Author: King Tom

Broadcasters Need To Eat Too

You can blame the Morning Toast for this one.  

In the comments to yesterday’s post about Yankee Satdium’s final game, tMT said I should start a series about the times I’ve been to Yankee Stadium.  

I don’t mind if I do.  

I wrote a rather lengthy, but somewhat general post about my memories of Yankee Stadium.  While it was a nice look back, there are more to the stories than what I wrote. At least I hope they are.  So in an effort to expand the blog content, I give you the very first post in an ongoing series called When I Was There.

Memorial Day, 1997
Orioles  8, Yankees 6

While my father took my brother and I to Yankees games numerous times growing up, our most prolific attendance came during the ’97 and ’98 seasons, when we had the “Sunday Plan,” which gave us tickets to every Sunday home game, as well as a number of other games throughout the season.  The three of us had a routine every gameday from the time we left our house, to what tollbooth to use on the GWB to what food stand to hit first.

It was a great two-year run for the team, and we had pretty damn good seats- the third row back in the second level in Section 22.  Here’s an attempt at showing you what it was like (keep in mind these two pictures were taken more than ten years ago, and had I known I would’ve needed to make a photo montage, I would have taken better pictures.):

Memorial Day was one of those bonus days we got as part of the plan.  The third-place Yankees were taking on the first-place Orioles, and the game was scheduled to be on ESPN, so there was something in the air that day.

Before the game started, the three of us went to Sausages, Etc., the sausage stand right behind the Yankee offices and stadium pressbox.  While it served as lunch for my brother and my father, for me, it was typically the first of many food stops on any given game day.  We liked to start off at Sausages, Etc., because the lines were usually short and the staff more friendly than other stadium locations.

The line this Memorial Day was actually a bit long.  The three of us were standing behind a short guy in a suit.  I whispered to my father “I think that’s Joe Morgan,” when without skipping a beat, the guy turned around and said “Yes, I’m Joe Morgan–and don’t be afraid to say hello…I don’t know why people never want to talk to me here!” 

Joe was actually pretty gracious. He shook my hand and we talked about the season as the line progressed.  While he placed his order, he turned around and said that of the three sausages he ordered, two were for [broadcast partner] Jon Miller.  Before he headed back to the booth, I got an autograph (which I think my brother is in possession of).  Throughout the whole few minutes, neither my father nor my brother said a word.  When I asked my father why he didn’t say anything, he said simply “I hate Joe Morgan.”  (Of course, this was back before everyone else had the same opinion of Morgan as my father and way before he said Billy Beane shouldn’t have written that book).

The game itself wasn’t that memorable (and I’m probably saying that because the Yankees lost) outside of a Tim Raines triple, Bernie Williams home run and Derek Jeter driving in two with a bases-loaded single.

Last night, when talking with my father about the TV coverage of the Stadium’s final game, my father said he was disappointed that when asked his favorite stadium memory, Morgan didn’t mention his sausage stand run-in with the King, and a silent King Classic and t-shirt boy.

You know what Dad? Me too.

King Tom4 Comments

One Final Game

 

Yankee Stadium

I’m sure that at the beginning of this year’s baseball season, most people were fine with the Yankees closing out the season on the road. They’ve made the postseason every year since 1993, and if that streak continued, the stadium’s final game would be in the postseason, not on the first day of fall.

 

Well, it’s safe to say this season has been disappointing and rather than heading off to the postseason, the Yankees will finish the season on the road and the stadium’s last game will be a game of little consequence against Baltimore.

I remember the last time the Yankees didn’t make the playoffs- the Yankees finished out the season against Detroit (at home) and there was an optimistic “wait ’till next year” feeling around the team.  This year, that feeling is still there, but there’s a lot of introspection over not how the team fell short this year, but also about the lifetime of Yankee Stadium.

It’s unfortunate but necessary that the building will be torn down and the Yankees are moving across the street.  While my last time at the Stadium was in aught-two, I’ve been there more times than I can count, and I will miss the stadium.  

The greatness of the stadium isn’t in the building, but what’s happened there.  The stadium bears no resemblance to the original structure, and it started falling apart ten years ago (right in front of my every Sunday seat, no less).  While it has a lot of charm and character, it has little in the way of modern anemities, and can be uncomfortable at times (especially if you’re 6’4″ and trying to watch a game with no leg room).   There’s been a lot of back and forth between the city and the team on who foots the bill, but one thing that both parties have to do is improve the neighborhood around the stadium.  While it’s a big change, the new stadium means a great opportunity for change, not only for the team and its fans, but more importantly, the people who live in the area year-round.

