The sport of “futbol” has been known to have incidents of fan violence, commonly referred to as “hooligans” for decades. Hooligans tend to be people who simply show up at soccer games to start trouble rather than watch events going on the field.

It’s been a part of the culture of soccer in European countries for decades whether it be friendlys between clubs or major event involving national sides.

And last night it made its way to US soil. According to this article in the Columbus Dispatch some scuffles broke out during a friendly between the homestanding Columbus Crew and English Premier League’s West Ham after some West Ham supporters ventured into a crowd of Crew supporters at the half.

What can I say, I think this will earn more respect around the world for American soccer than anything David Beckham or Pele ever did. We’re finally starting to have enough passion for the game to get involved in stuff like this.:)

Oh by the way, West Ham won 3-1.

-Peter Farrell

We’ve reported in this space in the past about the impending move of the International League Richmond Braves to suburban Atlanta, Georgia for the 2009 season. There they will be known as the Gwinnett Braves and will play in a new ballpark which is hastily being built along I-85, in order to be ready in time for April 2009.

Yet back in Richmond, the R-Braves aren’t ready to call it quits just yet. Despite pressure from civic officials in Richmond, the Braves have yet to opt out of their lease at The Diamond, which runs through 2009.

Why the hurry? Richmond is trying to plan their baseball future in a post Braves world, and one idea has the AA Eastern League Erie Seawolves relocating to Richmond. There are also RFP’s due for ballpark redevelopment proposals, none of which can move forward until the R-Braves’ departure is a totally done deal.

Meanwhile back here in USRT country, we have penciled in a planned trip to Gwinnett County for 2009, and that has us saying “&$%^@*)!!!” rather than jumping for joy. Why, you wonder? The distance will involve a flight rather than drive, plus we just did a return visit to Atlanta’s Turner Field a couple years ago so no pressing reason to see that venue again when there are several other MLB yards overdue for another looksie. So that means lots of expense just to visit a AAA ballpark, and maybe tie in some A-ball teams like the Rome Braves or the Greenville Drive.

*Sigh*, but that is what we do… we are the Ultimate Sports Road Trip after all.

A great email came in the other day from William Yurasko, a DC guy who blogs about his beloved Washington Nationals, and who we met back at RFK Stadium in 2005.

William read up on our postings and venue profiles, and fills in a lot of holes with some really good stuff about the Nats’ ballpark experience. Rather than cherry picking, here is his correspondence:

-Half-smokes, determined by Post columnist Marc Fisher to be D.C.’s official food, come from Ben’s Chili Bowl. Ben’s is a venerable institution on U Street NW (once known as “Black Broadway”) that survived not only the ‘68 riots, but the Green Line construction. Bill Cosby is a noted fan of Ben’s and always eats there for free when he is in town. Ben’s in the ballpark was something that had wide public support, so when it was announced with great fanfare when the Nationals brought them on board. I love the chili Half-Smokes, all the way. By the way, you mentioned Good Times Cafe, but is actually called Hard Times Cafe. They are a local/regional sit-down chili parlor franchise.

-The office building that blocks the view of the Capitol dome from many seats was actually, in a cruel irony, developed by the Lerner family, the Nationals owners. The building was approved and under construction before the ballpark location was selected.

-As for the redeveloping neighborhood, there is an excellent site called Near SE Redevelopment and (ballpark specifically) about the changing neighborhood.

-There is also expected to be a water taxi/ferry within the next few years, something I am very excited about happening. I interviewed the webmistress right before the park opened.

-There is actually a 1924 flag flying near the scoreboard, I only noticed it a few days ago myself.

-#10 is not retired for the fans (yet and hopefully never) as Ronnie Belliard, who hit a walk-off homer on Sunday, wears it.

-After Nats home runs (provided they are not the walk-off variety Bustin’ Loose, by the godfather of go-go/D.C. legend Chuck Brown is played. You probably did not hear it played while you were in town

-There are dozens of bike racks on the ballpark site. I biked over there once to get tickets, but have yet to do it for a game. There is a bike valet.

-Here is my review of Nationals Park, using the metrics that ESPN Page 2 used a few years ago.

-My father-in-law is an executive with one of the subcontractors who built Nationals Park. Previously, he was involved with Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, Univ. of Maryland’s Comcast center among other sports venues.

