Category Archives: Bronder Luck

Stanley Cup Final 2009 – Game One.

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Saturday night Julie and I headed to Detroit for the last time in my life. After the seeing the first to games of the Stanley Cup Final last year (2008 Game One, Game Two) I decided to tempt fate again and I have learned my lesson. Nothing good will ever come out of my presence in the city of Detroit. The Pens played a decent game and if not for the dual goal tending defensive strategy employed by the Wings the outcome could have been different.

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Visiting Detroit is a lot like entering the Thunderdome:

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*Side Note:
The rest of my photographs are on Flickr.

Cubs – Dodgers at Wrigley Field.

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Last night I went with Lauren and a couple friends to the Cubs – Dodgers game at Wrigley Field.  Our seats were probably the closest I’ve ever had to the field in a baseball game and we were right next to Dodgers’ bull pen.

My thoughts on Baseball (Pitching):

Seriously, count the pitchers in the picture above.  Nine.  Maybe one of them is a coach… maybe.  So let’s go with eight.  Now add the guy playing in the game right now, back to nine.  Nine pitchers.  Is it me or that enough to field an entire team?  I have no idea how many players a team can dress but I’d be willing to bet it’s change over the last 60 years.  Why is this necessary?  Nine pitchers.  What other sport in the world allows you to have eight backups for one position?  And this is without me even getting into the pitcher who will come out just to pitch to one guy and then he’s done for the night.

When did this madness begin?  Please… some one explain it to me.

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As you can tell from the photo above we sat behind a couple young southern gentleman from Alabama.  For those who don’t know these guys are sporting ‘Joe Willy Namath’s‘.

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Todd Laureano was keeping the world safe last night.

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Quick Commentary:

  1. First photograph – This man is not of a ‘Photographer’.  That’s just a guy sitting at the game with his wife.  Lens Envy.
  2. Second photograph – Harry Caray was in attendance.
  3. Third photograph – That man is wearing black leather pants and a hooded sweatshirt.  I’m pretty sure the only reasonable excuse is that he is literally at the end of closet and all other clothes are filthy.
  4. Same photograph, check the couple in the same row looking at him in total disgust.

*Side Note:  The rest of my photographs from the game are here.

San Francisco Trip.

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Julie and I headed out to San Francisco to visit with Jack and Eddie and catch a string of Mets – Giants games.  The weather was hotter than one would have assumed.  We managed to find a couple really nice bars (Eddie Rickenbarker’s, 21st Amendment, and the San Francisco Brewery Company).  We had a really good dinner at Joe Dimaggio’s Italian Steakhouse.  James gave us a grand tour of the city and we spent an afternoon on Alcatraz.

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Mets – Giants:

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While in town Julie and I managed to see 3 games at AT&T Park.  All Mets victories and all offensive games.  We had different seats each game which gave us some interesting views.   I’m pretty sure during the course of three games I witnessed at least 3 uncalled balks.  Of course when we got home and watched the fourth game of the series on ESPN they actually called a balk.

If some one can actually explain to me what is a balk and what is not a balk with a straight face I’ll buy you a pitcher of beer.

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Travel Notes:

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Air Travel:
For once my flight was really good.  We actually had wireless internet for the entire flight for about $10.  There is really no reason every flight shouldn’t have this.  The network speed was great, the only limit was how much battery you had… I had a lot.

Of course upon landing a girl 4 seats up had to vomit on herself but I’ll take that for wireless internet any day.

San Francisco Public Transit/Cabs:
We took a cab to the hotel with out much problem, once we checked in we asked the front desk for the best way to AT&T Park.  The concierge directed us to the MUNI.  First mistake.  We walk the 4 blocks to the station which also has a BART stop.  To our utter amazement the MUNI only takes quarters.  In the year 2009.  Quarters.  OK, no problem we’ll just use the change machine.  The change machine that just gives $5 dollar bills.  So let’s recap.  The MUNI only takes quarters and the change machine only gives out $5 dollar bills.  OK, the clerk told use to use the BART ticket machine which can give you change if you hold down a secret button… except the BART ticket machine can only give you change from a $1 dollar bill.  Ok, so we need quarters for the MUNI, the change machine only gives you $5 dollar bills and the BART ticket machine that does give change only takes $1 bills.  All in the year 2009.  Perfect.

So after making quarters out air, we get on the train as directed by the concierge and head in the complete opposite direction of the ballpark.  Great.  We eventually get out somewhere and spend 20 minutes looking for a cab.  Once we do get a cab (the game has already started) we get about halfway there and the cab driver has a request:  Does he mind if we stop and so he can put in a dinner order at a Turkish restaurant?  Of course the reason behind this is that his wife is nagging at him and him and he doesn’t have the phone number.  Sure, why not.  So to recap, crazy train ride + amazing cab ride = late to baseball game.

*Side Note:
The rest of my photographs are here.