So I’ll be checking out the coverage throughout the day, tune in for the game and I will follow the team for the remaining week or so of the season.  I’m lucky that I have the memories I have of the place.  And hopefully, I can get out to NY next year to check out the new digs.

King Tom

A Holiday Recipe From King Tom

Ahoy!

In honor of the holiday tomorrow, I figure it’s time to share a recipe.  I made this last week, and it turned out pretty good.  Enjoy, mateys!

Pirate Pork Chops
(because they’re drunk and on a plank).
2-4 bone-in pork chops
1 bottle hard cider (I like Woodchuck Ale)
Marinate pork chops in cider for at least an hour.
1 cedar grilling plank
Soak plank in water for at least 25 minutes before cooking.
rub:
3 tablespoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons smoked paprika (or pimenton)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried tarragon
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
Remove the porkchops from cider, pat dry and cover with the rub.
Place plank on grill and place porkchops on the plank.  Cook ten minutes per side.
You can also serve grilled apples (quartered and covered in brown sugar and cinnamon) along with the porkchops. Grill the apples for about 15 minutes. If there’s room on the plank, put them there, if not, they can go on the grill grate.

King Tom

Report from the Dark Ages

Last weekend, The Civee and I left town to attend a wedding.  When we drove back Sunday, the remnants of a hurricane were sweeping through the area, knocking down whole trees (one of which just missed our car as we were driving down a two-lane quasi-country highway), ripping signs off billboards and inconveniencing people everywhere.  

When we got home, things were fine, but after a few minutes, we lost our cable (which also meant no phone or Internet).  We were lucky not to lose power, because I know a lot of people who did.  But it’s weird going a few days with no internet or not being able to fast forward through commercials.

And believe it or not, I actually had a few things to blog about. Now if only I can remember what they were I might get on a posting roll again.

King Tom

Those Two Little Words

On a scale of 1-10, my interest in football ranks about a 1.  And my interest in college football is even lower.

Which makes me about one of ten people in Columbus Ohio who does something different every Saturday when the local college team has a game.  For my first few years here, I was indifferent.  I just didn’t care.  But my view has changed.  As I said previously:

I admit that I’m an obnixous Yankees fan. But there are times in Columbus, when listening to people talk about the local college football team that I feel uncomfortable.

I wrote that last October, and I still feel that way.  There are certain things that drive me crazy, one of which is the use of the phrase “go bucks.” People use it to start and end sentences as well as everything in between. It’s used as a salutation and a departing greeting.  But what it really does is drives me crazy and encourages me to commit violence.  If I knew anything about college football, I’d probably have something to throw something back in their faces, but until then I’m left searching for a witty rejoinder as I stew, waiting for the madness to end.

King Tom6 Comments

The Grill of My Dreams

 

King Toms Weber Grill

 

As I mentioned last week, the old grill died.  

 

It wasn’t a painful death, just one rendering the old grill useless.  The handle broke off, which, at first, didn’t appear to be a problem. Until I realized that the handle was attached to the ‘shelf’ the grill grate rested on, meaning that unless I wanted to counter-balance the grate with a rock, the grate would remain slanted with one end in the air and the other in the fire.  No way to cook over hot coals.

So The Civee and I bit the bullet and invested in a genuine American Weber charcoal kettle grill (pictured).  And it’s completely revolutionized my grilling experience. 

The ventilation is perfect for cooking over flaming coals, with the air going up through the device, rather than from side-to-side.  Additionally, with a 24-inch diameter cooking surface, there’s plenty of room to do a main course, vegetables, and whatever else I want to throw on there.  And, most importantly, there’s space between the coals and the food (great if I want to throw something, like, say an artichoke down there).

So far in the two or so weeks we’ve had it, we’ve made chicken, pork, potatoes, corn, turkeyburgers, steak, salmon on a plank and porkchops on a plank.  

Cooking on the old grill was always fun, to an extent. But things would get crowded, or the heat would slowly die if I closed the top.  Now, I don’t have to worry, because here’s a grill that was designed to cook with a top on (revolutionary idea).

Now, if only the days weren’t getting shorter and the weather wasn’t getting colder, I’d have some more time to enjoy the new grill.

King Tom4 Comments

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Long time no blog.

Not because stuff hasn’t happened, but I just really haven’t felt the desire to blog.

I got a new grill.

Went canoeing with The Civee. 

Watched the Olympics, and parts of two political conventions (and I’m still on a sleep deficit from the Olympics to this day).  And I’m still watching the Yankees, even if they don’t have a chance for the playoffs this year.

