Agnew's Mind He's got a long journey ahead of him.

19 Inning Facebook Convo..

    by Jon Hassinger

We started talking right after Howard hit the game-saving homerun to center, in the bottom of the 10th inning....

Matt Dziewit:
Howard, Ryan....

50 of 240..(jump from the 10th inning to somewhere in the 17th...

Matt Dziewit: Could you imagine being there? They cut off beer like 2.5 hours ago?
Jon Hassinger no. i'd be in the parking lot or at chickie's and pete's by now.
Jon Hassinger: dusty baker and charlie have to be falling asleep

Matt Dziewit: even the nitroutous tanks are out....

Jon Hassinger: hahahahahaa...they were out by the bottom of the 10th.
Jon Hassinger: r u kidding me!??!?!?!?!??!??!?!??!??!??
Jon Hassinger pop ups!?!??!?!

Matt Dziewit: This is history....
Matt Dziewit: can't go to bed now

Jon Hassinger nope....i'll go to work late tomorrow.
Jon Hassinger: i am running out of wine..
Jon Hassinger: oh wait...there are a few beers in the fridge!
Matt Dziewit: hahahaha Yes, I am drinking a good one... Arrogant Bastard Ale... 7.2%
Matt Dziewit: This is Flyers/Pens in 2000....
Jon Hassinger: r u kidding me, J-Roll ???....Dick Clark of SS

Matt Dziewit Seriously.... Jimmmy has all but won it....

Jon Hassinger Flyers/Pens - 6 OTs

Matt Dziewit: Damn.... Don't get tired Baez
Matt Dziewit: Sh#&
Matt Dziewit: ahahhahaha Baez has 68 pitches!!!!!
Jon Hassinger: jimmy!!...and howard with so many scoops!
Jon Hassinger: Are you kidding me ?
Jon Hassinger ‎556 total pitches in this game..
Jon Hassinger ‎18 innings - Carlos' knees are bleeding.
Matt Dziewit: wow
Matt Dziewit it's officially a double header....
Matt Dziewit: Whew...............................................................................................

Jon Hassinger: unreal, man...

Matt Dziewit: Since Cole or Roy is not throwing....it looks like Valdez will be pitching next inning!!!! Ruiz will be a 2nd......

Jon Hassinger: UNreal....no way we get through next inning

Matt Dziewit: No way
Matt Dziewit: it would be a miracle....
Matt Dziewit: Jimmy wins it in the 19th
Matt Dziewit Look at Chooch!!!!
Matt Dziewit: ‎86 mph?
Matt Dziewit: Do you believe it??!?
Matt Dziewit: This is it
Matt Dziewit: J ROLL
Matt Dziewit: In the end..........................Jimmy won it!!!!!!!! Valdez gets the win!!!!!!
Jon Hassinger: WORTH EVERY SECOND
Jon Hassinger: so glad we did this together, man. It's 1:30am...A bottle of wine, 4 beers, and 19 innings later..
Jon Hassinger: historic
Jon Hassinger: ‎6 hours and 11 minutes
Jon Hassinger: GOODNIGHT

Matt Dziewit: Goodnight indeed....
Matt Dziewit: Good morning
Matt Dziewit: Valdez with the pie to the face.....

“We live in a society…!”

    by Jon Hassinger

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110518/us_yblog_thelookout/loud-cell-phone-talker-removed-from-quiet-car-by-police

I was thoroughly impressed with the response the country had to this story.

Too many times am I let down by the masses' reaction to when someone is punished for not only ignoring rules, but for also being a social retard.

In this case, a woman found it acceptable to speak on her cell phone, for an entire 16 hour ride from Oakland to Salem, on the "quiet-car" of the train.

I don't care if it's the "loud-car" of the train, who the hell talks for 16 hours straight?? I can promise you I have never done ANYTHING for 16 hours straight. Maybe sleep, over a Christmas break during my college years. Or party at one of the Penn State St. Patrick's Day celebrations. But that's it.

