St. Louis ~ Work, Phillies v Cardinals, and fun with great friends

Every year my company has meetings where we all get together to network and learn.  In previous years, we've held meetings in Orlando, Las Vegas, and San Antonio.  This year we all met in St. Louis, MO.  I look forward to this event because I have the chance to spend time with my coworkers who are my friends.  Usually, we stay the weekend or extend the trip to take advantage of the location and time together.  This time, in addition to learning, I was able to gamble, check out another sporting venue (i.e. Philadelphia Phillies v St. Louis Cardinals at the new Busch Stadium) and visit with friends. 

With The Rick and other friends, I was able to really enjoy and explore St. Louis.  From drinks at the Four Seasons rooftop, Lumiere Place, the City Museum, and the new Bush Stadium (i.e. my 73 venue). 

The pictures from the seats in the stadium were taken from the Redbird Club (i.e. where air-conditioning was available inside).  I ate my first pretzel dog and drank two large bottles of water.  It was a scorcher!  On the way out, I picked up an Albert Pujols' bobblehead ~ and it's sitting pretty on my shelf.  For anyone looking to go to St. Louis and check out a game, I recommend staying at the Hilton Ballpark.  It's right next to the new Busch Stadium and some rooms offer a wonderful views of the park.

St. Louis Arch in the background

At the new Busch Stadium

Albert Pujols at bat

Stan Musial statue

Jack Buck

Ozzie Smith

With The Rick

With great friends in St. Louis

What a great few days!

**** Quote from The Rick: "Cab to Lumiere $10, pretzel dog $5, pizza and cookie at Grill 21 (i.e. at Harrah's) $1200, having someone walk up to craps table with $20, then ask if your green stack of chips is theirs'...  PRICELESS!"

THE WIRK

I play craps to win ~ I love dice...

I spent the past several days in casinos...  I win. 

I play craps...  I win.

I've been to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and St. Louis...  I win.

I'm a winner.

If you can't win with $200 you can't win at all and you need to walk away.  Figure out who your cooler friends are and never gamble with them.  Figure out who your lucky friends are and don't leave home without them.  Look for a heavy table (i.e. with a lot of chips on it).  Figure out who knows how to shoot dice and don't feel bad about skipping shooters who can't shoot.

By all means, if you can't make a point or like to roll 7s ~ pass the dice.

FYI - I played my first crapless craps tables in St. Louis, and I loved it.

AC

It's all about the Benjamins

The lone girl in AC, while the guys leave the beach during guys' week...

The beach in AC.  I assure I'm not huge.  The dress is flowy.

The post-it note on the mirror in the suite

THE WIRK = WINNER

2010 NBA Summer League ~ Las Vegas

I went to watch NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this year.  I've never been to Summer League before, but after spying my friend Mandy's pictures I decided I wanted to join in the fun.

I checked in the newly renovated Hard Rock Hotel and explored the new HRH Tower and pool during my "down time".  My room over looked the main pool and the Sunday Rehab party.

Rehab

I watched various Summer League games and the final game between the NBDL Select team and the LA Clippers.  I was sitting courtside and saw the buzzer beater that put the NBDL team over the Clippers for the win.

For anyone who's never been to Summer League and is interested in scouting new NBA talent, I highly recommend taking the trip.  It is an international event and there are scouts, coaches, players, reporters and everyone is incredibly accessible.  Trust me.  In 2 days I sat  behind Vlade Divac and played craps with Bill Laimbeer.  How random is that?

Lithuanian fan in front of me

Vlade Divac

For about $25 you can get a ticket for the day's events.  Games were held at both the Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV retired jerseys

For you Ohioans out there, you might recognize the name Mike Gansey.  He's a hard worker and plays tough.  I had to look him up after watching him play, and yes - I might just have a little bit of a crush.  He's super cute!

Mike Gansey

Baron Davis rooting on his LA Clippers

The NBDL Wins

THE WIRK

Checking in ~ Steinbrenner dies, NL wins, and Summer League

Yes, I am alive.  It's just been a slow news week.  George Steinbrenner died.  As an Ohioan, I claim him because he's from Rocky River...

