This is Why I Wanted to Live in New York

So I went to my first game at the new Yankee Stadium tonight and it was awesome. When the stadium opened in April there was a lot of criticism in the press about the new baseball parks in New York. It's all hogwash. The stadium is beautiful and the fan experience is better than ever.

I have gone to three major league games this summer, in Seattle, Oakland and New York. Nothing compares to the atmosphere in Yankee Stadium. The place was packed and the celebrities were in the house -- Jack Nicholson and Paul McCartney got the most applause -- and there was an electricity in the air.

The coolest part was in the seventh inning. Going into the inning, the Yankees had a modest 4-2 lead ... and then they started to pour it on. As their rally began, the place got louder and louder. By the time the Yankees had scored five runs to take a 9-2 lead, the place was going crazy and the fans still wanted more. The Yankees were blowing the other team away and the fans did not downshift. It's an enthusiasm for baseball I just don't see other places -- except, maybe (gulp) ... Boston.

My Westcoast Trip: Highlight #1 -- Seattle

Late afternoon at the Puget Sound

Just got back from my summer vacation to the Pacific Northwest with my lifelong friend, The Big Tasty. TBT and I began our trip in Seattle, a city I'd wanted to see for a long time. Seattle didn't disappoint, and it even offered a surprise: great weather. I did not know the city was built on all those steep hills. Some of them would give San Francisco a run for its money. The best part of my visit was the ferry ride I took with TBT and his friend Steve to West Seattle. The views were spectacular.


I'd also like to praise Seattle for its beautiful baseball park, Safeco Field. Not only is it a great place to watch a game, but the fans were clearly into it, unlike some places ... yes, Atlanta, I'm talking about you.