Yankees v Twins, ALDS Game 1 ~ I'll be there!

After looking at Stubhub.com, Craigs list, and eBay, I decided to say, "to hell with it all" and hit the streets.  When did the going price for a good ticket hit $300?  Actually from experiences haggling with scalpers and researching websites for YEARS, the answer to that question is maybe 5 years ago... 

At lunch today, I decided to go out and look for scalper.  I was curious if I'd run into any Yankees or Twins grabbing food.  It's not a secret boys and girls...  Those men need to eat lunch, too...  Well on my path towards Target Field, I decided to go right to the ballpark to check out the scene.  As usual, I was at the right place at the right time!

Guess who just scored her ticket to the Yankees v Twins, American League Division Series (ALDS), Game 1!?!?!! Yep, this girl!  I cannot wait for the game to start...  Looking forward to watching CC Sabathia take on Francisco Liriano.  Great.  Now I have that little girl song in my head...

"CC, my playmate, come out and play with me."

Actually, when ever I think of Sabathia I always remember his days with the Cleveland Indians.  In 2002, when he was robbed at gunpoint, while trying to leave the Marriott Key Center.  Here's an article that provides more details for those of you that never knew.  For those of you that would rather copy and paste the URL into a new window, here you go: http://www.woio.com/Global/story.asp?S=793891.  It's scary stuff!  According to the article, "Sabathia was robbed of $44,102 in cash and jewelry, including a necklace and earrings."  I'm sure his fans are happy that no one got hurt.  It's great to see CC successful.  By the way, did you know that 52 is one of my lucky numbers?

As for me tonight, my only "concern" is what I'm going to eat on the Target Field concourse...  Do I stick with Murray's steak sandwich or try something else? :-P


THE WIRK

Kobe v LeBron going one-on-one?!?! Yes, PLEASE!!!

I was watching PTI today, and I heard the hosts say that Kobe recently made some comments related to being a better one-on-one player than LeBron.  WOW.  I'd love to see LeBron and Kobe match-up.  I'd buy a ticket, watch it on PPV, etc.

If I had to bet, I'd put my money on Kobe.  In my opinion, I think the LeBron v Kobe match-up is right up there with Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather...  I wonder if LeBron, since he is taking names, has put Kobe on his list now.

I doubt LeBron would step up to the challenge, but after watching "The Decision" ~ I think LeBron owes us.  Maybe they could sell tickets and the proceeds can go to charity...  Just an idea!


THE WIRK

DC street closures for Transformers 3 filming, October 11-15

I received the information in an email about Washington DC street closures.  It appears as though another major motion picture is going to be shot in the area.  Any fans of the series of Transformers movies might be interested in this information, so here it is.

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY***


Street Closures and Parking Restrictions for Motion Picture Production
Transformers 3 Filming Scheduled for October 11-15

(Washington, D.C.) The District will be the setting for scenes in the upcoming movie sequel Transformers 3, and residents and travelers are advised there will limited overnight street closures and parking restrictions when the production comes to town next month. An information hotline has been set-up, which will include the most up-to-date information, at (202) 540-8039.

Street Closures:

3rd Street between Constitution Ave, NW and Independence Ave, SW
Start: 6:30pm Tuesday
End: 6:30am Wednesday

4th Street between Pennsylvania Ave, NW and Independence Ave, SW
Start: 6:30pm Tuesday
End: 6:30am Wednesday

Pennsylvania Ave, NW between Street and Constitution Ave. NW
Start: 6:30pm Tuesday
End: 6:30am Wednesday

Maryland Ave, SW between 3rd Street and 6th Street SW
Start: 6:30pm Tuesday
End: 6:30am Thursday

3rd Street between Constitution Ave, NW and Independence Ave, SW
Start: 6:30pm Wednesday
End: 6:30am Thursday

4th Street between Constitution Ave, NW and Independence Ave, SW
Start: 6:30pm Wednesday
End: 6:30am Thursday

Parking restrictions begin on October 11, even though actual street closures begin on October 12.


Maybe this will be enough to motivate me to watch the first Transformers movie.  I used to watch the cartoon when I was a kid and still can hear, "Transformers: More than meets the eye," resonating in my head.


