USC Trojan Blowout.

University of Southern California v University of Virginia, August 30, 2008

Scott Stadium, Sec 521 Row J



Tailgating in Charlottesville had it's fair share of USC fans. It was the season opener for both teams. USC had their sights set on another national championship. Mission Viejo's Mark Sanchez was the starting QB for the Trojans.

Sanchez threw three touchdown passes in his first game as the Trojans' true No. 1 quarterback on Saturday, leading third-ranked USC to a 52-7 victory against Virginia.

Just more than three weeks removed from a dislocated kneecap that kept him out of practice until this week, Sanchez showed no ill effects. He was 26-for-35 for 338 yards and directed the Trojans on three touchdown drives in the first 11 minutes. They rolled from there.

"It's exciting to know I got one under my belt with this whole knee deal," he said. "I'm back to 100 percent. I feel good and we're ready to start preparing for Ohio State."

While Sanchez plans to spend some of that time continuing the rehabilitation that sparked his remarkable recovery, it may be that coach Pete Carroll uses it to tweak some things.

The offense, for example, to make use of Sanchez's resourcefulness in the pocket.

"That's an exciting aspect of our offense that I felt like we didn't have the last couple of years," Carroll said, recalling a play when Sanchez ducked under a pass rusher and stepped into a long ball that hit wide open Ronald Johnson in the end zone for a 49-yard TD play.

"I think we all sense it," Carroll said, "and we've been excited about it."

The Trojans lead 21-0 very quickly and weren't tested, allowing Carroll to keep the offense simple in advance of their home game against the No. 2 Buckeyes in two weeks. Even this early in the season, the matchup figures to greatly impact the championship race.

Boston Braves v Boston Red Sox

Atlanta Braves v Boston Red Sox, August 29, 1997

Fenway Park, Sec 7 Row SS

Before Interleague play lost it's luster.

Boston was abuzz with the Braves first return to Boston since leaving town after the 1952 season. There were still people around in Boston who remembered the Boston Braves. The Atlanta Braves wore retro 1950's uniforms with a Boston "B" on the hat. The Red Sox wore unis from 1918. This was the first game of a 3 game series.


The 3rd place Red Sox sent Aaron Sele to the mound to face John Smoltz. The first six batters of the game were retired. It wasn't until Fred McGriff's lead off home run in the 2nd did anyone reach base. The pitchers had command of the game early on.

The Braves broke Sele's rhythm in the 6th and he was replaced by releiver Joe Hudson. Ryan Klesco and Greg Colbrunn's RBI's gave the "Boston" Braves a 5-0 lead.

With a 9-0 score going into the bottom of the 9th the Red Sox Reggie Jefferson hit a home run to over the Monster. The Braves beat the Red Sox 9-1 that evening before 32,577 who packed the park.

USA USA

Seattle Mariners v New York Yankees, August 29, 1998

Yankee Stadium, BLCH GA

Bleacher seats on a sunny August afternoon in the Bronx. It didn't get much better than that. My brother in law and myself took our boys to the game. New words were learned and the boys and they boys may have been exposed to boobies for the first time. We had a flasher sitting in front of us. Chants were resounding prompting her to lift her top up. Being she was so close to 3 young boys she began to protest because of the close proximity of our boys. It didn't take long for total strangers to approach our boys offering them money to buy themselves ice cream or sodas. When they left, the top came up. It made a cheap day for us in the best seats in the house.

Andy Pettite started for the Yanks this day. Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neil got themselves on base in the bottom of the first. Bernie Williams was able to knock in Jeter for a quick 1-0 lead. They added 5 more in the 2nd with RBIs from Scott Brosius, Joe Girardi, Bernie Williams and Darryl Strawberry. And the scoring continued in the 3rd when Williams knocked in Derek Jeter, who reached base on a error. Strawberry hit a home run in the 4th as did Derek Jeter. It was 11-0 going into the 5th.

The Mariners didn't get on to the board until Ken Griffey hit a home run to deep right center with no one on. The Mariners Alex Rodriquez also hit one out in the 7th.

It was a typical 3+ hour Yankee game. After the game we retreated to Stan's, across the street from the stadium. The championship game of the Little League World Series was just beginning. A local team, Toms River, NJ was the local favorite. The excitement level inside the bar erupted with chants of "USA USA" everytime Toms River did anything.

Caminetti 3 for 4

Houston Astros v Philadelphia Phillies, August 29, 1991

Veterans Stadium, Section 314 Row 11

A sparsely attended Thursday night game with just over 20,000 on hand. The Phils Dann Cox took the mound against Mark Portugal for the Astros. The Astros got to Cox early with a Craig Biggio triple followed by a Ken Caminetti RBI single for a 1-0 lead in the 1st.

Jeff Bagwell and Caminetti drove in 3 more Astro runs in the 3rd. Danny Cox isn't the only Phillies pitcher Caminetti was tagging this evening. The Phils brought in Joe Boever, The Saver in relief. Caminetti drove in Steve Finley in the 7th for a 5-0 lead.

Going into the bottom of the 9th with a 5-0 lead, Mark Portugal seemed in control of the game. He gave up a too little/too late lead off home run to Wes Chamberlain. Portugal held on to a complete game win.

Star of the game Ken Caminetti died on October 4, 2004 of “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates". Prior to his death he admitted to using steroids during his playing days.

Long Ball Night

Los Angeles Dodgers v Washington Nationals, August 28, 2008

Nationals Park, Section 104 Row F

Manny Ramirez begins making the rounds in the National League. The struggling Dodgers already lost 6 in a row coming into this game. They were in 2nd place in the West 3 1/2 games back heading into September. John Lannen took to the mound against Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers are one of my girl's favorite teams so she got to go to the game with me.

With Andre Ethier on first Manny Ramirez hit a long shot over the left center fene jumping the Dodgers out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Cristian Guzman and Elijah Dukes both responded with home runs in the bottom half of the inning for the Nats. Kershaw only lasted 2 1/3 innings before the Dodgers had to reach into the bullpen. Dukes hit another one out in the 7th and had a total of 4 RBIs for the evening. Guzman tripled in the 8th.

26,338 were on hand to see the last place Nats beat the Dodgers 11-2 for their 3rd straight win.

Lonesome George

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, August 26, 2007

Toads Place, General Admission

A club show. A good 26 years separated this show from the 1st time I saw these guys live. They did not seem to lose a step.

Toad's just opened and there were questions if the obstructive state ABC board would grant a liquor license to the place before the show. In the 11th hour one miraculously appeared. Yet the bar staff was woefully ill prepared to serve.