Chicago Mets Fan

Blackhawks Stanley Cup Celebration

On Wednesday, in game six of the Stanley Cup Final, the Blackhawks beat the Flyers 4-3 in overtime to win the cup.

On Friday, the city organized a parade and rally for the team that worked its way east along Washington and north on Michigan Avenue to a stage at Michigan and Wacker. As this was the first championship parade I was able to see for one of my teams, there was no way I was going to miss it. I headed downtown Friday morning and grabbed a front row spot along a barrier on Michigan, just south of Randolph.

In a neat a little tribute, a bunch of trolleys that were part of the parade each had a different players name on the front. Blackhawks players, ambassadors and various team officials were spread out among double-decker buses, with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and the Stanley Cup picking up the rear.

Much to my surprise, everyone was calm and not trying to move in on my space. I got some great pictures and had an awesome time. I was a little surprised at how quickly the double-decker buses seemed to go by and also that some of the players seemed a little reserved in their waving and movements from atop the buses. Once the last of the parade passed by, everyone moved out on to the streets and worked their way north on Michigan towards the rally stage.

*Click on each image to view a larger size
**Full set of pictures can be seen here

Blackhawks 6, Flyers 5 – Stanley Cup Final Game 1

I grew up a Whalers fan…and then they moved to Carolina.  I then started following the Rangers, including stints as an MSG intern and Rangers game night staff. I met Nik who was a Penguins fan, and I root for them on occasion. And then we moved to Chicago. Now we’re Blackhawks fans and season ticket holders to boot – and damn proud of it! At the root of all of this: I’m a hockey fan. I played street hockey in New York, ice hockey in central park. What’s going on Chicago right now is just awesome. Come along for the ride as the Hawks play in the Stanley Cup Final.

The game was certainly a back and forth affair. Not easy on the nerves, that’s for sure. Philly got on the board first, but Troy Brouwer answered right back for Chicago (which I captured in the two pictures below). Later Dave Bolland netted a goal, and the most important goal was scored by Tomas Kopecky to secure Chicago’s 6-5 win.

*Click on the images for a larger size

** Full set of pictures are here

Road Trip: Cincinnati

I’m not sure when Nik and I decided to go to Cincinnati to see a Mets/Reds game for our mini honeymoon trip, but I’m glad we did. I got to see an old friend, make some new friends and got to see a Mets game from a stadium I hadn’t been to before.

Nik and I arrived Sunday night after driving for about six hours. We had been listening to Sunday’s game on my phone in the car so after arriving in town we went out to watch the game. As soon as we sat in front of a TV, the wheels fell off of Johan Sanata and the Mets ended up losing to the Phillies. We were hoping Monday would be a better game.

And for the most part it was. Oliver Perez promptly gave up a homerun in the first inning, but the Mets got the run back in the next inning and he did ok for most of the way after that. It’d be a close game all night until the Laynce Nix solo shot in the 11th. Game over, 3-2 Reds.

Pre-game Nik and I met up with a few Twitter friends: Elise and Dylan at the Machine Room Grille inside the stadium. My friend Chris from work also got into town for the games so he joined us as well. Dylan caught a batting practice ball and gave it to me which I then used to get autopgraphed by Angel Pagan and Rod Barajas during batting practice. (Both guys signed for ever!) We had pretty sweet seats in dugout section 115, about four rows back from the Mets dugout on the third base side – perfect for David Wright viewing. We also met Twitter friends Kim and Aaron down there as well.

Post-game we ventured to the Inbetween Tavern for a beer before ending the night at O’Malley’s in the Alley. While Great American Ballpark was a nice stadium (with good garlic fries and amazing funnel cake fries), the city around it was kind of boring. (No offense to the residents there!) But, after the game, the city was just dead. I know it was a Monday, but it was slim pickings for bars and we didn’t want to have to go across the river.

All in all, it was a great trip and a great way to end our wedding weekend. The full set of pictures from this trip is here on Flickr.

Finally, Some Bragging Rights!

Last night the Mets won their first series of the season. Of course, we would have loved to seen them win a series earlier than this, but I’ll take it. Why? Because it was against the Cubs and for once I have bragging rights with all my Cubs friends here.

I’m not going to do the specific research, but it feels like this is the first time in about two years where the Mets took a series from the Cubs. And as a Mets fan in Chicago, it’s about damn time! Hopefully the Mets can do it again when they visit Chicago in September.

I hope this series is a sign of things to come. Niese put out a good showing. Pelfrey looked good and seems confident. Perez had a decent outing the other night, just didn’t get much run support, and Santana is Santana.

I know it’s early in the season and things could be a lot better. But I’m not going to give up. It’s a long season and I’m hoping things improve. Hopefully the Mets feel the same way and I’m not regretting saying this.

Let’s go Mets!

