Hit and Run: I Was There Edition

I moved and changed jobs almost simultaneously this spring. As a result, I’m off the academic schedule for the first time in over a decade and it’s throwing off my whole concept of summer. So Tuesday night I went to check on the Cardinals score and discovered, to my dismay, that they had just finished one of the two games they are playing in NYC that I could actually attend.  Luckily, they were playing the Mets, which isn’t exactly a tough ticket to get at the last minute these days. So Wednesday night, my boyfriend and I headed out to Citifield, where around the actual game action, my blog post wrote itself.

First off — paper all star ballots!  Nostalgia!  Also, once we had established that I somehow didn’t have a writing implement in my purse, we discovered that the plug end of a pair of headphones is actually the perfect tool for punching the holes out of the ballot.

allstarballot2013

The hardest part about filling these out was trying to remember who was on the disabled list, particularly in the AL. (That’s not a Yankees joke — entirely.)  Then we put them in the ballot box to be buried under everyone’s 35-per-person internet ballots. I’m still looking forward to the All-Star Game if only because I was out of town when it was at old Yankee the last time, and since both the marathon and Fleet Week were canceled this past year, we’ve been lacking in the crowds-of-people-in-uniforms-descending-on-the-city-to-be-ogled department.

kiddannouncement

Just before the 7th inning stretch, this happened.  The crowd seemed primarily delighted, with an undercurrent of bemusement.  I certainly think Kidd can handle the in-game/practice side of coaching, but I’m a little unsure how the front office/roster building side is going to go, especially with a front office that can be …mercurial.

The scoreboard proved a great source of entertainment throughout the game.  The consensus in our section was that Matt Holliday has the saddest media photo ever.

sadmattholliday

My boyfriend’s comment: “That’s totally an ‘I’m going to go 0-4 and we’ll lose by 5,’ face.”  So perhaps he’s not sad, he’s just psychic.

Also appearing on the CitiField board, periodic Stanley Cup Final updates!  I didn’t get a picture, but the updates piqued my interest enough that even though the 2 hour and 40 minute game time got us home well before 11, we then stayed up past 1 watching the 6th longest Stanley Cup game in history.

2013 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game One

Happy Friday! Anyone else going to a game this weekend?

Hump Day Hottie: 2013 NHL Playoffs

David Steckel HOT

Steckel wants to know who you got in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

It’s that time of year…finally! We weren’t sure if we would even have the NHL Playoffs this year, but here we are. While other sites try to compile their own lists of the hotties of the NHL, we know our hockey here, so you can trust us.

As an added bonus, we’re even providing a preview of sorts for those who have checked out on the NHL so far. So strap on your skates and don’t ice the puck…

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Advent Calendar of Hotness Day 16: Viktor Stalberg

I hope I’ve provided you plenty of time to take in the deliciousness that Buff and GM have served up these last few days. Let’s wind up the weekend with a handsome Swede: here’s Chicago Blackhawk forward Viktor Stalberg. I’m still not speaking to the NHL, but I’ll lift my posting ban on all things related to the league since it is the season of giving. Also, Viktor is a former Leaf, sent to Chicago in 2010 in the Kris Versteeg trade. SO THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT, BURKIE! Go right ahead, trade ALL of the handsome Leafs!

Photobucket

I can’t resist a man in knitwear.

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Visiting the White House

Super Bowl Champions the Green Bay Packers visited President Obama at the White House today. For Bears fan Obama, it was a bit of a heart-break, but for Packers fans, it was a visit a long time coming.

Often, when championship teams visit the White House, they give the president a gift – this is usually a jersey and the number on the back is usually the president’s number in the succession of presidents. (For example, Obama is the 44th President of the United States.)

While at the White House today, Packer Charles Woodson presented the president with a certificate of stock in the publicly owned Green Bay Packers. As a Bears’ fan, Obama took the opportunity as a new “owner” to suggest a trade for Aaron Rodgers.