This person need not be removed from society, but from cell-phone use. She should not be able to own or use a cell-phone. All cell-phone providers should be made aware of her, and if she tries to open an account, she goes to jail.

OK...maybe that is extreme. But what is the sense in having rules if there are no consequences for breaking them?

Why can't you just text back and forth??
Who cares what that "intelligent" conversation consisted of, but what is it about loud-mouthed public cell-phone talkers that drive, according to this article, 77% of us, nuts?

Well, for starters, when you choose to sit on the "quiet car", it's because whatever you're going through that day in life, you need silence. You need to think, read, study, or just sit in peace. Then, in walks Lakeysha Beard...who's name could not be more perfect...and talks on her phone, for 16 hours!!

So obviously on the surface, rule-breakers suck...They suck bad. Especially when the rule is: Don't be an obnoxious idiot. You would think that is a simple rule to follow.

Secondly, while your trying to sleep, study, read, etc. you can't. You're actually forced to make an effort do to something that is usually quite effortless. They're a distraction where distraction is not allowed.

And that is why public cell-phone talkers are just overall horrible.

But it goes deeper than that.

What about when you're standing in line at Chipotle, and the nerdy business dude(i call them 'dude', because at this point they're all my age, and I refuse to call people my age, business men)? IN LINE - At one of the loudest, most crowded fast-food joints in the world, on their phones, saying things like, "Lots of equity...quarter to quarter....pro-active....reach out....stay in touch....keep me posted...average sales...blah blah blah!"

Shut up. Order your food. Then get into a private place, and talk all you want about share-holders and 401Ks...

I think it just comes down to what we feel we have control over listening to, and what we don't.

Think about it, for the most part, we have a lot of control over what we listen to. If there is an annoying sound, there are many ways to get rid of it...
Car alarm. bad song. annoying commercial jingle. For the most part, we can eliminate bothersome sounds from our environment.

So I guess when loud-mouth Lakeysha and nerdy business dude start blabbing away, we instantly have an urge to shut them up.

Not like it's Morgan Freeman breaking the rules on the "quiet-car".

Hopefully, we'll get a 100% approval on the survey taken after Lakeysha is punched in the face for not only breaking the rules of an establishment, but of society.

What kind of cell phone battery lasts 16 hours?

Reasons for My Top 30 of ALL TIME.

    by Jon Hassinger

1.)Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones – I was around 13. I don’t remember the exact date, but I remember exactly where I was. It was Saturday, winter time, in Chalfont, PA. My Dad and I were driving past the old TLC Carwash, when this song was playing. I asked, “Who is this, Dad?” He answered, “This is The Rolling Stones.” I said, “They were really good, right?” And what he replied with instantly changed my musical life forever. He said, “Ha! They were amazing. A lot of people will tell you they were better than the Beatles!” I couldn’t believe it. Growing up with baby-boomer parents, I never heard any talk of there being a group out there who people considered on the same level as the Beatles?? The next day I went to the Montgomeryville Mall and bought Beggars’ Banquet. I listened to the whole album every day, after school. I was obsessed with it. Years later I dissected the lyrics of this song, and my mind was blown again. To this day, whenever a Stones song crawls onto the radio, I turn up the dial, but when Sympathy comes on, I enter a whole different world.

