A Combo Portion

     There were a few notable events which happened  in the sports world in the preceding week. If Blogspot had saved my work a week ago, this blog would already have been published. I  have added some material to that failed blog to make it more current.

     The World Cup opened last week in Moscow. Host Russia overwhelmed Egypt, to the absolute joy of Vladimir Putin. They have since won their next game, undoubtedly to the satisfaction of Putin. Team Iceland, by defeating mighty Argentina, and Roberto with first a hat trick and then a lone goal in two games to lead Portugal may have stolen some of the headlines with their performances. Germany (Governor Murphy's first bet at Monmouth Park to inaugurate sports betting in NJ), Argentina and Brazil didn't win their first round games. Argentina looks to be headed home, while Germany rallied to stun Sweden to enhance its chances to enter the knockout round. So, too does Brazil appear to be back on track.  France, Russia, Uruguay and Croatia have all advanced. It gets trickier for Belgium, England, Spain and Denmark and a few other nations.

     Then there is Mexico. Now 2-0 in Group F. When Mexico scored its goal to defeat Germany, seismologists in Mexico City recorded an artificial earthquake in two sites. There must have a lot of celebration going on.

     There is no U.S.A. entry this time. But the triple-nation bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico secured the 2026 World Cup rights. Sounds great, but then again, a lot can happen geo-politically, even among friends.

     U.S. Open host Shinnecock Hills on Long Island became known for a lot of things. Most of it not too good. Located in Southampton, the traffic nightmares were evident on Monday through Wednesday, creating havoc for participants and others trying to reach the tournament.

     Smartly, Tiger Woods stayed on his yacht not too far away from the course. Bright idea, except his 42 year old remade body and swing plus some putting woes led to Tiger not making the cut. For those who seek to believe that Woods is going to regain his touch and dominate the P.G.A. Tour--forget about it already. The young lions he competes against are better than he is. That he is still out there is a testimonial to his fortitude and innate golfing abilities. Just because he is no longer the undeniable king of the golf course does not diminish his achievements. Which are all in the past.

     The course played hard. Dustin Johnson, the top-ranked golfer in the world, pulled ahead of the field on the first two days. The media virtually anointed him as the winner. Except a funny thing happened on the way to the trophy--he shot a 77 on Saturday and fell into a tie for the lead. By Sunday's end of the tournament, he was third.

     U.S.G.A. officials responded to the howls of the pros that this was an unconscionable course. So what--Brooks Koepka, last year's U.S. Open titlist, didn't think so when he won it. Golfers are too coddled playing the easier courses. When a difficult course comes in a major like the U.S. Open, they need to suck it up and play the damn course. Enough of the lame excuses. They are the best in the world. Act professionally and play like the top pros they are supposed to be.

     One last morsel from this U.S. Open. On Saturday, Phil Mickelson was so frustrated with his play on the 13th hole that, to celebrate his 48th birthday and his 27th Open, he hit a ball that was rolling backwards away from the green to save himself from further damage. He incurred a 2 shot penalty and shot 10 for the hole. Phil gave lame excuses about suffering "a moment of madness," while acknowledging he clearly knew the rule. His post-tournament apologies were also insubstantial and self-serving.

     I have never liked Mickelson's large ego (nor did I forgive him for getting away with insider information about stocks by only paying a fine). What he deserved was disqualification from the tournament AND a suspension. His actions were blatant and bad for the game. Justice should be harsh for those who willingly violate golfing rules and do so jokingly, as Mickelson did. This is competitive golfing for a lot of money, not a Saturday at the links with your buddies, drinking beer and having some laughs.

     I am tired of guessing where Lebron James is going to go next season. Obviously the writers aren't. Whatever decision he makes will be both applauded and derided. It is not on my sports front burner.

     Moreover, the NBA and NHL drafts did not make me think much more about basketball and hockey. With the NHL, the Devils' schedule and Taylor Hall winning the Hart Trophy as most valuable to his team was more important. Carmelo Anthony taking his $27 million to stay with OKC rather than test free agency was cute, if nothing more.

     The Yankees have now lost games on three consecutive Sundays. Horrors. That comes with the burden of winning 50 games before the halfway point of the season. They even were swept by Tampa Bay. It happens to all of the good teams--they do endure slumps. How this group reacts to a couple of losses will say more about the character of the Yankees than anything else. Starting in Philadelphia tomorrow night against a formidable Phillies team, and then into the weekend when division rival Boston comes to Yankee Stadium.

     GM Brian Cashman is looking for quality pitching to fortify a pretty talented trio of Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka (currently on the DL with hamstring issues) and ageless C.C. Sabathia, who has lost some hard luck games recently. Plus lefty Chasen Shreve has imploded lately--serving up homers every mound appearance including the game winner for the Rays this Sunday--creating an acute need for a lefty specialist in the bullpen.

     I had been thinking how the Yankees needed to coach Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez to have greater plate discipline. The duo was chasing balls away from the plate, low and outside pitches that are not fastballs. Stop the needless outs and they will perform better, thereby making New York that much tougher.

     Stanton must have read my mind, because he is on a tear, hitting homers and striking the ball with authority. Alas, Sanchez was still mired below a .200 average when, in running out a grounder today, he injured his groin. A DL stints is upcoming. Austin Romine, having a superb year for himself, will have to exclusively handle the catching duties, fortified by a minor league call up. To make up for the loss of Sanchez, players like Aaron Judge (a .185 road betting average) and Greg Byrd need to become more productive.