THE WIRK

Eliminated from NFL survivor pool, chasing the wildcard ~ Week 4

Before this NFL season began, I got an email inviting me into a handicapping survivor pool from Jody (i.e. he's friends with The Rick).  The object of the game is to pick the 5 games you're most comfortable with picking against the spread and then rank them.  If you ask me this season has been strange.  How else can you explain the Kansas City Chiefs being undefeated and other teams (i.e. that traditionally play well) stumbling?  Regardless, no excuses.  My handicapping skills stink and now I have to keep playing to try to earn the wild card.

For people like me that have a general interest in teams and not players, survivor pools are the way to go.  I've received numerous invitations to join fantasy football pools, but there's no way in the world I'd throw my hat into that arena.  The time and effort that fantasy football fans devote to the game is much more than I'm willing to invest. 

According to the St. Louis Business Journal (i.e. in an article it published in 2003), "A recent survey showed that 7.2 percent of all American adults played fantasy sports, with 78 percent of those playing fantasy football. A previous survey showed that the average person plays in 2.4 fantasy football leagues per year and spends an average of $154 on fantasy football. Today's average fantasy football participant has been playing for six years, checks his teams online while at work, spends nearly 3 hours a week managing teams and is more likely to become even more involved in the hobby in the future, the association said."  Are you serious?!?!  This article is from 2003, so I can only imagine how much these figure have grown.  As far as I'm concerned, fantasy football might as well be like the fantasy, roll play games people play with 12 sided (i.e. or however many sided) dice...  I'm never going to play, because I don't understand the appeal.

I find the handicapping side to be much more interesting, even though this year ~ I obviously stink!  I'm heading to Vegas later this month, so I better get my act together soon...

Ugh.


THE WIRK

Harrah's Casino Chester, PA ~ My Review

Harrah's Chester was on the way "home" from Philadelphia, so I decided to make a stop and check it out.  There's another casino in Philadelphia that just opened up a week or so ago, named SugarHouse. However, after leaving Lincoln Financial Field, I wanted to head South and not North, so SugarHouse is going to have to wait to get reviewed.

The Harrah's in Chester is located a few miles off of 95 and if you're heading north on 95, it's before the airport exit.  There aren't any hotels in the area and the casino doesn't have any associated lodging to offer but if you're coming from DC/VA/MD, I'd imagine it more to be a day trip or part of a larger Philadelphia adventure.

Pennsylvania recently got table games, so I was curious as to the clientele and setup of the casino. When I walked in from the parking garage, immediately I saw a Bijoux Terner store.  Immediately I thought of airports and Vegas since that's where I've seen these stores, where everything is $10.  I climbed the escalator and saw the betting terminals/screens for the racetrack and simulcast.  I went up another level and found slot machines and the table games.

After proving to security that I was "of age", I received a wristband and was ready to win.  Evidently I look younger in Chester, PA...  I looked around and saw three card poker, roulette, craps, a wheel of fortune, etc.  I know the first question that my friends are going to ask me and the answer is "No, I have no idea if it has a poker room."  Sorry guys...  I didn't look, but you can check the link at the beginning of this post and look it up for yourself.

It was a Sunday night and the roulette table had a limit of $15.  Craps had a $10 limit and offered 5X odds.  Already I like Harrah's better than the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV.  I'd drive the extra 30 minutes without a second thought!

I asked the craps pit boss if the table minimums ever go down to $5.  What can I say?  I was spoiled from my time in St. Louis.  Regardless, she did say that she's seen a $5 craps table once.  Oh well.  It doesn't  really matter, since I'm more than comfortable at a $10 table. 

Have you ever played the fire bet?  I never have, but I completely regret not jumping on it when I was there.  While I was losing my winnings (i.e. from Atlantic City earlier that weekend) at a table in Harrah's Antarctica, there was a guy that was on fire at another table.  Eventually I left the Arctic and realized that the entire table had tons of chips in their racks and sure enough, they was "color coming in"...  BOOOOOOOOOOO!  I missed it.  Lucky for me the table was still hot.  As I was leaving, I decided to go back and the guy next to me had made 6 different points in his previous roll.  The dice were traveling around the table and his turn was coming up so I bought back in.  He and the guy to his right decided to play the fire bet again.

Wouldn't you know I went from down to up in less than an hour?!?!  The guy hit for 5 different points.  In his previous roll he hit 6 unique points!  In this roll he hit 5 unique points!  If any of you play craps or know anything about it, you realize that that is very special.  It was AWESOME.  I know you should never complain about winning, but what's $5 for a fire bet when the guy has already shown you that he can do it?!  Oh well.  I will NOT make that mistake again.