2.) The End - The Doors – During a very dark time in my life, this song helped me. I don’t know if it helped me delve deeper into the darkness, or force me to see the light. Besides Morrison’s hypnotic, “This is the End….beautiful friend, The End”, the ride this song takes you on forces you to experience a myriad of emotion. Sadness, love, lust, frustration, hate, and awe. It’s The Doors at their best; pushing the limits of art.
3.) Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones – I was 14, and had been into the Stones for about a couple months the first time I listened to ‘Let It Bleed’. Gimme is the first song of the album. I remember ripping the CD from its annoying plastic, throwing it into my stereo system, and watching the hairs on my arm, stand up. Seeing them perform it live at the Vet a year or so later, sealed its spot in My ALL TIME Top 3.
4.) Lose Yourself – Eminem – Months before it hit the radio, Dziewit had downloaded the hook. We used to listen to it, over and over. Then another couple months before it hit the radio, Dziewit had the first verse. We listened to that over and over. Piece by piece he collected the entire song, from the internet with his hacking ways. Then, I’ll never forget listening to it in the Pi Kap Frat house at Penn State. By then it had been on the radio for a week, maybe two. There were about 15 people crammed into one of the dorm rooms, singing every word. The movie was one of a kind. In 2002, rap music hit its peak with the entire era of Eminem and the 8 Mile soundtrack.
5.) Snow(Hey Yo) – RHCP – I could not wait for the last Chili Pepper album to come out, back in May 2006. And when it did, I was more than impressed. 5 years later, this one still reminds me of the time in my life, when college was over, but life was still easy.
6.) Regulate - Warren G Ft. Nate Dogg – Without a doubt the most beautifully soulful ghetto-jam of all time. No hook and zero repetition. “Chords. Strings. We brings, melody.” I remember seeing the video for the first time on my 13 inch TV, in my bedroom, late at night back in the early 90’s. At first I thought, “What is this, another Dogg?” 5 minutes later I thought, “That was different. That was great.”
7.) Imagine - John Lennon – The smartest lyrics ever written. Another perfect example of a song you wish was longer.
8.) In Da Club - 50 Cent – Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent created the most timeless ‘club-hit’, ever. From going to the gym, dancing in State College bars, even throwing it on the jute-box today, everyone asks to have this song, turned up!
9.) Seven Nation Army - White Stripes – This song sounds like it was written in the 60’s, and reminds us that music videos can still be cool. Well, back in 2001 it did.
10.) Under the Bridge – RHCP – It was on MTV, when MTV was MTV. From the slow opening guitar riff, to the dramatic middle combined with the visual of Anthony Kedis running in slow-motion from his heroin addiction, is pure artistic glory.
11.) Runaround Sue - Dion and The Belmonts – Motown is a major part of my life, because up until I could drive, my Mom had the dial tuned to Philly’s Oldies 98. Here is another song, you wished was longer. “Heeeeeeeeyyyyy…Wooooooaaaoooowwww, hey , hey, woooooooooaaahhh!!”
12.) Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh – It was just a random Friday in South Florida at 5pm. I jumped in my car, grabbed a 6-pack, and headed south on I-95 to meet up with friends, and get the weekend started. I cracked a cold one and turned on the radio. The sun was shining, there wasn’t any traffic, and this song just started. I thought, “Life’s been good to me, so far.”
13.) Turn the Page - Bob Seger – Bob Seger in general holds a very special place in my heart, but this song among them all, stands out the most. Mainly because of the shared love I discovered Renee and I have for it, a while after we started dating. It’s safe to say it’s our un-official song. But just because we like it, there is no hidden meaning.
14.) One Winged Dove - Stevie Nicks – I heard this one when I was young, then about 12 years later when I was at Senior Week. I remember seeing Mary Kate Manzo lip-sync the words, during some party thinking, “This song is so sweet and I haven’t heard it in forever.” It’s also a great running song.
15.) Billie Jean - Michael Jackson – The song is literally 7 hooks put together with a beat that could wake the dead.

