“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb
When visitors describe their travels to Vancouver, British Columbia, they may mention a few of the famous attractions like Stanley Park, Gastown, or the Lions Gate Bridge, and they will likely mention the breathtaking beauty of the city, but it is a near certainty that they will mention the friendliness of the people and the general positive vibe that surrounds the city. In my opinion, there is no better way to get a feel for a city and its citizens then to attend a local sporting event. The local sports franchises are a strong part of the fabric of the city, and provide moments that often come to symbolize the city or the region as a whole. Attending a game provides a perfect venue for people watching, to observe the locals in a familiar setting; it is a place for expression of raw emotions and for representation of local culture; it is also a forum where everyone is treated to world class entertainment, to unscripted theatre that will regularly deliver remarkable performances night after night.
 |
| The bleachers at AT&T Park in San Francisco |
Each individual ballpark and city offers a wildly different experience. Last summer we were on the road for five weeks and we watched games in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle and the All Star Game in Anaheim. Each experience varied dramatically, depending on differing factors like time of first pitch, seat location, quality of starting pitching, opponent, etc… This summer we are venturing east and enjoying even more of America’s pastime. The following is a list of the games we will be attending.
July 14th – Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins
July 17th – Florida Marlins at Chicago Cubs (Afternoon)
July 18th – Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs
July 20th – Oakland Athletics at Detroit Tigers
August 4th – Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox
August 5th – New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
August 8th – San Diego Padres at New York Mets
August 10th – Los Angeles Angels at New York Yankees
August 12th – Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies
August 14th – Detroit Tigers at Baltimore Orioles (Afternoon)
August 17th – Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals
August 19th – Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
August 22nd – Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals
 |
| A legendary rivalry |
The game that stands out above the others is undoubtedly Yankees at Red Sox. The All Star Game was an unforgettable experience, but when it comes to the regular season, there is no bigger game than Yankees vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park. No other game will match the intensity and analysis of one of sports legendary rivalries, but it certainly isn’t the only event that I am looking forward to. I have a chance to explore important cities, tour historic monuments, and visit world famous ballparks like Wrigley Field, Busch Stadium, Camden Yards, and new Yankee Stadium, as well as an opportunity to watch some of the game’s brightest stars. It’s a trip that incorporates history, sociology, and sport - three subjects that I find most fascinating. I will be doing a blog post for each game that I attend on this trip. I hope you enjoy my insight and follow my blog throughout the summer.
This summer has also been a time of personal growth. Thanks to FutureJays.com, I have had the opportunity to work as a credentialed reporter for the first time, covering the Vancouver Canadians. My job with Future Jays is to interview Canadians players and coaches and write a player feature using the quotes. The goal of each feature is to identify the player as a prospect and outline the areas where he excels, using statistics and citing the opinion of the player and the coaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment