For my friends from camp

Today was my last day working at camp.  I worked there for 13 summers, which comes to 506 days (I did the math, 505 if you don't count the last day in 2003 with the blackout, but I did show up and get paid for that day, so I count it) of camp during the summer and many other days either in the office or on the grounds doing precamp.  I tried to say goodbye to everybody and thank them, but it was very emotional, so I probably didn't do the best job.

I started the day by going to the Golden Dolphin for breakfast by myself.  During the day, I said goodbye to all the kids.  Once dismissal was over, I did my best to say goodbye to everybody on staff.  All the kind words from everybody else meant so much.  I ended by taking a lap around camp by myself.  I started in the office and said goodbye to the picture of Brother Robert.  He meant so much to so many of us.  Then I walked past the baseball field to the pools.  From there I walked down to boating and saw Centerport Harbor one last time.  The last place I stopped was the basketball courts, the site of many great games of knockout, staff games, and hours of me working on my free throw shooting.  I'm not going to lie, it suddenly got very dusty at several points during my lap.

Centerport Harbor in all its glory

So there are many people that I need to thank.  I'll start with everybody who made this last year special.  As I have said, most of my best friends from camp left long before I did, but many people made this a great last summer.  There were fun wing nights and I like to think we had some good times with our basketball team, despite our lack of success.  It was fun winning my second straight baggo championship with David.  There were some people, such as Duncan, that I've known for a while, that I was able to get to know better.  Others I didn't even know before this summer.  I don't think I ever had a conversation with Mike before this year, but it was great getting to know him.  He took me sailing for the first time in my camp career (it only took until my second to last day at camp to go sailing).  I was able to develop some great relationships this summer and I hope those will continue.

Thank you to my counselors.  They might have been my most entertaining group of counselors, which is saying something since I once had Kevin and Ben at the same time.  I like the fact that I got to finish with Tom and Rob, two of my first campers ever, as two of my counselors.  I've also known James, Liz, and Erin forever.  It's amazing to see how everybody has grown up and become great staff members at camp.  I haven't known Max, Kaitlyn, and Caity as long, but they were also outstanding this summer.

I also had my honorary counselors, who all happened to be Oneida counselors.  I didn't really know Connor well before this summer, but I had a lot of fun playing/coaching basketball and talking with him this summer (even though he disappointed me by never coming to wing night).  Pat was one of the few good things about my year with the Senecas, and I've always enjoyed talking with him since then.  Samantha comes from one of my favorite camp families ever, but sadly she was the only one left from that family this summer.  Victoria always wanted to come to my meetings and hear my quote of the week.

So thank you again to those people and many others as well, but I want to especially thank some great friends from years past.

First thanks to my brothers for bringing me to camp.  I remember not being sure if I wanted to work there in 2000, but I went because of them and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  But of course, I knew them long before camp, so I want to focus on a few others:

Pete, I knew you from Model UN in high school, but I think it's safe to say that we wouldn't still be friends today if not for our time together at camp.  We had some great times working precamp and in the office together (I remember throwing lawnmowers and counting ribbons for no reason).  It's always great hanging out with you when you're in the USA, but I'm very happy for all the good things that are happening for you in England right now.  It made me very sad to throw my rake down one last time today (most people won't get that, but I'm sure you do).

Darryl, there aren't many people I admire more than you.  Your love for this wonderful country has led you to do great things.  You don't deserve any of the tough things that you've had to deal with the last few years.  One of my favorite camp party memories was when you and Pete got everybody quiet with the hands up mouths closed routine and then said a prayer in somebody else's voice (I'm sure you remember who I'm talking about) as you were about to win a game of beer pong, but then, of course, the other team came back to beat you guys.  I've missed you since you've joined the military, but I think you're doing the right thing and that you have a great future ahead of you.