16. I Am The Walrus - The Beatles -  “Coocoocachoo..” Sometimes, what made them weird is what fascinates me the most. “Choo…Choocachoocaachoo…chooooooca…chooooooca!!”
17.) Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix – I love Jimi Hendrix. In the grand scheme of music he is one of my favorites. But sometimes I have no clue what he is even singing about, and what he does with a guitar is enough. But when I hear Hey Joe, I see the body, climax and ending of an old western movie. I don’t like a lot of distraction when this song is playing.
18.) My First Song - Jay-Z – The idea behind this song, and its actual placement on the album is what stands out for me. It’s the last song on his “retirement” album, and it’s called ‘My First Song’. “Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first….”
19.) WE Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel – Another one my Dad played ALL THE TIME. But if you were one of the few who knew all the words to this unofficial rap song by Billy Joel, you were cool. So thanks, Dad.
20.) Where Are You Going - Dave Matthews Band – Without a doubt my favorite love song of all time.
21.) Stand by Me - Ben E. King – The baseline to this song forces your heart to follow along, from the very start. Along with the excellent movie that shares the same name, this is just a classic feel good.
22.) Yesterday - The Beatles –McCartney is as good as it gets on this one. But the fact that he wrote the song on a napkin in a Diner, and then recorded the Live version unrehearsed, is just a glimmer of how genius The Beatles really were.
23.) Knights in White Satin - Moody Blues – It was one random Karaoke Night at the Saloon in State College. Some guy, far too old to be a student, did a wonderful rendition of this song. And I, being a few Monkey Boys deep, was moved. I stood in front of him and sang the song along with him. Alone. Everyone else was freaked out, but I found it emotional and moving. I loved it.
24.) Happy Together - The Turtles – Back in the 80’s, my family and friends used to have a weekend-long athletic competition called Jock ‘N’ Juggs, once a year. Adults took part in athletic events and kids ran wild, in some local Philly park for an entire weekend. It was always a blast. They must have played this song a lot, because it always reminds me of Jocks ‘N’ Juggs.
25.) Psycho Killer - The Talking Heads – Back in 2006, The Hassinger family went on a cruise. Ry and I brought our Sirius Satellite Radio Boom Box. We barely got reception. But for a brief moment, out in the Caribbean we did get reception, and it was enough time to hear this song, the whole way through, and record it. We played it every night, during cocktail hour.
26.) Nuthin' But a G Thang - Dr. Dre – “1, 2, 3, and to the 4.” Even the kids who listened to Nirvana and Green Day back in the early 90’s will tell you, “Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at the door.”
27.) Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay - Roy Orbison – For as long as I can remember this song instantly puts you in a happier mood. The best examples of the songs you wish were longer.
28.) Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals – This may be the first song I ever memorized. My Dad used to play it on repeat for the better part of 1988.
29.) Redemption Song - Bob Marley – Michael, Jin, Sawyer and Walt were only a few miles out on their voyage for rescue, in the season 1 finale of LOST. Michael catches Sawyer singing “Redemption Songs, are all I ever have…”, Sawyer says, “What? Do you like Bob Marley?” To which Michael replies, “Man, who don’t like Bob Marley?” Plus my old roommate John Gavigan had a poster with the lyrics to this wonderful song on the outside of his bedroom door. I saw and read them, every day.
30.) Stan (Live at The Grammy’s) - Eminem ft. Elton John – I was a freshman at Penn State. My roommate Joe and I were having a few beers, before heading out, and the Grammy’s were on the TV. After the performance, you could literally hear the entire 2nd floor of South Dorms say, “that was #@$%&* awesome!” Just one of the many groundbreaking moments by both Slim Shady and Elton John.

I Feel Better Now.

    by Jon Hassinger

A while back I read that L O S T originally had planned for Mr. Eko to become the Smoke Monster.

And for Jack in the finale to kill him and save the world. Also, in 'The End' Locke was supposed to become the new Jacob. Not Hurley.

However, because the actor who played Eko had some rare skin disorder and could not stand living in Hawaii, he literally asked to be written out of the show. And thus, we have the story of L O S T we know, where Locke was manipulated by the Black Smoke, his body used to manipulate Ben into killing Jacob, bringing him within milliseconds of destroying the Island and causing the world to end, if it weren't for Jack and Kate.

