Double Duty

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

We all wear many different hats in our daily lives, be it parent or sibling, boss or employee or even friend or enemy. Each hat requires us to act a certain way, or perform certain responsibilities  Most of us try to keep our hats separate (never bring work home, never take home stresses to work) but sometimes we have no choice. Sometimes, we just have to perform overlapping responsibilities.

Such was the case for me this past Saturday. When the schedule was released  I knew immediately I would be in trouble. The Yanks were scheduled to take on the Blue Jays at 4pm. Sometime during the 2012 season, my youngest sister and her fiancee chose that evening as their wedding date.

Had the game been a normal 1pm Saturday start, I wouldn't even be writing this blog. I would have worked the game and made it to the evening wedding with plenty of time to spare. But, for some reason, it was a 4pm game (that was NOT aired on FOX). Being a member of the wedding party required me to arrive in Commack, Long Island (about an hour away from the stadium) at 5pm for photos.

Not good.

As many of you know, one of the hats I wear is of small business owner. I create/design/sell sports apparel geared to the passionate and hard core yankee fan (also known in some circles as The Bleacher Creatures). My point of sale location is outside of Billy's Sports Bar, right outside of the stadium on River Ave. We are open every game day, and this past Saturday (being sunny and warm for the first time all season) was a day that I couldn't afford to miss (it's not like I can just add another game to the schedule and make up the work some other day).

Since I was going to be in the Bronx all day, there was no way I was going to work all morning and skip out on Roll Call. But I was still going to be pretty pressed for time, so I did what anyone else in my position would have done. I put on my tuxedo, did the roll call, and high-tailed it out of the Bronx for the wedding!

Cleans up nicely

It was, without a doubt, my shortest trip to the stadium. I don't believe I actually even sat down in my seat. I was in, screaming, then on the road in what seemed like minutes. Thankfully, I made it to the wedding in time (I missed some of the photos in the Groom's Quarters while the Groomsmen were getting ready, but I made it in time for all of the group photos).

The wedding was awesome, and it was such a relief to have made it in on time. I was able to keep my responsibilities as a business owner, as a yankee fan, and most importantly, as a brother, intact. It all just happened to work out well, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without a lot of help. First, George (and my webmaster Craig) held it down at The House of Tees in my absence. Tracy and Nick at The Yankee Bar and Grill helped out by housing all of my gear (tables, shirts, display) in the bar overnight. And the guys at the parking garage, who usually bury my van deep in the lot as I'm usually the last to leave, left me a nice open lane to maneuver my van out of the lot. Without all of those guys kicking in a little bit of extra effort, I would have never made it, so to each of those guys, Thank You.

With the beautiful bride

My good friends at MLB's CUT4 were also on hand to film the Roll Call and were nice enough to post this little story about my day here.

Our First Guest

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

We're kicking off a nice long 10 game home stand this week, and what better way to begin than by welcoming a special guest? Last year, we were quite fortunate to be visited by many celebrities, athletes, and musicians in Section 203 to participate in Roll Call. But not every guest is a celebrity, and sometimes the guest is just a friend celebrating a birthday. Such was the case last night, when we welcomed our friend Karter Chamberlain to join us for his 7th birthday (You may know Karter's Dad, Joba). 

Karter, and Aunt Tasha

The Creatures have shared a great relationship with Joba since we got to participate in a HOPE week event in 2010, so I didn't hesitate for a second to reach out and invite Karter to join us. Once I got permission from Dad, I reached out to Joba's sister Tasha to coordinate details. She said that Karter was excited to make some noise, and that was just about all I needed to hear to get fired up! I love that people are passionate about the Yankees and Roll Call, and I love it even more when that person is a kid.

The Creatures pose with Joba (and AJ Burnett) at HOPE Week 

For years, the Bleachers have been about as far from a "family section" as you could ever imagine. But, because of many factors (which are way too numerous and theoretical to cover here) the atmosphere in the Bleachers (and the stadium in general) have become more genteel. Add to that the sheer awesomeness of Roll Call (seriously, where else can you get pro athletes to say hello to you, every day?) and you're bound to attract more kids. Personally, I think it's awesome. Mainly because I have kids of my own, and I can see the passion these kids have for the game and the Yankees and I hope to instill that passion within my own children as they mature. 