John and Vinny, I have to talk about you guys together.  You've welcomed me into your home so many times and referred to me as your cousin and/or brother at times.  One of the first camp parties I went to was 80s at the Mulladys in 2003 (really really hard to believe that was almost 10 years ago) and most of the best camp parties I went to were at your house.  John, I always love going to baseball games with you at Yankee Stadium Fenway Park, or anywhere else.  You and Darryl are definitely the two funniest people I know from camp.  Vin, we went through a lot together.  We competed against each other in 2004 (when everybody thought we had made a bet, I hope you're the only person who remembers what I'm talking about).  And then we teamed together in 2006 as the greatest beer pong team in camp history.  There was the legendary night that we went 10-0 at John's apartment and then there was the night we were denied our rightful beer pong championship (probably the biggest sports travesty since the 1972 Olympics gold medal basketball game).  And of course, in 2005 we had the Dodger.  I came every single night that you guys worked there.  That summer couldn't be beat.  John, congrats on the upcoming birth of your first child.  I'm sure you'll be a great father.

Molly, I feel like when didn't really know each other well until the end of your time at camp, but you've been a great friend since then.  I think maybe our 2008 trip up to Boston for John's Christmas party solidified our friendship.  I always enjoyed Golden Dolphin breakfasts with you, John, Darryl, and/or Pete (sometimes others as well, but Vinny would never get up early enough to make it).  It's always good seeing you again when you're out on Long Island.

Anna, it's been a long time since I've seen you, but I'm glad we've stayed in touch.  You're one of the best people that I can go to for advice.  I remember that spring that you, BL, and I worked in the office.  Thanks for putting up with us.  Congratulations on the birth of your second child!

Bobby, I'm sorry you weren't there with me this summer.  Every year after about 2005, I always felt like all my friends were leaving.  Once Molly left, all the people that I mentioned above were gone.  That's when I developed a friendship with you.  Before that, I wouldn't say I had the best relationship with the boating staff.  There was our Alvernian article feud back in 2005 and 2006 (but that was mostly me and Terrence).  John and the boating staff had their feud in 2006 and of course I'm friends with John (I wasn't one of John's henchman, but I guess I sided with him).  But last year I considered myself an honorary boating staff member.  I loved working with you guys at a couple of those events outside of camp.  I don't know what these last few years would have been like without you.  We had plenty of good times at camp and outside as well.  I hope there are more to come.

I'll never forget my time at camp.  It's hard to believe it's over now.  I hope those of you that will still be there will enjoy the opportunity you have for some amazing summers with some great people.  Today was a very tough day, but I'll always be thankful for the good people that became a part of my life because of camp.  Thank you, everybody.

Weirdest Day of the Year

I got kicked out of Yankee Stadium and walked home from Huntington Village from about 2:00-3:30 in the morning.  Yep, it was a pretty weird day.

July 28 was my friend John's birthday and his wife Liz had gotten him tickets for the Red Sox-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.  John invited me along with his brothers, Vinnie (it was John's birthday, so I'm going with John's preferred spelling of his name) and Tommy.  We arrived in the Bronx a little after 2:00 for the 4:00 game.  It was raining when we got there, but the weather forecast seemed like it would be good by game time.  We drank some beverages in the parking lot before walking over to the stadium.  As we were heading in, we found out the game was being delayed.  The rain hadn't even started again, but it was coming.  So we went into a bar and befriended an Englishman named Neil and his five-year-old son Flynn.  We spent more than an hour talking to the two of them and drinking with Neil.  Neil completely trusted us to watch his kid while he went to the bathroom.  Neil was a big soccer fan, but Flynn loved the Yankees.  His favorite player was Nick Swisher.  We think that Flynn stole $20 from John at some point.  Anyway, the delay was finally coming to an end.  We headed into the stadium, hugged it out with Neil, and then walked to our seats in the right field bleachers.

