Sounds of Freedom!

With a mighty swing, crack of the bat, and roar of the crowd Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins hammers home run after home run before a sold out crowd at Petco Park, in San Diego California during the 2016 MLB Home Run Derby. Sounds of freedom! Stick with me you’ll see what I mean - read on.

Monday, July 11, 2016 Lori and I attended this years MLB Home Run Derby thanks to a generous gift from a colleague at Home Depot who for the first time became a season ticket holder for the Padres after retiring from his over 20 years of service.

“I’m taking my daughter to the All Star Game this year for the first time,” he said excitedly. “We’re not interested in the Derby and would love to share the tickets with you. I know you’re a big baseball fan. Would you be able to go?”

“Absolutely! We would love to go, thanks so very much . . . ”

Petco Park, decked out in all it’s glory is this year’s host of the 2016 All Star Game and it’s festivities. Downtown San Diego (Gaslamp District) a buzz with activity; police and security everywhere, local dinners, bars, hangouts, packed with people. We made our way past street fair vendors, barricaded streets, and entered the Park through the main gate on Tony Gwynn Drive. When you enter through this gate take a moment to check out the new Padres Hall of Fame exhibit honoring MLB players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who at one time wore a Padres uniform.

The festivities began with the Fall Out Boy (Cubs fans) performing their music on an elaborate stage with flames, flashing lights, and fireworks, that appeared in the infield almost by magic.

Then the stadium announcer, “Please remove your caps for our National Anthem.”

Silence - then in unison, with reverence, and honor the entire stadium raises it’s voice to sing. In perfect synchronization and formation four Marine fighter jets ROAR over the stadium. At that moment, deep in your soul, you humbly realize it’s our Military might that provides citizens of the United States the Freedom to enjoy recreational activities like watching baseball players hit monster moon shots! CRACK - the sound of freedom!

Needless to say the night was magical. Local Los Angeles resident Giancarlo Stanton, using one of Barry Bonds bats (his hitting coach), put’s on a show that stunned the crowd. A record 61 home runs in three four minute rounds. Many of them over 440 feet!

Thank you Jim, it was an evening we will remember for a long time!

Comments

Morning Coffee

In this episode, Morning Coffee . . . Now, I’m not saying everyone needs coffee. Some folks get by just fine on, I don’t know, sunlight and positive thinking. Me? I’m pretty sure I started drinking the stuff sometime around the Reagan administration. Reading John Gierach’s "Ode to Campfire Coffee" in Trout Bum (a book that should be required reading for anyone who sees sleeping on the ground as recreation) got me thinking about how we’ve managed to complicate something as fundamentally simple as boiling water and adding grounds. Taste, you say? Look, black coffee is an acquired taste, like tequila or cilantro. I just don’t get it. Gierach, bless his heart, mostly drinks his java streamside, probably while wearing wool socks and waders and contemplating the mysteries of the universe. As for me? My outdoor coffee experience is a bit different. Picture this: the High Sierra, where campfires are banned (to avoid agitating Smoky Bear), and I’m huddled over a Whisperlite , coax...

Golf Evolving

In this episode, TGL–Golf Evolving . . . Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, I want to share what Lori discovered on ESPN about professional golf: the NEW TGL league. You see, golf has evolved over the centuries. The game has always adapted from Scotland's windswept links to Augusta's manicured courses. But what if I told you that the most significant change in golf history isn't happening on a sprawling 18-hole masterpiece but inside a building? Inspired by Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story," we’re about to tee off! Good morning, Americans! Today, we're talking about golf—a sport as old as time yet as new as tomorrow. Who hasn’t heard of Tiger Woods, the golfing phenom? Also, if you’re a golf fan, you've probably heard of Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish star. But have you heard of their brainchild? It's called TGL–turning the golf world on its ear. TGL stands for TMRW Golf League. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports in partne...

Decoding the Cryptic

In this episode, Decoding the Cryptic . . . Welcome back to On the Fly ! This week, we're tackling something that's been driving me—and probably you— absolutely crazy : cryptic social media posts. You know the type: a jumble of acronyms, vague references, and absolutely no context. It's like trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphs, and honestly, it makes me want to throw my phone across the room. I'm referring to those posts (and emails) from friends and family that leave you scratching your head. "OMG, just had the worst day. IDK what I'm going to do. BRB." Okay, BRB, but . . . what happened? Did a rogue squirrel steal your lunch? Did your car break down? Are you suddenly moving to Tasmania? I'm genuinely concerned, but I have no clue what's going on! And this got me thinking: Is this a modern form of writer's block? Are people so afraid of being unable to tell a story clearly that they resort to these vague snippets? Or is it just a sign of o...

Starry, Starry Night

In this episode, Starry, Starry Night . . . Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, we're exploring the basics of astrophotography. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what's really out there? I’ve discovered a way to explore distant galaxies–without a telescope–or leaving my backyard. Consider this: each night, when the skies are clear, a breathtaking display unfolds above us—a cosmic dance of light and color. When you step outside, you notice the moon and perhaps a few stars. However, you can open a gateway to the universe with a camera, some adjustments, and a tripod. Suddenly, faint whispers of light transform into vibrant galaxies, swirling nebulae, and star clusters that shimmer like diamonds scattered across black velvet. That fuzzy patch you thought was just a smudge becomes the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest galactic neighbor, an astonishing 2.5 million light-years away. You're capturing light that has traveled millions of years to reach your came...

On The Fly

Search This Blog