While the 1st semester of my junior year of college is winding down and we inch closer and closer to Christmas there is always time for a road trip!

Last weekend my good buddy Angeline was celebrating her 21st birthday. Ange and I have been friends since 1st grade and enjoying this monumental occasion together seemed all but right. So me and three of my roommates packed up the car and trekked out to Cincinnati,OH-you see she does go to school at Xavier University which is located in Cinci. We picked quite the ironic weekend to make the trip as my beloved West Virginia Mountaineers also made the 5 hour voyage to take on the Bearcats of UC. We had full intentions of celebrating an upset win for WVU by painting the town gold and blue. However, the 5th ranked Bearcats pulled off the 24-21 victory. We did not let this little roadblock stand in our way of having a good time. As you can see we still fly the colors proudly.


That's my buddy Jared, you make recognize him from previous Pitt Peas trips. To refresh your memory he is a die hard Indians fan.

Beside the 21st birthday party and dinner at P.F. Changs China Bistro we had time to roam about the big city of Cincinnati.

Before I go any further I just want to say how fantastic P.F. Changs is-especially their Cincinnati location. We had a big group of people at our table and they forced us to split up. Not a big deal in the first place but on top of that they gave us free appetizers. Let me tell you what, prior to that dinner Saturday night I was never a big fan of lettuce or green vegetables in general, but their lettuce wraps stuffed with chicken and fried green beans are an absolute revelation. Not to mention the other amenities of the establishment including Spicy Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken and their medley of dipping sauces. A divine experience all around. Whew-sorry about that, but I just had to get the word out.

Our afternoon in downtown Cincinnati began not technically in the city limits of Cinci itself. We first ended up out of the state of Ohio completely- making it to Kentucky, Newport, Kentucky.

As we grazed through the shopping mall that was banked along the river I noticed a total sight for sore eyes.

 Oh my gracious a Christmas tree! Now already being in the Christmas spirit since Halloween I was so pumped to see this huge evergreen right before me. The whole area was decorated nicely with wreaths, garland and bows. It was so great. However the unseasonably warm temperatures that pushed 70 did not make for a total Christmas revolution it was still amazing to experience a warm weather Christmas moment. Maybe now I know how people in California feel in December. My love for Christmas probably does exceed my passion for baseball. If you read my "About Me" section you can see that December 25th is indeed my favorite day of the year followed in a close second by Opening Day in April.

The cityscape of Cincinnati isn't really unique to any other cities I have been to. However it does offer the modern necessities of a large metropolitan area. I enjoy the downtown area and feel safe there. There are many opportunities despite the economic climate that seems to sting a majority of the country. I can really see myself living here- it reminds me of Pittsburgh based on size, population and atmosphere. I do not hold a grudge against this city in Ohio like I do for the other two big cities in the Buckeye State. I despise Cleveland (Browns and Indians and Lebron James) and Columbus (THE Ohio State University). The sports teams of Cinci are also a big selling point for myself.

Although my thumbs are down in front of Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Bengals, I'm not totally against them. Yeah they've really had the Steelers number this year by sweeping them in both games played it is kind of cool to see another team step up in the AFC North. Plus Chad Ochocinco is a character and just like TBS, characters are welcome with me.





While I'm not the biggest NFL fan I am baseball through and through. Right across the street from Paul Brown Stadium is this beauty.

Well not a beauty per say, but what it houses is indeed a gem. The Great American Ballpark-home of the Cincinnati Reds. Just being by a baseball stadium pumped me up for the crack of the bat. I have been to this stadium before-back in 2003, in fact it was a Pirates-Reds game in which the Buccos won. But just to be outside of the 43,000 seat facility gave me chills when I am not even close to being a Reds fan. This entrance was different from the one I entered through six years ago anyway so it was neat to look around.