     Last Sunday, the Yankees held another Old Timers' Day. So many heroes from the past. Yankee fans have been blessed to see some of the best talent in MLB history. Watching the roll call of names is one of the highlights of any baseball season for me. The date coincided with Ron Guidry's 18 strikeout performance in a 1978 game--still the Yankees' pitching record.

     Once yearly, my buddies and I head to the Stadium for a Senior Citizen's Day. As we all know, the Yankees have the highest ticket prices in baseball. Some ticket costs surpass that of Broadway shows.  Or are on a par with NFL playoff games. Which is ridiculous.

     That is why we go to the Senior Citizen's Day games. Tickets are on sale for $5.00. Some others are on sale for $25.00. A bargain anywhere in MLB, but even more so in New York. We usually arrive between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 and we have no problems getting in. Our seats have been in the shade in right field and in left field. One time we had the good fortune to sit downstairs in the last row behind home plate when a rain shower interrupted a game versus Cleveland.

     Did I say usually arrive between 11and 11:30? Thanks to the slowness of the MTA and NJ Transit, we got to the enormous line for the ticket booth at 11:25. Unfortunately, that wan't good enough this time.

     With the combination of a very clear and nice day in late June along with the aces pitching for the Mariners and Yankees and the chance for a three game sweep of Seattle, elder Yankees fans came out in droves. As did the younger ones, too.

     According to the man behind the glass, we could have purchased single seats ranging from over $100.00 up to $300.00. The game was going to be a sellout. One of us decided to stay, and three of us ate our sandwiches and plaintively asked others if they had any extra tickets in the park across the street from this stadium, where the old ballpark used to be.

     After we left the ticket booth area, our friend who remained was mysteriously rewarded with a $25.00 seat. He told us that the section he was in had plenty of empty seats.

     Instead, we watched the scalpers making exchanges of tickets for cash as droves of ticketed fans headed to the Stadium gates. Around the game time of 1:05, we made our way up to the ticket booth and there still was a long line--for what I could not fathom. We came upon a scalper by the subway entrance who would sell us 4 seats for $120.00 after fighting with another scalper for a fourth seat. The fact that he wanted our $ first led us to head forlornly to the subway.

     It was agreed that if we could have gotten 4 seats together, we would even have spent $100.00 per seat to go the game. Yet, it is the Yankees who have been known to play games with ticket sales.

     When the team was at the old Stadium, a friend had done legal work for an executive of the Yankees. Consequently, we would be able to get discounted seats in very good sections, close to the action.

     But once the Yankees headed to the new ballpark, with the advent of premium seats, the discount was gone. Which was why the allure of cheaper seats was so thrilling--a sort of revenge against the tactics of the Yankees to increase their revenue. Plus the fact that in so many other ballparks, prices are far more reasonable for good seats. In Baltimore, we have access to the club area, which proved to be a necessity while we waited out the 1:44 rain delay in comfort; this is along with 8th row seats behind the dugout costing far less than the Yankees would charge.

     Maybe it was fateful that we did not get seats this trip to the Stadium. Do I want to get up earlier and take a train around 9:00 a.m. to camp out in line to secure senior tickets? Is it really worth it? The trip is not an easy one and I am not getting any younger. If we had driven, we would have been out a lot more money for tolls and parking, with the added aggravation of the roads from the George Washington Bridge to the Stadium lots. The train and subway are the only option and there is no certainty that we will arrive on time.

     Moreover, if the Yankees continue to play at this level, tickets will indeed be harder to get. Perhaps sitting by my TV for Yankees games isn't such a bad idea after all. I have nothing against the team--I will continue to root hard for them. My wife thinks that it is karma that the Yankees haven't won a game since this debacle. I disagree--for now. She is vengeful.

     My ire is directed at management--again. So they may have won this one by their holding out by trying to sell us premium seats. The next move is up to me--if I do want to go Yankee Stadium--or will I be satisfied paying a far reduced price in Tampa. Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City and possibly in St. Louis as I end my stadium tours, along with trips to see the Orioles and Phillies. Forget about Boston; prices are on a par with New York.

     At least for this season, I am not headed back to Yankee Stadium. Thanks to the combination of factors which led to us getting back to watch the end of the game on TV in the coolness of my den--instead of seeing Judge and Miguel Andujar swat first inning homers.

     Finally, last Sunday was also Father's Day. For so many men, they reminisce abut their dads and look at their own children (and grandchildren) with tremendous fondness. I hope their memories are positive, although I recognize from experience that fathers are far from perfect.

     According to the 2014 Census, there are 72.2 million fathers in the United States. That is a lot of fathers out there with their own stories. To me, I look at my complicated relationship with my father and still have love for the great things he taught me and the places he took me. He gave me much, but he was hard man to understand.

     I have taken the experiences from our interactions and tried to correct the flaws while providing my children so much of the joy and laughter that is the best part of any father-child relationship. The tributes from my children are the reward for doing what I felt was correct.

     Sure, I erred enough, but there aren't too many men who haven't. In the end, what they have accomplished and who they are defines them and where they stand in their fields and with their friends. With all of that, my children still like me and trust me. Believe me, that is a feeling not only this dad can understand, plus hope that many other fathers and their children have similar scenarios.

     Belated Happy Father's Day from this retired baseball player turned blogger.