I’m glad you enjoyed the park. In a few years, when the neighborhood is more developed it should be an even better experience.
- William

All good stuff William! I especially like the water taxi/ferry idea… riding the Anacostia River to get to the game. We will let you know when we hit town again!

-Andrew Kulyk

PS - Had to throw in the photo (above) of Buffalo Bisons icon Luke Easter, who is enshrined in the corridors of Nationals Park for his days with the Homestead Grays of the Negro League. It was really awesome stumbling on that exhibit as part of our tour.

We are pleased to unveil the official Ultimate Sports Road Trip venue profile for Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., which becomes a part of the 122 team roll on the USRT web site.

Last night at Dunn Tire Park, we were watching the Bisons throw a one-hitter to defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 3-0, but our primary attention had us busy evaluating and scoring Nationals Park, based on our 100 point system. Here are the scores:

Architecture 9
Food and team store 7.5
Scoreboard and electronics 6.5
Ushers 9
Fan support 5
Location and neighborhood 5
Banners and history 8
In game entertainment 5.5
Concourses/fan comfort 9
Bonus: Presidents Race 2, Cherry trees 1, Home plate entrance timeline 1, Homestead Grays memorabilia 1

TOTAL 69.5

The total score gives the Nats an 8th place ranking (tie for 8th actually) in our evaluation of the 30 MLB teams. Not bad!

During our interminable wait at the *chuckle* Nats Express bus stop, we chatted up our story with more than a few Nats fans waiting in line, who then pleaded with us to score their venue higher than that of the hated Baltimore Orioles. By checking the rankings you will see that they fell two points short of upending Camden Yards. Element for element, these two ballparks have everything going for them… what tips it in favor of Baltimore is the neighborhood. The Inner Harbor is a tremendous place for the fan, visitor and tourist; Navy Yards is a work in progress.

For anyone who has been to Nationals Park … Agree? Disagree? We sure would like to hear from you!

Seems like people are all aflutter about Sully’s recent column bemoaning the corporate stadia/arena naming craze. Knowing the rest of the Buffalo sports blogosphere as I do, the reasons had to be because of the article’s content and not its author. Right???

(snickering heavily)

Got me thinking though. Just how good is the average sports fans’ knowledge of stadium names in today’s day and age? The venue building boom of the last decade or so has left many a fan’s head spinning concerning the amount of names one has to remember, and that’s not including venues that have had multiple names thanks to corporations being bought out and reemerging under new titles.

With that in mind and being that sports venue gurus that we are, I throw out a little trivia quiz of “Name That Venue”. I’ll name fifteen or so venues, and it’s your job to figure out where they are located(and preferrably who is the main tenant’s’). Email me with the answers(at right).

One rule: stay the hell off our USRT site/blog for answers! Work for this one, pleeeeeeeze.

Prizes…. knowing that you’ve got a better memory than Sully. Isn’t that enough????

Note - The venues listed below are located in metro areas that currently hosts at least one of the four major pro sports leagues. One is home to a college team. One is in a former major league city, and another is located in a city that may soon join that club. Have fun with it:-).

A. Energy Solutions Arena
B. MTS Centre
C. American Airlines Center
D. AT + T Park
E. Comcast Center
F. McAfee Coliseum
G. FedEx Forum
H. LP Field
I. Ford Center
J. Sprint Center
K. Jobing.com Arena
L. Miller Park
M. Quicken Loans Arena
N. Rexall Place
O. Target Center

Bonus - What was the first corporate name of Gilette Stadium(Foxborough)?

-Peter Farrell

The third and final day was under picture perfect skies along the banks of the Anacostia River for the finale of the Rangers/Nats series.

Instead of going by train from the hotel, we decided to park the car at RFK and take the bus shuttle to Nationals Park with the thinking that a quick hop on the bus after the game would get us back to the car in decent fashion for the long ride home. Oops,(if you’ve read post below).

But the highlight of Sunday’s game would be the opportunity to sit with the rich folk in the club seats. Yep, we treated ourselves on this day.

From a viewing perspective, I’m really not very picky about where I sit as I can enjoy the action from anywhere so long as there’s an unobstructed view. The stuff that makes a club seat experience great in my mind is the paraphenalia(baseball related or otherwise) that these sections tend to have that are unique to the club level.