 
There is an abundance of statues lining the spacious walkway to the gate of the stadium. While I have never heard of any of the players I am sure they are central to Reds History. Mind you none of them were Pete Rose or Johnny Bench. However I'm sure within the confines somewhere you can find a bust of those two legends. To go along with this guy there were at least three more in the entrance way alone.



 I like this little nugget of novelty hanging by the ramps of the stadium. It is a clever message of pride to display after every Reds victory. I know I enjoy seeing a victory sign, much like the Jolly Roger that flies outside of PNC Park after a win. With fireworks and Brandon Philips pumping his fist this would be a welcome sign each evening after having an enjoyable night at the ballpark.





Although the Reds do play in the NL Central, rivals of the Pirates-there is no need to hate them. I see them as the same position as the Pirates. We're just two small market teams wanting to get by. I do not necessarily root for them but I'm there cheering them along. If one of us makes it we both make it-well not really, but it is nice to see both teams make strides in a effort to contend. That being said Pirates fans of the world do not be disgruntled when you feats your eyes on this.

   It was all about timing. You don't wander into the team shop (which I was overjoyed and surprised that it was opened on a Saturday at 4pm during the off season.) an not try on some Cincinnati garb. I'm really digging the hat by the way. if I didn't need a new Pirates fitted hat-which I do- I would strongly consider buying this red and black piece of flash. The jersey is a plus too. Joe Morgan-one of the best second baseman of all time and my favorite color commentator in the booth.

 The whole trip and weekend was well worth it. We had a blast each day and a fun car ride there and back. As college kids we need to hit the open road to get our minds off the stress and workload that is all too prevalent. This weekend I will be heading back to Youngstown for a Thanksgiving feast with my family. A week off is also nice to refresh and touch base with my loved ones from back home. I am all too excited and wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving as well.

Aside from most comedies it is safe to say my favorite movie genre is "sports." While most are already comedies, a majority of sports movies are dramas. A combination of the two coupled with a sports theme make for one blockbuster of a movie. While Remember the Titans and Space Jam rank up top of my favorite sports movies there is always a place in my heart for films portraying the national pastime. I'm pretty sure I've seen upwards of 20 baseball movies in my lifetime, with this list I have narrowed it down to my top seven.

7.) Mr. 3000

While I am positive this was a bomb at the box office, I find it rather amusing. The fact that funny man Bernie Mac is playing baseball makes for one heck of an interesting movie. The storyline is unique. Mac, Stan Ross, is a longtime player for the Brewers. Seen as a Barry Bonds type player-he is a guy the fans love to hate. He is portrayed as a self centered jerk but his on field accomplishments are second to none. When he gets his 3000 hit he abruptly ditches his team and waits for his Hall of Fame induction to occur. Years later, when he is eligible for the ballot, the fact checkers find that he came up two hits short of the 3000 plateau. A realsitic fiction type of story, because it could happen I suppose. Anyway, he coems back out of shape but manages to join the Brewers and stink up the joint. He never does get his 3,000 hit but has a sense of self relazation when he helps inspire his new Brewer teammates, especially young superstar T-Rex Pennebaker, one of my favorite names in baseball movies.

6.) Fever Pitch

Call me a pansy but this love story makes for a fantastic movie. I love both Jimmy Fallona and Drew Barrymore so seeing them as a couple makes me happy. But the story is about a man's love for the game of baseball. Jimmy Fallon is a die-hard Red Sox fan and lives the dream life for any baseball fan. He has season tickets rigth behind the dugout. He makes the games priorities over anything else. His memorobilla collection is second to none, including a replica of the Green Monster in his apartment. But he finds that baseball may have to take a backseat to a girl when he falls in love with Drew Barrymore. Watchin him explain the game of baseball to her is something I enjoy discussing with girls. Going to a baseball game is such a romantic date. Well so is a horse drawn carriage ride and a wine tasting but for any baseball fan a game hits the spot. It is a movie I have to watch with a girlfriend.