• 4 "Individual Points" pays 25 for 1
• 5 "Individual Points" pays 250 for 1
• 6 "Individual Points" pays 1000 for 1
• (Above Payoffs are "And Down".)

I'd post the picture of my chip, if it wasn't blurry.  I left that table with a $500 chip, although I had to chase my money to walk away with a "small" profit.  A little win, is still a win!

Another thing I must mention is that the Harrah's has a noodle bar.  I will confess, I didn't eat there.  However, if it's anything like the noodle bar at Caesars in Atlantic City I'm SOLD. 

I wonder if that guy will be there again this weekend...

****  Update:  I need to let you know that some of the dealers have just completed "dealers' school" so they are not the fastest when it comes to calculating the payouts.  They are learning so they're also prone to make mistakes.  Pay attention to them.  Also, there's one lady that seems to be repeating some sort of script when she pays the table.  She says, "Congratulations, will you please pay this fine gentleman/lady $XXX".  It's annoying after you hear is more than 5 times, but it sounds like she was taught that in class.

  

THE WIRK

Redskins v Eagles ~ McNabb's homecoming, Vick leaves the game

On Sunday, I went and checked off another stadium in my quest to hit them all.  I finally decided to hit Lincoln Financial Field to watch the homecoming of Donovan McNabb.  The Washington Redskins were in Philly to take on the Philadelphia Eagles and I wanted to also check out Michael Vick.

It hit me that it was homecoming weekend when I was at dinner with my friend Erika on Saturday night.  She'd missed my birthday and wanted to make it up to me, and I was craving Mongolian beef so off to P.F. Changs we went.  At the restaurant we were surrounded by kids that were dressed up to the nines and it hit me, that it must be "Homecoming" season.  Well, how appropriate that I'd chosen to go to Philly to see the Redskins v Eagles match-up!

I hauled my lifeless body out of bed and drove to Philly.  It's an easy drive (i.e. about 2 hours) and by about 3PM (i.e. after paying $25) I was parked in a lot staring at Citizens Bank Park.  Immediately I was reminded that I needed to check and see what the National League Division Series match-up would be when I got home.  I've been hoping for a Cincinnati Reds v Philadelphia Phillies match-up so I can see the Reds easily.  Although, schedule permitting I do intend to go to Cincinnati and see the Reds at home...  Fingers crossed.

Back to football.

Upon entering Lincoln Financial Field, I noticed that the band Kristen and the Noise was playing.  Wow.  Feels like I never left the DC/MD/VA area...  I noticed that there were ladies selling hats and ties to benefit breast cancer awareness.  Alright, I wasn't planning on buying an Eagles hat.  I'll admit it right now, I'm not an Eagles fan and I dreaded going to the Linc because of the horror stories I've heard about Eagles fans.  However, breast cancer has affected my family and what's $25?  Wearing my new hat, I climbed the steps to the 100 level concourse and sent texts to my friends in the stadium.  After that I was starving and went straight to the concession stand and spent $13.50 on a Philly cheesesteak and a large diet-Pepsi.  When in Rome...

Before the game started, I was curious (i.e. along with everyone else in the free world) as to how Eagles fans would react to McNabb's return.  As he was introduced and ran onto the field, people stood, cheered, and clapped for McNabb.  There were some boos, but the cheers were louder.  Eagles fans were respectful towards him, and I was inpressed by their class.

I used to live in Atlanta and at that time I have to admit, I became a bit of  a Michael Vick fan.  He made football exciting and was fun to watch.  So, I thought what better game to watch since he had been playing touch since the season began.  Well, in that sense, I'd be disappointed. I ended up watching for Kevin Kolb than I intended to since Vick left the game, sometime during the 2nd Quarter...

Kevin Kolb...  Yeah, I really didn't care.

Kolb in the game

As the game went on, it seems like penalty after penalty was being called against the Eagles.  Needless to say the Eagles' fans around me were getting progressively annoyed.  With every false start, holding, and even horse collar call, the man behind me would yell towards the field, "Your mom holds/false starts/horse collars."  Ahh yes.  That's more of what I expected. 

