3/11 Oakland Athletics v. Angels

Okay, so I left off the incredibly long geographically dilemma'd title for the Angels. I bought their program and I could not find "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" anywhere within its pages. Good idea. Those fans of teams with red attire sure like to wear it with pride.

Location: Angels Diablo Stadium - Tempe, Arizona
Temperature: 87 degrees (our seats were entirely in the shade - hallelujah!)
Food and beer consumed: Jumbo dog (true to title) and Fat Tire x 2
Amusing sight: This was actually what I did not see: fistfights, pipe-wielding thugs or arrests

The A's beat the Angels 7-6 with a late-game drive carried out by players with high double-digits on the backs of their uniforms. This was possibly due to the fact that the Angels pitcher also had a high number on his back. Either way, I do not care because I have my new favorite player name. His first name is J.J. and his 8th-inning double put the A's in the lead and saddened all the red-shirt-wearing Angels fans.

A's player to watch: #66 J.J. Furmaniak-"ak-ak-ak-ak-ak...you oughta know by now". Gutsy, scrappy, and with an excellent baseball name.

Angels player to watch: #35 Casey Kotchman - he provided a double and a homerun, but unfortunately wears the long pants so there is still some room for improvement. Hopefully Terry Evans will influence his knee soxability.

Other notable sights at the game: Mike Piazza!!! That's correct, he is in the American League now as a DH and still getting hits. It just takes him awhile to huff it to base. Vladimir Guerrero appears to be in very good form with an excellent hairstyle. I almost bought a "Vlad!" shirt, but ultimately opted not to do so. As a special note, I have encountered many groups of glorious female fans at the Spring Training games and the Angels get props for having a female VP of Finance - booyah!!

Later today...Cubs v. Giants!

-P

3/10 Colorado Rockies v. San Diego Padres

Hooray for baseball!!

The Padres beat the Rockies 11-3, of course they had most of their "pro" squad and the Rockies? Perhaps not so much.

Location: Peoria Sports Complex
Temperature: 85 degrees
Food and beer consumed: "Loaded" bratwurst, garlic fries and Black Butte Porter
Amusing sight: Vendors walking the stands selling chocolate-covered strawberries

Padres players to watch:
Terrmell Sledge - SD fans already know this - but he hit a homerun with his bat and with his kick-ass name.
Paul McAnulty. Why? Well, he's short, stocky and wears the high knee sox. A guy behind me referred to him as fat, but that seems a bit harsh. I also got a good read on "The Bard".

Rockies player to watch:
Geronimo Gil (pronounced "Heronimo Heeel") he batted .192 in 2006, swings like a pitcher and provided the fans in Peoria many, many souvenir foul balls. He's a giver and shouldn't that be rewarded?

Notes: There was a large bachelor party from San Diego seated near us briefly. The groom-to-be had an inside source with the Padres organization and was able to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and get his name on the mini-jumbo-tron. (Uh, totally awesome!) His friends suggested that I meet a guy in their group who loves baseball, has a trust fund and drives a Hummer. Two out of three ain't bad?

-P

$370,000,000!!!!!

Here are some things I will do (besides donating money to charities & hooking up my parents with a sweet retirement SD condo) when I win the $370 million dollar MegaMillions jackpot:

1) Immediately attempt to schedule lunch with Warren Buffett in greasy-spoon diner in Omaha, NE
2) Purchase ocean-front/ocean-view home in San Diego
3) Purchase convertible Mini Cooper-S (color to be determined)
4) Pay off credit card debt with loose change found in my 20-person theatre room sectional sofa 3 weeks after moving in to #2
5) Um, schedule “Dinner for 5” with: Clive Owen, George Clooney, John Cusack, Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert – whoops, make that “Dinner for 6”
6) Employ: personal chef, personal trainer, driver, pedicurist & massage therapist
7) Twice-weekly psychotherapy treatments to delay the inevitable time when I go nuts - which leads me to #8...
8) The Patrick Swayze Appreciation Room (motion-activated room that plays the song “She’s Like the Wind” and the movie “Roadhouse” – upon entering, it picks up where it left off). Photographs of scenes from Point Break, Next of Kin and The Outsiders (no Ghost memorabilia allowed)
9) Helper Monkey (M-F dressed like bellman, weekend wear at his own discretion)
10) Pet Suite (for Toby, Tess, my future 3-legged dogs & six-toed cats)
11) Travel country seeing a baseball game in every stadium, fancy seats and photographs with each team’s mascot
12) Costco membership – ha!
13) Personal Duran Duran performance (Hellooooo Qwwad Sitteeezzz!!!)
14) Blogger assistant to post details & pictures to show everyone - who still has to work - how much fun I am having!!!

What would you do?
-P
*
"Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollars. "
- Warren Buffett

78 degrees outside!!!

...and five days until I am at Spring Training!!!

-P

"Gary, you didn't kill your brother. Those gorillas did. "
- Lisa, Team America: World Police