7:52 PMReally cool front page photo - from New London's The Day publication - of UConn's win at Notre Dame yesterday. Hard not to get goosebumps looking at it.
Just got back from the red carpet MLB All Star Game parade down sixth avenue here in New York:
Highlight of the parade for me was the fans mercilessly booing Bosox reliever Jonathan Papelbon. Of course, the Yankee fans were responding to Papelbon’s demand to be the American League’s closer for tonight’s All-Star game - over Yankee relief legend Mariano Rivera. Papelbon tried to have fun with it, as you can see him gesturing to the crowd here:
That reception wasn’t entirely unexpected, but the response to a high profile Yankee player in the same parade was. Read more…
Last night I went to the invite-only Derek Jeter-Michael Jordan MLB All-Star party at a place called Marquee in New York. The joint was a smallish, two-level club with three rooms. When my stealth companions and I arrived, there were about 20 people in line waiting to talk to a racing gloves-wearing bouncer in a polka-dot jacket (just off the set of Reno 911?).
Turns out everyone in front of us was not on the list, so we systematically moved down the line until we finally were granted entrance. As we went inside, the bouncer announced, “this party is invite-only, so if you aren’t on the list, you aren’t getting in.” Read more…
Got into New York City Saturday night, just missing the MLB-sponsored Bon Jovi show in Central Park. The real count for the show from The Great Lawn was about 50,000. And a source tells me that putting on the show cost MLB $8 million, with none of it going to Bon Jovi himself! So why was MLB VP Bob Watson on trash detail the next morning? (OK, we made up the last part.)
(The Great Lawn was the only green this man seen Saturday night)
I’ve also heard that Monsieur Jovi, despite his AFL Philly Soul making Arena Bowl, is still hoping to sell the team in short order.
Sunday I spent most of the day shooting a new SbB Girl in Central Park - in insufferable 90 degree heat. I then had the good sense to follow that up by ingesting what seemed like a metric ton of prime rib at Ben Bensons steakhouse. Read more…
Kids, it was a long day for ol’ Brooksie. This is the first chance I’ve had today to sit down and actually put keyboard to flatscreen for the site. Next time I goto the DMV, I probably shouldn’t take hostages for a better “next served” number.
Very soon, I’ll be coming to you live and earplugged from Gotham City, as SbB gets ready for the MLB All-Star Game. Hope to next check in with you sometime on Sunday (after a photoshoot with a new SbB Girl), and then of course Monday and Tuesday. And we’ll have a live blog for you from Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
After Jason’s recent box seat purchase at Yankee Stadium, perhaps he figured this was a great way to throw off the IRS. (almost as amusing as thinking there’ll soon be a stock market correction.)
I’m excited to announce that SbB will be at the MLB All-Star game in NYC next week. The plan is to live blog from the game on Tuesday night and also provide some color from around town during my time there (I’m actually shooting a new SbB Girl on Sunday as well).
There’ll be plenty of fotos, fun and frivolity. And perhaps even an occasional baseball mention. This trip marks the first of many this summer and (especially) fall. SbB will be on the road quite a bit, giving you boots-on-the-ground reporting from some of the biggest upcoming games this year.
We’re also expanding editorial, so if you have experience as a sports blogger and are interested in contributing to SbB, contact me here.
THE SMOKING GUN has details on Sacha Baron Cohen’s (Borat) latest manufactured mayhem in the deep south. Last month Cohen staged what residents of Texarkana and Fort Smith Arkansas, thought were real professional wrestling matches (with $1 beers!).
Cohen’s next movie, due out in 2009, will center on his gay fashion reporter character “Bruno.” What that has to do with the aformentioned scenario, I have no idea.
10 weeks? You wonder if Simmons really needs all that time away from the his main duties with the WWL, or if this is a signal that his departure from ESPN is coming sooner than later (which would surprise no one).
Case you missed it, the Cubs this afternoon countered The Crew with Rich Harden.
Of course, the Nats suckage on the field has a lot to do with those paltry figures, but with the size of the DC market, you would think they would at least crack the five-figure barrier. Maybe added some Marion Barry crack-smoking rain delay video will help. And how do you think advertisers spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (millions?) on Nats’ broadcast ads feel about the news. One word: REBATE!
CRAIN’S NEW YORK BUSINESS’ Hilary Potkewitz reports Fox-TV is selling 30-second spots for its coverage of the MLB All-Star Game for over than $500,000! And that sales have “exceeded expectations.”
I guess that just confirms the vast economical downturn we’re all suffering.
There’s been plenty of rumblings that touted high school basketball recruit Brandon Jennings may forgo one year of college in the U.S. to play in Europe. His high school bio, via Mallory Rubin at SI.com’s CAMPUS CLICKS, may give a little clue about his future intentions:
Video of the Day, featuring the raucous ramblings of the Orlando Magic summer league announcers (via Brian Powell at AWFUL ANNOUNCING):
SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY reports that last night the Dodgers discounted 10,000 tickets to folks who are registered members of a website called travelzoo.com. $16 seats went for $3, $20 tickets for $6, etc.
Now, I’m a member of plenty of websites too - with many based in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley no less - so where’s my discount?