5.) The Rookie

The story is one of the greatest basbeall stories ever told. Jim Morris, played by Dennis Quad, is a high school biology teacher who happens to coach the baseball team. Taking a page from most movies the rag-tag group of high school guys are not the most talented group, nor do they care about their play on the field. The team is more concerned that their 40 year old coach actually has some heta left in his throwing arm. Morris challenges the team to reach the playoffs and makes a deal that he will find a major league try out camp and attempt to make the big leagues. The team succeeds and Morris is signed by the Tampa Bay organization. He works his way up the minors and makes his major league debut in his hometown of Arlington, TX against the Texas Rangers. It is a heartwarming true tale. The father-son relationship is defined throughout the movie between Morris and his son as well as Morris and his father. It makes me appreciate my dad so much more and thank him for encouraging my love for the game of baseball.

 4.) Angels in the Outfield

Angels in the Outfield making the list? "It can happen." What do most college students do on a Friday night? Stay in and watch this classic Disney movie? Yep, last Friday my roommate Joe and myself watched this classic and were inspired that with a little prayer anything can happen. The characters in this movie are easy to fall in love with and you have to root for them. Roger and JP may be two of the cutest little kids on the big screen. Danny Glover as the manager makes me wish John Russell had the same fire and drive as George Knox. While I wish the Pirates were able to just flap their wings and play winning baseball it is an inspirational story nonetheless. As a matter of fact, the original Angels in the Outfield filmed in 1951 was about the Pittsburgh Pirates. I caught a glimpse of this once on AMC and really want to sit down and watch the whole thing. The story line is much different but applies to me. It is about a local journalist covering the team-my dream job.

3.) The Sandlot 

 

There may be some baseball movies that feature a group of misfits, but these guys really frost the cake. From Squints, to Benny, from Ya-Ya to Smalls, these characters are so easy to fall in love with. The new kid on the block, Smalls, is just trying to fit in upon moving to a new town. Baseball is the name of the game in this midwestern 1960's town. Smalls not only learns the game of baseball but also the game of life. He develops friendships and creates everlasting memories. From the encounters with the beast, to meeting James Earl Jones and Squints making out with the life guard, this movie gave the audience something to cherish. The simplicity of the game of baseball is defined through this movie. My favorite scene has got to be the 4th of July "night game" when the neighborhood is lit up with fireworks as the boys play baseball set to the tune of Ray Charles' version of America the Beautiful. Plus everyone's favorite line has got to be "You're killing me smalls!"

2.) Hardball

There surely ain't no fun like a game of hardball when you are watching this movie. Think Sandlot in the inner city and throw in a bum to manage the team. Hardball is a story of finding yourself in a tough environment. Everyone has their own story and lives it the only way you know how. It is fun to see these boys actually enjoy the game of baseball. When you think about inner city life, baseball isn't really the hottest sports on the street. This movie showed that baseball can reach anybody, anywhere. Competition really brings out the best in us. We see through the death of G-Baby that a community really does rally around its children. There does get to me some intense moments but the montages featuring "Big Poppa" and "Party up in Here" create for some spine tingling events. It is so high up on the list because this was such a cool movie when I was in 7th grade. My buddies and I would always watch it during our sleepovers.

1.) Rookie of the Year 

This is quite possibly the most quoted movie by myself and my friends. Classic line such as "Funky Butt Lovin,'" "I haven't seen the floater pitch since Scruffy McGee," and 'it's all about the bells and whistles." These lines combines with a fantasy of a child making an MLB team equate to one unforgettable movie. Henry Ragenbuser, Gardenhoser, Rowentgartner has  a freak accident causing his arm tendons to heal in an odd position. With this he finds that he can throw the ball upwards of 100mph. He is a sideshow freak that is discovered at a Cubs game when he does the traditional "Throw it back routine" He is eventually signed by the Cubs and ultimately leads them to the World Series. It is fun to see Henry go through the clubhouse, playing alongside his heroes. He brings the lighter side of baseball and and an entire nation falls in love with him. With Daniel Stern as hitting coach Phil Brickma and Gary Busey as Chet "The Rocket" Steadman the laughs never stop. With this movie we learn that 'Conversation and Managing Resources is the key to baseball.'

