Would You Look at That...

If you know me at all or read my blog at all, you'll know why I find this picture of a gunman with a Yankee friend is interesting. Marinate on it.

Picture on cnn.com

My Target Field Experience

If you recall (and if you don't, its below...) my last post was a foreshadow of my Game 1 adventure at Target Field. Last night was the actual adventure.

The night got off to a rough start as I walked in and they didn't have my name on the list or have a nametag for me. I'm willing to help a guy out, but come on. First you don't have season tickets for me, then you don't have my nametag? Lucky my Type A personality was ready for anything, resulting in me bringing my confirmation email and my Twins Account #.

If that hadn't worked, then my hostile personality would've kicked in and had a meltdown. Fortunately for the gentleman at the table, the confirmation email did the trick.

We (Mara and I) got to the Legends Club just in time to see Dave St. Peter get grilled about the growing payroll and the receding wins. His answers were very political, which is absolutely what I expected, but still interesting to hear. It was kind of like Occupy Target Field - fans giving their opinions on The Man. There were other interesting questions, but one that particularly peeked my interest was a question about 2nd base.

St. Peter THREW Nishioka under the bus. Hardcore. It was brutal. He basically said Nishi would have to earn his spot on the team during Spring Training (duh), but that they fully expect Casilla to be playing at 2nd and will be looking for a fresh player at shortstop. So... basically this guy is willing to go out and break a leg for the Twins (literally) and we won't even grant him support as he attempts to transition. Sure, it was a rough year for him and for everyone. He played terrible and couldn't make simple catches or execute easy throws, but does that mean we give up on him?

If so, then we should have given up on the whole team a while ago.

Dave also talked a bit about moving Justin Morneau off the field and solely into a DH role. Sucks.

Anyway, back to my experience. It was great. The night really turned around after the nametag incident. There was a free ballpark food buffet and beers were only $4.50. The view was amazing with the centerfield screen lit up with Game 1. It was like an oasis in the blacked-out stadium with the Minneapolis skyline to the right. How poetic.

Towards the end of the night we went on a tour of Target Field. Let me tell you... that Champions Club is no joke. It is pretty sweet. When we were just outside the Club, our tour guide told us a story about how when the Yankees are in town, Yankee fans will fly in and purchase Champ Club tickets because they think they are such a deal. Kind of irked me because the tickets are expensive, it doesn't matter what some Yank thinks.

As the tour progressed, we got to see the underground batting cages as well as the Twins clubhouse. Interesting fact: Mauer and Morneau have the two biggest 'cubbies' (or lockers) in the whole place. They are easily twice the size of everyone else's. What is that about? The less you play the more you get? Sounds like something Michelle Bachmann would say.

Anyway, the whole experience was a lot of fun. My only disappointment of the night hinged on a bet that I made with Mara regarding the outcome of the game and the series as a whole. I put $50 on the Rangers winning it all and a beer on the Rangers winning Game 1. At least I still have the $50 to look forward to.

If I remember, I'll post some pictures of the tour and such at a later date.

Game 1 World Series at Target Field

Though I didn't get to have Twins season tickets this past year (huge disappointment), I guess being in the On Deck Circle does have a few perks.

I will be taking advantage of one of those perks this Wednesday as I head to Target Field to watch Game 1 of the World Series in the Delta SKY360 Legends Club!

I get to watch the big game from the comfort of the Legends Club on HD TV screens throughout the club and also on the giant HD scoreboard in center field. The Twins will be giving away prizes such as framed autographed prints and game-used items! Not only that, but there will be a complimentary ballpark fare buffet, a discounted cash bar, and mini-tours of Target Field including the Champions Club and the Twins Clubhouse!!!!

I AM SO EXCITED!

I will let you know how it goes when I'm back to blogging on Wednesday.

GO RANGERS! Which reminds me... I have to get a hat...

New Vikings Stadium Debacle

Ruhroh. This is a bad year for Vikings fans. Not only did we win only our first game this past weekend, but it looks like there seems to be even more contention arising over new stadium plans... in a recession.

The Vikings owner, Zygi Wilf, wants to push full-steam ahead on a new stadium while the state is still (understandably) reluctant to move so quickly.

Wilf was armed with a new report that removed some of the doubts about their project as the Vikings pushed their project even harder yesterday. They are still wanting to build a new $1 billion stadium in Arden hills and have legislators take a vote to approve the plan.

Meanwhile, fresh concerns have emerged as well as underlying rallies for a the consideration of a new stadium in Minneapolis instead of the northern suburb.

Govenor Mark Dayton said on record, "I am will to support a stadium in either Arden Hills or Minneapolis, as long as the project's financing is clearly defined and agreed upon." He went on to say the state needed certainties about whether or not there would be a stadium and where it would and would not be located.

With time running out for a special legislative session before the end of the year, it is important that a state funding plan be in place within the next several of weeks. I guess we will know more soon enough.

The New Girl

I LOVE the new Fox show titled, New Girl.

Zooey Deschanel, the main character, is hilarious! And the sister of another favorite actress of mine, Emily Deschanel of Bones. The sister-duos are extremely talented on set and both possess a delightfully kooky, yet sweet chemistry with their respective co-stars.

In life, I think both Zooey (Jess on New Girl) and Emily (Temperance) would be my reliable friends in life because I can't get enough of their awkward and comedic lifestyle. Everyday would be my new favorite.

Here is a quick and insufficient show break-down:

New Girl is a show about good-hearted, but screwed-up, young singles. (Oh heyyy my life.) Three guys, all attractive in their own respects, have an apartment. They are seeking a fourth person to split the rent. They post an ad for such on Craigslist. Enter: Zooey Deschanel (Jess).

The guys are unsure... followed by more uncertainty.

Then she informs them her friends and soon-to-be ex-roommates are models. Absent is any hesitation, and Jess moves in.

Connect the dots between three brosephs and the charming Deschanel and you can see where this awesome comedy is headed. However, as in most respects, it's the journey that matters; you can count on this one to be hilarious and, I'm guessing, sprinkled with romance.

If you haven't seen New Girl yet, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Now, don't cry yet, but the New Girl will be off the air soon... Temporarily, that is. Even though the show has been picked up for a full season, it'll be removed from the wavelengths for a while to make room for The X Factor episodes and the MLB playoffs/World Series coverage. I only approve of this decision because 1) I love baseball and 2) you should respect your elders, of which baseball most certainly is.

The Minnesota Twins Say They'll Rally Come 2012

The Minnesota Twins sent out an email to season ticket holders this past weekend.

The email summarized what every Twins fan agonized through this past season; the email summarized everything that we already knew. The Twins were terrible this year and could claim few positive events: Liriano's no-no, Revere's 'web gem' of a catch as highlighted by ESPN, Thome's 600 HR, Blyleven's HOF recognition and Nathan's 255th record save. Yes, all were incredible, but we would be lying to ourselves if we said it wasn't easier to focus on the 99 losses.

To be frank, the email upset me in a pissed-off kind of way. It was too soon. I'm still too mad and too disappointed. Some would say I'm overly competitive and some would say I need to learn to let go. I'm not saying those people are right because I consider my competitiveness and keen memory to be assets, but perhaps I should be focusing on next year.

Unfortunately, the injuries were too much and the losses too heartbreaking. I was disappointed beyond words, making this post tough to formulate. Our sights were high heading in and so blocked by the end, it seemed as though the whole organization was drowning.

Twins fans deserve better. We deserve the commitment during the offseason in order to prevent injuries. We deserve honesty from players about their conditions. We deserve more than disappointment. We deserve Division Champs.

The Twins will rally? They damn well better.