These days, it's not uncommon at all to see kids participating in the shenanigans in 203. Sure, sometimes the language can get a little blue, but on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Section 203 can often be confused for Romper Room. And, to be honest, I wouldn't want it any other way. Most of the kids belong to my fellow Creatures. We've all been sitting together for years, and through those years we've seen plenty of weddings and births. We consider each other parts of our (extremely dysfunctional) second family, and we have a love for each other that probably isn't too common at public sporting events. 

One of the many "Family Days" in Section 203, Circa 2011

Over the years, we've adopted a few players into our unofficial family and the Chamberlains were some of the first. Whether it be a friendly fist-bump to Harlan as he cruises past my shirt stand on River Ave or by checking in on Joba during rehab or inviting Karter out for Roll Call on his birthday, it's easier to reach out when you genuinely care about the people on the other end (which is why, to this day, many Creatures still secretly root for AJ Burnett). It's a bond unique to the Creatures and I am thankful every day that I get to be a part of it. 

Getting back on topic (sorry, got distracted there for a minute) I was really excited to get Karter to participate in Roll Call. I knew he had spent the day playing ball in the outfield and relaxing with some video games, but I was hopeful he had some energy left to make some noise (what 7 year old DOESN'T have loads of energy?). As you can see by the video below, he had no problem fitting right in with the crew

Last night was a great way to kick off the home stand, and I hope we were able to give young Karter a great Birthday memory (and maybe we've even convinced him to come sit in the bleachers again!)

This Blows!

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

This past winter, when I sat down with the guys at TiqIq and agreed to do this blog, I was really concerned with having enough content.

"What will I write about?" I said. "I'm not an analyst, I'm not a stat guy. Yankee fans get plenty of information out there on the web. What am I supposed to cover?"

"Just cover you." They said. "Take us through what it's like to work 81 games on River Ave and just be Bald Vinny". 

Well, I was worried about what to write about this week, and then it struck me (well, exploded on me anyway).

I'm talking about the rear driver's side tire on my well-worn 2000 Ford Econoline 250 van. It decided to end it's relatively short life (bought new shoes for the old girl just two years ago) on my way up to the stadium, right in the middle of the Throgs Neck Bridge. I heard it go, hoping it was one of the cars around me, but the noise got louder and I could see a little bit of smoke from my side view mirror. I pulled over to the right, hit the hazards and slowed down considerably. I decided that I didn't want to be the guy on the news causing the rush hour back up on the bridge, so I made a run for it. I was about half way over anyway and gimped it to the toll (throwing plenty of tread behind me along the way). I managed to make to the Exit 9 off ramp (if you're familiar, they have a small area for disabled vehicles) and started to asses the situation. 

The situation, as they say, looks bleak.

At this point it's about 3:45 and George, my right hand man, was expecting me at the stadium any minute. I rang him first to explain the delay. Next call was to my wife. Not sure what I expected her to do in an office in Manhattan, but I figured she should know. Of course, my next thought was that I wasn't going to make the game for Roll Call. I knew I had some time, but I wanted to let everyone know about the delay, so I had to update Twitter and Facebook. Next, I decided to seek some help. After confirming that I did not have roadside assistance with my insurance company (so *that's* how you save 15%) I needed to come up with a plan. 

If this had happened anywhere on the other side of the bridge, I would have called my Dad in an instant. He's my go to guy in emergencies and at the very least he would have calmed me down. But my Dad is on Long Island, and way out of the area of where I was. So I called the next best man for the job, my buddy Nick Madio, the owner of The Yankee Bar and Grill (if Section 203 is my second home, this bar is my third). Nick is a Bronx guy and has been in the auto body business for years. Within 5 minutes he had me on the horn with a tow truck driver who promised to be there in "a half hour" (that old gag).

I figured I would get as much done before the truck arrived, so I got to work on the blow out. There were a few stubborn lugs, but I got them all loose and started to assemble the jack. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the van off the ground high enough to change the tire, so I got stuck waiting for the truck anyway (all the while thinking of the missed sales I could be making on the ave). Almost 2 hours later the truck arrived, and he was able to boost me up high enough to make the tire switch. By this time, it's about 6:15, so I know I can make it to the game on time if i hustle. 

