Infield Tailgate

Pontiac 400, May 6, 1998


Richmond International Raceway, Infield Seating

My brother in law had infield passes so we loaded up the truck and pulled into the infield.  My first time seeing a race from this vantage point.  The infield in Richmond sit down below the race surface in the corners as it is a banked track.  You really get an appreciation for how high the bank is when looking at it from the bottom.

Pre race they trot all the drivers around one by one in convertible cars.  A few driver draw loud applause like Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin.  Jeff Gordon was reigned on with boos.  Almost to the point that it was uncomfortable.  Today, Gordon has lost that crybaby label.  Many other new drivers have taken the whiners torch passed on to them .

There was a wood photographer platform constructed at the end of Turn 1.  After being around the fence for hours a photographer asked my son if he wanted to come up on the tower with him.  He did and also go to witness a Jeff Gordon wall rub/crash in that corner.  The same crash photo appeared on the front page of the local Sunday paper the next day.  The photo was taken by the guy who took my son up on the tower.

Results:

Terry Labonte
Dale Jarrett
Rusty Wallace
Ken Schrader
Mark Martin

Wailers No Marley

The Wailers, June 4, 2008

Innsbrook Pavilion, GA

I already seen the Wailers some about 8 years earlier.  It was an OK show.  The year prior I took the family to Jamaica.  The oldest boy got into Bob Marley (and probably some of the habits that go along with liking Bob Marley.  So I offered to take him to see the Wailers.

I guess he was excited.  The band came on.  A few of the songs were old Wailers staples.  It really wasn't a good show but I did not want to disappoint him so pretended to have a good time.

Near the end I asked him how they sounded.  He said they suck.  I asked him if he wanted to leave early before the encore.  He turned and started walking towards the exit without even answering.

Stanley Cup FINALS Game 4

Chicago Blackhawks v Philadelphia Flyers, June 4, 2010

Wachovia Center, Sec 217 Row 15

This season the Flyers needed an OT shootout in the final game of the year just to secure a playoff spot.
Then they proceeded to take a couple series to 7 games before advancing. 

We traveled into town in a pick up, set up a tent along the fence at Broad Street, unloaded the cooler, stereo and Molson Canadians and settled in for a 4 hour tailgate.  A few hours later a guy pulled up with his truck, opened the doors and started cranking Sirus radio.  Now I'm a huge fan of Sirius but tonight was a night for local radio.  The rock stations were here, the atmosphere was Philly all the way this 40 year old teenager with a jacked up pickup, amp and sub woofers overtakes the entire section with satellite radio. 

I had a life size blow up Stanley Cup hanging in the tent.  A local ESPN radio channel came and took photos for their website.  They ended up never posting any Stanley Cup Final pix. 


We went inside and sucked up the atmosphere.  CBC had their broadcast team had a stage set up at one of the entrances.  I'm a huge fan of Hockey Night in Canada so I was like a little kid watching them.

The national anthem was electric.  American TV usually runs commercials during national anthems.  Canadian TV celebrates the moment.  Lauren Hart did a rendition of God Bless America.  I never heard this barn so loud.

So the ends, the Flyers tie up the series.  The place erupted.  The eruption carried out into the concourse and into the parking lot.  After we came down the huge escalator we were still wandering around not wanting to leave.  I looked up at the escalators banks and noticed no one was on them.  People were hanging over the railing from the top level and from the luxury suite level yelling and chanting.

Then it occurred to me.  The security guard at the top stopped a single guy in a Blackhawks jersey and allowed the escalator to clear.  Then they sent him to the wolves by making him lead the crowd down the escalator.  The place went nuts booing and cursing at the guy.  I felt no remorse.  The mob ate this guy up.

Date Uncertain

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, June 3, 1984

Capital Center, Sec 221  Row M

My first live Springsteen show.  It was summer while I was in college.  I lived in Philadelphia but hooked up with a friend who attended William and Mary College in Virginia.
I remember the seats sucking, the building sucking but the sound was good.  This show is known for a rare playing of "Be True".

At the time I remember reading after the tour in a newsletter I got called Backstreets that they ranked this show in the Top 10 of the Tour.