David Wright, Like Never Before

I haven’t watched one second of “Jersey Shore” so I have no idea who The Situtation is and I don’t care to google him or the show. The video below, however, co-stars him along with our very own David Wright. Ladies, you’ll especially love it.

What do you do with your tickets?

It’s a slow day for this Chicago Mets fan, so I asked on Twitter what people do with tickets that they save from events they have gone to.

Not surprising, most people store them in shoeboxes. TheHappyRecap even sent along this picture of where he keeps his. KDoster said she started a photo album type display and realized it was too much work. A few other clever replies came from Nicolino11 where he keeps them on the fridge or in a drawer, often causing a mess and making his wife annoyed. Beatbelow does a cool thing with his concert tickets where he sticks them with the CD insert or a poster. BYoucha tapes baseball tickets to scorecard and her football and concerts tickets are filed in a coffee mug.

Surprising was that only one person said they’ve made a collage: nymqueen made hers using mod podge and suggests making sure the collage dries flat, that the edges curled up on hers from the mod podge. I would LOVE to make a collage, but I’m just not that creative.

Below are a few pictures of how I save mine. I started out putting them in baseball card holders in a binder. From there I put some in a tupperware container, and now I just put them on a shelf in the living room. The shelves also hold various bobbleheads, pucks and other tchotchke’s.

Chime in with a comment on what you do with yours!

It’s Been Awhile

After some good dialogue on Twitter last night, it was said that I haven’t written anything here since the start of spring training. I guess I’ve been tied up with work and wedding planning.

Those excuses aside, I’m not your typical blogger. I post when I have something to say or show, not just to post news that about 100 other blogs have posted and over analyze. I don’t have that many beefs with the Mets ticket office because I am so far removed from them, so I can’t write about what I’m getting or not getting. I’m tired of the negativity out there about the team, the front office, the injuries. But do I need to write about it daily? No. It’d make me nuts, and perhaps you too.

As the season gets going, I’m sure to post some things. Keep coming back, it’ll be worth it!

Spring is in the Air

While it might be snowing in the midwest and east coast, spring is certainly in the air. Teams are gearing up for spring training and some of the Mets are already at work. I welcome this period of time hoping people will get ready for baseball. Get excited! The Mets are our team no matter what! Management might be questionable, as are some of the players we have coming into spring training. But I’m choosing to look past that. It’s a new year and I’m going to enjoy the spring and get ready for the season.

Some of you may know I’m getting married in May and taking the honeymoon in June. With a lot of funds being tied up in those things, I’m not sure which baseball road trips Nik and I will make. I’d still love to get to Pittsburgh since it’s over a weekend in August. We’ll see.  We’re actually considering a “local get-away” to Cincinnati right after the wedding to see the Mets/Reds game on May 3.

So…stay tuned! I hope to organize some Mets game watches in Chicago throughout the season.

Let’s go Mets!

My Conversation With Mets Ticket Guy

I got a call earlier today from Mike in the Mets ticket office wanting to talk about my opening day options at Citi Field.

This struck me as odd for two reasons: 1) I no longer live in New York, and while I’m sure fans do fly in for the game, I would’ve done it last year for the first game, not this year and 2) Since the Mets screwed up the shipping of my Shea seats and my tickets from last year, sending them to my old New York address even though my online account is updated, maybe they do think I still live in New York.

I called Mike back and he said that he saw I was at Citi Field for a few games last year. He asked how I liked it. This is where I’m sure 100 other people would have gone off on him, but I was somewhat caught off guard, so I casually responded that it was a good time, a nice stadium and that it will take some getting used to, just like most stadiums I go to now since I live in a new city.

He proceeded to ask if I plan to make any games this year and I said yes, but that I wasn’t sure which ones because of other things coming up this spring and summer. I did say the August 1st game is appealing for the Mets Hall of Fame inductions, but that I’ll see if I can make the trip. He took that opportunity to try and sell a 15 pack that included tickets to that game, which he even said probably isn’t the best option for me since I live out of town.

I then took the opportunity to clear up my mailing address. Even though when I login online and see my Chicago information, they still have my New York information attached to my account (in addition to the Chicago info). I asked for that to be taken care of, so we’ll see how that goes the next time I order tickets.

So that’s all. I’m sure some people are disappointed I didn’t complain about this thing or that, but I didn’t feel comfortable since  I was only there for two games and living far from there, my issues seem to be different than most others I know who are some sort of ticket holder. Here’s to hoping you get a call so you can express your thoughts to the Mets.

How the Blackhawks Beat the Rangers

The game was in overtime and Dustin Byfuglien (aka Big Buff) steps on the ice and more or less gets on a breakaway:

Takes a shot:

And it goes in and King Henrik is beat!

It really was a great game. The Hawks got off 35 or so shots and scored their only regulation goal late in the 3rd period. King Henrik’s play is what kept the Rangers in the game.