Tigers and Chiefs: MLB Baseball 23 September 2016

So, continuing my tour of the USA with my son, we left Cleveland after 6 days there and today headed via Michigan towards London Ontario in Canada.  We planned to stay there the night before a short drive to Toronto where we were spending the Saturday night.

Well, that was the plan of course. Now, there were a number of issues to remember:

1. We had no road maps.
2. We were crossing from the USA to Canada and had not arranged a Visa etc, nor had we advised the US authorities of our plan to leave and later re enter USA.
3. We had no hotel booked for tonight.
4. I had to put up with Tom's choice of music, as I was driving he had the control of the music.

Well, the first one was not a problem. Thanks to modern technology and the THREE mobile network, I was able to use my mobile phone in the USA and the Google Maps application to guide us on the way. ( More about this later,).

The second issue turned out not to be a problem today as we never left the USA after all! Explanation to follow.

This again turned out to be not a problem, indeed it proved to be a blessing. More again later.

The latter was not a problem as Tom has the good taste to like the same music as me. A 23 year old who is into 70s/80s/90s music!

We made great progress up the interstate. In fact before lunchtime we we approaching Detroit. We had plenty of time, so decided to drive into downtown Detroit and have a look round Downtown Detroit. Now, I checked and the motor was armour plated and our insurance policies covered us being shot!

We found a car park on a derelict plot of land in centre of Detroit. When we went to pay for the parking. The attendant said if we wanted to stay beyond 5pm we would have to pay more because there was a higher rate when there was a baseball game on! We didn't know there was a game or where the stadium was. The parking attendant put us straight on both.

Tom and I went for a walk round downtown Detroit and visited  the baseball ground and the nearby NFL stadium. Tickets for the baseball were only $15 upwards. Do we go to the baseball? This is where things started to come together. As we had not booked a hotel in London, we could rearrange our plans. Next up, it was  finding a hotel in Detroit. This is where the technology came in handy. I was able to use my mobile phone and via hotel booking apps, identify suitable hotels in downtown detroit to stay at for the night. We booked a hotel on the Riverfront at Detroit and only a few steps from the light rail system that runs around the downtown area for only cents a go.

Hotel booked, we purchased tickets, then went for lunch at a Wings restaurant of course a beer or two was consumed. We then drove the short distance to the hotel, dumped our bags, showered etc and headed back out for the baseball.

The Americans are good planners, and immediately opposite the ground was a bar with a huge car park that was turned into several stalls selling food and several serving alcohol. None of the British attitude of closing pubs near a ball game.

A couple more beers before the game and we headed into the ground.  This is a new ground built in the heart of Downtown Detroit. The centre of Detroit is an interesting place. It is run down and shows sign of serious decline, but looking at the buildings it is clear to see this used to be a very rich City. There are some magnificent buildings. Sadly, many have seen better days. As the US car industry declined so did the fortune of this city and its inhabitants.

The development of the NFL Stadium and Baseball Park are clearly attempts to regenerate the centre of Detroit. It is showing some early signs of paying off, but this City has a long battle ahead.

The first thing I noticed when inside the ground was the extortionate cost of merchandise in the club shop, despite it being a “fans appreciation “night and 25% discount on many products. Never again will I think English football clubs overcharge for merchandise. Actually, I will, but just remember the US are even worse for over charging.

The game itself was a rather one sided affair. Kansas never showed up and it was obvious from the 2nd or 3rd innings that it would be an easy win for Detroit. This time at least we saw plenty of runs. Detroit winning 8-3 in the end.

The ground afforded a great view over Downtown Detroit and of a band playing at some posh corporate event at a nearby hotel. Free entertainment as well as the game? Not really, the band were I have to say bloody awful. I would call them tone deaf, but that is an insult to those who are tone deaf.

After the game, we left the ground hoping to go back to the bar we were in before the game for food, but... the kitchen was closed!!!! It was only 2300 and the bar was not serving food. Tom and I set off to find another food place near the rail stop. We did find a really nice tapas style restaurant that did a very interesting blackberry ale! I have to say it was rather nice.

