once in a lifetime
Ok, so two amazing things have happened to me this week, and I figured a good ole’ LJ update would be the best way to talk about them.
First of all, the All-Star game of baseball was held in Pittsburgh this year at PNC park downtown, a simple 2 mile bus ride from campus. Part of All-Star festivities is the homerun derby, held the night before the game, where 8 big hitters try to hit as many home runs as possible while having balls tossed lightly toward them. So Sarah and my pathfinder friends keaton, lee and kyle headed down to the park with the intention of standing on the riverwalk outside the park, which is used to walk to Heinz field along the river from the park, and catching any homerun balls before they went into the river( the park is right along the banks of the Allegheny, just a few yards or so from the point).
Turns out that the riverwalk had been closed for safety reasons, so we stood on the Roberto Clemente bridge for a while just outside the park. We could hear the national anthem, and then had the shit scared out of us when the two fighters jets did a fly-by outside the park. (they were far less scary in the park on opening day for some reason) I heard save a horse, ride a cowboy playing inside the park, and just starting singing along, until I saw fireworks shoot up from inside the park. Then I saw fire on a stage inside the park I hadn’t noticed had been set up. Then it occurred to me: they weren’t playing it on the PA, Big and Rich were doing a concert right in front of me. So yeah. They did that and then Comin to your city.
After the game started, and Ortiz from boston started pounding balls into the river, into the river, where hungry kayakers awaited, we decided we had to get in on the action, but the kayak rental place was all out. After they started getting ppl back in, though, keaton, lee and I headed out on the river. Being on the river in a kayak was a fun enough experience, on a warm clear summer night with the nitetime skyline looking at me, but to be in the atmosphere of the kayakers in the water, waiting for the next ball…once in a lifetime. I could see the jumbotron and hear the PA perfectly from the water. Unforgettable.
The coast guard was in full force(they were there because such big events are automatically considered terrorism targets), and I, on my way over from the rental dock( about 50 yards away), couldn’t back pedal fast enough to stop myself, and ended up ramming into the coast guard boat, which was basically a raft with mounted machine guns. I screamed “Sorry! I’m friendly!” as I charged. They didn’t shoot me, and I navigated my way into the giant inflatable baseballs and the other boats.
That next ball finally came. It landed a few people to my right, so I didn’t try because of the swarm. But there was so much grabbing for the ball, that 15 seconds later it was still up for grabs, and keaton, who was closer than I was, jumped in after it, and eventually came up with it!!! It was hit by Ryan Howard of the Phillies, who was the eventual champion. It was unbelievable. The next day, his picture was on a bunch of different sites, but the topper of them all was this video:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06192/705012-335.stm
You can hear me scream “OH MY GOD! YEAH KEATON”! when he comes up the ball. Please watch.
Also, the Steelers open up the NFL season this year at home, on the Thursday before all of the other games. Like last year with the Patriots, it will be at this game that they receive their Super Bowl rings. There will most likely also be musical guests. Their opponent? My true #1 team in the world, the Miami Dolphins.
Now, I was trying to justify the fact that this will be happening not 2 miles from me and I won’t be there. Well, fuck that. My friend Shane, who is also a huge Miami fan, bought us impossible to get tickets(really, you CANT get steeler tickets), for $250. A lot, you say, but well worth it. I’m going to my first NFL game, and whatmore, its Miami and Pittsburgh! What more could I ask for?? once again, once in a lifetime.
First of all, the All-Star game of baseball was held in Pittsburgh this year at PNC park downtown, a simple 2 mile bus ride from campus. Part of All-Star festivities is the homerun derby, held the night before the game, where 8 big hitters try to hit as many home runs as possible while having balls tossed lightly toward them. So Sarah and my pathfinder friends keaton, lee and kyle headed down to the park with the intention of standing on the riverwalk outside the park, which is used to walk to Heinz field along the river from the park, and catching any homerun balls before they went into the river( the park is right along the banks of the Allegheny, just a few yards or so from the point).
Turns out that the riverwalk had been closed for safety reasons, so we stood on the Roberto Clemente bridge for a while just outside the park. We could hear the national anthem, and then had the shit scared out of us when the two fighters jets did a fly-by outside the park. (they were far less scary in the park on opening day for some reason) I heard save a horse, ride a cowboy playing inside the park, and just starting singing along, until I saw fireworks shoot up from inside the park. Then I saw fire on a stage inside the park I hadn’t noticed had been set up. Then it occurred to me: they weren’t playing it on the PA, Big and Rich were doing a concert right in front of me. So yeah. They did that and then Comin to your city.
After the game started, and Ortiz from boston started pounding balls into the river, into the river, where hungry kayakers awaited, we decided we had to get in on the action, but the kayak rental place was all out. After they started getting ppl back in, though, keaton, lee and I headed out on the river. Being on the river in a kayak was a fun enough experience, on a warm clear summer night with the nitetime skyline looking at me, but to be in the atmosphere of the kayakers in the water, waiting for the next ball…once in a lifetime. I could see the jumbotron and hear the PA perfectly from the water. Unforgettable.
The coast guard was in full force(they were there because such big events are automatically considered terrorism targets), and I, on my way over from the rental dock( about 50 yards away), couldn’t back pedal fast enough to stop myself, and ended up ramming into the coast guard boat, which was basically a raft with mounted machine guns. I screamed “Sorry! I’m friendly!” as I charged. They didn’t shoot me, and I navigated my way into the giant inflatable baseballs and the other boats.
That next ball finally came. It landed a few people to my right, so I didn’t try because of the swarm. But there was so much grabbing for the ball, that 15 seconds later it was still up for grabs, and keaton, who was closer than I was, jumped in after it, and eventually came up with it!!! It was hit by Ryan Howard of the Phillies, who was the eventual champion. It was unbelievable. The next day, his picture was on a bunch of different sites, but the topper of them all was this video:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06192/705012-335.stm
You can hear me scream “OH MY GOD! YEAH KEATON”! when he comes up the ball. Please watch.
Also, the Steelers open up the NFL season this year at home, on the Thursday before all of the other games. Like last year with the Patriots, it will be at this game that they receive their Super Bowl rings. There will most likely also be musical guests. Their opponent? My true #1 team in the world, the Miami Dolphins.
Now, I was trying to justify the fact that this will be happening not 2 miles from me and I won’t be there. Well, fuck that. My friend Shane, who is also a huge Miami fan, bought us impossible to get tickets(really, you CANT get steeler tickets), for $250. A lot, you say, but well worth it. I’m going to my first NFL game, and whatmore, its Miami and Pittsburgh! What more could I ask for?? once again, once in a lifetime.