Outer Banks Vacation Thoughts

You may have noticed the absence of Grandstander posts in recent days, and this was due to the fact that we took our annual vacation to Corolla, NC and the wonderful beaches of Currituck County on North Carolina's Outer Banks.What can I say?  It was another outstanding week.  Good weather - we made it to the beach every single day.  Very hot on most days,...

On Ryan Braun

Even though The Grandstander went on a brief hiatus last week, the news doesn't stop, and perhaps the biggest news in baseball in thew past seven days was the acceptance of a 65 game suspension by Milwaukee's Ryan Braun.  While on vacation last week, I must have read close to a dozen different columns and stories surrounding this loathsome character, and the lame-ass...

Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Day

Yes, today is "Induction Day" at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  There will be three Inductees:Jacob Rupert - Owner of the New York Yankees from 1915-1939.  Rupert died in 1939.Hank O'Day - Umpire in early 20th Century.  Umpired his last game in 1927.  Died in 1935. James "Deacon" White - 19th century player.  Played his last game...

To Absent Friends: Simmie Hill

If you are my age, and can remember what might be called a Golden Age of High School basketball in Western Pennsylvania, then you probably remember the undefeated (28-0) Midland High School Leopards of 1965, the WPIAL and Pennsylvania state champions.  A fabulous team whose point guard, Norm Van Lier, went on to a distinguished NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, but the real star of that team was leading scorer and center Simmie Hill.  He...

A Not So Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Lunch Yesterday

So, I arrange to have lunch with friend and former co-worker Roger Hansen yesterday.  In order to avoid walking in this God-awful heat, we agree to meet at the Wheelhouse at the Rivers Casino.  After all, the parking is FREE, right?  I run an errand in the morning and arrive at the casino an hour early.  No problem, because I figure I can easily kill sixty minutes with sixty dollars at a five dollar black jack table.  Piece...

All-Star Game: "It's Gotta Be The Shoes"

By all objective reckoning, last night's 3-0 win by the American League in the 2013 All-Star Game can at best be described as a rather desultory affair.  Although I was in awe of how Fox Sports and MLB in general handled Christ coming down from the Cross to play in the game.  Oh, wait, that was just Mariano Rivera's entrance from the bullpen and retiring the side in the eighth inning.  I guess I just got confused from all of the worshipful...

Home Run Derby Thoughts

So here was my night last night.  I get home about 8:30.  Had Pedro Alvarez not been participating in the Home Run Derby, I would not have turned the TV on, but I did, just as Yeonis Cespedes was finishing his 17 homer stint, and just as Pedro was stepping into the batter's box.  Yes, I did watch his performance.  I'm glad he put on a show of sorts.  Some of his six HR's were real dingers, but I was glad to see that...

Pirates All-Stars

Just had to share this great picture from this morning's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette....

Happy Birthday, Three Rivers Stadium

When Three Rivers Stadium was about to be imploded back in 2001, I put together a list of my own personal "Top Ten Three Rivers Stadium Memories".  Not many people cared all that much about my own personal memories, but what the heck, right?  Anyway, today being the 43rd anniversary of the opening of Three Rivers Stadium, allow me to share those memories with you...

Book Review: "The Greatest Game Ever Pitched" by Jim Kaplan

Fifty years ago this month, on July 2, 1963 to be exact, the Milwaukee Braves  played the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.  Pitching that night was 25 year old Juan Marichal (12-3) for the Giants and 42 year old Warren Spahn (11-3) for the Braves.  Marichal, who would one day be the first Dominican to be elected to the Hall of Fame, was a young All-Star...

Steelers News (Non-Football Related)

Did you see the news item in the paper today that the Steelers, in the person of Heinz Field Operations chief Jimmy Sacco, have gotten into a pi$$ing contest with Pittsburgh parking impresario Merrill Stabile over comments that Stabile made about the mess (to be kind) that the attendees of the recent Kenny Chesney Concert made in the parking lots at Heinz Field last month....

Derby Disaster Averted

Has there ever been anything more overblown and and overwrought than the angst generated by David Wright's failing to select Pedro Alvarez to compete in the Home Run Derby at this year's All-star Game festivities?  Let's forget for a moment whether or not you like or dislike the HRD, or whether or not it serves any purpose other than filling up ESPN airspace and serving to further inflate Chris Berman's Hindenberg-sized ego, or whether or not...

CLO Show: "The Little Mermaid"

Last night was a delightful evening at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid".I am going to assume that most of you either are familiar with the Hans Christian Andersen  fairy tale, or have seen the 1989 animated Disney movie, so I won't go over details of the story itself, but rather the production now playing at the Benedum.How...

Saluting the Pirates All-Stars

Should be no complaints about Pirate All-Star representation this year.  Congratulating and saluting these four well deserving Buccos.....Pedro Alvarez....Jason Grilli....Jeff Locke....And, for the third year in a row, Andrew McCutchen....Play well in New York, guys...

Movie Review: "The Lone Ranger"

I went to see "The Lone Ranger" today with low expectations.  I knew if was two-and-a-half hours long, way too long for almost any movie, and after experiencing the over the top yet underwhelming and almost depressing "Man of Steel" a few weeks back, I was expecting another big-budget summer popcorn movie that would be pretty much a piece of junk.  Why did I go then,...

News From the Golf World Today....

It was noted on the sports pages this morning that the PGA Tour became the last major governing body in the world of golf to agree to ban the "belly putter", or more accurately the "anchored putting stroke", as a part of the formal Rules of Golf.  The ban will take effect on January 1, 2016.While the PGA Tour was not as enthusiastic about this rule change as was the USGA and the Royal and Ancient, they agreed to go along because, and this is...