Walking from the ground the couple of hundred yards to the restaurant we did see another side of Detroit. There were lots of homeless people around the nearby park/ green area. Detroit looked a lot less safe after the ball game than it did before the game.

Fortunately the rail station had police keeping undesirables out. Fortunately it was only a few yards from the restaurant to the Station and the Station to the Hotel. On the short train ride, we passed a reminder of one of the most famous sportsmen to come from  Detroit, namely the Joe Louis Arena , named after the famous boxer.

It was only that night when I did a bit of research I remembered Detroit is the most dangerous city in the USA!


Look ,a whole piece about Detroit and no mention of its musical significance being the home of Motown...... D'oh!

Indians Slay Tigers - Just! Cleveland Indians 1 Detroit Cowboys 0 MLB American League Central Division 17 September 2016

OK, firstly, I must confess this is a slight departure from my usual Saturday posts. Yes, its a ball game, no its not in Essex and no its not with a football.

I was on holiday in the USA and got invited by my good friend and fellow Police Unity Tour cyclist, Mike to join him and other mutual friends at the game. Thanks for sorting out the tickets Mike.

The only problem was that I got invited to this game after booking my holiday flights. I was due to arrive at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey at 2030 ( USA time or 0130 UK time) on the evening of 16 September, some 450 miles from Cleveland. This game was an afternoon game, so I had to be in Cleveland for around 1400 the next day.

After getting out of airport, we ( my drinking partner in crime aka my son or according to many on this trip, my brother Tom!)drove around 150 miles to an overnight stay in Pennsylvania. By the time we got to hotel, around 0130, I had been up for 24 hours. Luckily for him, Tom was not insured to drive, being under 25 years of age, so he could drink on plane and sleep in car.

Five hours sleep and we were back on the road again heading to our hosts house in Hudson near Cleveland. Only another 300 miles to drive this morning. Remember, driving a strange vehicle the size of a small country and on the wrong side of the road. 

The one good thing was my friends and hosts, Phil and Tiffany drove from Hudson into the centre of Cleveland. The first thing that I noted was that Phil was able to stop immediately opposite the turnstiles to drop us off, and then parked the car in a car park next to the ground. Imagine pulling up outside Old Trafford, or Stamford Bridge and trying to park within 100 yards of the ground. Mind you parking was $25 for the game, so not cheap. However, and this is a constant feature of our trip. Parking is readily available in US cities because people are prepared to pay for it.

Getting into the ground, there was noticeably a lack of aggressive policing or stewarding. Indeed inside the ground there was no obvious sign of police or stewards. There were stewards there, but instead of the in your face approach and hi viz you get in the UK, they blended into the background and were there to help not order you around. 

An example being when entering the ground I set off the metal detector and had to go through additional security. This was all done with good grace and great humour. The security official even sending me on the way with the comment, "Enjoy the game, mind you, its not cricket"

The ground is a new 30,000 seater stadium in the heart of a regenerating Cleveland. I was last in Cleveland around 4 years ago and it is amazing to see how much this former industrial city built on the steel industry has re generated. It is a beautiful and seemingly thriving city now on the edge of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes. It is the home of Rock and Roll.

We had excellent seats, behind the batting position nearly in line with pitcher and way up high on level 5. A top of table clash between 2 of best sides in country, and only $18 admission. The game itself was a top of table clash with both sides going for the play offs. At the end of normal time ( 9th innings) it was still 0-0. In the first extra innings, Cleveland got a home run to win the game. 3 hours or so of excellent entertainment.

Between innings, there was lots of entertainment and activity, including, mascot races, give aways, competitions etc. All designed to add to the fun. A bit more interesting than the meat draw at half time at non league football grounds.

What did I learn? 

