Trans world sport.

[Tal]

As for something that pleasantly surprised that is tricky because I am like a 5 year old at Christmas inside when going to a new sporting event or venue. In fact my answer is probably related to what I am attending tomorrow, which I am super excited about. Clue it is somewhere between iceland and Vegas, it is the most I have paid to watch a sporting event (I am a nit so this isn't a vast amount of money)

Pretty psyched for you if its Game 4 at MSG

We have a winner! I am in New York for (amongst other things) game 4 of the Eastern conference playoffs between New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens at Madison square garden. That is the NHL ice hockey semi final best of 7 series for the uninitiated.

Had a pretty cool experience earlier, not quite sport but its close! I had a game of chess in Washington square park with a proper hustler. I got a beat out of $5 despite having a good opening but it was great fun getting a running commentary on the position by my opponent. It was fun being the fish and was well worth the money. The park is famous in New York for chess Bobby Fischer et al played here.

Fantastic!

You might enjoy this article and the comments underneath:

http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2008/05/31/chess-at-washington-square-park/

[Longy]

I went to the play off final today as a neutral and actually thoroughly enjoyed it.  Great atmosphere generated by both sets of supporters.  The fact it was sunny probably helped but would recommend even if you support a team that didn't get there like I do.

Sounds like a fun experience as a true neutral. I have been to 4 playoff finals but always had a rooting interest, Norwich, Peterborough (where I spent my teen years) and Exeter twice who are my 2nd club and all my dad's side of the family support.

[Longy]

The atmosphere is gunna be pretty intense, so much bad blood in this series already. I don't think how closely you've been following it but Derek Stepan had better keep his head up if he gets medical clearance to play!

I really enjoy ice hockey but I am not an expert by any means. Watched the highlights of all the games and am aware of the story of the series.

[Longy]

As for something that pleasantly surprised that is tricky because I am like a 5 year old at Christmas inside when going to a new sporting event or venue. In fact my answer is probably related to what I am attending tomorrow, which I am super excited about. Clue it is somewhere between iceland and Vegas, it is the most I have paid to watch a sporting event (I am a nit so this isn't a vast amount of money)

Pretty psyched for you if its Game 4 at MSG

We have a winner! I am in New York for (amongst other things) game 4 of the Eastern conference playoffs between New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens at Madison square garden. That is the NHL ice hockey semi final best of 7 series for the uninitiated.

Had a pretty cool experience earlier, not quite sport but its close! I had a game of chess in Washington square park with a proper hustler. I got a beat out of $5 despite having a good opening but it was great fun getting a running commentary on the position by my opponent. It was fun being the fish and was well worth the money. The park is famous in New York for chess Bobby Fischer et al played here.

Fantastic!

You might enjoy this article and the comments underneath:

http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2008/05/31/chess-at-washington-square-park/

Ha great stuff. I think some of these guys had they been a bit younger would have discovered poker. Seem them as somewhat kindred spirits.

[Longy]

Just back from the game and it is fair to say if I could chosen a way for the game to go that was pretty much it.

There were a few things that really appealed to me about going to this. Firstly I have really enjoyed going to the NHL games I have attended before I really think it is a much underrated sport pretty much everywhere outside of Canada and some European countries. I would definitely have it as my 2nd favourite out of the North American big 4 sports, American football > Ice Hockey > Baseball > Basketball is the clear order in my opinion.

It also was a massive match up between 2 of the biggest franchises in the sport both members of the "original 6" who were the NHL up until expansion in late 60s. New Yorkers love( and hate)their sports teams with a passion and Canadians are probably more into hockey than we are into football.

The biggest draw though was going to the iconic sporting venue that is Madison square garden.

Click to see full-size image.

Very much a bucket list venue for me, would have it in my top 10 (possibly top 5) venues to go and see a sporting event at.

I had a few beers near the venue which I like to do beforehand, get to speak to fans about erm err....sport and it adds to the fun of the day. I also like to get in the venue about half an hour before the start so i can have a look around and satisfy my inner geek, see if there is cool memorabilia etc. I also got a free towel, if you ever watch a hockey or baseball playoff match the whole stadium waves these towels above their heads at certain points it does create quite a scene.

Click to see full-size image.

This was the view from my seat, as you can see hardly the best seat in the house. The gantry above seemed to be used for TV/ radio broadcasts, probably a case that the MSG is old in us stadia terms and that things got added a later date.

The atmosphere was really good including the bloke next to me who was with his son, who yelled in a thick New York accent pretty much the whole game. I think some would find this annoying, I don't know why but I found it quite authentic! In fact he cuddled me when the rangers scored the winner then asked me if "I was friend of bobbys", I am going to presume bobby was kind gentlemen who sold me my ticket for x times face value.

Thanks Bobby it was worth it!

Video highlights of the game, Rangers won a very tightly contested game 3 2 in overtime.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?intcmpid=nav-video-main


More sport planned for tomorrow (now later today)

[millidonk]

One of the highlights of my life was catching a T-shirt fired from a cannon by a cheerleader at MSG. Knicks vs Heat. I couldn't believe that rival fans all sat next to each other. It kicked off between a miami gangsta type and a Bronx type father and son.Loved it. Great stadium, great Tequila cocktails, would love to watch boxing there!

Enjoying the diary lots.

[Longy]

One of the highlights of my life was catching a T-shirt fired from a cannon by a cheerleader at MSG. Knicks vs Heat. I couldn't believe that rival fans all sat next to each other. It kicked off between a miami gangsta type and a Bronx type father and son.Loved it. Great stadium, great Tequila cocktails, would love to watch boxing there!

