Indians Vs M's: 9/27 and UCLA Vs OSU 9/29/7

As I watched the end of Cleveland's game 3 win in the ALCS last night I remembered I never wrote this post.. For some reason the Mariners decided to finish the season on a 5 game win streak including, 2 wins against the Indians. I went to the 4-2 victory on Thursday the 27th and since I entered the stadium with no hope of October baseball an usher gave me and everyone else a Raul Ibanez magnet. A good friend went to the game with me, actually took me to the game. My buddy had a couple thoughts on the M's; 1) They need more pitching 2) They have no confidence in themselves therefore don't win and 3) Shit, what else did he say? That game happened a while ago..


My first football game at Oregon State was seen from the comfort of a suite which had nice seats, free food, useless promo gadgets and TVs. One of the two TVs was placed at the head of the suite so I could look out the glass window to the field and watch the Ducks lose to Cal. Oregon State's new 1/2 of Reser looks alright but mostly reminded me OSU is the definition of a tweener program. The Beavs aren't relevant on the national scene yet they still aren't nameless, see Chad Johnson. See Chad Johnson run and catch. See Chad score 6 then waltz with a cheerleader. Wait, that's not waltzing.. The Beavers gave up some silly amount of points in the 4th quarter and the Bruins won, who then lost to Notre Dame, in LA. Like I said OSU Football=tweener program.It took 3 hours to get back to Portland, I should have stayed in town.

Angels Vs M's: 8/27/7

My Hef at Sluggers was served warm so it went down a little slow causing me to miss the 1st inning and the game's high point: Lopez/Betancourt double play and the crucial moment: Ichiro's bum strikeout. Don't ask me about the 9th, I left early and got a cab, so from what I did see between the 2nd and 8th Batista and the Mariners didn't make a case for 1st place. Safeco Field felt cautiously optimistic throughout the game, rallying behind the team at key moments but not very rowdy. I didn't leave without having some fun: 1)The guy in front of me who wore a cheap braided gold chain, a Boeing 787 cap and a black Ted Nugent shirt provided PLENTY of entertainment trying to score the bar fly a seat away. 2)Garret Anderson's (Pictured above, near side) 2nd inning HR was tossed back onto the field. 3) Hat trick on the jumbotron was a special Xtreme edition, I got smoked bad. People need to observe Hat Trick time and not walk in the damn aisle, pretending it's not happening and making it even harder for me to guess the right hat.

Brian Roberts Robs Seattle

The Seattle Marienr's JJ Putz looked unhitable going into the All Star game sporting a silly stat line reserved for Xbox; .88 ERA for 24 saves, 44 Ks and a mere 7 walks. Putz was pitching with 2 down in the bottom of 9th last night in the '07 All Star game when a ground ball squirts to Oriole second baseman Brian Roberts. Mariner fans began to celebrate their lone pitching All Star Putz, he had secured home field advantage for the AL, what an amazing save the Mariner's stole the show! Roberts then ponders his piss poor nickname: B-Rob and fails to make the routine play. JJ Putz, MVP Ichiro, Mariner fans, Cal Ripken Jr every self respecting Oriole fan hangs their head in shame. So I ask, When else has Roberts failed America?


When not practicing poor defense on the baseball field Brian Roberts practices poor national defense. Pictured here in 2001, Roberts was a key military advisor to the Bush White House during the decision to go to war against Iraq.

Brian Roberts effects the city of Seattle everyday. Robert's convinced Mayor Greg Nickels to make each and every decision you DO NOT like. Hate the Mayor's Alaskan way viaduct debate? Blame Roberts. The Mayor's stance on Belltown's nightlife? Yep, Roberts too. Brian Roberts taught Nickel's son how to cheat at cards. If you ever see Brian Roberts, don't yell or curse just give him 5 bucks and tell him to go ride our non-existent public transit system.

M's Drop to Yankees and Padres

I brought a bad vibe, apparently, to Safeco Field twice in six days watching two losses. First I saw the Evil Empire's only win at Safeco (5/12/7) during the 3 game series. Their were as many Pinstripes and Yankee probacks on Occidental Ave. as there was Mariner's gear and the atmosphere in the stadium was unique to A Rod (that guy STILL gets booed like he left town last week) and the Yankees being in town. After a few innings of freezing temperatures on the 3oo level I decided to walk around a little bit for the sake of warmth. I wound up in the jam packed team store overall a testament to the excitment of the game but really my poor choice of jacket got me in there. I eventually found a lapel pin made for the 3 game home stand against the NYY and stood in line for all of 5 minutes not moving an inch forward before I lost my patience and ditched 'em. On my way to the exit I saw a sign for pink mother's day bats for sale to benefit the Susan G foundation. After a few sly moves also know as manipulation, I charmed a cute clerk into letting me buy a bat at a closed register so 'I can get my mom one with her name on it'. Cute clerk said Safeco only got like 40 of them and $10 of the $65 sale price would go to Susan G. My mom's eyes lit up when she saw her name engraved on it the next morning!

Oh yeah, and the Yankees were in town. By the time I got out of the team store Mariano Rivera was warming up in the bullpen in front of nearly 100 people. There was a lot of excitement/heckling at the bullpen, I heard countless snippets of conversation in which a Mariner's fan would insult a Yankee fan then the Yankee fan would respond with something like, 'Go win a championship then we can talk.' Hearing that got old, but watching Mariano warming up was way cool. That guy is going to the HOF with Jackie's number, I think he is the only remaining player with 42.

