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Category: Sport

  • Baseball and Me: In Anticipation of #LondonSeries 2019

    Baseball and Me: In Anticipation of #LondonSeries 2019

    I’ve been watching baseball since 2004. An illness and horrible bouts of insomnia led me to look for something to keep me busy at night when the rest of my world was sleeping.

    The North American Sports Network had just launched in Ireland, showing baseball games, with lots of live games starting just after midnight. Perfect.

    It was relaxing, nothing too strenuous and something to keep me occupied. Little did I know that I would fall for the game.

    After a few weeks, I decided that if I was going to watch this, I should root for a team. Since I had been to San Francisco not too long before, and loved the place, the San Francisco Giants became an obvious choice.

    I was still learning the rules and history of the club. I hadn’t even known they had reached the World Series two years before. But by the end of the season, I was subscribed to MLB tv, trying to watch the Giants and the Dodgers, with my team losing the division by two games.

    Baseball became a companion to me. I worked from home and always had a game from the night before on as I did my work. Let’s face it for the next couple of years the Giants were, putting it nicely, shite.

    Tim Lincecum joined, Barry Bonds retired and then a fresh breed of Giants gave some hope. I will never forget 2010, I had returned to study and the post season was challenging to say the least. Going to bed early so I could get up and watch games and hopefully get some sleep before lectures. It was all worth it for the first of three World Series titles.

    Life changes, jobs mean baseball viewing habits change, I had a Madison Bumgarner Jersey shaped 40th birthday cake but I still had never been to an actual MLB game. I just couldn’t afford it.

    So when the news filtered that baseball was coming to London where I now live, I hadtwo emotions. Sheer delight and simultaneously, dread. What happens if I couldn’t get a ticket? You can read about that here.

    Now the #LondonSeries is this weekend. Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, obviously I wish it was the Giants but I guess the two East Coast teams are the flagship for the game.

    The information and teasers that the MLB people have put out through social media imply that no one in the UK has ever watched a game. I got an email during the week reminding me that a baseball game doesn’t have a set time as it goes by innings and outs etc. Pretty low brow stuff. A social media post with ‘Phrases you might hear at the ballpark’ didn’t really help very much.

    Now I’m wondering. This game that I’ve loved and watched for the past fifteen years, is it not going to be what I expected?

    Will I think it’s shite if I don’t have Kruk, Kuip, John and Dave chatting to me through the game? Have I built this all up so much that I will only be disappointed?

    I’m hoping for a few home runs, some proper battle it out stuff, an extra inning? Why not? And a good old Red Sox vs Yankees physical tussle where the umpire gets involved and has to eject a few? That would be awesome. And no, I’m not endorsing violence.

    When the Giants won the three World Series, I felt a passion for a sport like nothing else. (Maybe when Meath won the All Ireland). If America’s summer pastime is in the UK, I want the ripple of electricity to spread around the ballpark.

    I’m ready. Game on!

    Follow me on Instagram for updates from both June 29 and June 30th

    Baseball image by Lenora Cagle from Pixabay

    AT & T Image by David Mark from Pixabay

  • MLB London Series // Ticket Panic Over

    MLB London Series // Ticket Panic Over

    MLB London Series // Ticket Panic Over

    I’m a huge baseball fan. But, it’s only now that I will have the opportunity to go to an MLB game. The last time I was in America was years ago, before I was even a baseball fan, and it costs a lot with flights and tickets. It costs a bit more if your team are on the West Coast.

    I’m a San Francisco Giants fan, there could never be another team for me. When I went to SF, I fell in love with the city. A couple of years later, I got ill. Cue sleepless nights with only baseball for company. The Giants became my team.

    Since then, they’ve gone from downright terrible to World Champs 3 times and back to heartbreakingly awful. But, I’m still a Giants fan. I sleep with San Francisco radio station on every night, I sleep in my 50th San Francisco anniversary t-shirt. And now, in London, I get to wear my Giants shirt to an MLB ballgame.

    Over the past few years, London has seen NFL coming to Wembley become a regular fixture on the sports calendar. Indeed MLB has seen regular season games start in Japan and Australia, even this year, the Dodgers and the Padres played some games in Mexico. It seemed that it was only a matter of time before MLB came to the UK for a London Series.

    MLB Promo for London Series on 29/30 June 2019 featuring Boston Redsox and New York Yankees

    When it was all finally announced that MLB was coming to London, I genuinely felt a dread like I was facing the Leaving Cert again (Irish equivalent to A Levels).

    There could only ever be two teams to bring the sport to the UK, World Champions, Boston Redsox and their biggest rivals New York Yankees. As a Liverpool FC fan, the team share an owner with the Red Sox, so I will obviously be cheering for them.

    It will also be interesting to see what impact the Yankees have on UK clothing. I have long thought that the Yankees were more a clothing brand here than anything else. I wonder if that will change.

    The Hunt For Tickets

    I had registered for pre-sale tickets with MLB and with London Stadium. The MLB pre-sale tickets went on sale at 1000 on December 3. I can only describe the hour it took me to get tickets and completely stomach churning.