It was my first experience in the bleachers at the new stadium.  The bleacher creatures are great with their role call in the first inning.  What was not great were the dirtbag Michigan and West Virginia fans sitting in front of us.  John and Vinnie agreed that they were pretty ridiculous.  Why dwell on a college rivalry at a baseball game anyway?  (And these guys were dirtbags.  When I was in Pittsburgh, Jon and I encountered some Michigan fans before the game.  They were not dirtbags.  They were friendly and Jon helped direct them to the stadium.)  John had my back, calling me his cousin and trying to make jokes to diffuse the situation.  It didn't work, because, again, these guys were dirtbags.  I did play the 1989 Fiesta Bowl card with the West Virginia fan, but I opted not to play the "Let me know when 60% of your black players graduate" card with the Michigan fan.  (I really should have.  Michigan's black football player graduation rate is a disgrace.)

Our view from right field.

As for the game, it was John Lester against CC Sabathia.  Sabathia had a rough first inning, giving up 3 runs.  Chris Stewart homered in the third to cut the lead to 3-1.  In the top of the fifth, Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to push the lead to 6-1.

And that was all I saw of the game.  By the bottom of the fifth, I was no longer in Yankee Stadium.  The other three had left to get drinks and stuff while I held down the fort.  They never returned and I got a call from John saying that we had to leave because Vinnie and Tommy had been kicked out.  I was never really clear on what happened, but when I walked out of the stadium and met them, they had befriended a New York City police officer named Horatio.  Of course, the Yankees cut into the lead as soon as we left and eventually tied it at 6 before losing 8-6.  We went back to the parking lot and had another age-appropriate beverage or two and then headed back to Centerport.  

Once in Centerport, we stopped at the Beach Pub and John and Tommy beat Vinnie and me in shuffleboard (entirely my fault, Vinnie was very good).  We went back to Vinnie's house and checked in with John's parents and Liz.  Then we went to Huntington.  I got some revenge on John for shuffleboard by beating him in darts.  Eventually, John and I got separated from Vinnie and Tommy and ended up at the 100th anniversary celebration at Finnegan's.  It was pretty crazy there.  At this point, John was referring to me as his brother (I think I could definitely pass for the fourth brother).

By 2:00 in the morning, we were ready to leave.  John's father had dropped us off, but he was not going to be able to pick us up.  I was up to get a cab or try to get my father to pick us up.  John was adamant about walking.  So for the first time, I walked home from Huntington Village after a night out.  I walked with John most of the way to his parents' house in Centerport before parting ways to go to my house in Greenlawn.  We had a good talk during the walk.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Once we parted ways, it wasn't so much fun.  I took a route that I thought was shorter than my other option, but it turned out to be longer and a lot steeper.  I walked past my friend Pete's parents' house around 3:20 or so and made it home around 3:45.  When I looked up my route the next day, the internet told me it was 4.78 miles.

So yeah, thanks Liz for the tickets and thanks John for the invite.  It was a great day with you, Vinnie, and Tommy.  Too bad the Yankees couldn't get you a win for your birthday.

By the way Vin, today, August 9, is the six year anniversary of a great injustice done to us.  You can probably figure out what I'm talking about.

Into each baseball fanatic's quest to get to as many games as possible...

A little rain must fall.  After five baseball games in five different cities, I finally went to a game in New York.  Actually, I went to three games, two at Citi Field and one at Yankee Stadium.  I was planning on covering that all in one post, but my day last Saturday at Yankee Stadium really deserves it's own post.  So for now, I'll tackle the two Dodgers-Mets games I went to two weeks ago at Citi Field.


My dad and I went last Friday night to Mets-Dodgers with one of his friends that he used to work with.  It had rained all day and I was hoping they would call the game before we left the house.  I didn't feel like sitting and waiting during a rain delay.  I figured the game wouldn't be finished, so I just wanted it called before I wasted any time there.  As it turned out, they got the whole game in without a delay.