The highlights of the club level at Nationals Park are three pronged from a baseball historian’s standpoint.
1. A pair of murals depicting many of the various baseball cards featuring Washington Senators/Nationals past including some 1974 Topps player cards titled “Washington - National League.” when it appeared that the San Diego Padres were heading to the nation’s capital.

2. Another pair of murals dedicated to the Negro League’s Homestead Grays. While Senators baseball had a history of being completely inept, the Grays had six future Hall of Famers(Cooperstown) and won eight Negro League titles during the 1930’s and 40’s.

3. The hallways were decked out with various photos and other memoribilia depicting the role of patriotism in America’s pastime. One photo that stood out was that of Bret Shephard, a WWII vet who lost his leg in combat and still returned to play a little for the Senators. Coincidentally, Shephard passed away this weekend and the Nats gave a nice video tribute to him during a break in the action.

On to the game. The pregame festivities made note of the late, legendary Post beat writer Shirley Povich as the team named the press box in his honor. Povich’s family was in attendance including son Maury of “The Maury Povich Show”.

I couldn’t help but imagine a scenario in which an official approaches him during the game and says “we’ve just got the paternity tests back Maury, and they reveal that Shirley is…….NOT your father”…followed by hysteria and mayhem and such. Anyhow…..The Nationals would lose again using the same formula, where a strong starting pitching performance would be wrecked by an atrocious bullpen to hand the game and the series to the Washington Senators Texas Rangers by a 5-3 score.

The Nats are just a sad, sad team. A bunch of role players in the starting lineup and a nearly mediocre pitching staff are enough to form the club with the NL’s worst record.

Then again. That’s pretty much what Washington baseball has always been about through the generations, as now they’re “first in war, first in peace and last in the National League“. But with a gem of a ballpark to play in, who’s complaining? Not us as we left the yard knowing that not even the USRT karma could save this team, nor would it help us in making a quick getaway back to Buffalo(see post below).

-Peter Farrell

Want to go to a Nationals game and forget about the parking hassle at the ballpark?

Then drive on over to RFK Stadium, park for FREE, and take the FREE shuttle to the ballpark and back. Shuttles run until 90 minutes after the final out.

Sounds good, we thought, except that they only had, like, five busses running back and forth. When we arrived at the pickup point, there was a huge line snaking down the sidewalk and around the corner, and it just got worse after we cued up.

Time from arriving in line to getting to our car? 58 minutes.

In Atlanta they run a shuttle from Turner Field to the MARTA station two miles away. There have to be 30 busses or so running continuously, and the wait there is minimal.

This fiasco put a damper on what was otherwise a fantastic day… what should have been a 4:30 departure to Buffalo became a 6:00 departure.

Memo to Nationals front office - if you can’t get this right then just scrap the whole idea and let your customers fend for themselves. This level of customer service was totally unacceptable in our book.

Every ballpark. Every stadium. Every arena in the four major sports. Damn we’re good!

Once again we are at 122. And every time we get a chance to officially plant the USRT flag at a new destination, there is always a sense of anticipation and giddiness.For us it began as we walked out of the subway station at Navy Yard. We followed the crowd onto Half Street, which is one massive construction zone, as cranes are in the air, holes are in the ground, and this neighborhood is going through an incredible transformation. Straight ahead… there it is!!! The bright and gleaming new stadium, rising amidst the emerging neighborhood.

Nationals Park is the anti-Camden Yards. Not a single red brick anywhere. Not a kelly green seat anywhere. The exterior of the edifice is grey limestone, glass and light colored steel supports. The main entrance here is in left centerfield - that is where the subway traffic channels into the ballpark, and most of the ramps and surface lots are also to the north side of the facility. That makes the other entrances around the building, including the signature home plate entrance, very underused.

Home plate is on the south side, and behind there is the Anacostia River bridge, the last of the cement plants that was once the staple of the neighborhood, and a nicely redeveloped micro park and nature trail along the river which was a seedy mess when we visited back in 2005. What they have done with this district to date is actually very exciting - We’d love to see it all again when it’s done.

