I Get To Do Cool Things

Three years ago I was lucky enough to attend a Mets game and spend pre-game on the field, and take one of my favorite pictures ever, with Mr. and Mrs. Met.
The experience I had before Friday's game against the Twins was even better. Thanks to the dogged persistence of a friend we were invited for a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium by the Mets PR team.

We entered at the Hodges gate, where right through that door is the press room where we often see Terry Collins discussing Mets injuries.

From there we were led down a back hallway, where the clubhouse is. And at the moment we passed by, Brandon Nimmo emerged on his way to the video room.

He stopped and chatted with us briefly about money and investing and the rapid depreciation of expensive automobiles.

To our left in that hallway is the batting cage where players can take some in-game cuts.

Lined up along the walls, where the bats and other equipment for every Met.

And in the best part of it all, we were led out onto the field, THROUGH THE DUGOUT!!!!!

Don't I look happy?

We were offered a piece of Major League gum. I brought two pieces home for the boys, who were initially unimpressed until they realized, that later that day the Mets had stuck their hands in that same bucket. They asked if the Mets get a new bucket of gum every day. I said yes. They decided the Mets must be rich to afford new gum.
They chewed it and decided it tasted better than the regular dubble bubble available to the public.

After a few more moments sitting on the dugout bench, and taking pictures we were escorted onto the field to enjoy batting practice.
Unfortunately, the Mets had concluded and the Twins were hitting (Kennys Vargas hit some bombs).

After a while we were asked to leave the field and head back to our seats, which we purchased ourselves, which explains the view from the 500 level.

But from that vantage point I got to see a masterpiece from Bartolo Colon, back to back homers from Jose Reys and Asdrubal Cabrera, and a 3-0 Mets win, topping off another memorable experience I was fortunate enough to enjoy. Note: Please forgive the lousy way this displays. I wanted pictures to be as big as possible, which doesn't work well with this template. For best experience click on the first picture and use the viewer to peruse them all.

Weekly Picks

So I forgot Week 1. I probably would have started off with a -1 so good thing I didn't. We'll start and Week 2 and see what develops.

NEW ENGLAND -6 1/2 miami
This is dangerous because the Patriots looked good in a nationally televised game, but that doesn't mean all their worries are gone. Plus the Dolphins sucked. And as you know, all that could change very quickly in the NFL, which in case you forgot stands for Not For Long.

tampa bay +7 ARIZONA
Again I am going against my opposites theory but I just think this is a heck of a lot of points to give to Jameis Winston.

indianapolis +7 DENVER
Another big road dog, but I really wasn't impressed with Denver last week and Luck should be good for a backdoor cover.

OAKLAND 4 1/2 atlanta
The Falcons suck and the Raiders are a fun bandwagon team.

BEST BET
green bay -1 1/2 MINNESOTA
I think Aaron Rodgers will pull this one out.

Mets Sign Tim Tebow

The Mets signed Tim Tebow to a minor league contract in a completely irrelevant, inconsequential and strictly PR move.
He will never make the major league roster and it would be a shock if he was even good enough this year and in the Arizona Fall League, to get a spring training invite.
That is unless, of course, he gets help hitting a curveball.



"Are you trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball.
Let's not start a holy war Harris."

Teammates

Louisville QB and early Heisman favorite Lamar Jackson, took a break from running around over and threw defenses to sit on the bench next to his teammate Traveon Samuel, creating the visual of "Samuel L. Jackson."
That joins some other great sets of teammates:

Short White Cox

Clark Griswold

Gay Cousins

Dingle Berry

Song of the Week

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - The Teenagers
It's time for our annual look at the songs and the sounds that were popular in years past. We start our trip down Memory Lane 60 years ago in 1956 with this doo-wop classic.
Believe it or not, but I have never seen the movie of the same title, about the life of Frankie Lymon and the three women he married within 4 years under unusual circumstances.
While 1956 was dominated by Elvis, I prefer the doo-wop sound.

I Guess We Weren't The Only Ones

As troublesome high school Spanish students, Reissberg, myself and others used to translate people's names from Spanish to English and vice versa.
We loved the 49ers dynamic passing duo, Esteban Joven a Jerry Arroz (Steve Young to Jerry Rice).
We delighted at soccer player Charles Blackmouth (Carlos Bocanegra).
And our favorite player ever was Seattle Mariners pitcher Joe Breadandwater (Jose Paniagua).
The tradition continues to this day as we lamented the season-ending injury to Vikings quarterback Teddy Puenteagua (Teddy Bridgewater).
Evidently, we are not alone, as another of our translations, this one for Cleveland Indians closer Jose Mesa, is actually listed as his nickname on his baseball reference page, and his Wikipedia entry.

This Does Not Offend Me

Some well-meaning (I think) people set up a Coca-Cola display in a Wal-Mart store that called to mind the World Trade Center, with an American Flag in the background. Some people had a problem with it, saying it was distasteful to use such imagery in a commercial setting, especially since there was a sign indicating the price, right between the towers.

I truly believe the people behind that display meant it as a tribute and commemoration, not a crass attempt to profit off a tragedy.

However:



This doesn't really offend me either, but it's clear the idiots behind this mattress ad, thought they were being funny, especially because at the end they toppled their mattress "towers."