We were running a little late to get to the stadium.  We picked up my dad's friend first and then headed to the game.  My dad told his friend that I wanted to get to the game on time so that I could see Matt Kemp's first inning home run.  We made it to the game on time and Matt Kemp did hit a home run off Johan Santana.  Santana only lasted three innings.  Luis Cruz hit his first career home run and the Dodgers had a 6-2 lead after three innings.  I thought those home runs wouldn't count because the rain was coming down pretty hard in the second and third.  But right when I thought the game was going to get delayed, it started to lighten up.  The Dodgers held on to win 7-6, with Aaron Harang getting his seventh win of the season.

This was my view for Friday night.  I'd rather sit behind home plate, even if I was higher up.  But the good thing about these seats was that it was easier to judge fly balls than when you're sitting behind home plate.

My dad and I went again on Sunday, with the Dodgers going for their first sweep in New York in 10 years.  On the way into the stadium, I came across this for the first time:

The site of Shea Stadium's home plate.  The other bases and the pitcher's rubber were also marked.  So that was cool.

We sat up high behind home plate.  One of the best parts of this game was sitting in front of these guys that had songs and/or chants for every Mets batter.  They were really really good.  For Ruben Tejada they had one that went, "Ay yi yi yi, our shortstop is Ruben Tejada.  It should be Reyes, but Ruben costs less, so now we have faith in Tejada."  They had a few for Lucas Duda, but my favorite was just "Duda Duda Duda" to the tune of the Super Mario Brothers underground music.

We were one section away from being directly behind home plate.

As for the game, the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Juan Rivera's blast cleared the Great Wall of Flushing.  Other than that, Jon Niese pitched well for the Mets, allowing 3 runs in 7+ innings.  In what turned out to be Nate Eovaldi's final start with the Dodgers, he allowed 1 run and 7 hits in 4 and a third.  The Dodgers led 3-2 in the ninth, but Don Mattingly didn't want to use Jansen or Bellisario because they had pitched the previous two days.  Former closer Javy Guerra blew the save.  If the Dodgers lost because their two best relievers were unavailable, I could live with that.  The Mets had plenty of chances in the ninth and extra innings to score and win, but they couldn't do it.

The teams combined to use 40 out of 50 players.  That's Clayton Kershaw pinch hitting and successfully executing a sacrifice bunt.

Before I get to how the game ended, I was really bothered by something as the game went on:  people were leaving.  It wasn't a blowout (if people wanted to leave after the Dodgers took a five run lead, I'm fine with that, but they were leaving long before that).  It wasn't too hot (the high in Flushing that day was 83 degrees).  It wasn't late at night on a weeknight.  Where were these people going?  In the words of Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, that's a bad job out of the Met fan in that scenario.


The Dodgers ended up scoring 5 runs in the 12th and won 8-3, completing a three-game sweep in which the Mets never had a lead.  But I want to focus on a decision made by Terry Collins.  With the game still tied, the Dodgers had runners on first and third with Andre Ethier coming up and two outs in the 12th.  Because of a double switch, the pitcher's spot was up after Ethier.  Collins decided to walk Ethier and put another runner in scoring position.  Matt Traenor came up as the pinch hitter (the last available position player for the Dodgers).  I think Traenor was hitting .208 coming into that at bat.  With two strikes, he hit a two-run single and the Dodgers ended up tacking on three more.  Obviously, the move completely backfired.  And generally, you don't want to intentionally walk a guy with a runner on first.  I think it was the right move, though.  Ethier is the second best hitter on the Dodgers.  The Dodgers bullpen didn't have many guys available, so if Ethier got out, the Dodgers were leaving  Josh Wall (who ended up getting the win in his Major League debut) in the game to pitch the bottom of the 12th.  And it made the Dodgers use their last position player.  So by walking Ethier, you avoided pitching to the second best hitter on the team, you got another pitcher out of the game for the Dodgers, and forced the Dodgers to use their last position player (who was somebody hitting almost .100 points lower than Ethier at the time).  It was good strategy, but it didn't work.  Things like that are another reason I love baseball.