------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
somebodyisfromhere.com
The destination destination.
| South Philly. |
<<< Southwest Airlines is like the Catholic schools of airlines. They run things a
little differently, but in the end they are pretty efficient. So, on
Somebodyisfromhere.com's flight a stewardess was singing about the descent or,
you know, god knows what, and his ear felt as if it was legitimately going to fall off
from the pressure. It was one of those sensations in which Somebodyisfromhere.com
not only questioned whether he wanted to be a conversational travel writer any
longer, but he also whether he ever wanted to leave his town, his house, his
bedroom, or his bed ever again. Then he looked out his window towards Tampa and
to his surprise he looked down at fireworks. As if sacrificing one sense for another,
vision for hearing, he remembered why he traveled and was confident that this would
be a good trip indeed.
little differently, but in the end they are pretty efficient. So, on
Somebodyisfromhere.com's flight a stewardess was singing about the descent or,
you know, god knows what, and his ear felt as if it was legitimately going to fall off
from the pressure. It was one of those sensations in which Somebodyisfromhere.com
not only questioned whether he wanted to be a conversational travel writer any
longer, but he also whether he ever wanted to leave his town, his house, his
bedroom, or his bed ever again. Then he looked out his window towards Tampa and
to his surprise he looked down at fireworks. As if sacrificing one sense for another,
vision for hearing, he remembered why he traveled and was confident that this would
be a good trip indeed.
Florida has always perpetuated itself on the appearance of providing an alternate universe. Look at Disney; it's based on the premise in which
there's not only a society of constant happiness but in this jubilant world there would be super sized rodents wearing gloves.
Well the same can be said about the Gulf Shores. Only In this alternate universe, Philadelphia is a friendly place where the fans feel no
pressure and the weather is always nice. A rainy morning cleared up in Clearwater, the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies, just
in time for Somebodyisfromhere.com to catch the Phillies/Red Sox exhibition game on Sunday.
The Phillies played most of their starters getting primed for the rest of the season. The Sox were chose to sit some players due to either
injuries or while getting last looks at players before cuts.
there's not only a society of constant happiness but in this jubilant world there would be super sized rodents wearing gloves.
Well the same can be said about the Gulf Shores. Only In this alternate universe, Philadelphia is a friendly place where the fans feel no
pressure and the weather is always nice. A rainy morning cleared up in Clearwater, the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies, just
in time for Somebodyisfromhere.com to catch the Phillies/Red Sox exhibition game on Sunday.
The Phillies played most of their starters getting primed for the rest of the season. The Sox were chose to sit some players due to either
injuries or while getting last looks at players before cuts.
The Red Sox still won. It didn't matter much to
the fans, though. The game didn't count. Some
players wouldn't even be on the team in a few
days.
Instead, it was time to simply watch baseball.
Much is said of the poetry of the game. The
smell of the grass, the crack of the bat. Some
of that can get lost over a long season. These
thing feel heightened in Florida, though. As the
sun colored the lighter skinned fans and the
beers cooled the thirsty ones, the senses tend
to get overloaded.
It was no surprise that there were plenty of
Phillies fans at Bright House Field. It's the
teams home field. They had just won a World
Series.
the fans, though. The game didn't count. Some
players wouldn't even be on the team in a few
days.
Instead, it was time to simply watch baseball.
Much is said of the poetry of the game. The
smell of the grass, the crack of the bat. Some
of that can get lost over a long season. These
thing feel heightened in Florida, though. As the
sun colored the lighter skinned fans and the
beers cooled the thirsty ones, the senses tend
to get overloaded.
It was no surprise that there were plenty of
Phillies fans at Bright House Field. It's the
teams home field. They had just won a World
Series.
It was no surprise that there were Philles fans on the plane, either. It was coming from Philly after all. What was strange, was that there were
Phillies fans everywhere else. Philadelphia is miles and states away from Clearwater, yet, everywhere Somebodyisfromhere.com went there
were people adorned in red (not the Red Sox kind).
Reddington Beach was a half hour away from the stadium and signs pointing to the Ray's field and there were fans walking around town.
Clearwater Beach was a few minute drive from the stadium as well and, not only were their fans there, but the lamp posts had posters with the
Phillies emblem.
The Phillies real season will start Sunday. That game, however, will count. The 5 day forecast predicts the low will be in the 40's. It just won't be
the same as Clearwater, Philly South, where the weather promises to be fine.
For future spring training travelers, this was a good time to go. The last week of the season. The water was warm enough. The airports didn't
have to deal with winter weather delays. Most importantly, tickets were easy to come by even on a year in which they raised their attendance
record.
