Category Archives: Fan fun

Feb 29 2020
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Baseball, college baseball, Fan fun, food

The Hot Dog Blog 1: Olsen Field at Bluebell Park

Welcome to the hot dog blog 🌭!  A new feature here at Tales From The Bleachers because (obvious alert) no visit to a baseball park, stadium or field would be complete without a hot dog am I right? So as we travel the 2020 college baseball circuit following the #Miamiredhawks and #SanFranciscoDons this season, we’ll also be putting the dogs to the test. I won’t take this space to suggest HOW you should eat your dog (no ketchup!) but rather provide a public service should you find yourself at any of the friendly confines we have the privilege of visiting this season. Our opinion is really all that matters, because it’s our hot dog blog – but we’d love to hear from you if you have a winner, a can’t miss combo of condiments, a ball field dog that is not to be missed.

We have parameters – I mean we’re not out here winging it – here they are:

  • Price
  • Color
  • Taste
  • Texture
  • Snap
  • Bun quality

Outstanding experiences awarded weiner rating from 1-5 with five suggesting it’s worth a visit 🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭. If our experience is pure sadness, one dog: 🌭. Hold on to your buns, here we go…

HOT DOG 1

The park is Olsen Field at Bluebell Park. Home of the Texas A&M Aggies, College Station Texas.

Wiener rating: 🌭

 

 

Price: $7

Color: brownish

Taste: old

Texture: dry

Snap: result of oldness

Bun: stale

Comments: The Aggies are really phoning this in. This dog seemed to be brought out from the (very late) night before. I mean is this what passes for a hot dog in the pork-loving, bbq-bragging lone star state? You should be ashamed of yourselves. Suggestion: spend as much time on your hot dogs as your fans spend prepping to  heckle the visiting team.

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Sep 26 2013
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Baseball, Fan fun, Football

MOJO

Who has it? Who needs it? Where is it? How do you get it?  These are the questions.

It’s all about the mojo right? Karma, luck, we put a lot of stock in it.  Even a beer company has finally acknowledged how important superstition is to us – (seriously, what took them so long?)  Super fan or not, we all  know what it means to put on “the rally cap.” “Whatever works” right?  I say, RIGHT!

Listen, I grew up in a long-suffering (still suffering) sports town. I could write blog after blog about the rituals, the superstitions we clung to (cling to) for our hometown baseball and football teams.  Just ask my mom.  In 1980 she spent 2-3 hours every Sunday riding a stationary bike in our basement.  She was not allowed upstairs (where the rest of us were watching the game. This was unspoken.  My mom did not put up a fight, she knew that if she was not on that bike at kick-off, if her energy or effort waned in any way during that game, that a loss by the Browns was solely on her.  My mom was in some kick ass shape that season!  I’m not sure Brian Sipe appreciated the dedication it took, but we did – the label Cardiac Kids was taken literally in our household that season.  We did make it to the playoffs – not to the big game, I’m not blaming Mimi or anything…

My friend Molly, who I call Trixie, spent 3 of the last innings of a freshmen baseball game balancing on a curb behind, and to the right of the bleachers this past summer.  Why you ask? Because while we were chatting in that spot during the 5th inning we started making a comeback against our arch rivals!  Obviously it was Trixie’s positioning. We won in the bottom of the 10th! Coincidence? I think not.  Current Trixie Tracking (CTT) -Molly aka Trixie comes from the mid-west, huge family, big state, big schools, big sports – she gets the superstition thing and has influential energy, we’ll track her influence and provide periodic updates –  CTT: Trixie won’t come to tomorrow night’s football game because we are 4 and 0 and she has yet to make it to a game. Her presence at the Varsity game could well affect the outcome. We’ll miss you at pre-game Trix!

The past two high school football seasons we have established a game-day-sign-buddy-check. Your game day sign needs to either be out at the crack of dawn, or not out, depending on last week’s results of course – and the emails and texts are typically sent prior to any full time job or parenting responsibilities.  Out of town? Too bad – get a back up or this game’s on you. This is dedication.

What is wrong with us?  Why do we do it? Could we have an effect?  Well, physics tells us that energy is neither created nor destroyed. So, I’m down with the “energy is real” theory and that translates to power which translates to influence right?  Why do athletes point to the sky when they do something great?  Is it Dad? Grandma? The Big Guy? (does the big guy like him/her better than the loser on the field at that moment? And where was He when our athlete sucked last week? I know, it’s just a lot to ponder…)

I like to believe in Karma- good energy out, good energy in.  So if I focus my good energy on the game, the player – who’s to argue that it doesn’t have an effect?  Talk later, got to go – I have to get my sign out and make sure my lucky shirt is clean – it’s game day.