I read of their original plan, a little bit after L O S T ended, and I remember being upset.

Upset that the great and wonderful character, John Locke, was robbed of the destiny we and he all wanted him to fulfill since Season 1. Actually since the 3rd episode of the show, "Walkabout".

Locke made viewers like myself believe not only that all the castaways were there for a reason, but I MYSELF, was watching the show for a reason....for a bigger, more important reason.

And when the show was finally over, I couldn't have been happier with the finale.

To me it was as perfect as they could have written it...it was exciting, funny, emotional, and above all, satisfying. It was a tremendous story full of parallels to discuss for a lifetime. It had a beginning, a middle and an end, still with enough to talk about and theorize over, forever.

But what would it have been like, if the actor who played Mr. Eko, never left? Would it have been better?

Would Locke's story have been more fulfilling? Well, for a long time after reading that news, the answer was, "probably".

I remember Renee telling me, "I loved John Locke! It sucked what happened to him. It was just too sad."

She then recalled a line from The Smoke Monster, "John Locke wasn't a believer....he was a sucker."

Ouch. I know, I know...it hurts to think of it that way.

But after allowing all of this information to sit, to digest, and to mull.....I've come to a revelation:

John Locke had to become the Smoke Monster.

 In order for Jack to save The Island. 

So he could pass the role of Jacob, to Hurley.

Locke would have been a great Jacob, but if you remember, it wasn't Locke who always had the majority vote, nor was it Jack...

It was Hugo.

Locke's sacrifice was not unlike....... Darth Vader's.

Both were consumed by evil, in order for redemption, love, protection, and life.

I feel better now.

If you beleive it, it is real.

    by Jon Hassinger

This is an email I sent to Ry, today. December 30th, 2010.

Hey brother,

Since i missed 3 days of work this week due to the snow, i have been panicking about this month's up-coming bills.

Not that I won't be able to pay my bills, but i rely a lot on commission for extra cash, to pay for things like booze, high bar tabs, cook-out food, booze, high bar tabs, and random Phillies/Eagles purchases online at 3am on weekends. And being tight on dough in January is never fun, since December is always a killer. So missing days = is missing commission = Death.

But I remembered what we talked about : Not wishing or asking to be financially safe, but believing you already are....

Yesterday, Renee and I woke up at 6( I know for you that is late, but for me....gross), to get to Allentown airport by 8:30am, to catch our 10:26am flight.

The place was dead empty. We got through check-in and security in about 8 minutes. We watched L O S T on my laptop, then finally boarded our plane. It was a little plane, like the one Boone climbed into, that fell from the cliff and killed him, in Season 1.

We were only going to Philly, then boarding a larger plane, to Fort Lauderdale. We did it this way to save about $200. It was literally a 15 minute flight.

Once we landed, we had to take a transporter(bus) at the Philly airport to get to our Gate. We ended up doing a Lloyd Christmas down the jet-way to the larger plane, because the bus ride took forever. The Philly Airport is now like it's own city. "Hold that plaaaane!" -- "No, no, sir! You can't go in there!"

Luckily we got on with about 5 minutes before our scheduled take off. We didn't get to sit next to each other. That's how hard it was to find a flight once the snow closed all the airports Sunday night.

So after making small talk with the white-haired man next to me, I notice we were running 15 minutes late. The plane was supposed to take off @ 11:55am. It was now 12:10pm. No big deal, but I get antsy.

A few minutes later, Frank Lapidas came on over the CB: "Folks, there is a light on the dashboard in the cockpit that signifies we have a door ajar, even though there are no doors ajar on the aircraft. This means just a minute or two of paper work, then we'll be on our way."

A few giggles from the passengers. A few Mr. _____ jokes back a forth. No one seemed bothered.....

15 minutes go by...