We toured the entire ballpark once we entered (we saw Ch 4’s John Murphy brushed by us didn’t have a chance to say hi though), and the first thing we checked out were the concession stands. The good news? The food variety here is absolutely incredible. Maryland crabcakes, hot dogs, brats and sausages of every variety, “Taste of the Major Leagues” stands with food offerings from peer ballparks, yes a chicken wing stand, deli sandwiches. cheese steaks. We could go on and on. The bad news? The prices here are way over the top, clearly the most expensive we have seen anywhere. Want an example? Small draft beer, $7.50, Pulled pork sandwich $10, your basic hot dog $4.50, hot dog with the works $6.75, mixed drink $12. They must really hate the Orioles, as the crabcake sandwich was $14! Sunday we are sitting in the club level, so we may as well apply the lube, bend over and grab our ankles now to save some time.

All the concourses are open to the field and even when walking around the place, you feel that you are a part of the game. Some of the nice viewing areas in the outfield include the Red Porch, a two level restaurant and open bar with great views of the action. It was a popular spot - the place was packed. Other outfield amenities include a Playstation play section, a “Build a Bear” store, the main team merchandise store, a music stage, and other children’s play areas.

The scoreboard and electronics here are also very nice but not over the top. Ribbon boards ring the entire second level, and are matched up with a circular ribbon above the Red Porch, twe LED boards on the outfield walls, and a massive HD scoreboard in right centerfield. Out of town scores are shown on the right LED, and in deference to the one at RFK, an analog clock with the “W” logo is the signature of the main scoreboard.

We have a lot more to show and describe about this fantastic venue, and we will save for the official venue profile, which we will unveil in a few days along with a bunch of thumbnailed photos and, of course, we will “score” the venue and compare it to its peer facilities in MLB.

As for the game, it was an ugly one for the Nats - Texas got a 7 run 7th inning enroute to a 13-3 pasting of the Nationals. Suprisingly, this was not the worst loss this season at home for the Nats - they have been routed at least two other times at home, including an 11-0 loss to the Marlins. Yep, on the field - this team is a disaster, and looking up and down the roster of has beens, castoffs and rejects, it may be a while before things turn around.

After the game, we hopped the train and headed over to Dupont Circle, just to feel the energy and vibrancy of a city that has people, nightlife and an urban pulse. Entertainers were performing in the street, music was thumping out of nightclubs, quaint bistros with outdoor patio seating were packed. Yeah it was all good. But we were beat after a long and exciting day, so we hopped back on the red line and headed back to our hotel.

Day 3 will be a 1:35 matinee at the yard, and we will be in the club seats with the rich folk. We’re doing the “park and ride” thing from the lots at RFK Stadium, and as soon as the game is done we will be pointing the car back to B-lo.

One arrives at Ripken Stadium via a dedicated 4 lane roadway right off of I-95 here in Aberdeen. But as you make the sharp turn and ride over the hump in the road leading to the park, it is not the stadium that grabs your eye. It is the hotel.

There, right next to the ballpark and centered in the midst of a complex that has evolved into the “Ripken Baseball Academy”, sits an exact replica of the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards. One does a double take. And that is only one element of this baseball theme park that houses a NY-Penn League franchise.

Ripken Stadum opened in 2002 to great reviews, when their team shifted here from Utica, New York, and today the Ironbirds continue their amazing popularity in this bedroom community north of Baltimore. Since this stadium opened, the complex has evolved into a hub of youth baseball, hosting a Ripken sponsored world series each year, and playing the games on state of the art fields which architecturally mimic some of baseball’s greatest shrines.

And what about Ripken Stadium? How about an opulent club level with a huge carpeted concourse, dramatic views of the field, nice bar and buffet areas, and a Ripken Museum. Party decks on the left and right field corners. A separate picnic table area behind home plate where servers deliver food from an “all you can eat” menu. A massive play area with video games and play equipment in the left field corner.

Food? The right field crab shack offers crabcake sandwiches, steamed shrimp and steamed crabs. A sausage station near home plate sells huge sausages served up from chafing dishes in many delectable flavors. Funnel cakes, kettle corn, chicken caesar salads are added to the ballpark fare. A huge team store called “The Hangar” sells merchandise.

All this is set up in a stunning architectural “retro” ballpark, with its brick accents, old fashioned signage and marquees, kelly green seats with ample concourse space, nice murals and exhibits on the walls, and All Things Ripken everywhere you look.