Oh it's real....

Oh it’s real….

Jun 14 2013
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Fan fun, Good sports parent, Nightmare parents, Youth Sports

It’s Simple Really…

So, a great article on what makes a great sports parent, or a nightmare sports parent –  can be found by clicking here from Bruce E. Brown and Rob Miller.

Bottom line?  Ride home (very important.) Get in car, start car, turn to child: ” You know? I love to watch you play!”  Add hug, high five, fist bump, kiss, whatever… then, shut it. What I love about this piece is that they ASKED KIDS…kids who are playing, and “kids” who played…college kids and grads.  Overwhelmingly, kids really just don’t want you to criticize or coach.  Favorite take away: “let them bring the game to you.”  In other words “if I want your advice I’ll ask for it…”

Have fun out there this weekend, and if there needs to be some sort of anonymous “shaming” to keep the nightmare parents in line…drop us a line at TFTB!

@tftbleachers on twitter,OR click to email

 

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Jun 10 2013
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Baseball, Fan fun, Uncategorized

100 Games in 100 Days: Day 6

Day 6: Baseball.  So for High School ball, when we have home games, the parents staff concession stand, score board operation, and announcer role.   (yes, we have announcers – what? no, we just announce the kid who is at bat – what? YES WE HAVE WALK UP MUSIC for each kid – what do you think this is? Bush league??)

We are all housed in what we affectionately call, the “snack shack.”  In years past, I guess I just showed up and would pop in there if asked to help.  Now that some kids have graduated, and others are playing a different summer league, I realize now how much I miss the women who ran that ship like a stinking military assignment.  Yes, yes, last season I would have, should have, had a rich, robust snarky blog about them – how to make the burgers, how to wrap them in foil, where the chocolate is positioned v. the skittles – how to dispense the hot cheese glug on the 6-month old nachos. I mean, these women had it FIGURED OUT.  Who the hell am I to think this is just a day at the ball park? Because I’m telling you this gig requires some serious skills.  And I’m not just talking sales, people, and counting-change-in-your-head skills.  The announcer’s/score booth sits above the snack shack.  In order to run the scoreboard you really need to have completed an advance degree in engineering – and God help the numbskull who misses a strike or posts a run on the opposite team’s total!  You want to see an unruly parent during a close game? Put up a run on the other team’s total and sit back and wait for about 15 minutes while the rumbling turns into mentioning to shouting up at the box. It’s rich I tell you. Rich.  Anyway, here’s my tribute, you know who you are:

Here’s to the gang that manages snacks, they’re bossy and witty and don’t take no crap. If you need some peanuts some seeds or a dew, they are there…there for you.

Thanks to the dads who keep track of the score, but please don’t play country between innings no more.

xo TFTB

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May 31 2013
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Baseball, basketball, Fan fun, Football

100 Games in 100 Days

So…Schooolzzzzzzzz, OUT! FOR! sumMER!!…..(channel your inner Alice Cooper here…)  And that can mean only one thing right?  Take a deep breath, sit back, and time to relax!

Wrong.

School out of session means MORE TIME FOR SPORTS.  And here’s a new wrinkle..while summer really used to be about just baseball, or lacrosse, or maybe youth soccer season, as you approach middle and high school, it is now not really anyone’s “formal” season…so, obviously that means that it’s EVERYONE’S season. And when I say “everyone” I mean “coaches.”  It’s summer football, summer baseball, and summer basketball, summer LAX…In case you missed the memo: If you have a tee-baller, pop-warner, soccer bunch-baller…or any sort of fun-loving sporty kid ages 5-8, start thinking “year-round sport.”  This trend has now legitimized every coach’s dream of being able to ask your kid to play “their” sport every month of the year. Oh that other sport they usually play in that other season?  “Hey, just, you know, give them equal time this summer.”*

*BS alert

This is fast-becoming one of the classic BS lines a coach will ever utter.  No coach wants you to give equal time to another sport. This statement does not suggest that they will not lay a bit of guilt tripping on you, and your kid.  And who’s to know for sure that there is not a nasty little attendance tracker hidden deep under practice notes on that clipboard of his/hers that will allow them to hold a grudge when the regular season tryouts roll around…

So, in an attempt to keep up, and prepare my loyal readers for their future or, just provide a relatable point of reference as you juggle car pools, schedules, meals and bleacher seats this summer – I am going to track 100 games in 100 days or thereabouts – as such, will also hope to contrast the emotions and enthusiasm of coaches, fans and parents at our variety of venues. Join me?

GAME ON!

