Monthly Archives: March 2025

25/03/2025
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Uncategorized

Little Big League

What’s that? Have you forgotten about the 1994 classic Little Big League? Allow me to remind you what it was all about.

A little boy inherits the Minnesota Twins from his deceased grandfather and then appoints himself the team manager. Was this the second little-kid-thrust-into-Major-League-Baseball movie in two years? Yes, yes, it was. I, for one, was more fond of Rookie of the Year because it had more humor, but Little Big League has a lot of heart.

I bring up the movie because I visited Minneapolis, and thankfully, the Twins were in town. Nearly 30 years after the movie, the Twins are no longer at the Metrodome. Since 2010, they have been playing at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis.

It is relatively easy to reach the stadium from anywhere downtown. You can walk, drive, or, as I did, use a scooter. In my previous baseball posts, I’ve talked a lot about sightlines and views, and today will be no different.

Under a cloudy Midwestern twilight, the Minnesota Twins

I made a lap around the stadium to take it all in. Granted, a lot of area behind the first, third, and home plate areas is solid concrete, so I was staring at a giant wall and walking by VIP entrances and gates that would not have put me close to my seat or where I wanted to go.

After entering through the main gate and checking out the team store, I went to the Right Field Pavilion. That’s where the good stuff is. By “good stuff,” I mean beers, brats, and such. This is also a great spot to post up and watch batting practice.

After securing my food and beverage, I headed to my seat. Once again, I found this seat on the secondary market. Your mileage may vary on what seats are available. Since I had never been before, I wanted to sit down closer to the action. The next time I go, I will most likely sit further up…or maybe in the outfield. I am flexible.

These seats were prime, though. They were unobstructed and had a full view of the field and all of its corners. There doesn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house. The view beyond the stadium shows signs of the stretched-out Minneapolis metropolis. It’s just enough to remind you that you are in a downtown area.

The Target Center is right next door. It’s the home to the Lynx of the WNBA, the Timberwolves of the NBA, and the Wild of the NHL. The city has done a lot to get people downtown. It only needs the teams to produce to keep fans coming in.

A brat and the tip of my finger

Whenever I hear that a certain fanbase is not passionate about their team, I usually have to chime in and say that their owner most likely sucks. This is not me attacking Twins fans. The people I met were enthused and glued in on the action. Minneapolis is not a huge market. Twins fans are as passionate and knowledgeable as any other fan base. Hell, up until 2020, they had won more World Series titles in my lifetime than my Dodgers (two versus one). They need to spend their money wisely and have an active owner. This doesn’t mean they need the kid from Little Big League running things, but somebody who is passionate about the team and wants them to succeed in a competitive division.

The action on the field was not great for Twins fans. The Braves began piling on early, and before I could even finish my beer, it was 9-1 in favor of Atlanta.

Then the rain came.

This message flashed on the jumbotron, and given that I was already under the cover of the section overhead, I stayed in my seat.

This was a serious storm that blew through. It rained hard, the wind whipped, and the sky was lit up by pops of lightning.

Once the storm had cleared, the sky was lit in crimson orange. A rainbow even appeared over the jumbotron. The in-game announcers informed the stadium that the game would resume but not for another hour or so. The grounds crew was removing the tarp, but the infield was soaked, and other spots around the diamond would need to be addressed.

I did not have that kind of time. I had a hard out and needed to be in my bed because of an early report time the next day. Luckily, there were plenty of scooters around the stadium. I opened up the Lime app and scooted carefully back to my hotel.

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18/03/2025
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Fiji, Travel

Island Time

If you have ever heard the phrase “Island Time,” you have most likely been on a tropical island at some point.

Given the context, it can be used jokingly or derogatorily. I’m using it jovially today.

If you have never heard of the phrase, it is said to help make up for the leisurely pace at which some people move. Basically, it’s a mea culpa for possibly being tardy or not stringent on arrival times.

An island!

Neither my partner nor I had been to the South Pacific before (and no, I’m not counting New Zealand because I’m thinking more tropical), and after an eventful first half of 2024, we decided that we needed to get away. We had originally looked to Europe, Portugal in particular, but then we thought about Lisbon in August and realized that with all the walking we would be doing, our vacation would be better if we were more sedentary. Enter Fiji.

Google Flight Alerts came in super handy here. We were able to get an alert, duh, about reasonable fares to Nadi, Fiji. The rest is history…

After booking our flights, it was time to find somewhere to stay. We initially looked on the “mainland,” where we would be able to arrive at a resort by bus alone, but then we wanted to completely get away from it all. That brought our search to Tokoriki, specifically Sheraton Tokoriki.

