Dbacks game with Predators? April 7, 2010

If I have never mentioned how much I love my life before I will say it now, “I love my life!”

The Preds are in town this week for their game against the Coyotes tomorrow and I was invited to sit with them at the Diamondbacks game tonight in Phoenix.  It was kind of weird seeing all the boys in casual clothes but then again, it was really cool being able to sit with them in a casual setting, everything OFF THE RECORD.

I sat behind Jared Smithson, Dan Hamhuis, Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, Cody Franson and Joel Ward.  All of them acting like little kids star struck when Matt Stairs was taking batting practice.  They even asked him for his autograph! So they are just big kids at heart that look up to the old Canadian veteran.

To go along with sitting behind them I sat next to Tom Callahan who does radio play by play, Pete Weber and Terry Crisp who do play by play and color for television.  It was a great night at the ballpark and look forward to happy and healthy post-season with them in Phoenix (fingers crossed!).

Preview: Predators vs. Coyotes April 5, 2010

The Nashville Predators will be visiting the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday and fans could be looking at a potential first round matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Nashville clinched their 5^th playoff berth in six years while Phoenix hasn’t seen post-season play since the 2001-2002 season.

Phoenix is in fourth place with 102 points and three games remaining.  Nashville is four points behind in 5^th.  Both teams entered the season under the radar and neither team was predicted to make the playoffs.  Now, with a Predators win or overtime loss Wednesday, they can clinch a spot no lower than 7^th.

Jason Arnott has been out of the lineup for the Predators for the past two weeks and the Coyotes haven been missing Scottie Upshall since January 28 and is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

The teams have a similar style of play.  Neither has a star player but they have coaches that work well with their system.

Nashville (46-28-6)

Patric Hornqvist leads the team in goals (30) and points (51) after having a total of two last season.

Shea Weber and Ryan Suter probably rank in the top three for defensive pairs in the NHL.  Weber has 41 points while Suter has 36.

Pekka Rinne is the starting goaltender for the Predators after splitting time with Dan Ellis for most of the season.  Rinne is tied for 2^nd in shutouts this season (7), trailing only Ilya Bryzgalov who has eight.

Phoenix (48-25-6)

Ilya Bryzgalov leads the league in shutouts (8), ranks 6^th for GAA (2.30) and ranks 8^th in save percentage (.920).

Wojtek Wolski was a great addition to the Coyotes at the trade deadline.  He is the team leader in assists (39) and points (61).

Lee Stempniak, was also acquired during the trade deadline, leads the team in goals (27), including 13 in 14 games and was named the NHL’s First Star of the Month for the month of March.

Cactus League 2010 April 4, 2010

What not to do during Spring Training

1. Do not show up to the Dodgers and Angels games without buying your ticket ahead of time.
2. Do no fall over the bleachers in order to get a ball from your favorite player.
3. Never get your favorite player to sign a baseball with a sharpie.
4. Never sit near a Hall of Famer without getting his autograph.
5. Never try talking to Ozzie Guillen unless you are under the age of 10.

Why did I state the five things above you ask? All five things happened to me. So I will start from the beginning.

I decided to go to the Dodgers and Angels game in Tempe during spring break but in order to get there it meant taking the light rail then a cab.  I arrived to the stadium only to realize that the game was sold out and there weren’t even singles available.  So there, I traveled for over an hour to get somewhere that would have taken 25 minutes by car only to find out that it was sold out!

My first game that I actually got in to see was the Dodgers and A’s in Phoenix.  I spent $7 on an outfield seat and got there over an hour early so I could watch batting practice.  Now most of you who read my blog know how obsessed I am with the Dodgers and for those of you, who really know me, know that I am totally obsessed with Andre Ethier. So I was directly behind Ethier during warm ups.  He was throwing with Matt Kemp and a couple throws in, Kemp over threw him and the ball was coming towards me until Ethier grabbed it at the last second.  I told him, “I could have caught that.”  He turned around and laughed, but that was ok with me because I got his attention.  Then next overthrow happened and he asked the crowd, “Anyone got that?”  I replied with, “Yeah, I got it…with my bare hand!”  And that made him laugh even more.

When he finished warming up, I asked him he could sign my book and he said that he would be back so I asked for the ball.  He took the ball out of his glove and threw it to me.  Ironically, he over threw me and not only did I reach up and grab it with my right hand; I fell back over the bleachers to make sure nobody else caught it.  Later on I got him to personalize the autograph on the ball, only he signed it in Sharpie! Do you know what happens to autographs signed in Sharpie? After a couple years they begin to fade and the ink blurs!

So when I was walking to my seat, I noticed Tommy Lasorda and Maury Wills were sitting in the stands except every one was walking right by Wills and straight to Lasorda.  So I walked over and asked Wills for his autograph and then he yelled at Lasorda to make sure and sign what I had.  I ended having to leave the game early, just like the typical Dodgers fan but finally got my favorite players’ autograph and that is all that mattered to me!

The second game I went to was between the Rangers and White Sox in Surprise.  I sat three rows behind the legendary Nolan Ryan!  I couldn’t believe it!  So I bought a ball from the pro shop to have him sign but I noticed that everybody who went to get his autograph was sent away by security.  So I was waiting till after the game to talk to him and what happened?  HE LEFT IN THE 8^TH INNING!

During the game I decided to go sit in the sun behind Ozzie Guillen.  That man is hilarious but ignores everyone ages 10 and up.  A little boy in a Dodgers hat asked to sit by me and of course I told him he could.  I asked the boy if the Dodgers were his favorite and how many games he had been to and not long after that Guillen turned around and started talking to him.  Totally ignored me!  After about an inning, he invited the boy to sit next him on the field! I couldn’t believe it but I was jealous of an 8-year-old!  As I was leaving the stadium I noticed the boy’s family had gone on the field with him and my only guess was that he was going into the clubhouse.

So with the conclusion of spring training, I learned my lessons about certain things and am also looking forward to a meeting with the Dodgers when they come play the Diamondbacks in May.  I am so excited and cannot wait!

I will also be interning with Sports Xtra on 560 WNSR in Nashville this summer! So be sure to tune in and maybe you will hear my voice from time to time!