Taking Time (Off) To Enjoy The Game

onight I will be doing something that I haven’t done in so long that I can’t remember. I am planning to go to a ball game without a camera or notepad just to relax.

Today starts what will be a week and a half of vacation for me, probably the last vacation time I will get before things begin winding down for the summer. After that, it’s head-long into the fall sports season. (I hear the chorus of kids screaming, “No!” at that last statement.)

My wife and I have a few plans, including a trip to Minneapolis to see the Minnesota Twins play. Even there, though, I’ll have a camera around my neck and be keeping a scorecard.

Today, though, that won’t be the case as I watch the Yankton Tappers take on Lesterville at Riverside Field. Jeremy Hoeck, my more-than-able assistant, will be taking the photos.

The game precedes the annual fireworks display at Riverside Park, and my wife and I plan to go down early to watch the game. She grew up in Lesterville, so she’s hoping to see some old friends.

For me, it’s a chance to partake in one of the great things about summer in the Upper Midwest, amateur baseball.

While I appreciate watching the skill and precision of the Major League game, I love being around baseball at all levels. I like watching young players develop their talents, but I love seeing adults play the game, especially at the amateur level. I’ve seen plenty of young kids who were pushed to play due to overbearing parents, but there is almost none of that in amateurs. They’re out there for the love of the game, the love of competition.

You can see that love of the game in the people that follow amateur baseball as well.

In a smaller town — i.e., anyone in the South Central League outside of Yankton — games tend to be as much a social event as an athletic contest. When you pass through the town’s main street, a sign promoting the game sits right in the middle of the street. Crowds not only pack the small stands near home plate, but they’ll ring the field in lawn chairs or cars or the beds of pick-ups. With every strikeout, home run or big play, car horns go off to salute the accomplishment of the home team. With every foul ball or home run, a wave of kids chases the stray sphere in hopes of getting a quarter (or in some cases, 50 cents) for bringing it back.

In the press box — most of which aren’t big enough to hold actual press, just large enough to hold an announcer and a scorekeeper — the announcer not only calls out the next players, but gives a little commentary on the side. It’s almost always positive, saying that the left fielder made a nice catch or the pitcher painted the outside corner. He or she will also tout the specials at the concessions stand, wish someone a “Happy Birthday” and remind the kids to return the foul balls for their quarter.

And it’s all done without the aid of high-definition exploding scoreboards that stand seven stories high or computer-recorded sound effects and music that drown out any attempts at conversation.

It’s probably the small-town boy in me — even though I haven’t lived in Veblen for nearly 19 years — that appreciates those little things about amateur baseball, things that someone from a major city might see as unsophisticated or corny. But maybe if more of us had an appreciation for some simple things like this, we’d all be a lot happier.

If you get the chance, stop down to Riverside Field for tonight’s 6:30 p.m. baseball game and stay for the fireworks. If you don’t, have a safe and happy Independence Day with your families, and take a moment to remember those who fight to preserve that independence.

TGIF Linkage 07/03

To start off the holiday weekend, let’s take a look at some news surrounding the University of South Dakota men’s basketball program.

First some 2009-10 scheduling notes:

** The USD men will host Morehead State (Ky.) on Monday, Dec. 28. MSU was 20-16 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

** USD and Kansas State will meet on Jan. 3, 2010, according to KSU’s non-conference schedule. The teams last faced each other in 1986.

In non-schedule news:

** Mike Lafrenz, who redshirted for USD last season, has transferred to Division II Upper Iowa. He likely wasn’t going to see much playing time in Vermillion, but should have plenty of chances at Upper Iowa.

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Now for the real linkage.

** Bittersweet news out of the Twin Cities. Minnesota Twins beat reporter Phil Miller has been laid off from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. This leaves the door open for fellow Twins scribe Kelsie Smith to become the primary beat writer. Smith is a former USD student and sportswriter at The Volante, where her and I worked together for one year. So, congrats to Kelsie.

** Quite a month for swimming and diving in The Summit League. June 5: Western Illinois drops men’s & women’s programs. June 26: USD joins the conference as an associate member. June 29: Western Illinois reinstates its programs.

** After 8 hard-to-watch years, the Best Dam Sports Show Period is closing up shop. Let’s all take a moment. OK, done. Bye bye, Chris Rose.

