Spring 2024 Hargrove Update
3 weeks ago
A Visit From the Iron Man
Just another day at the office, until Cal Ripken Jr. dropped by. He was in town for the Red Cross "Night of the Stars" event at the Marriott in Normal, Ill. Snapped some photos of his meeting with the Illinois State baseball team.
Time for the Video Bonus Question!
I've been trying to include video interviews with most of my game recaps this season and finally got to use some of the pitcher's game film when Kenny Long was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week a couple weeks ago. I didn't post this at the time, but here's the video, shot with a Flip Mino HD handheld camera and edited with Sony Vegas Video - both relatively cheap alternatives for anyone looking to jump into the multimedia realm. (editor's note: extra points to the kids who noticed the Cash Cab reference in the post title)
Out and About: Weeks Fly By
I've been caught up in the game notes, game advance, game recap, apply for jobs cycle the past few weeks so I'm past due for an update from the road. Fortunately, the Redbirds are on a three-weekend stretch of home series, although big work ahead next Saturday for a televised game against Wichita State. Here's a few tidbits from Illinois State's most recent road trip to Omaha, Neb., a jaunt that produced the first series sweep of Creighton in school history.
April 9-11, 2010 - Omaha, Neb.
After roughing it at the Holiday Inn in Gainesville, the Birds classed it up a bit with a weekend at the DoubleTree in downtown Omaha. Here's the view from the 19th floor - somewhere close to the Warren Buffet Suite I would assume.
One of the national collegiate baseball writers based in Omaha suggested we eat at a Cajun restaurant called Jazz. Like I've mentioned before on the blog, we like to roll the dice and sample the local fare wherever we are, so despite my disdain for Cajun food, we went. I can now say that I've given it the old college try, and don't need to again! It wasn't awful...just not my thing. Nice live Blues band though. We didn't have the chance to try Ted and Wally's for ice cream, but we did drive by.
I took this shot to prove to my wife, Brooksie, that it's not all cheeseburgers and french fries on the road. I do want to live past 45. My friend Thomas and I hit the salad bar at Spaghetti Works. Good salad, but average Spaghetti Works. We carried some groceries for a lady who suggested M's Pub, or something like that...should have taken her advice.
Creighton usually plays its ball games at Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the NCAA College World Series, but the Omaha Royals were in town so we played at the CU Sports Complex. That didn't stop us from making a detour and checking out the O-Royals against the Memphis Redbirds. I had the opportunity to interview former Illinois State Redbird Matt Herges, a reliever for the Royals.
April 9-11, 2010 - Omaha, Neb.
After roughing it at the Holiday Inn in Gainesville, the Birds classed it up a bit with a weekend at the DoubleTree in downtown Omaha. Here's the view from the 19th floor - somewhere close to the Warren Buffet Suite I would assume.
One of the national collegiate baseball writers based in Omaha suggested we eat at a Cajun restaurant called Jazz. Like I've mentioned before on the blog, we like to roll the dice and sample the local fare wherever we are, so despite my disdain for Cajun food, we went. I can now say that I've given it the old college try, and don't need to again! It wasn't awful...just not my thing. Nice live Blues band though. We didn't have the chance to try Ted and Wally's for ice cream, but we did drive by.
I took this shot to prove to my wife, Brooksie, that it's not all cheeseburgers and french fries on the road. I do want to live past 45. My friend Thomas and I hit the salad bar at Spaghetti Works. Good salad, but average Spaghetti Works. We carried some groceries for a lady who suggested M's Pub, or something like that...should have taken her advice.
Creighton usually plays its ball games at Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the NCAA College World Series, but the Omaha Royals were in town so we played at the CU Sports Complex. That didn't stop us from making a detour and checking out the O-Royals against the Memphis Redbirds. I had the opportunity to interview former Illinois State Redbird Matt Herges, a reliever for the Royals.
I'd Like to Give the Grill a High-Five
Brooksie and I grilled today, sort of an Easter thing I guess. It was so colorful, I had to take some pictures. I'm hungry again just looking at it.