01 Born in the USA
02 Out in the Street
03 Spirit in the Night
04 Atlantic City
05 Open All Night
06 Nebraska
07 Trapped
08 Prove It All Night
09 Glory Days
10 The Promised Land
11 My Hometown
12 Darkness on the edge of town
13 Badlands
14 Thunder Road
15 Hungry Heart
16 Dancing in the Dark
17 Cadillac Ranch
18 Sherry Darling
19 No Surrender
20 Be True
21 Cover Me
22 Growin' Up
23 Bobby Jean
24 Racing in the Street
25 Rosalita (Come out tonight)
26 Jungleland
27 Born to Run
28 Detroit Medley
29 Twist and Shout

Instant Success

Harrisburg Senators v Richmond Flying Squirrels, June 3, 2010

The Diamond, Sec 104 Row G

Richmond just recently lost the AAA Braves to Gwinnet, Georgia.  The Braves floundered in Richmond for years with no attempts to market the product or keep up with the minor league entertainment game.
The stadium was outdated so they entered into negotiations with the city.  The city council and mayor at the time, Douglas Wilder, were not really equipped for the job.  Negotiations broke off so the Braves fled.

Enter 2 season later the Flying Squirrels.  A relocation from Connecticut.  New owners, new blood, new vision, new attitude.

What the Braves couldn't do for over a decade, win over customers, the Squirrels figured out before the first pitch was thrown. 

The Richmond Flying Squirrels couldn't hold an early lead and endured their fifth consecutive defeat, 4-3, at the hands of the Harrisburg Senators in front of 6,444 on Thursday night at The Diamond. The Senators waited through a 40-minute rain-delay at the outset of the ballgame to complete a three-game sweep of the Squirrels.
The Squirrels opened the scoring in the first inning against Harrisburg right-hander Brad Meyers. Meyers started his night with a walk to Darren Ford. Brandon Crawford followed and moved Ford around to third with a single on the hit-and-run through the left-side of the infield. Conor Gillaspie gave the Squirrels the early lead with a fielder's choice grounder that forced Crawford.

Harrisburg quickly leveled the ballgame with a run against Squirrels' right-hander David Mixon in the second inning. For the third consecutive ballgame, Chris Marrero doubled to start the second frame. He scored to tie the game when Michael Martinez doubled down the right-field line a batter later.

Meyers again got Richmond started in the bottom of the second as he walked the lead-off batter, Clay Timpner. Michael Ambort singled behind him and Tyler La Torre recorded an infield-single to load the bases with nobody out. Ryan Lormand sent a come-backer to the mound that Meyers handled easily but threw wildly to the plate, allowing Timpner to score. Darren Ford brought home Ambort a batter later with a soft-liner that was played into a fielder's choice and Richmond enjoyed a 3-1 advantage.

Meyers' pitch-count ballooned in the second inning, and he was removed following the frame. He was charged with three runs - one earned - on three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Mixon cruised trouble-free from the second to the sixth, but ran into trouble there. Marrero again sparked the uprising, singling with one out in the inning. Edgardo Baez followed with a single to put two aboard for Martinez. He drilled a three-run home run to right field to turn the game around and hand Harrisburg the lead, 4-3.

Mixon (5-3) lasted six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Martinez's home run doomed him to his third loss of the season.

Of the six hurlers that Harrisburg used on the night, it was left-hander Chuck James (2-0) that earned the win. He was sensational for four innings, allowing no runs and just one hit. Zech Zinocola worked a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the season. (courtesy: oursportscentral.com)

Perfect Day Ruined

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox, June 3, 1989

Fenway Park Sec 24, Row ?

Tickets from this period were printed on paper with an old fax paper ink.  The ink wears off eventually.  I can see Section 24 but not the row or seat number.


Another Saturday day game at Fenway.  83 degrees and sunny.  Nothing better.  33,942 agree. The 3rd place Sox hosting the 6th place Jays.

The Jays bats were not kind to pitcher Mike Boddicker.  He gave up 9 hits and 5 earned runs and was yanked in the 6th.  His replacement, Dennis Lamp, didn't fare much better against the hot Toronto bats. 

Boston's Wade Boggs and Ellis Burks each had 2 hits for the Olde Town Team.  Fred McGriff hit a solo home run off Boddicker in the 6th inning.

For a 12-3 final there was only one long ball in the game.  I remember leaving Fenway with an empty feeling