Back in June, I got invited to participate in this service project -- to rebuild a backyard fence for a family here in north Houston. I have rarely attended any kind of selfless service in years so it was practically a fluke how I went to this. The father of this family was my age with 4 kids about the ages of mine as well. He was diagnosed two years ago with cancer and it has gotten progressively worse. Anyhow, I met the father and he was just the coolest guy ... huge sports fanatic, so we hit it off right away. Turns out he has Irish roots and has been a Boston Red Sox fan his whole life. He's always dreamed of going to Boston and watching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park -- especially against the Yankees -- but tickets were outrageous on EBay and he couldn't afford them. His wife works with an airline so he can fly for free. He didn't know this, but the only connections I have in life are Houston Rockets stuff and Boston Red Sox tickets. I have family in Boston and I've worked there in the past. I got lucky and a couple of weeks later he had 4 free tickets to a Red Sox-Yankees game at Fenway in August -- he asked if I would join him and he also invited two of his best friends. Since then and now, we've hung out quite a bit and become real good friends. So Sunday we took off for Boston and our tickets were for Monday's game. Outside of the Red Sox losing, it could not have been a better trip. He loved Boston (so many things for a tourist to see) and was in a daze at Fenway. Just loved it. I have to admit the whole scene for Red Sox-Yankees there is phenomenal. I don't have the best camera, but I thought I'd pass along some photos of Fenway Park that I took. If you're a baseball fan, I highly recommend attending a Red Sox-Yankees game atleast once in your lifetime. Before the game (a lot of views from the Green Monster) http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/1a.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/1b.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/1c.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/2.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/3.jpg (jogging in left there is the injured Hideki Matsui) http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/4.jpg (from the Green Monster behind the stadium) http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/5.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/6.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/7.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/8.jpg During the game http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/10.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/11.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/12.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/13.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/14.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/15.jpg (place was completely packed) After the game http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/20.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/21.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/22.jpg http://bbs.clutchfans.net/stuff/boston/23.jpg
Great read Clutch ! My wife and I are going to Boston for a long weekend in October, is that a good time of year to visit? DD
I went to a day game there in 1982 when I was 11. I don't remember much besides the green monster. I think I was sitting right about where you were. Then I went a saw Poltergeist in the theater. Now THAT I remember. (and not getting much sleep because the tree was going to come through the window and eat me)
First time at Fenway was September 2nd, 2001... Yankees vs. Red Sox... Mike Mussina 1 strike away from a perfect game (freaking Carl Everett!). In hindsight, 9/11 occured just 9 days later... kinda eerie... but definitely one of the best baseball experiences I've ever had (and that includes the last two Astros pennant runs).
I saw the Astros play in Fenway a few years back. Amazing experience. Can't wait to take my boys there some day.
I like the photos. They're decent. You can play around with the aperture mode and speed and get some cool action photos with that little sunlight. I had a few questions for you, Clutch: How did you get involved with the fence-rebuilding project? How early were you there in order to get those photos with the empty stands? What do the year banners on the side of the buildings signify? Did you fly for free, or was it only the guy? Do you have any Rockets' tickets [when the season starts] you could spare a poor Mexican brother?
It might be dangerous in October...fans won't be too happy when the sox are golfing during the post season. LMAO LMAO THE SOX WON'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. LOL LOL
3rd base grandstand? pretty good seats. man you should have posted this before, then we could have talked about the rockets.
A friend at church called and asked if I could help out. It was only a handful of people, but it was setup through people there. The best friend of Kaes (the father) goes to my church and he was the one who initially requested help. He came with us to Boston. I didn't know him or the other guy that came with us before the trip, but we all had such a good time we're talking about maybe doing something similar again in the future. On a side note - I wish I had immediate family working for an airline! The game started at 1:05pm. We took the 'T' (subway) in and got to Fenway at 9:30am. With tickets, they don't let you in until 11:00am but we did the Fenway Park tour at 10am (they do a tour every hour). However, that was the "abbreviated tour" since it was closer to game time, and they cut out an important stop -- walking out on the field on the warning track and meeting the guys who hand-operate the scoreboard out there (same guys have been doing it for 16 years). Still cool, but I sure wish we had gotten there for the 9am. Those are years that they either won the World Series, the AL pennant or their division. The 1918 flag says "World Series Champions" while the 1946 one says "American League Champions". He flew for free and got us each buddy passes, which cost us each $105 round trip. We also had a nice place to stay for free on the outskirts of Boston (my family) with plenty of room, so our only costs were a rental car and food (man there are some outstanding restaurants in Boston). Definitely. If I get Rocket tickets and decide not to go myself, I'll send them your way ... that is, if all 482 people who requested before you can't make it also Kidding - if I do get any and can't go I'll keep you in mind.
Very very cool, Clutch. Kudos to you. I'm thinking very seriously of getting an accounting degree since I have a contact at Continental that would hire me in a heartbeat. I'd do it for the free flights alone.
Totally cool...I would love to go there, Yankee Stadium and Wrigley...Other than that, I'd love to go to Green Bay to watch a game..Also, would love to go to watch the Knicks in Madison Square Garden...
Forgot to reply to this -- yeah, I think so if memory serves. Fall in New England is beautiful. Winter is brutal, but Fall is great.
Nice Clutch! There are few things more enjoyable than great seats at a good sporting event. I'm taking my son next week to see Mr Balco in what I think will be his last time ever in this area. My son is a fan of his he has never seen him play or up close. I gave him a choice of behind home plate or behind the Giant's dugout and he chose the dugout. I figured it would be a good father/son time even if it's on a school/work night and we will be getting home after midnight. By the way - how far is it to right field wall by foul pole? It looks pretty sweet for a lefty.
I went to Yankee Stadium a few weeks ago for the Rangers game, and got to sit in the outfield bleachers. Those are some fun seats. It seems like everyone there is full of energy and they were all pretty nice. Another thing that is cool with Yankee Stadium, is they have "family" sections of the stadium where no alcohol is served. So thus in theory people will be a little more contained with their language. If you are in NYC, go to Yankee Stadium, as its not going to be around much longer. I have found the fans at Shea Stadium to be some of the worst fans who crap their pants every bad call. Plus the stadium is atrocious, and you keep hearing planes from La Guardia flying over every 5 minutes.
My first baseball game was at Yankee Stadium. That trip taught me about the game and made me a Yankee fan. Living right next to Fenway Park for 5 years and, for my own safety, I only saw one game there. It was really hard to be a Yankee fan living in Boston.
Clutch, Nice seats man. They look about 30 rows back from where I sat for the Red Sox-Yankee game. Sounds like you have quite a family up there. Those tickets are hard to get. Isn't your brother up there? Did you try and bring him to the game as well?