Lapidas again: "Well folks, this looks like it's going to take longer than expected. We're actually going to have to remove a side of the plane, and replace a tiny mechanism, to ensure 100% safety before taking off. That's estimated to take around an hour. So if anyone needs to get off the plane, that is OK. We might actually be able to place everyone on another plane. But for now, plan on returning to your gate by 1:15pm."

It's now 12:15pm.

Renee and I jump up, and get off the plane. We go to Chickie's and Pete's right outside the terminal, grab a chicken sandwich and a beer. Once finished we head back over to the gate, where people are gathered around the desk, freaking out. "I have a meeting to be at!" "The funeral is in 2 hours! How could you lose a casket?!" --- chaos.

Renee and I sat down on a spread of three connected chairs. She puts her head on my lap, and we both fall asleep instantly. The beers and chicken sandwich must have just knocked us out. I suddenly woke up to the voice of a woman at the Gate desk. She instructs us to a new Gate, to board a new plane.

I wake up Renee, and we head towards the new Gate, which is half way across the airport.

On the way to the new Gate Renee realizes she left her book on the original plane.

I tell her, "Get to the new Gate, I'll get the book".
She tells me, "Don't worry about it."
I say, "Damn it Renee, RUUN!!"

It's now 1:15pm.

I run to the original Gate like I'm in a race where the rules are you can't bend your legs. Luckily when I get there, they had the book waiting for me. I grabbed it, and took off to the new Gate. Bending legs this time.

On my way there, I glance at the Arrivals/Departures screen which now reads that our flight has been delayed till 3pm. ..............................................

We were supposed to take off at 11:50am, and land in Fort Lauderdale at 2:30pm. Now we are not taking off till 3pm. So now I am scrambling to figure out if Koons can still pick us up, and in case he can't, finding someone to be on stand-by.......it was messy.

I finally get to the new Gate, and can't find Renee. People are all over the place, and NO ONE is happy. I finally spot Renee, who just decided to plop on the floor. And remember, Renee left her phone charger at her parent's house, so her phone is dead. We are sharing my phone. So it's not like could call her, if we got separated. But luckily I found her. As soon as I found her an announcement about our flight comes over the loud-speaker:

"Anyone on Flight 4359 to Fort Lauderdale, must go to the Customer Service desk to make sure their seats are still available on the new plane. Your new plane is a smaller. There are not the same amount of seats in this new plane."

Meaning, if my seat number is 15-F, and there isn't a 15-F on this new smaller plane, I am screwed and have to wait until tomorrow, to catch the next flight to Fort Lauderdale.......

Mothers. Grandmothers. Husbands. All sorts of people are freaking out. I even saw a guy tell the Service Rep she was a piece of s*it, because his wife's seat was still available, but his wasn't. - - He had to wait until tomorrow, for the next flight to Fort Lauderdale. I am sure they were going on vacation -- "I bought these a year ago, you piece of shit!"......wow...

Absolute madness. So I stood in line, watching all of this occur, and I couldn't help but think about L O S T:

The white-haired man,was magically in front of me, in line. There was a fat Canadian dude, wearing a red hoodie with a giant white maple leaf on it, making jokes, that everyone heard and was laughing at. A husband and wife who were arguing with each other and with the front desk. A Mexican single mom with two young kids, who were tired and cranky. A creepy Italian guy, with a brief case, slicked back hair, a leather jacket and sunglasses, who was constantly looking over his shoulder. A Grandmom who just couldn't understand the Service Rep's explanation of what was going on with the plane change. A younger couple, straight out of Philly with brand new Phillies hats and Eagles hoodies....

It was amazing. Characters everywhere.

So after about a 25 minute wait in line, that didn't seem to move for the first 23 minutes, I finally got to the lady who had just told the 4 people before of me, that they'd have to wait until tomorrow, for a flight to Fort Lauderdale.

