The Yankees Have Left The Building...

Change…sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s just change. This week, there will be a LOT of changing going on. Let me start with something that made me cry (yea we know I do that at the drop of a hat, because I’m a Pisces – not because I’m a girl thank you very much!) I went to Yankee Stadium yesterday for the final game.

OH MY GOD! The House That Ruth Built closed the doors for the final time last night. Over 54,000 fans watched our beloved Yankees beat the Orioles, 7-3. YEA!

Something that will never change about fans of the New York Yankees: pride, tradition and most of all, we are the greatest fans in the world.


The day started with fans having the ability to walk the grounds, which is unheard of. You actually had the opportunity to touch the walls, feel the dirt (just don’t take any), and look up into the stands and for a moment, imagine yourself as a player looking at all your fans. If you ever wanted to see a grown man cry, it was yesterday. The feeling of good-will was overwhelming.
The pre-game started with so many former players on hand, Bernie Williams (who received the loudest and longest ovation), Whitey Ford, Willie Randolph, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage just to name a few.

So many memories that are within these walls:
Babe Ruth’s 60th Homerun in 1927; Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in 1938, Lou Gehrig’s memorialized speech in 1933; Sandy Amoros’s winning catch, and Jackie Robinson’s stealing home base in 1955; Pele played with the Cosomos in 1977; Reggie Jackson’s three homers in the 1977 World Series; David Wells perfect game 1998; A-Rod’s 500th in 2007. It's the place where Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, John Philip Sousa and Pink Floyd, Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi, Billy Graham, 3 Popes, Nelson Mandela, John F. Kennedy and a ton of others have stood in this park and made their mark in history.

Yankee Stadium isn't just a ballpark; it’s MY ballpark. Of course I had to share the last game with the number one man in my life. My dad ROCKS!! I often say I was his son, until they had one. Along with teaching me to be strong and independent, he also taught me to change the oil in my car, hit a baseball, shoot a basketball, he tired to teach me to fish however, I draw the line with worms real or plastic YUCK!! We also share a passion for all sports (even though he is a Mets Fan). We call each other during commercials; during the play-offs, the Superbowl, Dancing with the Stars, and sometimes it’s so often, my mom just says “Hi”, and then passes the phone to him. Yup…a daddy’s girl!! Of course as I was at the ballpark, I called to share this with him. Yes your final game T-Shirt is in the mail. ☺

The new stadium is right across the street and it’s ‘pretty’, but it has no real character yet. I know New Yorkers…we are a pretty tough bunch. We tend to run the spectrum of emotions, yet we are loyal to the end. No matter how much we balk, we are die-heard fans. However, I would suspect that it will take something pretty amazing to have us fall in love immediately with this new ‘house’, say a championship in 2009 – hint, hint.


As I said, this week will be a week of changes and where one door closes, I hope and pray a new one, a good one opens. I will miss the old Yankee Stadium and regret not going to enough games. I do look forward to a new chapter in their book; I’m sure it will add to the new chapter in mine.

GO YANKEES!!!

The week before the 4th and so much to do

I can't even begin to tell you how many things are happening in NY this weekend, so I'll just tell you what I've been able to do.

First of all - it's H-O-triple-T!! The humidity is really oppressive and it's really getting me down. You can't walk more than a block before you feel like you need to take a shower. Thank God I don't have any place to be, so I can afford to wait for a less crowded train or bus. I've come to find out that even when multiple brands of deodorant are on sale at Duane Reade or CVS, some people still won't make the purchase. (I wonder if this is yet another reflection of our 'failing' economy??)

I began my Saturday trek as early as possible with every good intention to get back home early. I'll tell you now, that didn't work. At 8:30 in the morning it was already 84degrees. I hoped on the bus which was (thank god!) air conditioned, and then the train.

From my vantage point going over the Manhattan bridge I could see the water installation by Olafur Eliasson—the guy who installed a giant artificial sun in London’s Tate Modern and dyed rivers in Germany, L.A., and Tokyo bright green. A project called "The New York City Waterfalls" definitely puts Niagara Falls to shame. Well, maybe that's a bit over the top considering this is just a temporary, and Niagara Falls has been there for - well forever. It was amazing, although not so good for shooting via train movement. There are several locations in NY. (The photo to the right is Courtesy of the Public Art Fund /© Olafur Eliasson, 2008)

Between Piers 4 and 5 near the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge, Governor's Island and Pier 35 near the Manhattan Bridge. I'm going to try to see them all before the instillation closes. It will be here June 26 - October 13. Check back again to see if I'm able to get any good shots at night.

My next stop was to Rockefeller Center home of the skating rink in the winter, but todays attraction is by internationally renowned artist Chris Burden, a new sculpture entitled "WHAT MY DAD GAVE ME." It is an amazingly sturdy 65-foot-tall skyscraper made entirely of toy construction parts. It is installed at the Fifth Avenue entrance to Rockefeller Center's Channel Gardens, between 49th and 50th Streets, and the exhibition runs from June 10 through July 19.

It is really very cool to look at and amazing that with some of the rain/wind storms we've had lately that it hasn't toppled. I guess they have better construction than some of the 'real' buildings here in the city.