Enjoying the diary lots.

I doubt I was close enough to the ice to catch a shirt, actually come to think of it they only did this once last night. Normally you all kinds of family entertainment at us sport games but there was very little at this game. I think a case of the game being so big that they saw little need for it.

Ha yeah all American sports allow opposition fans to sit wherever and have been in a couple of spots where it got a little heated. Would never work at football in Europe!

They were advertising Cotto vs Martinez last night in a fortnights time there. I think boxing would be the real authentic msg experience. The Rangers original owner was a big boxing promoter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Rickard. Interesting guy.

[Longy]

Yesterday's sporting activity was a trip to here.

Click to see full-size image.

For a Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. This is my 2nd visit to Citi field, ironically I went on Memorial Day (Bank holiday Monday at the end of May) 5 years ago.

It was a gorgeous day in New York yesterday so great for going to the ball game. I think going to baseball is a bit like going to cricket at home, it is a nice event to go to be social, have a drink, some food and a chat to friends. There is no real need to watch the game intently as it moves at a leisurely pace. I really like it, though not much as cricket which I will no doubt bore you with later in this diary!

Click to see full-size image.

View from my seat pretty good for $15, baseball tends to be excellent value to go to. Though they do you get you on the food/ drink. I think I had 3 large craft beers and a hot dog for about $40 but hey the beer was really good!

As a stats geek, baseball is great. They just love a stat, I went to baseball hall of fame a couple of years ago in Cooperstown, and it was just a complete overload of records set in the game. Here is the scoreboard at the game

Click to see full-size image.

Anyone want to have a go at what they all mean?

The game itself was scoreless until the 5 th innings, the mets scored 2 runs then but the pirates rallied to score 2 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to run out 5 3 winners. Both teams are struggling 5 games behind below an even amount of losses and wins, going into the game. I expect the pirates to improve they were pretty good last year the mets not so much.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?categoryId=2521705&id=10986931

Highlights of the game

[Longy]

I am off to Vegas for 15 days later today, no sport planned  . If I bust a donkaments earlier I might take a trip to watch the Vegas minor league baseball team as I haven't been before. There are no big fights on which is annoying.

If not the next entry will probably be from lords for the 1st test between England and Sri Lanka when I get back home.

[tikay]

I am off to Vegas for 15 days later today, no sport planned  . If I bust a donkaments earlier I might take a trip to watch the Vegas minor league baseball team as I haven't been before. There are no big fights on which is annoying.

If not the next entry will probably be from lords for the 1st test between England and Sri Lanka when I get back home.

Might just see you there - am going to watch ther 51-ers NEXT Monday, June 2nd.

It's "small-town America" personified, & I loved it when I attended last year, with his Camel-Ness.

[AndrewT]

If I bust a donkaments earlier I might take a trip to watch the Vegas minor league baseball team as I haven't been before.

Make sure you check they're playing at home on the day you plan to go - would be a shame to spend time on a wasted trip.

[TightEnd]

Batting average

Home runs

runs batted in

on base percentage

slugging percentage

on base plus slugging percentage, combining OBP and SLG. A moneyball/sabermetrics stat


funnily enough, i manage to overload on baseball stats too


which other ball parks have you been to? any of the iconic ones like wrigley or fenway?

[tikay]

If I bust a donkaments earlier I might take a trip to watch the Vegas minor league baseball team as I haven't been before.

Make sure you check they're playing at home on the day you plan to go - would be a shame to spend time on a wasted trip.

Do you NEVER forget?

Bugger.

[Longy]

I am off to Vegas for 15 days later today, no sport planned  . If I bust a donkaments earlier I might take a trip to watch the Vegas minor league baseball team as I haven't been before. There are no big fights on which is annoying.

If not the next entry will probably be from lords for the 1st test between England and Sri Lanka when I get back home.

Might just see you there - am going to watch ther 51-ers NEXT Monday, June 2nd.

It's "small-town America" personified, & I loved it when I attended last year, with his Camel-Ness.

Ooooh would be nice to get some poker celebrities in the thread. Obviously will depend on how Vegas tournaments are going but would be nice to meet and catch a game or whatever they say over here.

If I bust a donkaments earlier I might take a trip to watch the Vegas minor league baseball team as I haven't been before.

Make sure you check they're playing at home on the day you plan to go - would be a shame to spend time on a wasted trip.

Ha checking the schedule as a I type!

[Longy]

Batting average

Home runs

runs batted in

on base percentage

slugging percentage

on base plus slugging percentage, combining OBP and SLG. A moneyball/sabermetrics stat


funnily enough, i manage to overload on baseball stats too


which other ball parks have you been to? any of the iconic ones like wrigley or fenway?

Obviously correct with the stats. I do feel a little sorry for you on TFT as the tumbleweed goes past with the baseball updates, but I am guessing you probably enjoy it anyway!

I have been to 9 major league stadiums if my counting is accurate

Wrigley field, Chicago
Rodgers Centre, Toronto
Citi field, New York
Petco park, San Diego
Dodger stadium, Los Angeles
AT&T park, San Francisco
Safeco park, Seattle
Fenway park, Boston
Oakland coliseum, Oakland

My favourite is wrigley field, I am biased as a consider the cubs my team. The whole history of the place is just awesome and they keep to the old traditions only organ music, getting someone to sing take me out to the ballpark during the 7th inning stretch etc. Fenway is a close 2nd for very similar reasons. I have done the tours of both parks as well as go to a game, to get the full of history of the stadia.