    I had 3 screens open, one work computer, one iPad and my phone, trying to get tickets. I had already registered with Ticketmaster and had updated my password so everything was ready to go. Yeah… no!

    The spinning wheel of doom, just kept on spinning. It took my 50 minutes even to get through to where I could choose tickets. When I did get through, I had picked 2 tickets in the £65 bracket for Saturday, then a notice from Ticketmaster came. My account did not exist.

    I had to set up another account and the only two tickets, the site would allocate to me were 2 tickets at £340 each, £780 in total. Jeezus lads! I couldn’t afford that, I’m not sure there are that many that could.

    The Ticketmaster site also had a couple of little snags along the way, you had to click through each price bracket you wanted to pay for tickets. When I tried to get two tickets at a cheaper price, I got nothing.

    After trials and deliberations with myself, I decided I would be going to the games on my own. I managed to get a £65 for Saturday and a £35 ticket for Sunday. I managed to get tickets for both days.

    A Word of Caution

    A couple of things emerged from that day. Ticketmaster and MLB knew beforehand how many people had registered for presale. The Ticketmaster site definitely wasn’t able for the traffic. Realistically, people always complain about Ticketmaster. They are a nightmare at the best of times and their charges are ridiculous, both for punters and for gig/venue promoters. Both games are both sold out.

    The other point that concerns me more is that the game, while MLB is trying to promote a new sport here, it is pricing the regular Joe baseball fan out of going to the games. Looking for tickets on StubHub right now, the cheapest tickets are £123.02 each

    Two things to consider, Wembley is a bigger venue for NFL. It has a capacity of 90000. Three games a year mean 270000 punters. London Stadium capacity is 66000. That capacity is still bigger than Yankee Stadium (54251) or Fenway (37371). The London Series is a two game series, which if a regular season game, can be a bit of a throw away series, there’s not that many of them. Turn the London Series into a three game series. That means 196000 people could then go see them icons of the sport. Don’t forget, we’re not only talking about UK fans but the US fans that want to make the journey also.

    A baseball base on sandy ground on a baseball field

    Looking forward to Summer 2019

    As bad as the ticket torture of December 3rd was, I’m really looking forward to Summer 2019. I might be going on my own but I’ve already arranged to meet up with a fellow San Francisco Giants fan beforehand. No doubt, there will be a Festival of Baseball. I’m looking forward to cheering on the RedSox, booing the Yankees, a bench clearing brawl and a lot of fun!

    MLB London Series logo taken from Facebook.

  • San Francisco Giants: E-40: Win Something (Update SF Giants Style!)

    San Francisco Giants: E-40: Win Something (Update SF Giants Style!)

    Every Postseason needs a song. In 2010, the unofficial San Francisco Giants anthem was Askon with Don’t Stop Believing. For the second time in three years, the Giants are about to start Game 1 in the first round of the NLCS. Tonight, they take on the Cincinnati Reds.

    The prospect of a BayBridge World Series is go! As the Oakland A’s are through to the postseason too.

    To reach the next stage, all the Giants have to do is win three out of the next five games. Here’s this years anthem, E-40 with Win Something. It will be interesting to see if it takes off like DSB did as it’s not as immediately sing-along-able. Either way, we’re in for a great couple of weeks of baseball.

    I’ve got my Barry Bonds Sweatshirt and my 2010 orange rally rag ready for tonight. First pitch 0237.. yip, A.M.

    EDIT: E-40 has just been challenged by an opponet.. SFGiants Style!

  • Euro 2012 Irish Football Songs: The Definitive Collection

    Euro 2012 Irish Football Songs: The Definitive Collection

    To get you (and try to get myself) into the mood for all the football happening over the next couple of weeks, I decided to have a look at the Irish songs knocking around for Euro 2012. To be fair, there’s good, bad and downright ugly in this lot but hey this is a ‘Definitive Collection’ so it’s not my fault. So sit down for a few minutes, get your scarf, flag and vuvuzela and let rip.

    The Rocky Road To Poland – Damian Dempsey, Bressie, Danny Corana, and friends. Official Republic Of Ireland Song for Euro 2012

    First up, might as well go with the Official one, this has been knocking around your favourite National Commerical Radio station for a bit now, it’s been number one, lyrics written by the Ray D’arcy Listeners plus it actually features the Republic of Ireland football team in the video! Score!

    Come on Ireland: Buachaill Boys

    It had to happen, someone uses Dexys Midnight Runners’ Come On Eileen. They get the names of the squad in and they make eejits of themselves dancing on an empty street, (would have been more impressed if there were auld ones standing in the doorways) and they recreate Ray Houghton’s 1988 goal versus England. Not then worst in the bunch. Passable.

    Jedward: Put Your Green Cape On

    Downer, it’s a rehash of the classic Jedward hit ‘Lipstick’, upside all the monies go to the ISPCC. I suppose the Jedwards were too busy going to Azerbaijan and carrying Olympics torches to do an original.. sad, ruined Lipstick. Kids love it.