I pretty much flew the rest of the way to the Ave, making it to my spot in about 10 minutes. It took less time than that for George and I to unload and set up, and by the time I parked the van, I had just enough time to calm my nerves with a Jameson shot (or four) before I had to scurry off to 203 for first pitch. 

 I was still pretty aggravated (to say the least) and I really didn't feel much like Roll Call-ing. But, I remembered to back when I first started to sit in Section 39 of the old stadium. One of the reasons I enjoyed sitting there so much (aside from the fun, the songs, the camaraderie, and the baseball) was the yelling. I learned early on that a good release for all of that pent up anger and stress from your day was to get up on a bench and scream your bloody face off. 

And I did just that.

And I felt remarkably better.

DBacks/Boston Tribute

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

Tuesday night saw the return of Inter-League action to the Bronx as the Arizona Diamondbacks (or are they they D-Backs now?) came in for a three game set. Obviously, these two teams have some memorable post season history, being the dramatic 2001 World Series (which, even in loss, is still my favorite World Series to be a part of). While the mood around the stadium Tuesday was FAR from post season like, there was another ominous coincidence, being that the two teams are meeting once again after a breach in National Security. 

There was a noticeable increase in police presence, both uniformed and undercover. There was no shortage of armored vehicles and officers with tactical gear. Having experienced the old stadium immediately post 9/11, it certainly brought back some unpleasant memories. Obviously, it's a necessary precaution, and as fans we have to deal with some of the extra inconveniences (like officers making fans throw out sealed bottles of water, which have previously been allowed in the stadium). Aside from being a little parched after Roll Call, it wasn't much of an issue.

Of course, there were a few customary tributes to the city of Boston, including this shot of the marquee between gates 4 & 6.

 Along with a Moment of Silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy, The Yankees played Sweet Caroline (a Fenway Park tradition) at the end of the third. Without a doubt, it was the most support for anything Boston related to ever happen at 161st and River. 

The NY/Boston rivalry had gone on for decades, but for at least one night, it was suspended on The Ave. All of the outside vendors (myself included) removed our "anti" Boston apparel from tables and shelves and everyone was much more tolerant of of the random Sox hat in the crowd. It was certainly something we are not completely used to. For years, the bulk of my shirt sales were due to popular rivalry apparel. 

Personally, I've noticed quite a decline in the "heat" the rivalry has drawn over the last several years (not so much after 2004, but certainly after the Sox second win in 2007). For Yankee fans, the joy of the rivalry came in the fact that we most often came out on top. Once we lost some important games to the Red Sox (and some of the key players that were apart of those teams have departed) the more hard-core fan became less obsessed with the rivalry. It still held value in ticket sales (as well as merchandise sales) for a few years because it takes a while for things to trickle down to your casual fan, but I think it may have finally run its course (and the events of recent days are the proverbial nail in the coffin). 

To be hones with you, I'm not all that upset to see it go. Sure, I've sold quite a few shirts regarding the rivalry, but agree that it's time to move on.  As far as my brand/business is concerned, I'm focusing on creating apparel that supports OUR team instead of makes fun of another team (shocking, I know!). It's going to take a bit of getting used to, and I might see a little slump in sales, but I think it's the right thing to do. Not just because of what happened Monday in Boston, but I think it's important for my development of the Bleacher Creature brand. 

After all, we are Hardcore Yankee fans in the Bleachers, and we have plenty of guys on our own team who could use our vocal support. 

As always, if you want to join us out in Section 203 to lend some of your vocal support, check out our friends at TiqIq.com for the best deals on Yankee Tickets. 

Baltimore Re-Cap (Originally Posted 4/14)

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

Well, we survived our first weekend series of the year against our "bitter" division rivals the Baltimore Orioles

We almost didn't see a game on Friday, after a long day of steady rain throughout the metro NY area. But the bad weather shifted out of the area in time for some baseball, and it was a good thing too, since the previous two games in Cleveland were rained out.  

To say it was a quiet night on the Ave and in the stands would be an understatement. By my guess, there were probably about 10,000 fans who showed up that night. Those that did, however, were treated to an incredible game. The Yanks came back to win it thanks to a HUGE error by O's center-fielder Adam Jones. He was not too happy with himself (and probably not too happy with some of the things he was being serenaded with from the bleachers). To top it off, the Yanks turned an incredible triple play in the top half of the following inning, making the game one for the history books.