As I walked across the street to one of my favorite stores SAKS Fifth Avenue I realized that their window displays were different. I give them a lot of credit for being 'aware' and supporting HIV/Aids awareness. They had some of the quilts in their window and I know these photo's don't do them justice. If you ever have an opportunity to view the quilts in person please do. They are as beautiful as they are unique. Each reflects the personality of the person that has died because of this cruel disease. To see them spread out on the DC Mall, you would have to be beyond heartless not to be moved. More than that, if you ever have an opportunity to do something (run a race, do the AIDS walk) do so.



I have a great friend who is participating in the "Break The Cycle race again this year. What is this? Breaking The Cycle is a three day, 275 mile bike trek from Gettysburg VA. to Manhattan. The ride is from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2008. I was at the NYC finish line last year which is located at "The Center." The Center provides nearly 700 counseling sessions for over 500 people living with HIV/AIDS as well as provides leadership training in HIV prevention. I can't begin to tell you the energy, joy and relief on the faces of the riders as they rode past the finish line. I was and am VERY proud of Barry as he does his part to help end AIDS.

At this point, it's getting hotter and I'm really tired but I can't not talk about a piece of NY history that is taking place this weekend. The NY Yankees vs. NY Mets (guess which one is my favorite). This is the last subway series ever to be played at the old Shea Stadium so that's really sad. The short version on why it's called the Subway series, is because you take the train from Shea in the Queens, to Yankee in Bronx and the fastest way is through...you guessed it...the subway. A series actually happens when you have a game at one location in the early afternoon, and the next game - same day at the other location at night. I'm sure there will be some sports fanatic that will write me that's not the real reason, but hey...it gets the point across.

NY always willing to be among the growing group of artists created these Statue of Liberties which are all around the city. Better than the cows we had a few years ago, and almost as nice at the "Apples" that are still around.

Well, that was my Saturday. Sunday, I'm heading out now to go to the Fancy Food Show at the Javitz Center. Can't wait to eat my way through 2000 food vendors. More tomorrow.

Don’t let the NBA Draft fool you

Today, I went to my favorite Pub-Grub place Dukes in Greenwich Village. It was PACKED!!! I wondered why and then saw the TV…The Final Four Basketball game.

So I walked in, it was filled with men…not necessarily a bad thing. 5 televisions all focused on the UCLA/Memphis game. I looked around and realized I was the only woman (sans the waitresses) who was there one of the 45-50 that was really enjoying the game.

My love of sports came from my dad (yes a proud member of the “Daddy’s Girl” club). When I was younger, I felt like the son he always wanted (I was there washing the car, changing the oil etc.) until my brother was born (10 yrs later). I was a tomboy yet could ‘clean-up well’. Most guys loved the fact that I was as passionate about sports as they were. I was a good date.

Going to a Big-East school, only fueled my passion for the game. As a member of the track team, we were the only ones allowed into the gym while the basketball players practiced. Why? We shared the gym and locker rooms. Being a commuter school inside our sizeable gym was where we practiced during the winter because running in the snow…not an option. Over 85% of the guys were headed to the pro’s, the rest went to the European Leagues and yes, dating a basketball player also had its benefit. So what caused me to write about Basketball today? Pure nostalgia.

Yes, I’m feeling my age. More than that, I looked at this game, these particular players and saw - youth. I looked at the cheerleaders and remembered the time I fell off the shoulders of my 6’4” spotter…OUCH!! A time where the future is a promise not yet fulfilled. I marveled at the energy, their determination and yes some of them had tattoos. That’s the only thing I really hated seeing (but that’s a blog for another day).

I guess the bottom line is that I know that the NCAA has tightened up their rules, but there are people out there (again, you know who you are) who will try to take advantage of these young men. They dangle the almighty dollar, fame and all the women you can handle. The smart ones finish school; continue to play for the love of the game and the rest is a bonus. The others begin to believe they are invincible, believe what their ‘boys’ are telling them. As we say in the business…”They begin to believe their own press.” Just take a look at the proposed draftees, only 7 out of 30 are either in their junior or senior year. Why isn’t the NBA putting a limit on this??

The bottom line, if you’re good, you will have amazing things happen in your career. If you are smart, you will save some money for the day when you can no longer play. If you can understand there is a possibility that you may get injured and never play again you will not leave school early, because that degree will provide you with a back-up option. I’m not saying don’t have fun. Shoot, right now I wish I could have some fun, cuz this grown-up stuff sucks!! I am saying that you’ve come too far to be blinded by the moment. Derrick Rose, I know you’re the supposed #1 draft pick but you’re just a freshman. Finish school…the NBA will be there. Please remember, you’re only as valuable to them as long as your knees work (Patrick), and you have star quality (Mike, Shaq). Create a future value for your self, I promise you; you won’t play for the rest of your life. You will get old and some days, and it will seem sooner than you expect.
So just look at all the views, all the options, and make the right choice. Good Luck!

Disclaimer: Yes I do know these guys, and no I didn’t date the above 3 mentioned.