The outfield electronics are superb, with a giant videoboard on the right field side, and a companion dot matrix board with a huge LED board on the left field side hugging the outfield wall. Unlike most minor league parks, outfield billboard advertising here is virtually nonexistent.

Being Opening Day, the place was absolutely packed, and Cal Ripken himself was on hand to throw out the first pitch. Brother Bill Ripken, who played for the Buffalo Bisons in the mid 90s, is team president and active in day to day management here.

Ironbirds fans are especially passionate about their team, hanging on the balls and strikes, and cat calling the visiting players and manager. It was not a good night for the home team however; an early 2 run lead would go for naught as the visiting Brooklyn Cyclones got a two run homer in the 7th and the game winner in the 8th to upend the Ironbirds 3-2.

Like Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, we can only shake our heads in utter amazement as to what the NY-Penn League has become, for here in Aberdeen baseball is a million miles away from the metal bleachers of Dwyer Stadium in Batavia or the tumbledown grittiness of Oneonta’s Damaschke Field.

A shout out and thanks to Aberdeen media swami Caleb Pardick for arranging for credentials for us via Sports and Leisure Magazine and for all his assistance.

Saturday we plant the official USRT flag at National Park in The District. We will once again be able to claim our attendance at a home game of each of the 122 teams in the 4 sports in their current venues. The Nationals are playing the Texas Rangers in interleague play, and for historical reference… the Rangers franchise are making their first visit to DC since they departed this city in 1972, as the Washington Senators. An afternoon of sightseeing and postgame partying is also on tap!

The main entrance to the stadium

A “Ripken Museum” display on the club level

The club level concourse

That’s a Marriott hotel behind the stadium, a replica of Baltimore’s B&O Warehouse

A full house on Opening Night

When they got guys in white chefs hats carving the roast turkey and the beef brisket, you know that this is a press meal that is not to be missed! Also on the menu - pulled pork, scalloped potatoes, caesar salad.

This is going to go on our list as one of the best media dinners evah!

At the end of a 375 mile from Buffalo today, we pull into this place, and can only shake our heads in part awe, part amazement and part disgust, as the NY-Penn League again sets a new and higher bar for opulence, amenities and “wow factor” for the fan attending a game at Ripken Stadium, home of the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

Maybe it was the Courtyard by Marriott hotel next door that put all this over the top… it is just beyond the 3rd baseline… it is a stunning replica of Baltimore’s B&O Warehouse, we kid you not!

Opening Night… packed house… where else would one rather be!

Whew - back home safe in Buffalo and it’s 12:45 AM!

The final leg of this journey takes us to New Britain Stadium outside of Hartford, home of the AA Rock Cats. After the dreary previous night we had over in Norwich, our expectations were low. But from the minute we pulled in, seeing the long line of cars snaking into the parking lot, we already knew that this was one happy place!

Even though the stadium has been open for just 13 years, it has a real “old school” feel, and we mean that in a good way. The single concourse is festooned with flags and banners, and also colorful concession canopies. Picnic areas areas are located down the baselines, and rooftop patios offer a great place to watch the action as well.

What makes New Britain Stadium a great place to watch a game is the in game entertainment. Costumed mascots troll the stands, the in game host keeps the energy going, music bumps include “Brass Bonanza”, that great anthem of the long departed Hartford Whalers. Team president Bill Dowling is walking through the aisles, greeting fans and shaking hands. These guys get it, when it comes to fan service, entertainment, and providing a satisfying game day baseball experience.

The smells wafting through the concourses are a mix of fried onions and peppers, fresh popcorn, funnel cakes, and even though the concession menu doesn’t stray from the standard ballpark dreck, the food here is good and satisfying. We tried the Italian sausage smothered in peppers and onions, and the Red Osier roast beef sandwich. Here they toast the roll and smother the beef in melted cheese. Back in Buffalo the purists would howl!

One thing that really needs work here is the 7th inning stretch… our fears came true when we saw a long line of white t-shirted kids coming down to the field from the stands. Yep, they sang The Dead Fat Womans Song. Everybody stood. But then? Everybody sat down. They played “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” with little fanfare, and hardly anyone stood and sang. A real disappointment!