On a side note, it's nights like these that first attracted me to sitting in the bleachers for so many games a year. You never know when something historical will happen, and when you go to many games, missing one of those games is like a dagger (shout out to my buddy Anthony who sits in front of me all summer and missed Jeter's 3,000th!).

Saturday's game was a 4pm start, but not a nationally televised game. We weren't quite sure why the timing was as such, but it didn't seem to affect attendance much (admittedly, a big high school game could have looked like a larger crowd compared to the night before). Yanks fell to the Orioles 5-3, and secretly, I was just happy that I didn't have to wear thermal underwear to the game.

Sunday's night game made absolutley no sense to anyone other than the fact that the two teams met in the playoffs last year. In my opinion, it was way too early in the year for an 8pm Sunday game. Kids are still in school, people aren't on vacation yet, and most other folks have to work on Monday mornings. To top it off, the Knicks were looking to clinch a playoff berth and it was the final day of The Masters. 

We (and when i say "we", I mean myself and George, my right hand man who runs the tshirt stand while i yell at baseball players) got to the stadium and set up to open around 4. Little did we know, we would be the only people on the block for a while. By 6pm, I was wondering if we would even have a crowd. But my brothers and sisters in the bleachers don't fail to show up (and make a lot of noise) and we were able to cheer the Yanks on (behind a STELLAR pitching performance by Hiroki Kuroda).

A side note to Sunday's game: We officially changed the Youkilis Roll Call from Kevin to You-Ki-Lis. The Kevin thing wasn't really working for anybody, and truth be told, i was getting a little tired of having to explain myself over and over. As pretty much anyone will tell you, Keep It Simple Stupid, so we went for the easiest option (he waved, btw, which means that it worked)

Arizona comes in this week for a three game set to kick of the inter-league match ups for the season. There are plenty of tickets floating around, so come check out the Bronx (and some of the lunacy we have in the bleachers!)

First Week Re-Cap (Originally Posted 4/6)

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

The first homestand for 2013 is in the books, and it feels like quite a relief (though, admittedly, I do wish it was a bit longer than three games). After the exhilaration of Opening Day (and the requisite day off) Game Two could be summed up in one word: Cold

It was seriously one of the coldest games I had ever been to. The temps were low, the winds were whipping, and the play on the field made it even harder to sit through. Aside from a brief respite in the early innings (shout out to Zak at Steiner Sports for the Luxury Box invite) I stayed for the entire game in Section 203. 

Yes, the ENTIRE game.

For those of you that know me, it's not uncommon for me to bounce out of the game an inning early to head to my t-shirt stand. Business comes first for me in the Bronx, and if the crowd is heading for the gates or my assistance is needed, I will sometimes split early. I really had nothing to do outside on Wednesday, so I stuck it out with a few of my Creature brothers and sisters until the final out (there were 6 of us left in the bottom of the 9th). Not sure what I was hoping to see, but when I finally thawed out, I swore that I still had a good time.

Game three was immensely better, if not simply for the weather, but for the Yankee win. I know it's still very early in a long season, but with the way people talk about this team coupled with the first two games, we even found ourselves getting excited about simply having a lead (yeah, sometimes confidence can feel that low). Yanks hung on to win it, and the mood on the avenue felt good after the game for a change. 

I hate to sound like a sap, but I do get a little sad when the Yanks hit the road. I really enjoy being on the ave and interacting with so many passionate and knowledgeable Yankee fans. It makes even the longest, coldest, losing-est game a bit more bearable (and this week, every little bit of that helped!). Yanks return next Friday, and I'm already looking forward to the first Friday night game in Section 203 (If you've never been, it's an entertainment spectacle unto itself). 

