David's Blog from the Creative Coast & Carolina Low Country!

A Savannahian visits Yankee Stadium in the Bronx

The 2008 baseball season will end with the closing of one of the world's most well known structures, Yankee Stadium. It is known as the 'House that Ruth Built' and the site of 26 World Series Champions were won here. Yankee Stadium was the home of many great players and events; perfect games, championship games, Papal masses and the reflection of the tragedy of September 11.

I decided that I was going to make one last trek before the stadium closes this September, a new Yankee Stadium is being constructed across the street. I decided to see a night and day game; the Seattle Mariners visiting New York over Memorial Day presented a window of opportunity.

On the subway, the number 4 train, the cars filled with fans heading to 161st Street in the Bronx, the final tally that evening was 52,000 people in attendance. We arrived just before game time, I quickly purchased a beer and a dog before heading to our seats in right field.

Andy Pettite was pitching, it was his best outing of the year. I had two cameras to capture the historic sports venue. I took stills, as well as video of the highlights of the two games that I attended. The Yankees' offense exploded and by the 7th inning, they had pushed 13 runs across the plate. This was my chance to get closer to the action, many fans vacated their seats, allowing us to get into some seats behind the box seats on the first base side. The fans ere electric, one fool entered our section wearing a Boston Red Sox jersey. He caught some verbal abuse.

After the game we walked out of gate 6, vendors were selling all types of Yankee clothing. I inquired about a Graig Nettles jersey, my idol growing up, they had the pinstripes with the number 9 on it. It was Christmas Day for me, so I shelled out the 90 dollars and immediately put the shirt on. Fans were in and out the local places outside of the stadium, that had dancing, bands and Yankee highlights.

The next day, the gates opened at 11 a.m., I was through the gate by 11:04 a.m. They opened Monument Park, the grounds were retired numbers were displayed, along with plaques for Yankee immortals. At our seats were in the left field upper deck, I realized how much baseball had grown internationally. There were fans behind us from Japan that came to see some of their former players playing in the Major Leagues. Both the Yankees and Mariners had Japanese players, a Japanese newspaper was advertised on the left field wall.

Yankee bats opened up just like they had the previous night and again by the 7th inning, we were making our way to the better seats. Lunch today was beer, a hot Italian sausage sandwich and a slice of New York Style pizza. 

Over the two days, I captured almost 500 images of the stadium and again we partied with other Yankee fans in the nearby watering holes. I had a tremendous time and hope to return in August. If you would like to know how I was able to put this together, drop me an e-mail.

A Savannahian attends Yankee Stadium before

A Savannahian's Experience at the Kentucky Derby.

Over the weekend of May 3, 2008, I had the unique opportunity to attend the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. It was just under a 11 hour drive from Savannah to Louisville, but I decided to split it up and stay the first night in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Early the next day, I was able to hike Chimney Rock, used for location shooting for the 1992 film, The Last of the Mohicans.

As I drove from North Carolina through Tennessee into Kentucky, it was impossible not to realize the I was in horse country. From the Tennessee line to Louisville, all along Interstate 64, horse farms dotted the landscape on both sides of the interstate.

That night, I crashed early, knowing that I had to arrive early the next day to secure my area in the infield at Churchill Downs.

On Derby Day, I hired a shuttle to pick me up at the hotel and deposit me at gate 3. It was $40.00 to enter one of the largest cocktail parties in the United States. It was just before ten that I bought my racing program, a mint julep and placed my first bet.

Next I performed a reconnaissance of the area, locating the important places; where to bet, the mint julep tents and where to collect my winnings. As I moved around, I met some folks from Chicago who invited me to make camp along the third turn. It would later turn out to be one of the best spots to view the races.

The early races began at 11 am and ran every forty minutes til about 3 pm. After 3pm, more fans arrived and Derby officials needed more time to process bets. Races now were running every hour, so I placed my bets on the next four races, including the Derby.

Folks were now waiting up to an hour between races, so fans who consumed much beverage decided to entertain the crowd. I can say it was the first time that I witnessed relay races on the roofs of port-a-johns. The johns were placed in double rows of about a 100 feet in length. The competitors ran in their bare feet, the prize was a 16 oz. Bud Light. It was quite comical.

There was rain from the day before, so parts of the infield were saturated. Mud wrestling was the other spectator sport that occurred that day. I behaved myself and just laughed at the silliness.

People became anxious just after 5pm, the crowds had thickened and NBC had just turned their cameras on. People were still trying to get an edge, the hometown favorite was Big Brown. Big Brown was named after the Louisville based company, UPS. Twenty horses were scheduled to 'Run for the Roses.' It was interesting on how people came up with theories on how certain horses were going to win.

About 15 minutes before the race, we were able to see the jockeys and horses warm up around turn 3. After that everybody in the infield flocked to the chain link fence to try and a get a view of the race. We were so far away from the Grand Stands, that we could not hear the singing of My Old Kentucky Home, but we could see it on a scoreboard along the straightaway, between the 2nd and 3rd turns.

We saw through that same screen, the horses break out of the starting gate towards turn number 1, but we really had no idea when they would arrive at our spot, just before turn number 3. Our only indication was the loud pounding of the hooves on the dirt as they approached. Big Brown was leading, I did bet on him. They all flashed by us in less than 10 seconds, then all heads turned to the scoreboard to watch the finish. Big Brown, easily won, but everyone was hesitant with their tickets until the official results were posted.

As I walked across the infield I called my friend in Sun City/HiltonHead to let him know that his horse placed third. He then told me about Eight Belles breaking her ankles and had to be put down. The news traveled fast, a fun day and become somber, for she ran her heart out.

It was easy to collect my winnings, for I had won the last four races. Churchill Downs had paid for most of my day. It was great experience. I hope to return with others in the future, now that I experienced the Derby for all that it has to offer.

This photo is dedicated to Eight Belles, this was taken during warm ups.

Christmas in the Trenches, 1914

"There are plenty of huge shell holes in front of our trenches, also pieces of shrapnel to be found. I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day and I don't suppose you thought of us doing so. So after a fashion we've enjoyed? our Christmas. Hoping you spend a happy time also George Boy as well. How we thought of England during the day. Kind regards to all the neighbours." A British soldier.

On Christmas Eve in 1914, along German and British trenches near Ypres Belgium, the unthinkable happened. German troops began decorating the areas around their trenches. They placed candles on trees and sang Christmas carols, most notably Silent Night. This occurred in an area of heavy fighting just days before, the British responded by singing English Christmas carols.

Both sides then started to shout Christmas greetings to each other, realizing rifle and artillery fire was not being exchanged, the combatants crawled out of their trenches into 'No-Man's Land' and exchanged gifts; such as whiskey, cigars, jam and chocolate.

No artillery erupted that night, so wounded soldiers were brought back to their lines. Proper burials took place as both German and British soldier mourned the dead together. The truce, then spread to other areas along the Western Front, a soccer game between the two sides was played in 'No-Man's Land,' Germany won 3-2.

Pope Benedict XV had called on the warring powers for such a truce, but those governments ignored his plea. The truce lasted at least through Christmas Day, but in some areas it was extended until New Year's Day.

British commanders were furious over the fraternization with the enemy, some of these troops were moved to other sectors, so they would not become friendly with German soldiers that were 50 yards away from their lines. In 1915, the British High Command ordered artillery to be fired on Christmas to prevent another truce, but it did happen again with German and French troops. This is a great Christmas story that I wanted to share. Merry Christmas.