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Oct 03 2012
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Coaches-gone-wild, Fan fun

Coaching Gems

Time to bring back: coaching gems.  Many of these are from days long past..the days when I knew I HAD to start a blog, but instead just kept notes, in a file, for the day I actually pulled the trigger.  That day has come…through “Coaching Gems” I’ll introduce you to some of the greats from our youth sports experience. Names have been changed (or slightly altered for amusement)  to protect the nutbags: Pete Humpden, Mr. JingALing, Matt Madderhorn, Rocko, Coach Chuckles – but also to not avoid the actual good guys (they’re out there, really!)  Coach A, Coach B, Coach L… Feel free to COMMENT and share your own gems – we’ll include whoppers contributed by the new and naive as well (thanks to my peeps out there who just signed their kids up for the inaugural year of bunch ball and t-ball!) Enjoy!

THE DAY MR. JING A LING THREW DOWN

Sport: boys baseball

Player Age: 12

Situation: The Rebels are in league playoffs, tensions are high.

Backgrounder and run up: Logically, there has been ego clashing in this dugout for months.  One coach fancies himself the Dr. Phil of coaching: observant Svengali of young boys’ struggles with the game.  Not sure what the other boys actually thought, but my son (in private of course) gave the big eye-roll anytime Mr. Jing A Ling approached.  However, most of the boys went along. No biggie right? Well, the head coach, Madderhorn, didn’t like the idea of being undermined or out-adored by another coach.  Today, of course, was  not the day to threaten Coach Mad’s ego…big game and all.  Anywho, Jing-A-Ling did pull a kid aside to you know, magically inspire him out of his slump. Sadly, this was ill-timed as everyone knows that you don’t want to pull a kid out of the grounder warm up rotation!

Resulting Gem: Coach Mad: “hey Jing-A-Ling, what the hell are you doing? We’ve got 10 minutes to game time?”  Coach Jing: “Can it Madderhorn, I’m fixing what you can’t fix.”  Coach Mad, slam practice bat to the ground, march authoritatively towards Jing…come VERY close to the chest bumb…” Really Jing-A-Ling?  What is that supposed to mean?”  And…wait for it…..Jing replies, no, screams….(love the build up…) “I COULD KICK, YOUR, ASS MADDERHORN AND BEEN JUST WAITIN TO DO IT!”   Whoooo whooooooooooo!  Parents and 12-year olds watch in awe as chests bump, nostrils flare, cheeks flush….What will happen?  is this funny or sad? Have they both finally lost it? Will someone throw a punch?

Of course not. We’re not THAT cray cray…not today. Ump intervenes. Coaches tossed. Game starts – another day at the ball park!

I am going to….

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Sep 07 2012
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Fan fun, Uncategorized

Dear High School Football, I love you

Dear High School Varsity Football, I love you – today at least.

Okay, so, it was a blast – I’ll admit it – sitting at the varsity football game, wedged between the band and the student section. A perfect fall evening with the sun setting over the Colorado foothills…yes, I was secretly hoping for some deplorable antics from parents or a streaking student – maybe I can catch it on video for TFTB…I mean, you, my faithful groundfloor followers – you DESERVE that! But all I can say is I was practically giddy. There’s my kid – dressed for Varsity, the energy, the good/cute as well as the  REALLY bad choices in fan-wear (seriously mom, something in between the beefy Tee and the tight tank next time?…), the lack of booze, the cross-section of parents (so what if I had to move due to over cologned fan, oh he’s just divorced? shocker…) united in a common quest – I mean, what can compare to this slice of life? (surreal, surprising, exhilarating? Where am I?)

Listen – I was not the rah-rah student when I was in HS. Sports were not really that rah-rah – or so it seemed in the early 80’s. I was not a cheerleader, a pom, a flag..I was a sort of athlete – sort of a party girl – but that’s another story…it’s that journey that’s transformed me I guess – there is just something about traveling the road of youth sports – from soccer bunch ball to tee ball to suddenly finding yourself soaking it all up at the High School level. And as much I hate to admit it..the whole gridiron thing, under the lights, it has a vibe that doesn’t compare to an afternoon at the baseball field or evening at the field house. This is where we start our love affair with arguably the most dangerous and violent sport on the planet…c’mon, have a sip of the kool-aid…it’s Friday – I’m sure there’s lights blazing somewhere near you in a few hours – I dare you! Try to hate it, try, just try, not to love it.

But dear football, remember, we are fickle. You hurt my boys?  You know what they say about that thin line between love and hate, the wrath of an angry woman all that?…

GO CHARGERS!

FIGHT.

WIN…

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