Thanks are due to Emily for reminding me to post this picture as well. This picture gets a post to itself because this guy is pretty awesome. In June, Armando Galarraga was robbed of a perfect game because of a poor call by the umpire.
As most of you have probably read or seen, Galarraga responded in an incredibly gracious manner. The umpire also reacted when he realized the mistake he had made. The entire situation, as heart-breaking as it was, demonstrated great sportsmanship and character. Both Galarraga and Joyce (the umpire) will forever be remembered for their actions that day.
So, as I was standing outside Camden Yards last Friday night, I was stoked when I saw Armando Galarraga walk out the doors. Some players don't stop for pictures or autographs. Although he was out there meeting friends and maybe family, he graciously signed for the kids who asked and took a photograph with me. What a nice guy.
Today completed the 2010 baseball season for the Detroit Tigers. They finished at an even .500 record, which is more than mildly disappointing after the amazing first half of the season. Unfortunately, after sporatic injuries for the team---Guillen, Inge, Zumaya, Ordonez, and others---and quite the hitting slump for many (Boesch, what happened?), the team fell apart.
This last weekend of games was in Baltimore, so I was able to attend the final four games of the season. The Tigers dropped the first three but were able to take a victory in the final game. I sat watching my favorite player, Brandon Inge, play what might be his final game as a Tiger. What I didn't know until afterward is that Dombrowski had offered Inge a 2 year contract before the final game! So that was awesome.
But let's back up to before the final game because that's where my pretty-close-to-perfect day began. I made a sign that said, "Inge: Always a Tiger." See, that has been a slogan for the team for a couple years now (nevermind my picture of Granderson with the always a tiger slogan). I wanted Inge to know where his fans wanted him (well, this fan anyway), despite what the organization might do.
During warmups, I made my way to the edge of the field with my sign. After Inge was done warming up, he threw me a ball! This was the first time I'd ever gotten a ball from a player, and it was from my fav. Woo hoo! During the warmups, I also got a picture with Max St. Pierre, the Tigers' catcher who was called up this season after spending 14 years in the minors. During the game, Inge hit a 2-run homerun to tie the game (Tigers won 4-2), and had a great grab for the final out.
Thanks to my friend, Jay, who bought me the sweet seats behind the Tigers' dugout for my birthday. After the game, my friend Maegan and I headed to the Home Plate entrance (outside the stadium) where we waited for players. I said a loud good-bye to Jhonny Peralta, who laughed and waved. I then got my picture with both Valverde and Figaro.
What a fun day. The only thing that would've made the day better would be if Jay had actually been at the game having this much fun with me. Maybe next time!
Today I officially realized how out of shape I am. However, the beautiful part is that I discovered my condition while playing my favorite of all favorites... volleyball. I found an open volleyball about 25 minutes from my house on Wednesday nights from 8-10 for only $5. This makes me very very happy.
We played 2 on 3 and 3 on 2, and I really had a lot of fun. I can't wait for next week!
Cool Stuff I was there to see: 1. Sergei Fedorov scoring all 5 goals for the Wings. Red Wings won 5-4 2. Watching the Tigers defeat the Yankees in the ALDS to move on to the ALCS 3. Justin Verlander throwing a ho-hitter 4. All Star Home Run Derby 5. Seeing the Tigers win a game (the only one) in the World Series
(MLB) Baseball Stadiums I've been to: 1. Old Tiger Stadium 2. Old County Stadium (Milwaukee) 3. Comerica Park 4. RFK (Nats) 5. National Stadium 6. U.S. Cellular (White Sox) 7. Camden Yards (Orioles) 8. Yankee Stadium 9. Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati)
Hockey: 1. Joe Louis Arena 2. Verizon Center
Basketball: 1. Silverdome (old school Pistons) 2. The Palace 3. Milwaukee (don't know the name of the arena) 4. Verizon Center (Wizards)
Football: 1. Silverdome (Old school Lions) 2. Ford Field 3. FedEx Field
I think I was in 6th grade the first time I met Nathan King. He was my first crush. He was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen in my entire life. I was in love in a 6th grade kind of way. I found out he played hockey, so I decided I should like hockey. To my fortune, my dad and uncle were taking me to a hockey game. Even better, they had an extra ticket. I, of course, called Nathan King and invited him to go with me. I don't know if I even talked to him the whole night. I don't remember much about it at all.
The next day, I asked my older brother (who was Nathan's friend---that's how I knew Nathan) if he'd said anything about me at school. My brother let me know that Nathan said, "Your sister doesn't know anything about hockey, does she?" Well I never! At that point, I determined I was going to learn the game. The Nathan crush eventually dissipated (it took some time!), but I gained a love for hockey. I fell in love with the game.
It was the early 90's and the Detroit Red Wings weren't that great of a team, but they were the home team, so I began to follow them religiously. My uncle had season tickets, so on occasion, I'd be able to go to live games. When I couldn't go to games, I'd sit in front of the tv or next to the radio, vigorously taking stats of every play that happened. I was weird. :) As the 90's went on, the Red Wings ended up being a great team. They won the Stanley Cup in 1997 and 1998.
Sergei Fedorov was my favorite player throughout all of this. He was amazing. I was able to get his autograph a couple times, and I was pretty sure I'd just die, being in his presence. Teenage girls are weird. I was weird. I think I said that already. One time Sergei Fedorov scored all 5 goals in the game, including the game-winner in overtime. I was at that game, and I'm pretty sure it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Fedorov ended up being traded at some point, and I had moved to Florida, and my love for hockey kind of died away. It was a matter of distance, really. The deep passion was still there, but separation had not made the heart grow fonder.
I later replaced my hockey love with baseball love, and that love story continues today. But a couple weeks ago, my younger brother called to tell me some amazing news. Sergei Fedorov (who'd been to Anaheim and Columbus) had been traded to the Washington Capitals. All that leads to today, where I'm sitting on my couch on a Sunday afternoon, watching Sergei Fedorov play hockey for a team I cheer for. It's thrown me back into some happy times, mentally.
It really doesn't take much to make me smile. I'm simple like that. Hockey love is back.
Today completed the 2010 baseball season for the Detroit Tigers. They finished at an even .500 record, which is more than mildly disappointing after the amazing first half of the season. Unfortunately, after sporatic injuries for the team---Guillen, Inge, Zumaya, Ordonez, and others---and quite the hitting slump for many (Boesch, what happened?), the team fell apart.
