dad. Every opening day we would either stand in our yard or head to local park and play catch. Sometimes it was early in the morning before school or after he returned home from a long day of work... there was rarely a moment either one of us passed up an opportunity to burn a few fastballs at each other.
Those days are long gone. 2009 is a new year, a new season. New memories will be made for millions of fans and players. So go ahead parents... have a catch with your kid(s). In years to come today's memories will become new "where were you when...?" questions.
An exciting season for New Yorkers. Both teams have tremendous brand new state of the art stadiums. Yankee Stadium and Citi Field will be the talk of the town for a new generation of baseball in the Big Apple.
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