But I’m still around.  Hopefully I’ll start blogging again soon.  The new grill is great. Maybe I’ll write about that sometime soon.

King Tom

Carrying the Torch for Comedy

In case you haven’t been paying attention for the last 16 years, NBC has had broadcast rights to the Olympics (excluding the ’94 and ’94 Winter Games). Cross-promotion is in full effect even in years when there are no Olympics (I’m guessing those are the Olympic rings permanently affixed to the NBC on-air bug).

But during the games, it’s a bit different. Usually, NBC will pick one show (most of the time, a comedy), and run commercials that are actually, not annoying. To wit, the following promo has been running this summer where Michael Scott says what everyone thinks about beach volleyball:

It looks like there are only a handful of The Office Olympic promos, which is a shame, because The Office creative staff can do some pretty funny stuff.

The best set of Olympic promos came out in ’92, when NBC enlisted the cast of Seinfeld to…um, carry the torch.

They’re not on YouTube, but transcripts are available on Usenet (remember that, kiddies). Here are some of the highlights:

Jerry sitting by his computer in his apartment.
Jerry: Do you know the correct pronunciation of Barcelona is actually
       Barthelona?  That’s because, many years ago, the King of Spain
       spoke with a lisp and the members of the court, trying to curry
       favor with the King, adopted his unusual speech pattern.  Absolutely
       true.  Just a piece of Olympic trivia for you.  I’m Jerry Theinfeld.  

Jerry interviewing a gymnast, with the Olympic rings and the NBC logo
in the background.
Jerry:  I’m here with 8 year old Kathy Kwan, star of the gymnastic
        team.  You must be looking forward to the games, Kathy.
Kathy:  Yes, those games are very special to me.  As I will retire
        when they’re over.
Jerry:  Retire?  You’re kidding.
Kathy:  I’m not 6 anymore.  Besides you have to give those
        youngsters a chance to make their mark.  
Jerry:  What are your plans for the future?
Kathy:  I like to spend more time with my parents and watch them
        grow up.

Jerry and George in the Cafe.  
Jerry:     Pass the cream, George.
The guy with the torch runs comes in.
George:    Hey, look.
Torch Guy: Hi, maybe you can help me, I’m lost.  Do either of you know
           the way to Barcelona from here?
Jerry:     Well, I’d take the West Side Highway to the Cross Bronx.
George:    Hold, Hold.  What are you nuts, at this time of the day.  Listen
           to me.  Take the FDR to the Major Deagan.
Jerry:     What are you talking about, the FDR is under construction.
George:    He’s running.

For a script of all the Seinfeld Olympic Promos, visit this page from the alt.tv.seinfeld archive.

King Tom

Drunken Irabu Beats Up Bartender and I Reap the Rewards

I know I’m a day late with this, but former Yankee hurler Hideki Irabu has been arrested in Japan for drunkenly beating up a bartender.  Or beating up a bartender drunkenly.  The key points of this story: he was drunk, and he beat up a bartender (not to mention downing 20 mugs of beer and afterwards, paying for the damage).  From Yankee Blogger Pete Abraham:

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a bartender after drinking 20 mugs of beer, a police official said.Irabu, 39, became angered after his credit card was rejected. He then allegedly pushed the bartender against the wall, pulled his hair and smashed at least nine liquor bottles at a bar in Osaka, western Japan, a police official said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

The bartender sustained no injuries. Irabu paid the bill with another credit card. The police official said Irabu admitted the assault.

I feel compelled to report this because I sponsor Irabu’s Baseball Reference page, and have noticed a slight uptick in the number of visitors in the past day. 

As noted on the page, I still have two Irabu t-shirts (but I don’t remember the last time I wore either). The New York Times tried to check in with Irabu a few months ago, and I wrote about it here.

King Tom

The System Is Down

This afternoon, upon returning to to work from my Hour of Me, something was awry- the e-mail server was down.  No one could send or receive e-mails.  If you wanted to talk to a co-worker, you had to call them, or (gasp!) walk to their office.

I have to admit, it was a very productive few hours.  Of course, when the system came back up (with just a half-hour to go in the day), I was slammed with requests to do (whatever) now.

After experiencing an e-mail blackout for a few hours, I wouldn’t mind, maybe once a month, a whole day of not having e-mail.  It would allow me to catch up on all the little things that immediate communication puts a damper on.  Of course, the next day, I’d probably need another catch-up day to go through all the e-mail I missed the day before.

King Tom