I was looking to get a bobble head friend for Ichiro so I went to see the Padre's play Friday the 18th(pictured above). I showed up 1 hour before the first pitch and didn't get the Felix bobble. So I turned around and dealt with my pain at Pyramid brewery. The chili was good, the beer goes without saying and their were plenty of TVs to watch the Spurs beat up on the Suns. Then I went back to the ballpark and watched the Padre's bats get mad and effective on the M's pitching staff. I sat in the cheap left field seats which go for $18. I didn't realize they were bleacher seats until I got there, it felt like I was back in High School watching a my school's football team lose.
The Moose's 'The Office' parody on the jumbotron was hilarious and the tribute to Ken Griffey Jr. didn't really receive any acknowledgement from the fans. I did catch Mike Cameron watching it as he jogged to Center field between innings. I was expecting a lot more after the Jr. video played out, my reverent clapping was alone. This really shocked because of what I think Griffey meant to the city for years. Even from the bleeders in the Dome #24's swing looked so damn sweet. I'm starting to wonder if our fans are bitter; I mean who wouldn't move to Texas for 1/4 billion dollahs? I got your back, Pay Rod. When Ichiro bolts for a team that actually wins after this season not a single damn person will have a reason to throw boo-birds on the field, even if he winds up in Pinstripes.

Ichiro's Night Stolen by Bullpen?

Horacio Ramirez put in solid work at Safeco by not allowing a single run until the seventh inning of play against the Royals on Friday the 27th throwing 95 pitches to get the W. JJ Putz solidified the win after hitting the first batter he faced.

The Mariners handed out a clever bobble head called, 'Ichiro 5 Gold Gloves' someone please feel free to explain why there are 6 gloves stacked next to our CF's bobble likeness. Their were some jacks, Sexson continued to be a no show in the batter's box. I spent some time walking around the park, there is a cool exhibit of Mariner history on I think the North side with all types of stuff worth checking out.

If you have never spent time down at the bullpen or center field common areas I suggest watching a few innings in either place. The fan's conversations are just as interesting as the action on the field. Pyramid brewery across the street was a good pre game hang-out; friendly service, respectable brew but the men's room was terrible.

Fox Sports Net Happy Hour

Hopped off Metro feeling good about the sunshine so I went underground into a gorgeous bar called Fox Sports Net. Knowing the taps were loosened up by happy hour prices and a few big screens with Baseball and Playoff Basketball awaited me I felt no guilt about not being in the sun.

King Felix, Kobe, Yao and Maybe the Mavs

Occidental Avenue was electric oh so many days ago on Opening Day at Safeco Field. The call to my office's sick line was a little less than convincing, which was surprising considering I called seconds after KEXP woke me up 2 hours before my shift. I loaded up on the kettle corn at that one place, you know the one and moments later caught my first glimpse of Mariner Mecca. The best available seats purchased online (after surcharges pillaged my debit card) were in the Family Section, meaning no beer. To anyone that smiles when they see a cute baby I strongly suggest sitting in the family section once for 2 reasons; 1)You have to be much more creative when hurling verbal insults onto the field to accomadate the young impressionable minds. "You're mother is a f*cking whore!" becomes, "You're mother is promiscuous" 2) Exclusive to the game of baseball children give ball games a special extra twinkle, or something else all gooey. The wide eyes, sun burnt cheeks and little gloves are undeniable.
King Felix got a loud roar from the crowd during introductions and before it could die down he had already struck out half of the A's lineup. It was chilly in the upper deck, thank goodness I brought a pair of gloves(runner fleece gloves are key). Sexson hit a jack, Ichiro drove a couple in and of course Felix got the W.

Moving right along here.. On Friday, April the 6th at Key Bigfoot almost stole the whole damn show. During the introductions he was seen rappelling from the rafters, landing by some drums and rocking 'Enter Sandman'. This was followed by a particularly gifted women for the 4oth straight year giving as good of a rendition of the National Anthem I've ever heard. Gotta say it is down right disrespectful to her talent I cannot recall her name. Trust me she rocked it like Kobe. The award for 'most creativity' during the game goes to the young man that sat next to me for his, 'Kobe you'll never be Lebron' sign; an amazingly profound point when you think about it. Oh yeah and #24 Kobe Bryant dropped 46 shooting a total of 24 free throws. That was a good thing because it's me and the old school 4 mega pixel camera making for a lot of blurry shots.



The Houston Rockets were an appropriate team to watch on a Monday after work, that is both a compliment and a, "The Rockets haven't been cool since they ditched the pinstripe jerseys." Yao l ooked as tall as I remembered and uhh he scored 31. Whenever I watched T-Mac with the ball I thought of that Adidas commercial that the only part I can remember is the end when the kidsare like, "And then it rains!". Not even worth trying to link to that one. I was truely pumped to see Dick Bavetta calling the game, what a stud diving Charlie Hustle style trying to beat Sir Charles in Vegas. Much like the Nuggets and Lakers the Rockets were making the hustle plays; deflections, weak side help and all the other stuff Zach Randolph doesn't do to win the game to make the push for the real season. Rashard Lewis passed Shawn Kemp on the Sonics scoring list. Too bad he has not won a meaningful game for the franchise during his career. I want to see the man do good, hopefully we get to see him and Jesus S. HEALTHY on the wings next year at the Hardwood.

Last night the Mavericks most definetly were all over the Hardwood, when I showed up mid 3rd they were up by 27. I saw Dirk hit a couple Js and left halfway through the 4th. Just wanted to say to all of you I saw the 'o7 MVP this year. Really though I'll be honest I wanted my Bigfoot theme song CD with that guy from that band. You know the one, I bought the orange casseste single when I was little and my mom only let me listen to the side with "Peaches". Thanks for nothing, mom. Also note I saw The Long Winters in PDX last weekend, fun show and worth the money. Dude opened up the concert with something close to, "It's great to be back in the Northwest were people don't say what they mean, I hate it." Nicely put.