Baseball's Loss is Rock-n-Roll's Gain

Some twenty sophomores tried out for baseball at Elk River High School. My son was among them, and was also among the 6 or so who were cut today.

I recall missing the cut for my junior high baseball teams (both A & B squads) in 7th & 8th grade. I was a fair ball player, with a decent swing and good hand-eye skills, but physically underdeveloped for my age. Plus, having skipped 2nd grade, I was a full year younger than most in my own grade. I was an 11-yr-old trying to make the cut amongst 15-yr-olds.

It's easy to make excuses, and a nasty trap. I've never completely gotten over what skipping a grade, plus having a later birthday, did to my school-days sports pursuits. Studies have convincingly shown the benefits an earlier birthday in the school year has on an athlete. Adding a full year to that late birthday, frankly, sucks.

So I ended up pursuing games I could work on in solitude, and thus ended up lettering, barely, and only in my senior year, in golf (long before it was cool), and being among the top two bowlers in my school (still not cool).

But back to my son. I can't help but feel for him, knowing that had I been a better parent, he would have had a fighting chance. It's not easy, being I only see him every other weekend, and we live an hour apart, but there I go with excuses again. Did I really have to watch the ball game, golf match, etc., when I could have been playing catch or pitching BP to him? Sure, we did some of that, but not like a father and son who see each other only two out of fourteen days should. You'd think I wouldn't have wasted a moment of that precious time.

He's got the right attitude, and I'm super proud of him for that. He is a very promising young drummer, and wants to work more on that with his newly-found spare time. Like bowling, he can work on it for hours at a time if he wants (and he often does).

Plus, it's a heck of a lot cooler than being a bowler.

Volkswagens and White Castles

Even more than the McDonald's Lenten Fillet-O-Fish commercials, I find myself very annoyed by the new Volkswagen commercials, where they promote the "Punch Dub" concept.

First, they're simply not funny. Second, they are apparently trying to embrace the old "Slug Bug" stigma and replace it with a new, less stigmatic, yet hip association with the brand.

It bothers me because if they are going to embrace it, then they should fully embrace it. White Castle did it right when they finally embraced the "Slider" slang term for their burgers. The days of dirty looks from the cashier when you ordered "six sliders, please" were gone for good.

I see no reason why VW shouldn't embrace the old "Slug Bug" tradition in its original form.

Then again, White Castle has yet to embrace the term "Gut Bomb," so maybe there is a line to be drawn somewhere.

Bracketology

I'm not enough of a wonk to talk NCAA bracketology with much credibility. But I did follow enough of a couple of teams to say this, and leave it at that:

I'm happy Minnesota got in, but as an eleven seed sure seems rather silly. That means the committee thought they were one of the top 44 teams.

Northern Iowa, a top-20 poll team, and #17 in RPI, and they get a nine seed? I'd like someone on the committee to explain that one.

Schweigert to be the Target Field Hot Dog Supplier

I grew up on knothole days at the old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. The simple memories of those games at the Met I will treasure forever. The first view of the outfield lights while pulling closer to the field by the Northwest Orient Airlines hangars. The anticipatory walk from the Thunderbird Motel parking lot (where Mom would park for free, and never got caught). And those wonderful 50-cent Schweigert hot dogs (and 50-cents was expensive back in 1975!!).

Remember this jingle from the '70s?:

What could be better on a sunny day
Than watching the Twins winning all the way
And sittin' in the stands and shoutin' "Hurray!"
With a hot dog
Schweigert hot dog

It's the one you get
When you're at the Met
'Cause going to the ballgame is great fun
And Schweigert makes it better

Yes, I remember it word-for-word, and could sing it, too.

This is going to be one fun summer at Target Field. The only thing they could have done to make it better was to schedule a June 26 game against the White Sox. I can see Joe Mauer raising his average to .406, Jim Thome getting eight RBIs and a grand slam. All while my kids wear their promotional Joe Mauer jerseys.

Those of you in my age group probably know exactly what I'm referring to. Others may check out these links to appreciate it, and hopefully catch Twins fever: June 26, 1977. Patrick Reusse's 30th anniversary column.

Here's a telling difference between the Met and the Metrodome: The Metrodome provided me many terrific memories because of the teams on the field. The Met provided many terrific memories because of the ball park. (And because, of course, I was a much more impressionable youngster.)

Here's hoping Target Field will be the best of both, starting in 2010. And here's to Schweigert making it better!