** Due to the high number of arrests of Washington State football players, the WSU student newspaper reports to a hilarious Mad-Libs style editorial.

** Check out all 8 videos of Oprah Winfrey’s 1993 interview with Michael Jackson. If nothing else, it’s an interesting look inside Jacko’s mind.

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TGIF Recommended Tune

This is a song I’ve been meaning to link for some time now. It’s “Pain” by Three Days Grace. Enjoy the holiday weekend, everyone.

Rock Your Week – June 29, 2009

Okay, okay….I know….it’s been awhile again. And the fact I suggested a song for Jeremy to use for his TGIF really got me into trouble. So here I am!

This weekend I went to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. All I have to say is 2 THUMBS UP! If you haven’t seen it yet….get to the movie theater and check it out before it’s gone. It’s worth the money.

I have to admit, I heard a lot of reviews on it before I got to see it and my guard was up. Of course, you only hear what they DON’T like about the movie. I have one suggestion to the critics out there! Keep your opinions to yourself! Let the people have a chance to see the movie with an open mind and rate it for themselves. Then open your pie-holes with your negativity. That way I can turn around and say how WRONG you were on your opinion.

So the movie is what brings this week’s Rock Your Week. It’s the official song for the movie. Sit back and enjoy!

Reminder —– if you want to access Rock Your Week easily just look at the top right hand side of the page and click on Rock Your Week!

TGIF Linkage 06/26

The curse of three has struck again.

First it was Ed McMahon, then Farah Fawcett, and now Michael Jackson.

As it typically happens, celebrity deaths usually occur three at a time. And this week, three celebrities (famous in their own ways) lost their lives.

As a child of the mid-to-late 1980’s, I grew up hearing the latest hit from the King of Pop. And as I grew older, Jacko grew crazier. But despite all his issues, both physically and mentally, Michael Jackson was an American Icon. That isn’t even up for debate.

And now, on to the linkage.

** University of South Dakota women’s basketball recruits Kate Edwards (Crete, Neb.) and Stacia Robertson (Grand Island, Neb.) are both members of the Nebraska Twisterz, a summer club team. They will be in Sioux Falls this weekend for the Dakota Showcase, a premier high school hoops event.

** One newspaper reports that someone named Vontae Davis was arrested in Illinois. A second paper reports that no, wait, it wasn’t the same Vontae Davis (the one that’s a rookie for the Miami Dolphins). Strange story.

** LA Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy calls ESPN’s Bill Simmons a “joke writer” with no credibility. Thus began a massive Twitter war.

** How is Twitter revolutionizing sports journalism? Ric Bucher of ESPN reassures Kevin Love of the T-Wolves VIA TWITTER that he’s not likely to be traded. Odd, I have to say. That’d be like me Twittering a college player telling them if they’re starting in the next game.

** Uh-oh Twins fans, Joe Mauer is on the cover of next Sports Illustrated. The story, “written” by Tom Verducci, includes not only the usual stereotypes of Mauer, but gives Verducci yet another mascot for his STEROIDS BAD campaign.

** Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he has “toyed” with the idea of coaching mostly at home next season, letting assistant Kurt Rambis handle more road duties. C’mon, Phil, that’s not how the gig works.

** If you need something to distract you on this Friday afternoon, here are the Top 50 Movie Trailers. Hitchcock’s classic “Psycho” is personally my favorite film of all time. He was known for hilariously wacky trailers.

** Thanks to a rotation swap, Philadelphia Phillies ace pitcher Cole Hamels takes the mound tonight (Friday) against the Toronto Blue Jays. Hamels (4-3) hasn’t really gotten into a groove this season, even despite allowing two runs in eight innings in his last start — which got him a no-decision.

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TGIF Recommended Tune

The P&D’s own music guru Jodi Bacorn recommends this song, “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” by Cage The Elephant. Enjoy.

Favre Watch

Nothing new to report on whether or not Brett Favre will unretire again and sign with the Vikings, but I had to share this little visual, sent to me by one of the Fab Four from the Veblen High School Class of 1990.

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Thought those of you that have spent the last four months wondering what Ol’ No. 4 was going to do would appreciate it.