I handed her mine and Renee's ticket's. She took them. Entered in our information into her St. Jude's 1992 Sr. Bridget computer. Two new tickets shot out of her printer. She handed them to me. I thanked her by the name on her name-tag. She looked me in the eye and said 'you're welcome'. I grabbed Renee, we boarded the plane.

I actually fell asleep during take-off. Never happened to me before. Woke up later. Watched 2 episodes of L O S T on the Mac, next thing I know we're landing.

Pete picked us up at the airport, we grabbed McDonald's garbage, ate it, and I passed out on top of the covers, 2 seconds before my head hit the pillow, around 9 o'clock.

I woke up today, determined. I say to myself, "I am working a 12 hour day today, and a 10 hour day tomorrow. I can do this. I financially support Renee and myself." I wasn't just wishing I was believing.

Then,,,,

Nature City tells me, "if you work tomorrow and Monday we'll give you Holiday pay for both days". Which means I get paid 4 day's work, for only working 2.
Then, my boss just hands me my Chrsitmas bonus, that I thought I wasn't getting!

If you believe it, it is real.

Halloween Left-overs…

    by Jon Hassinger

Renee asked me to throw out the Pumpkin that we never carved, and sat all alone on our front door step for over a month....

I said, "nay, Nay."

i didn't really eat them like that.

Vol. V – X Stadium. (Marlins)

    by Jon Hassinger

Besides the Final Stadium of my Report, I have visited this place, who’s name escapes me, because of its 4+ different ones in my 2+ years of residence in the Sunshine State, more than any of the rest.
Joe Robbie.

Dolphin.

Landshark.

Pro Player

Sun Life.

Whatever…..the place where the Marlins play…. the place where Marlins’ fans never even show up… the place where mid-carders become all-stars, and are then traded away. The place where the team who let go of Cody Ross and Edgar Renteria, kind of, play baseball.

The place where the Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Tigers, White Sox, Cubs, Astros, Braves and Cardinals ALWAYS out-number the home team.

I’ve lived in Florida for almost 3 years, and I really do love going to Marlins’ games, mainly because I live 20 minutes from the Stadium. Some Sundays, when Renee and I wake up early enough, we’ll just shoot down, purchase our $12 tickets, enjoy a few innings and a few cold ones, then shoot back home.
Tailgating in the grassy parking lot is always fun, and sometimes we don’t even go in, because we’re having so much fun listening to the game on the radio, for free.

Renee and I saw every pitch of a 4 game sweep of the Marlins, by the Phillies back in ’09. We sat 9 rows from the dugout recently. So close I almost gave Carlos Ruiz a kiss on the cheek. And Kyle and I saw Roy Halladay throw 9 PERFECT innings back in late May.

Rarely are the occasions when the Phillies are having an off game, and the Marlins are actually clicking. But those occasions have happened from time to time. And I had to listen to the most uneducated, fair-weathered, ignorant, untraditional, band-wagon hopping fans in the history of sports, act like they suffered over 100 years with only 2 championships to their name. When we all know, it took them only 1 decade to reach that achievement.

They don’t know the meaning of 10,000 losses. Have they even played 10,000 games?
These fans have as little credibility as Boise State. Yes, I said it. Those empty ugly orange seats might as well be that stupid blue turf!

But for the most part, they keep their mouths shut, and respect their opponent’s fans.
The orange seats, that are 80% empty. The on and off rainstorms throughout almost every game, and the orange seats, are enough to make you leave by the 5th inning.
But worse than all of that, are the cheerleaders. I could really take or leave cheerleaders in the NFL and NBA, but there is no place for them, in baseball. It’s like the wave. No one cares. And if your team is losing, it only angers you more. The Marlins are reaching with this idea.
“No one comes to our games, so what should we do? I know….we’ll have cheerleaders!!”
Let me explain to you how pointless cheerleaders are, easily.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, maybe the most passionate fan base in all of sports, do not have cheerleaders.
Again, I usually love spending a night or day game at X Stadium, but it has NOTHING to do with the stadium.