    Rory and The Island: Boys in Green

    Have to be honest, had Rory on my radio show, chatting about this. It all happened by accident, he made up some words and played the song with Sharon Shannon in Lanzarote, where he’s based and some geezer filmed it on his phone so what they thought would be a once off turned into the track you see before you. Nice video, shot in Lanzarote, where all the houses are only allowed to be either green or white, by law.

    The Subztitutes: Bring It On

    Oops, was forgetting this one, how could I? Mickey Harte teams up with Paul Brady and they play Pied Piper of Grafton St. Decent chorus, Irish enough, easy to remember.

    Rockier Road to Poland: Shane McGowan, The Aftermath, Joe Rooney and friends

    In some cruel twist of fate, the Cronin brothers decided to get working on this last November only to have the Today FM version come along, ah well, this version features Shane McGowan and a plethora of people I actually know in real life. Yes, the place away from the computer. I love Brian Murphy’s guitar on this. Still a winner!

    Andy Bennett: Ireland All The Way

    It’s great to see how many charidees are benefiting from all these. This one’s for Temple Street. You might remember Andy Bennett from You’re a Star in 2007, he was a finalist. This track is a more upbeat kind of thing and sing a long able lyrics, not sure it they would make it to the terraces though, sorry seats, seats, you have to sit.

    Sean Kelly: The Celtic Roar

    Oh Gawd, this reminds me of a particular pirate radio station that broadcast ‘all over the midlands’ in the eighties, Country n Irish to the core… Diddley dee eye dye.. Celtic Bore. Sorry.

    The Postronics: Ambitious Minds

    First, were excited about Euro 2012, please show this in your music. Suspicious Minds to Ambitious Minds, we’ll let you away with that but could you please sound like you’re actually looking forward to it. Disinterested.. doesn’t make me want to listen. NEXT!

    Johnny B & The Boogie Men: Green Army

    Thank You! This sounds like a cross between Republic of Loose and Rubberbandits, it’s awesome! Love it. Easy the best of the bunch.. awesome camper van!

    Mahoney: We’re On Our Way

    I’ve played Mahoney’s music on the radio before and I actually quite like this. It’s well recorded and produced but I think to catch on a football song has to have words you can sing at a game… Apart from a variation on the Olé Olé chorus, there’s not a lot you’d sing at a game. Good song though!

    Ill Thraps: We All Get Nil Together

    Terrible recording, lads what were you at? Because the song is actually quite funny and has an Irishness you’d find in The Saw Doctors but the recording is so bad, I can’t listen. Sorry.

    Traps Green Army: All is Possible (Just Can’t Get Enough)

    This was one of the first songs to emerge this year and is extremely clever, has the Irishness, has the Trap bit like ‘Put Em Under Pressure’ had the Jack Charlton bit. Winner! Download the track for free here

    The Proud: Emerald Army (Party)

    OOh a little bit dancey this one and they got a pub full of Irish jerseys. Probably a little bit too clever for the terraces but this is a definite party tune.. should be heard at every barbeque and discotheque over the next few weeks… would love to hear a full on dance remix!

    Brendan and The Blacksticks: Trapp and The Lads

    This isn’t actually half bad shows sometimes you shouldn’t judge the song by its video. Will definitely raise the patriotic vibes.. good job.

    Giovanni Trappatoni: Be the 12th Player (DJhUactharain)

    If Barack O’Bama can do Call Me Baby, Gio Tappatoni can do one better. Fantastic amount of cleverness by DJhUactharain.

    The Sneaky Ones: It’s Our Time

    This seems a little bit more serious at first, then you see yer man in the camper van is giving it loads. Decent effort.

    Owen Branagan: We’re On Our Way

    This song is different to all the rest so far, just Owen, his guitar and a chorus of voices. Just misses that extra punch.

    Dropkick Murphys and Peakfiddler: We’re Shipping Out (Clap For Trap)

    Ah lads, this is the downright ugly. Pure laziness, you could’ve easily recorded this but no.. This has 322533 views on YouTube, would yiz not look at some videos of cats instead no? I love Shipping up to Boston but c’mon – pure shite.

    Breen White & Gold: Boys in Green 2-0-1-2

    This is a bit better, little bit dancier, and lyrics that are handy enough to remember. If this song was a match result it would be a 1-1.

    Jasper Kearns: Song for all Seasons

    Finally, we all know the recipe for a successful football song, clever singalong able lyrics, a pub and a bunch of friends having a laugh. Jasper Kearns, you’ve nailed it!

    There ye go! That’s all the Irish Football Songs for Euro 2012, there were one or two that wouldn’t let me embed the video, tough, you didn’t make it. After listening to all of these over the past few days, it doesn’t matter how good, bad or downright shite some songs are, we’re all looking forward to hopefully a fantastic couple of weeks. C’mon Ireland!

    Edit: I’m finding more every day!

    Funzo – The Boys in Green Have Done it Once Again

    OK, here’s Funzo’s contribution to the list and fair play, it’s not bad. Word of warning, lads don’t get stuck in the novelty genre. They’ve already had a very Christmas song