A small sampling of the islands of Fiji

The Republic of Fiji has over 330 islands! Since traveling between islands can take a lot of time, we opted to stay in one spot and enjoy our little slice of Fiji.

Thanks to our friends at South Sea Cruises (no, this is not an ad for them; they were very friendly and helpful in the booking and arrival processes of our journey, so I am calling them “friends”), we were able to get to our resort. Well, it was either travel by a reasonably priced ferry or an opulent helicopter. Ferry time!

Port Denerau

Thanks to our advanced booking, getting to the port from the airport was easy! We rode in a van to the port direct from Nadi Airport. Once there, it was a seamless check-in and luggage drop-off, and all we had to do from there was wait for our ferry.

There are a number of shops, restaurants, and bars at the port. Killing time was no problem. We ate and bought a Bula Shirt. It’s like a Hawaiian shirt but, you know, Fijian.

Once it was time to leave, we boarded our ferry, and off we went!

The ride out was gorgeous. The sun was shining, the water was calm, and everyone on board was in good spirits. Since these islands are much smaller than the mainland, we had to disembark our ferry and load onto a much smaller boat that fit about 20 people.

The smaller boat was able to navigate the shallower waters and coral reef surrounding the island. Once guided onto the shore, we hopped out and were greeted by the staff, who performed a song and offered us a tropical drink before we officially checked in.

I mean, what a view!

After checking in, we dropped off our bags and washed up a bit because we had just gotten off a nearly 12-hour flight and were probably due for a rinse-off. We wandered over to the bar to get a drink, a Fiji Gold Beer, and a little something to eat. Then…we passed out for six hours! It was not until someone from the hotel knocked on our door asking if we needed turn-down service that we woke up.

Jet lag is no joke!

Keep in mind that this trip took place in August 2024; your mileage may vary in terms of weather and activities you might participate in if you also head to Fiji.

I say all of that because we watched a lot of Olympics coverage. Did we use a VPN to watch the US Women beat Brazil for the Gold Medal? Who can say? Did we spend an entire day in our room watching movies and Olympic coverage because it was pouring rain from sunup to sundown? Yes, yes, we did. Every other sunny day was spent outside, though. We maximized our sun time. Whether it was reading by the pool, reading on the beach, or lounging by the pool or by the ocean. We did a lot of lounging and reading.

Remember, everyone: wear sunscreen!

I have been a fan of the television show Survivor since its inception. Although I was only 13 years old when it first aired, I was glued to the TV every week to see who would be voted out. Fast forward to today, and I am still in love with the show as I was 25 years ago.

I was giddy once I found out that where we were staying was close to where they make the show in its current format. I looked up the map of islands on Google Maps and saw it with my own eyes. I have applied only once before, and obviously, I did not make it.

My partner is hell bent on getting me on the show. So much so that she had me record an audition video while I was sitting in the water with the island that they use for the show over my shoulder.

I am still editing the video. Audio is a pain in the ass.

The stars come out every night, and we are amazed every night. Finding the Southern Cross was a fun challenge for us on our nightly trips to the bar/restaurant. Without light pollution, the sky becomes a gorgeous spattering of stars. Words and photos do not do it justice. You will need to go out there and see them for yourself.

We had to have a coconut. Yes, it’s a bit basic but also delicious.

I don’t know what else to say about Fiji, man. It was gorgeous. The people were friendly, generous, and welcoming. It was time to head home after spending the better part of a week basking in the sun, wading in the water, and reading up a storm.

I know that this is one avenue for enjoying Fiji and what it has to offer. I also know that resort life on a small island is not the same as life on the mainland. I encourage others to take the flight out to Nadi or Suva and take in what Fiji has to offer. This is a proud country populated with people who welcome you in and want you to experience their Island Time.

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11/03/2025
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Baseball, Sport

The Best View in Baseball?

You be the judge, but it’s a very close race.

I found these seats on the secondary market, and it was a deal I could not pass up.

Also, look at this view! The sun was out on this Sunday afternoon as the Pirates took on the Braves, but I was lathered up with sunscreen. Protect your skin!

Staying downtown is ideal when going to a Pirates (or Steelers or Penguins) game. The city is very walkable, and the walk to PNC Park is an experience in itself.

The city shuts down automobile traffic on the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the Andy Warhol Bridge, which extends out to the outdoor arenas. This way, you can walk on the road to the game.

PNC Park from downtown
The walk back via Roberto Clemente Bridge

I have a brother-in-law from Pittsburgh. He won’t shut up about Yuengling. I’ve had it before and enjoy it when I can. Naturally, I had a tall boy. It did not disappoint.

I don’t recall the final score, but it was not a forgettable game. Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL again. You never want to see a player get injured. You want them at their best (and then for your team to win).