Out and About: Bits and Pieces
In the past couple weeks, Illinois State baseball has returned from its Florida trip, only to leave again for exotic locations like Terre Haute, Ind., and another visit to Nashville, Tenn. The Redbirds are 0-6 inside Nashville city limits this season, so needless to say, I'm not looking for another return trip in 2010 - at least to play competitive sports. Here are a few bits and pieces from my latest travel experiences...hope you enjoy.
March 11, 2010 - Jacksonville, Fla.
It'd be safe to eat at McDonald's for every meal while traveling, but that would also be pretty stinkin' boring. Toshi, the baseball athletic trainer and my travel buddy, is usually a pretty good sport about trying new places...despite their sometimes sketchy exterior. We would've never had Brunies in Clarksville, Tenn., had we been afraid. Unfortunately, the Pagoda Chinese restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., was not a diamond in the rough.
March 26, 2010 - Terre Haute, Ind.
No offense Terre Haute, but I think this picture pretty much sums it up. Due to predicted rain on Sunday, our series with Indiana State was scrunched into two days...meaning an extra day of meal money. After a big win to open the series on Friday night, Toshi and I celebrated with a feast at Texas Roadhouse (safe choice, yes and maybe a little boring...but its Terre Haute). The dude in the first picture was waiting for a table.
April 1, 2010 - Mt. Vernon, Ill.
It was my pleasure to introduce Toshi to his first cherry limeade from Sonic on our trip to Nashville. The cherry limeade has long been a favorite of Brooksie, my wife. We often re-route our travel plans to include trips to Sonic and aren't ashamed to say we've driven all the way to Peoria for a Sonic feast on a whim. This is student assistant coach Mike Stalowy, a Sonic veteran, enjoying his experience.
April 2, 2010 - Brentwood, Tenn.
Another thing I love about canvasing the country in a cramped bus (angry face), is running into old friends (smiley face). I got to have lunch with Jerome and his lady friend Lindsey during our most recent baseball trip to Nashville. I first met Jerome when he was covering K-State tennis for the Manhattan Mercury and I was the team's media contact. I'll never forget Jerome constantly mispronouncing K-State tennis coach Steve Bietau's last name (bee-tah, but bee-ay-too, to Jerome). JB is one of my favorite guys and we had a great experience at a place called the Puffy Muffin in Brentwood. We got this giant piece of Boston cream pie for free, a throwback to our days in Manhattan eating at Grizzlies.
March 11, 2010 - Jacksonville, Fla.
It'd be safe to eat at McDonald's for every meal while traveling, but that would also be pretty stinkin' boring. Toshi, the baseball athletic trainer and my travel buddy, is usually a pretty good sport about trying new places...despite their sometimes sketchy exterior. We would've never had Brunies in Clarksville, Tenn., had we been afraid. Unfortunately, the Pagoda Chinese restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., was not a diamond in the rough.
March 26, 2010 - Terre Haute, Ind.
No offense Terre Haute, but I think this picture pretty much sums it up. Due to predicted rain on Sunday, our series with Indiana State was scrunched into two days...meaning an extra day of meal money. After a big win to open the series on Friday night, Toshi and I celebrated with a feast at Texas Roadhouse (safe choice, yes and maybe a little boring...but its Terre Haute). The dude in the first picture was waiting for a table.
April 1, 2010 - Mt. Vernon, Ill.
It was my pleasure to introduce Toshi to his first cherry limeade from Sonic on our trip to Nashville. The cherry limeade has long been a favorite of Brooksie, my wife. We often re-route our travel plans to include trips to Sonic and aren't ashamed to say we've driven all the way to Peoria for a Sonic feast on a whim. This is student assistant coach Mike Stalowy, a Sonic veteran, enjoying his experience.
April 2, 2010 - Brentwood, Tenn.
Another thing I love about canvasing the country in a cramped bus (angry face), is running into old friends (smiley face). I got to have lunch with Jerome and his lady friend Lindsey during our most recent baseball trip to Nashville. I first met Jerome when he was covering K-State tennis for the Manhattan Mercury and I was the team's media contact. I'll never forget Jerome constantly mispronouncing K-State tennis coach Steve Bietau's last name (bee-tah, but bee-ay-too, to Jerome). JB is one of my favorite guys and we had a great experience at a place called the Puffy Muffin in Brentwood. We got this giant piece of Boston cream pie for free, a throwback to our days in Manhattan eating at Grizzlies.