Considering I’ve usually heard of teams giving the president a jersey, I thought the stock certificate was a pretty cool gift. It made me wonder what other gifts teams have presented to the president.

The Giants also gave President Obama a signed bat and fielder’s gloves for his whole family.

2009 World Series Champions the New York Yankees don’t appear to have given any gifts other than the jersey, but their jersey had the #27 on the back – for their 27 world titles.

Chicago Blackhawks, the 2010 Stanley Cup winners, gave hometown president Obama a Blackhawks sweater and let him try on the ring.

Auburn, 2010 National Football Champions, gave Obama a jersey and a helmet.

The jersey the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins upped the jersey ante by giving Obama one with a captain’s “C” on it.

UConn, the men’s basketball national champions, gave President Obama a basketball with his name etched on it.

The Philadelphia Phillies, who won the World Series in 2008, also gave Obama a baseball.

As far as I can tell, 2008 and 2008 winners the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints stuck to the jersey gift.

Not a gift, but when the UConn women’s basketball team visited in 2009, President Obama challenged a few of the players to a game of P-I-G. Naturally, he won. But the women were wearing heels and dress.

The Detroit Red Wings, 2008 Stanley Cup Champions, gave George Bush Jr two jerseys – one #43 for him and one #41 for his dad. And also invited them to visit on their annual father-son trip. They also gave President Bush a miniature Stanley Cup statue.

So maybe I’m a little biased, but I think the stock certificate might have been the coolest gift in recent memory. The Packers also broke tradition by giving him a Packers jersey with the name on back “Commander In Chief” and the #1.

You can check out video of the Packers White House visit
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

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Hit & Run: Quick as a Bunny Edition

bunny

For those of you who observed Easter this weekend, we hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends and avoided eating your weight in ham and chocolate (um, unlike me.) Here’s a quick look at what you may have missed over your three-or-four day weekend.

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It’s the 2011 NHL Playoffs, you guys!

NHL

It’s a glorious time of year! (Unless you’re a Leafs fan or Cory Clouston.) It’s time for our quick and dirty preview of the first round of the NHL Playoffs. Here are the matchups that begin Wednesday:

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The NHL Playoffs of Hotness: Conference Finals

These are my favorite kind of pictures!

First off, congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks!!!  While Hawks captain Jonathan Toews was eliminated in Round 2, I’m sure he’ll be happy with the consolation hardware he collected on the ice.

So hockey is officially over until October, but we’re not done with hockey here.  It’s Conference Finals time!   We’re down to the final four, and the polls close on Sunday night at 8pm EST.  So vote away after the jump. 

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The NHL Playoffs of Hotness: Round 2

Capitals

Ovi is the new Hendrix. That, or he's testing his Jedi mind powers to move matter.

Readers, you have raised my eyebrows. Sid the Kid, knocked out of the first round by Flyer Mike Richards. Steckel, running away with the votes in his tiebreaker against RYAN KESLER (and NO, Raven, that baby photo was not a ploy ;))

The Divisional Semis are complete. Round 2 heats up with eight fellas worthy of Blanche Devereaux’s attention (rest in peace, Rue). Make your choice after the jump now through Sunday at 8PM Eastern. Continue reading

Hump Day Hotties: Chicago Blackhawks

Nice footwear, fellas.

In honor of the Stanley Cup Finals taking place right now, it’s time we feature some hotties to watch.  Since I couldn’t bring myself to even go on the Flyers website, I’m bringing you some hotties from the Hawks!

So take a trip with me after the jump to see some hot boys from Chi-Town.

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The NHL Playoffs of Hotness: Round 1

NY Islanders

Imagine: if we were writing this 30 years ago, we likely would have included him.

Now that we’ve given away the hardware for this year’s NHL Playoff Beards Awards (props to Raven for her excellent research once again), we bring you the NHL Playoffs of Hotness.