Hopefully next week will show the return to more seasonable, baseball like weather. If you get the chance to join us out in 203, it's sure to be a good time. As always, if you need the heads up on tickets, make sure you check out our friends at TiqIq 

The Day After (Originally Published 4/3

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

It's really hard to top the excitement of Opening Day. The buzz on River Ave lasts from early in the morning, until well in to the evening. For me, it was almost a 13 hour day, so I can certainly appreciate the following day off (especially since we haven't seen "baseball weather" yet!). But, even with the Yankee loss, it was an incredibly fun day. Seeing so many old friends after such a long winter is really the best. Getting back to work felt great, and I was really inspired by the positive comments I've been getting about our new shirts for this season. 

The first Roll Call went off without a hitch. I think the new guys enjoyed finally being on the receiving end (you can practically see Vernon Wells in the video soaking in the serenade before tipping his cap). There was also a bit of chatter about why we chose to go with "Kevin" instead of something "Youk" related for Youkilis, and the reasoning behind it is fairly simple. Kevin is inherently easier to chant than Youkilis. 

That's it. 

There was no secret meaning behind it. Nothing done just for the sake of being "different". I think Kevin might have been thrown off a bit by it, maybe himself expecting something Youk related (though, also important to point out, that he was in the middle of a play when his turn came up) but for the sake of clarity and volume, it was easier to go with Kevin (so get used to it!)

Yesterday was a great recovery day. I got some desperately needed rest for my voice, re-packed my van full of shirts, and got to spend some quality time with the kids. Tonight, it's back on the grind for the second game against the Sox. While tonight won't have the buzz of opening day, it is *still* the Red Sox so I expect a pretty full and lively crowd. If you are going to be joining us in the Bronx tonight, remember to dress warm (and, don't forget, the best way to keep yourself warm at the game is to MAKE NOISE!). 

See ya on the Ave

BV

Opening Day (Originally Posted 3/31)

This season I have partnered with TiqIQ to bring you ‘81 days in 203’, a series of articles breaking down the life of a super fan. ’81 days in 203’ articles will be featured on various Yankees blogs within the TiqiQ network of blogs and will be posted throughout the 2013 season. Remember, for the best deals on not only New York Yankees tickets, but all MLB tickets, visit TiqIQ.com.

I sit down and write this on the eve of another opening day. I'm feeling a bit anxious, so I figured this would be a great way to kick off my new blog for 2013. 

I'm feeling anxious because of the start of a new year, and the uncertainty that lies ahead. There are so many question marks that surround this team, and we haven't even played a game yet! If you are remotely in touch with Yankees Universe (and if you weren't, you wouldn't be reading this blog) I am sure you are aware that, as a whole, fan confidence going into opening day isn't exactly off the charts.

Except in one place. My house. 

Sure, we're pretty banged up right now (already). And our guys are no spring chickens. To top it off, all of our spring pick-ups have come from someone else's trash bin. But that's OK. I still have faith in the team the Yanks put on the field.

Is it because I "have to"? Probably somewhat.

But I honestly believe we have just a good as a shot as anybody to not only win a lot of games but once again return to the post season. This is why no champions are crowned in April (or May, June or July). Everyone who loves baseball so much always seems to forget how long of a season this is. Sure, April and May can be tough. But staying close in the division for the first half, when some of our (hopefully) missing pieces return at full strength and bring us through the home stretch, is what is going to take this team through the summer

I'm hoping that the "NY scene" and playing for The Yankees does for Vernon Wells this year what it did for Ichiro last year. I hope that Jeter comes back sooner than later, and leads this team not only on the field but in the clubhouse. I'm hoping Tex doesn't need surgery and that the rest of the Yankee fan base has a reason to *finally* put the past behind us and cheer for Youkilis. 

Yes, I do realize those are quite a few hopefullys. But that is what you have to have this time of year, right? A little bit of hope?

I do have one more hope, however. I hope you guys (and gals) who have been following along all of these years (and I thank you for your continued support profusely) come out and join us in the Bleachers in 2013. You know we have a great time out there, and Yankee Tickets are always easy to come by (if you need help, keep following along as I'm always posting the best deals for each upcoming home stand). 

See you on the Ave

BV

Contest: Fastest Out Of The Gate

Our good friends at TiqIQ are running another great contest for $100 in Ticket Credit to use anywhere on their site! Check out all of the details below and be sure to TAG ME when you enter! As always, get all of your New York Yankees tickets here

What Hitters Will Have The Best Start in April?

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Click "ENTER HERE" below to enter your response and complete your contest entry. 

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