This injury quieted the entire crowd. Even before he walked off the field, I could tell that it was serious. The way he writhed on the ground indicated that it was not good. Thankfully, he has recovered and should be on the field this season.

After the injury, the mood lifted a bit, and baseball was played.

I love mascots!

If you didn’t know, I was the mascot at my university. I was Bucky the Bronco at Santa Clara University from 2007 to 2009. So whenever I see one, I get excited. It’s a lot of work! Those suits are not air conditioned. At least, I don’t think that they are…

They do a lot of crowd work, and it’s under-appreciated by adults. Do you think dancing as an anthropomorphic horse, parrot, or elephant is easy??? No! Appreciate your mascots! That’s all I ask.

Bae is life

The stadium is gorgeous. The Pittsburgh skyline beyond the outfield is stunning, as is the experience of getting to the stadium. There are great sight lines, and there are ample food and drink options. It is just too bad that the organization that runs the team is the exact opposite of the stadium. Pirates fans deserve better owners and operators.

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08/03/2025
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New Zealand, Travel

The Best View in Auckland

This one is going to be short and sweet. I am going to highlight the best view of Auckland. It cannot be beaten.

I am, of course, talking about Maungawhau. Or, as it is more commonly known, Mount Eden. You might think I would have included the view from the top of the Sky Tower, but nope. That view is not for the faint of heart. This view is for all.

It is an easily accessible park. You can get there by bus, train (with a little walk), or car. Since we had a car, we, duh, went by car. This was our last real stop before we went to the airport. It allowed us to reflect on our time and take in the beauty of Auckland and, as a whole, New Zealand.

Leading up to this trip, I was taking virtual walks on treadmills. One of the walks goes through downtown Auckland and, eventually, up to Mount Eden. Needless to say, I was ready. I came to find out, pleasantly, I might add, that the paths have been updated at Mount Eden to help preserve the grounds and make it more accessible for all.

You can see the updated walkways sitting just above the greenery.

The view from the top is spectacular. As you can see, the Auckland skyline dominates the vista. Having jumped off the Sky Tower hours earlier, to see it with the rest of the city was stunning.

Eden Park is in the middle.

Opposite the city is the “quieter” side of the Mount. I use quotations because, given the day or night, Eden Park can be quite raucous. Either way, it is another gorgeous view of a different part of Auckland.

The duality of the beautiful cityscape and the surrounding environs.

This was the perfect way to end our journey through New Zealand.

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06/03/2025
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Baseball, Sport

How can you not be romantic about Baseball?

Spring Training has begun.

Hope springs eternal for all 30 Major League Baseball teams in 2025. I hope that one team in particular adds to their legacy.

My beloved Los Angeles Dodgers clawed back in Game 5 to beat the Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees. It was an epic performance of resilience, grit, and determination. It also was an epic collapse.

So, I figured I’d write a post (yes, I can literally see the last time I wrote something was in March) about baseball.

This will be the first in a series that will have me look at a different stadium from around the league. I, like many other people, am trying to see them all.

Thanks to my job in the airline industry, I can visit more parks and get “paid” to do it. I put paid in quotes because it’s just a per diem at that point, so the pay is minimal.

Leading off this series is Tropicana Field. Home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

I had always read about The Trop, as it’s casually referred to, in the most dire of terms. “Dilapodated”, “Run Down”, and “Archaic” were words that were thrown around. Let me tell you, it’s not that bad! I’ve been to the Oakland Coliseum (RIP Oakland A’s- FJF), and The Trop is much more comfortable.

I ended up seeing the Rays vs the Mets. It was a tight affair, highlighted by a comeback and then a walk-off.

Admittedly, I did not have much time to explore the stadium. I showed up in the 4th inning because the stadium is a bit of a drive from the Tampa airport. Regardless, everything that I saw was well-maintained. The folks working the entry, concessions, and team store were also very kind and helpful.

After the win, I went to the team store to score some swag. I am an avid pin collector and needed a new pin to add to my collection. The Rays had worn their “City Connect” uniforms at this game. The uniform features a black background highlighted by neon blues, purples, and greens. They also have this siiiick devil ray riding a skateboard.

The idea behind this design stems from the skateboarding culture in Tampa Bay. It’s a fun image, so I bought it as a pin and magnet.

The area surrounding the stadium is fairly residential. Ingress and egress to the stadium can clog up once the game is over. I waited a hot minute for a Lyft back to my hotel because roads were blocked or rerouted to get people out of the stadium area quickly.

It is a shame it was damaged during Hurricane Milton. It’s a unique field and atmosphere. I look forward to my next visit!

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