This works just like the NBA edition. Vote for the hockey hottie you love. We’ll narrow down the choices bracket-style over the next couple of weeks. Thanks to our readers for their suggestions on such short notice! Don’t worry: we’ve included a few guys from the Stanley Cup finalists Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers.

You have until Monday at 8pm Eastern to cast your vote. Yes, we’re making our readers work hard these days! Continue reading

Congratulations Blackhawks!

The Chicago Blackhawks swept the San Jose Sharks and are the first team to get a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Lucky for us, the Blackhawks aren’t so difficult on the eyes. Everyone wins when the Blackhawks win!

Follow the jump for all the hockey hotties.

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Hit and Run: Full of Poop

Yes, the Ladies… have been a bit busy this week. I’m home early for the long weekend so that I can be present while my septic tank gets cleaned out. I can barely watch without stifling a gag, but such is the life of a homeowner in the quasi-sticks. Better than paying property taxes in town, I keep reminding myself.

Brett Favre

Yeah, I'm still not speaking to him.

Let’s kick off H&R in fitting style with this latest crap about Brett Favre. It seems that during a pep talk for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, he stated that if they could make it back to the College World Series, he’d return for one more season in the NFL. Continue reading

Here Comes Round Two! (Sadly, Ovie-Free)

A couple of weeks ago, Raven and I delivered to you our first round NHL Playoff predictions. For the most part we were correct, but I can’t help but feel a little guilty about my Cup winner prediction. Did I jinx Ovi and the Caps?

Capitals

Sadness. (Photo: Getty Images)

Maybe? Habs fans were screaming in the streets of Montreal Wednesday night like they were headed to the Final. Is it a good time to tell them that they’re facing the Pens in the next round?

I checked in with Raven Thursday morning, and all things considered she seems to be OK (and fortunately she didn’t have car trouble on the way home Wednesday, although if she had, Mr. Laich could have been of assistance). Her colour of mourning is red and she wishes to be consoled in the arms of one Ryan Kesler. (BTW, Ryan, if you’re not too busy, can you see me when you get a moment? I hit my elbow on the towel rack this morning and could use a hug.)

At any rate, here’s how we see the second round of the NHL playoffs playing out.

Your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

So Lady Bee and I have decided to do the preview for the 2010 playoffs.  Since we’re the hockey fiends, we figured we’d do a fun roundtable discussion of predictions and hotties.

Follow us after the jump for some knowledge and eye candy!

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Your 2009-10 NHL Hotness Preview: Central Division

By far my favorite storyline of the 2009 offseason. 20 cent is truly sorry!

By far my favorite storyline of the 2009 offseason. 20 cent is truly sorry!

Today we’ve got the preview for the Central Division, by far the strongest division in the West.  Ladies, the countdown to the regular season is on!  Is it Thursday yet?

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Theme Thursday: Is it Hockey Season Yet?

Since Games Mistress is busy gallivanting around Europe (lucky bum!), I have taken over her Theme Thursday duties.  Since we didn’t have a winner the last go-round, I took it upon myself to do a little research and come up with my own.  Since I’m missing hockey like whoa, I thought I would bring some NHL love back to the site.

Take a guess as to what these three NHLers have in common after the jump!

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Misery Loves Company… In The Land of Lincoln!

In my latest installment of “Misery Loves Company,” we head west from Ohio and land in the lovely state of Illinois.  Home of the first McDonald’s, Blagojevich, and Wayne and Garth, would more could these fine people want… how bout a few more rings!

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Hometown Pride: Patrick Kane

Kane vs. Buffalo

This is somewhat of an extension of the original old favorite regular from the Ladies…: Homer Hotties but with a bit of a twist. I instead chose someone who doesn’t play for my hometown team, but is from my hometown. And with this season of NHL coming to a close, why not highlight someone that if I’m visiting back home upstate, I can’t not hear about.  Please direct your attention to Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks.

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