2016 NFL Season Predictions

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
NFC South: Carolina Panthers
NFC Wild Cards: Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay ExpensiveCornPrices
NFC Title Game: Packers over Panthers

AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Wild Cards: Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders
AFC Title Game: Pittsburgh Steelers over Kansas City Chiefs

Super Bowl: Packers over Steelers

Offensive Player of the Year: Jameis Winston
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dak Prescott
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Myles Jack
Coach of the Year: Jack Del Rio
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson

Graphic Video of a Panda Giving Birth

I would have liked to see Mrs. Poop try to lift Lincoln in her mouth after he was born.

Song of the Week

"All the Way Up" - Fat Joe, Remy Ma featuring French Montana
I prefer this version to the more popular remix because I like the line "and if you ask anybody where I live, point to the hill and say 'go all the way up'"

I Read An Entire New York Times Article

Normally I don't read the New York Times because it's a liberal rag. And when I do I seldom make it through an entire article.
But today, I actually made it through the entire "tech tip," advice for a person asking "When I'm mistakenly put on an email chain, should I hit 'reply all' asking to be removed?"
Here's the answer:

Kudos to Daniel Victor, for publishing this important information.

Song of the Week

"My Love" - Syleena Johnson
"Truth is sometimes you get on my nerves
when you act like, you act like you know it all
you walk like your God's gift to Earth
and I swear, that my patience you just use it all."

Diver and a Marathoner

The Brazilian synchronized diving pair of Ingrid Oliveira and Giovanna Pedroso finished dead last in their Olympic competition.
A possible reason: the night before the competition, Oliveira is said to have had a "marathon sex session" with canoeist Pedro Goncalves.
And to do so, she kicked Pedroso, who is only 17, out of the room they shared.
Needless to say, the two will no longer be diving together.

It wasn't the first time Oliveira has gotten in trouble. When she posted this picture last year, Brazilian officials said she's more interested in posting pictures of her behind on the internet than she is in diving.

No word on whether Goncalves will continue to dive, and marathon, with Oliveira.

Fool Me Twice

Disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner once again caught in a sexting scandal, as this time he sent pictures of his privates to an internet slut, while lying in bed with his son.

And here's a couple of pics this faceless hottie (probably catfishing him) sent back:

This time his understanding wife Huma Abedin had enough, announcing in a statement that she is separating from her lecherous lover.

I guess she didn't believe that he had been hacked. Yes, he apparently tried that gambit again.

Maybe Damino believed him.

I am actually shocked and impressed Huma had the courage to separate from him. Considering how close she is with Hillary Clinton, I just assumed she would follow Hillary's path to the top and stay with the lying, cheating husband she never loved in the first place.

I guess the difference is, Bill Clinton was President, Anthony Weiner is a disgraced former Congressman.

3000 Words - Olympic Edition

Usain Bolt smiles as he crosses the finish line in the 100m.

Team Great Britain gives all its athletes luggage, which seems nice, until you get to baggage claim.

A wrestler needed a full cloth helmet to bandage a wound that opened several times during the match.

Song of the Week

"Sugar, We're Going Down" - Fall Out Boy

Something's Missing

Diesel in Maine in 2007:



Diesel in Maine in 2008:


Diesel in Maine in 2009:


Diesel in Maine in 2010:


Diesel in Maine in 2011:

Diesel in Maine in 2012

Diesel in Maine in 2013

Diesel in Maine in 2014:

Diesel in Maine in 2015:

Maine in 2016:

Song of the Week

"Easy Love" - Sigala
I don't know why but I am a sucker for these old songs remixed in some cool way and turned into electronica.

One for TON

We couldn't mention hot Olympians, like Ruth Spelmeyer, without finding a volleyball player for big TON.
So here is Kelsey Robinson of Team U.S.
And something for Billy: she wears #23 because she grew up in Chicago and loves Michael Jordan.

Cubs Fire Wrigley Field DJ

The Cubs fired the Wrigley Field DJ who played an inappropriate song after Aroldis Chapman's appearance during Sunday night's game.

The '90s song, "Smack My Bitch Up" by the English band the Prodigy, came on the PA system after Chapman left the mound in the top of the ninth inning.

Chapman served a 30-game suspension after an alleged domestic-violence incident in which Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend and firing eight bullets in his garage.

Thing is, Chapman is a member of the home team. It wasn't like they were taunting an opposing player. Although maybe this DJ was taking a principled stance about not rewarding perpetrators of domestic violence no matter how hard they can throw a baseball.

Fast Fraulein

We don't watch women's athletics for the titillation but every once in a while we see an athlete so hot, we can't help but notice. So I present to you German 400 meter runner Ruth Sophia Spelmeyer, the hottest female athlete in Rio.

Quick Hits - Olympic Edition

Cutest Couple
Photogenic decathlete Ashton Eaton and his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton (she won bronze in the heptathlon) star in a very funny commercial for Visa's Checkout.
You hang up, no you hang up.



You Don't Need to Be a Pixie to be America's Sweetheart
Sarah Robles won the bronze medal in the women's weightlifting 75kg+ weight class.
Robles actually tipped the scales at 143 kilos, about 310 pounds. She lifted 286kg straight up over her head in the two lifts combined.
The only thing detracting from this story is a failed drug test and 2-year ban. She claims she failed due to hormones she was taking to treat a medical condition.

Teammates
A good teammate is always there to help.



Fun With Kids
I've been watching a lot of Olympics with the kids, and despite their iPads and youtube videos having killed their attention spans we are enjoying it. They're surprisingly into weightlifting and course Chase is following U.S. basketball closely.
But the best moment came when Chase kept referring to the race with the water jump as the "steeple." Evidently, when I gave him the name of it, he thought I said "steeple, Chase."