Perfect weather, world champions, green grass, beer, and polite fans only go so far. The Red Sox did have J. D. Drew in the lineup. Hated for
spurning the Phillies about a decade ago, Drew was booed.
And it felt a little like Philly.
Phillies fans everywhere else. Philadelphia is miles and states away from Clearwater, yet, everywhere Somebodyisfromhere.com went there
were people adorned in red (not the Red Sox kind).
Reddington Beach was a half hour away from the stadium and signs pointing to the Ray's field and there were fans walking around town.
Clearwater Beach was a few minute drive from the stadium as well and, not only were their fans there, but the lamp posts had posters with the
Phillies emblem.
The Phillies real season will start Sunday. That game, however, will count. The 5 day forecast predicts the low will be in the 40's. It just won't be
the same as Clearwater, Philly South, where the weather promises to be fine.
For future spring training travelers, this was a good time to go. The last week of the season. The water was warm enough. The airports didn't
have to deal with winter weather delays. Most importantly, tickets were easy to come by even on a year in which they raised their attendance
record.
Perfect weather, world champions, green grass, beer, and polite fans only go so far. The Red Sox did have J. D. Drew in the lineup. Hated for
spurning the Phillies about a decade ago, Drew was booed.
And it felt a little like Philly.
>>> "It's all jazz," is stated a few times in The Soul of Baseball by ... oh, well, somebodyisfromhere.com
will get to that later...
Somebodyisfromhere.com isn't sure what makes something a travel book (or movie, or whatever). Is it about movement?
Is it about obscure locations? Or is it travel because somebodyisfromhere.com is there and you're not? (If he were to write
about his home town and you aren't there, would that be travel writing in the internet age?)
...In The Soul of Baseball, Buck O'Neil, a sage former Negro Leaguer, is followed for a year by sports
journalist Joe Posnanski as O'Neil promoted the Negro League and by extension the museum about the
subject.
Full Page: The Soul of Baseball
will get to that later...
Somebodyisfromhere.com isn't sure what makes something a travel book (or movie, or whatever). Is it about movement?
Is it about obscure locations? Or is it travel because somebodyisfromhere.com is there and you're not? (If he were to write
about his home town and you aren't there, would that be travel writing in the internet age?)
...In The Soul of Baseball, Buck O'Neil, a sage former Negro Leaguer, is followed for a year by sports
journalist Joe Posnanski as O'Neil promoted the Negro League and by extension the museum about the
subject.
Full Page: The Soul of Baseball
| The Soul Of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America. |
MORE SPORTS.
| A Boo-tiful Thing. |
>>> So you know when you bet too much on a certain color in
roulette. You hope for red. You secretly prepare for black
And the little ball lands on green.
That was the atmosphere in Philadelphia last Monday night as
the potential clinching World Series game against Tampa was
postponed for rain.
It was the moment of which the city with an inferiority complex and
a penchant for losing, realized that this wasn't going to be easy.
And it was if the whole crowd said: Crap, I did NOT see that
coming.
Two days later, though, the game resumed and the final few
innings were played. It was a quick conclusion to a short series
putting an end to a 25 year long championship draught for the
city's four major sports teams
Full Page: Winners.
roulette. You hope for red. You secretly prepare for black
And the little ball lands on green.
That was the atmosphere in Philadelphia last Monday night as
the potential clinching World Series game against Tampa was
postponed for rain.
It was the moment of which the city with an inferiority complex and
a penchant for losing, realized that this wasn't going to be easy.
And it was if the whole crowd said: Crap, I did NOT see that
coming.
Two days later, though, the game resumed and the final few
innings were played. It was a quick conclusion to a short series
putting an end to a 25 year long championship draught for the
city's four major sports teams
Full Page: Winners.
<<< It all started with free T-shirts, beer, and endless possibilities only to conclude
in missed opportunities, disappointment, and bitter resentment. In other words,
College Night with the Phillies turned out to be pretty much like college itself.
In the past year I've been fortunate enough to attend three very different sports, in
three very different stadiums, with three teams in very different positions.
However, one variable remains a constant in the City of Brotherly Love. The fans
are as passionate as ever and are, for an outsider, worth the price of attendance
even if the teams are not.
Full Page: Losers.
in missed opportunities, disappointment, and bitter resentment. In other words,
College Night with the Phillies turned out to be pretty much like college itself.
In the past year I've been fortunate enough to attend three very different sports, in
three very different stadiums, with three teams in very different positions.
However, one variable remains a constant in the City of Brotherly Love. The fans
are as passionate as ever and are, for an outsider, worth the price of attendance
even if the teams are not.
Full Page: Losers.
| SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT THE ANIMALS, BUT PHILLY FANS KEEP THINGS INTERESTING. |