The Rock Cats had to overcome a 7-0 deficit from the suspended game the night before. They chipped away, but ended falling short by a 7-3 score. We only stuck around for one inning of the nightcap, and both teams registered base hits in the first inning, so with a 435 mile ride awaiting us, we headed for the door.

We forgot to send out props to Brian Irizarry of the C-Defenders last night, so we’re doing it now. Also thanks to Bob Dowling of the Rock Cats. Both guys gave the USRT and Sports and Leisure Magazine a warm welcome and rolled out the red carpet for our visits to their ballparks. Thanks guys!

Hope our readers and friends enjoyed our stories from the road these past few days. Stay tuned next weekend because we do it again! We start off in Elmira Thursday night, swing over to Cal Ripken’s swank digs in Aberdeen, MD on Friday, the it’s down to the District on Saturday and Sunday for games at the new Nationals Park.

We came. We reminisced. We honored this hallowed venue for one final time.

Shea Stadium – Two Mets World Series won on home soil, 1969 and 1986. Bill Buckner booting what would have been the final out to clinch for the Red Sox. O.J. Simpson breaking the NFL rushing record and the 2000 yard mark for the Buffalo Bills in 1973. Bill Simpson intercepting Richard Todd’s pass in the closing seconds to seal a Bills playoff victory in 1981. The Beatles concert in the 60s. That emotional first game after the attacks of 9/11 and Mike Piazza belting a home run.

It will all be gone after this season, as the New York Mets will take residence in Citifield, going up right next door. Shea Stadium will then see the wreckers ball, as the site will be cleared for stadium parking.

We got to watch the Texas Rangers come to town for their first and only visit to Shea ever, as interleague play got underway. Mets fans are in a pretty foul mood these days… for a roster so stocked with talent, and a team that looked so good on paper coming out of spring training, the Mets season has been disappointing so far, with the team mired in the bottom end of a mediocre NL East.

But on this night, it would be all Mets, as Oliver Perez pitched seven stellar innings to earn New York a 7-1 victory.

The best part of the night was sharing the farewell experience with our good friends Gary Herman and Mike “The King” Casciano, who are two accomplished road trippers in their own right. Gary and The King have season tickets to both the Mets and the Yankees, and hold court above home plate in the uppermost rows of both of the venues.

Tonight their friends Fuzzy and couple other fellas were also in tow, and if you are fortunate enough to be invited into their closed circle, you will walk away from their whole show amused, amazed and completely shaking your head in incredulity.

These guys take their baseball seriously - they keep diligent scores, maintain scrapbooks, pick up loose ticket stubs and other souvenirs, try to scam extra giveaways at the door (tonight it was Mets beach towels), and know just about every usher and vendor in the joint.

As tonight’s game unfolds, the guys are passing around a shared copy of the New York Post, discussing an article about the NBA’s alleged game fixing scandal and chuckling at the whole thing. They commiserate about the failings of the New York Knicks, bitch about ticket prices and seating plans, share stories of past road trips, and call out casual ticket buyers who show up in “their” section in the third inning, as if to say “How dare you show up late and sit in oursection!”

The King raises hell at Shea Stadium

But the best moment of this eclectic group comes with The King’s signature shriek… after each Mets strikeout, he starts with a long piercing yell until he runs out of breath, and then chants out “He… Struck…Him…Out!!!”. The first such yell gets icy glares from other folks in the stands. By the third strikeout half the section is joining in with the chant. It is absolutely hilarious!

And as a footnote… this crazy group performs their antics without a single drop of alcohol involved!

After the game, we headed to an Irish bar named Donovans, in the Woodside section of Queens, to enjoy post game libations and one of “New York’s Best Burgers”. At least that’s what the sign on the door outside said and they weren’t kidding, it was an awesome meal. Donovans is a “Cheers” type neighborhood bar, and everyone we met there was very friendly and gave us a warm welcome.

OK it was almost 1 AM… so we dropped Gary off at his home in Floral Park, continued out to Bay Shore in Suffolk County to crash at cousin Sandy’s house… Saturday will be “family reunion day” before heading out in the evening to Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut, home of the AA Connecticut Defenders, the third stop in this USRT adventure.

Andrew’s take: “Impressive edifice, stunning home plate rotunda”

Peter’s take: “Same ole’ shit”