McNabb working

LeSean McCoy leaves the field

Here's one for you, as McCoy got up and walked off the field, the loud mouth behind me said, "Hey, McCoy.  Did Andy Reid promise you 2 vicodin if you got up?!?!"  WOW.  I have to admit.  That was funny!

Eagles offense, so close yet so far away

There were some older ladies around me also and they were hostile when it came to rooting on the  Eagles defense (i.e. or lack there of), but this is football so I wasn't too surprised.  Aside from that douche behind me, the majority of fans were just fine.  Then agan, I did see at least 4 other occasions where someone was about to get punched.  Security seemed to be everywhere to handle and attempt to diffuse the situations "quickly".

It was drizzling during the game, and I was wearing my mini-skirt and Uggs.  Not the best choice, I've ever made, but I survived.  With about 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter I knew the Washington Redskins were going to win and I wanted to beat traffic so I bee-lined for the parking lot.  I'll admit, I also wanted to check out Harrah's in Chester on the way home.

I just need to see the Sixers (i.e. Philadelphia 76ers) play at home, and I can cross the city off of my list!  Time to check the schedule.

If you are an Eagles fan, and you want to help raise awareness for breast cancer here's a shirt for you.  It's a great cause.

THE WIRK

Atlantic City, October 1 ~ Just Got Paid, It's Friday Night...

I went to Atlantic City for a night to help my friend celebrate his brother's 30th birthday and to make some money to help fund my postseason baseball, football, and travel adventures.  Let's see...  I've done a few posts on AC before so let's hit the highlights.  It was October 1st.  It was the first of the month, a Friday, and a pay day.  The casino had a good, lively crowd.  Wait...  That reminds me.  Here's Johnny Kemp's, "Just Got Paid," video.  You're welcome!



Ok...  Here are the highlights:

• Noodle bar at Caesars still rocks.  I recommend the lobster fried rice and chicken lettuce wraps.  Dinner was free thanks to the reward credits we had.  Woohoo!  What's better than a good, free dinner?!? Haha.
• Pat won $1,000 on video poker when he landed a royal flush that payed 4000X1.  When he hit it, he hit me in the arm to show me his screen.  I couldn't believe it.  He had to print and show me the ticket before I believed him.
• As we were playing and earning tier credits, I'd ask him questions about which cards he usually saves.  He made the comment that he always tries for the highest pay out, which makes sense.  How can you expect to land a royal flush if you don't hold the cards you need for the hand?
• I'd like to think I helped him pick the machine since I chose the one on the end towards the right and he took the one to my left.  He didn't even play with his own money, since he was using the slot dollars Caesars gave him.  Talk about lucky!!!

Pat won!

• 
  
  I have been thinking about "dealer signature" lately when it comes to roulette.  I made about $400 on the roulette table when 13 and 28 hit at least a couple of times each. 
• 
  
  The jury is still out, as to whether I believe or not.  However, I must say that I do think there's something to be said for whether people are lucky or not...  Further, I do believe that at some point the dealers must do something to keep themselves entertained and might try to spin for a particular number ~ and like I said, maybe the dealer is lucky...
• 
  
  I do think though that if put to the "test" and asked to spin for a particular number that almost all dealers would fail this "conscious" challenge.  Regardless, if you're curious you should "Google" the topic and investigate it further.
• 
  
  I learned how to play "don't pass" in craps since the tables were so cold at the Tropicana.  The dealer was helpful and I was able to capitalize on the terrible luck of the brave souls who decided to throw their money away.  I never liked "don't pass" players until I became one.  I still don't really enjoy the "don't", but at least I'm more educated about it now.
• 
  
  I left the casino a winner.  On my last stand at the craps table, I was up $500.  I buy-in with $200 and I had more than $700 in my rack.  I gave most of that stand back, but still had a lot of profit from the night before so I was still good.  Although I left AC with $500 in profit from the whole trip, I'm still kicking myself for not leaving with $1,000!!! 
• When I was at the table, a Delonte West looking guy came over and started rolling the dice. I have no idea how he did it, but he was a very good shooter.  I took one look at his girlfriend and thought to myself, I need to get a man like that." OK... I might have a problem now. LOL.
• 
  
  There is a 7-foot metal giraffe sculpture that sells for $500.  I saw it in a store at The Quarter in the Tropicana.  The next time I clear $1,000 I'm buying it.  Forget a Christmas tree...  I'm going to have a Christmas giraffe!!!!

THE WIRK (aka Pamphlet)