Other than that the National League finally beat the America League in the 2010 MLB All-Star Game.  I'm pulling for the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves...

I'm off to Las Vegas for Summer League tomorrow...  I don't normally like to telegraph my passes ~ but it's been almost a week since I've posted sooooooo there...  I threw you a bone :-P


THE WIRK

Mary Poppins & SF Giants defeat the Washington Nationals ~ July 10, 2010

I never turn my phone off.  Ok - that's a lie.  I turn my phone on airplane mode on planes.  Regardless, that's not the point.  The point is I'm rarely if ever away from my phone because you never know who's going to call and what can happen.

I was running around on Saturday and on my way to grab my friend, Amy, so we could go and see Mary Poppins at the Kennedy Center.  I wanted to go to the matinee show so I'd have my night open to do whatever else I wanted to do.  ****  For those of you that are curious about the show ~ go see it.  It's not completely true to the movie, but it's a great adaptation.  My only real complaint is that the show didn't do the whole "Step in Time" song.

View from our seats in the Opera House at the Kennedy Center

Now back to my baseball story...

While I was driving, I received a text from my friend, Pat.  He said he might end up with some really great tickets to Saturday night's game and wanted to know if I wanted to go.  ****  Lucky for me, his buddy was at the beach and couldn't go!  I texted back "Yes!!!!!!"  Next thing you knew I had a ticket to the game in the President's Club.  What a guy!!! 

Awesome night for a baseball game, and I got to see the San Francisco Giants defeat the Washington Nationals.  The Nats had the lead, but blew it.  Regardless, it was a GORGEOUS night out for a baseball game and it was definitely fun to check out the President's Club.

For those of you that don't know ~ the President's Club is the area right behind home plate and the seats are padded.  The seats come with all you can eat food and a buffet before/during the game.  From inside you can see the Nats' batting cages and the Media Room where the post-game press conferences are conducted.

Batting cages behind me ~ Adam Dunn at bat

Pablo Sandoval at bat

Pudge Rodriguez at bat with Adam Dunn ready to run

Awesome seats and a gorgeous night for baseball

Pat and I in our seats

San Francisco Giants won

THE WIRK

Injured Boston Red Sox Mickey Mouse ~ 2010 MLB All-Star Game

Poor Mickey!  He was beat up, but he's still smiling...

The 2010 MLB All-Star Game Mickeys are in Anaheim to help celebrate the All-Star festivities.  Poor Boston Red Sox Mickey was vandalized!  It was housed in front of the Discovery Science Center.

Here is a picture of the injured Mickey Mouse (i.e. complete with cast and ice pack).  Poor guy!  ****  Photo courtesy of a reader of TheWirk.com.

If you're a Red Sox fan and a Disney fan, you can own a healthier version of the figurine.


THE WIRK

Would you hire Isiah Thomas back as GM of the Knicks?

Can anyone tell me why James Dolan would consider bringing Isiah Thomas back as General Manager for the New York Knicks?  Haven't the Knicks' fans suffered enough?

I don't even understand why Isiah was sent to Akron to meet with LeBron's people. Seriously?!?! Why?

I know why I'm not a fan of Isiah.  For me, it's personal.  I didn't agree with his rotation during the 2003 NBA All-Star game in Atlanta.  Don't understand that remark?  Look at the roster and if you know me, you know where I'm coming from.

Remember when he bought the CBA (i.e. now better known as the Collective Bargaining Agreement nowadays, but back then known as the Continental Basketball Association?  Yep, me too. 

You remember the sexual harassment lawsuit in 2006?  Yep, me too.

Remember the Knicks winning during the 2007-2008 season?  No, me neither ~ but they did win 23 games...

The last story I remember about Isiah had to do with the ambulance being sent to his house. Remember that story?  Yep, me too.

Seriously. Someone out there has to know something.

And for those of you that are in desperate need for a taste of the "good old days" ~ how about some DVDs?  LOL.

THE WIRK