1. A modern well designed sports ground makes a ground more attractive to spectators
2. There are lots of food and drink facilities in the ground
3. They employ people to bring beers to you at your seat ( and for any Northern League officials watching this, there was no trouble despite this being a top of table derby game)
4. Beer is expensive - $9 a can, That is around £7 for a can of beer.
5. Scoreboards are huge in USA.
6. Floodlights are far more interesting than in UK.
7. I actually enjoyed the baseball - mind you that may have had more to do with the company. It was good to meet up with friends from Police Unity Tours gone by.
8.  Despite it being a top of the table clash, fans were treated with dignity and respect by the stewards and officials. This was repaid by the behaviour of the fans.
9. There appear to be no programmes at games.
10. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and have to say would rather watch sport like this than the way fans at sport are generally treated in the UK (certainly at the higher levels)

Even on leaving the ground there was no problem getting into a nearby pub and getting a meal. I can definitely recommend the Winking Lizard Pub. Although I can also recommend checking the closure time of the car park you use.

After our meal and drinks, we headed back to the car park, only to find it was locked 90 minutes after the game finished. The car park was secured and no way to get vehicle out until the following morning. Now, Phil and Tiffany live 30 miles or so away from Cleveland.... but fortunately they have such good friends, that one of them drove a 60 mile round trip at around midnight to pick us up and refused to take any petrol money. That is what I call a good friend.

The Winking Lizard pub did serve a beer specifically named for me.

This was the first full day of our holiday and a fantastic welcome to the legendary hospitality of our US cousins.

Finally, thanks to the wonders of twitter, I was able to know that Spennymoor Town had won in the FA Cup that day. All in all a good day.

Erm.......Waltham Forest FC v Sawbridgeworth Town FC: Essex Senior League: 24 August 2016

So, match 15 of the season and my 7th game in 10 days took me to Wadham Lodge, the home of Waltham Forest FC for their Essex Senior League Tie against Sawbridgeworth Town FC. On paper it should be a home banker. Waltham Forest have a 100% record in the league and have been scoring for fun. Sawbridgeworth meanwhile had drawn their first two league games.

Wadham Lodge is an interesting ground. It is home to Wadham Lodge FC as well as Waltham Forest FC. Both clubs play in the 9th tier of English football.  Behind both goals are covered terraces that run the length of the pitch. On one side there is a small piece of uncovered terracing running part of the pitch and on the other side is a long covered stand running around 1/2  the length of the pitch. The ground is definitely one of the better grounds in the Essex Senior League and one could easily host football at a higher level. The only thing I did not notice was whether there was a second set of turnstiles anyway into the ground.

Right, enough of my love in with the ground, and onto the game. Unlike the night before, there were a number of ground hoppers present, and league officials as well. A chance to discuss previous nights games. Some had been to Stanway Rovers v Barking in a 2 hours long cup tie. Some had gone to Clapton in a league game and I had of course been to Bowers v Waltham Abbey.

Admission is £7. I have no idea about programmes as they had sold out before I got there. Given the small crowd at the ground, I presume a minimal number  of programmes had been printed.

The game kicked off, according to Essex time, ie it was 3 minutes late kicking off.  It seems to be an unwritten rule that all Essex games kick off late. The first half was full of lots of commitment and passion, but sadly all to little in the way of real chances. Waltham Forest were probably the better side, but Sawbridgeworth battled hard and prevented any real chances for Waltham Forest.

Half time came and went with still no score. The second half was more of the same. Lots of effort and passion, but little in the way of excitement for the fans. However, for the second time this season I saw one of the Waltham Forest officials sent from the touchline. The referee refused to restart the game until the said official had not only left the dugout but left the ground/ gone to the changing rooms. This I was advised by one of the former league officials was the correct action by the referee and answers my query from the game at Redbridge in FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round. 

Again like at Redbridge I did not hear or see what the person did to be sent off, but 2 sendings off in first 3 weeks of the season is not very impressive. Respect Campaign, remember that?

Anyway, with 7 minutes left, Waltham Forest finally scored. They probably just deserved to win.

The game itself was a tight affair with little exciting incidents, but that should not be taken as a lack of effort by either side.

Waltham Forest describe the game here

One thing to comment on was how warm it was last night during the game. The temperature was still above 70 F at the time the game kicked off and never dropped much. It was a tee shirt and shorts weather for the spectators never mind the players. Despite this, there were a couple of flashes of lightening during the second half and a brief shower of rain. None of that did anything to reduce the temperature or humidity

For me, that is it until next week in terms of football. I am off to see my lady this weekend, so football is going to have to take a break.