Honorable Menion:

 

 

While not technically a baseball movie, the Naked Gun has perhaps the most funniest baseball scene in all of cinema. Leslie Nielson poses as an umpire to stop an assasination attmept against the Queen of England who happens to be at that afternoon's Dodger game. His on the field antics are quite histericall as are the bloopers that are shown on Dodger Stadium's jumbotron. In the end we find that Reggie Jackson of all people is programmed to kill the queen.

 

 

Now, now, now I realize I am missing many classics such as Major League, The Natural, For the Love of the Game, Bull Durham and Field Of Dreams. I'm not saying I do not appreciate these movies, it is just that the top 7 are my personal favorites. Feel free to join my debate and post your own favorite baseball movies! 

 

Well it was an off day for the World Series, but my baseball world kept turning. Just a few hours ago it was announced that Pittsburgh traded reliever Jesse Chavez to Tampa Bay for Akinori Iwamura.

While "Thriller" was probably heard playing at your Halloween party last night, the baseball game was anything but that.

The Yankees handily defeated the Philies 8-5.

It surely was a good and memorable game and I'm dissapointed that I missed a good portion of it. Considering it was Halloween and the fact that I am a college student, one would assume that I had other plans-which I did.

Fit ti be tied in the Big Apple. The Yankees pulled out the 3-1 victory over the Philies in much better weather Thursday night. The Yankees were more poised and hungry as they pulled out the 'W'

I am cheering for the Yanks in the series yet I was still dissapointed. I still have not heard Ronan sing God Bless America on TV

However the self proclaimed "new Sinatra" belted out a performance that Frank would sure be proud of.

Rapper Jay-Z performed "Empire State of Mind" along with Alicia Keys before the game. It was a little over the top but I would never expect anything less from Jay-Z. The song was just the inspiration the Yankees needed to pull off this win.

Even though, Jay-Z raps that  he  "makes the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can." Hideki Matsui and Mark Teixeira sure made a name for themselves tonight.


The Blue Oyster Cult would have loved to hear their song Godzilla played along with other New York anthems. Matsui went deep with a solo shot to take the lead and break the 1-1 ties. He had a solid night going 2-3 with a walk.

While Matsui is the DH, the NY outfield was restructured tonight. Nick Swisher was benched in favor of Jerry Harriston Jr. It was in good taste considering Swisher was batting .111 in the playoffs. Harriston came in and managed a hit, but I feel bad for Swisher. He was West Virginia roots, which already give anybody instant brownie points in my book, but he is a good guy. Andrew (my buddy in North Canton) says the Swish brought this years team to prominence thanks to his pizazz and swagger. He's played great defense but his arm is in question. There's no doubt hes slumping, the change was needed.

The scene was set

Hey all.

 

How 'bout those games last night.

First we had the Angels-Yankees. 3 solo homers from A-Rod, Damon and Jeter were not enough to hold off the battling Angels. A walk off win by Jeff Mathis allowed for LA to notch their first victory of the ALCS. The Angels are gettin some great production from their lineup especially Kendrick (3-5) and Vladdy (2-4, HR)Tonight's pitching matchup looks brilliant as C.C. goes up against Scott Kazmir.

 

 

 

On the night cap there was yet another exciting game.

The Philies jumped out to another lead and the Dodgers looked just as sluggish as in Sunday's 11-0 beatdown. However, a nice string of hits in an inning allowed LA to come back and eventually take the lead. The Big Man as they call him, Jonathon Broxton comes in looking for a save and a win. He is in a sticky situation but he knows what needs to be done. Broxton throws pitches upwards of 99mph but is wild as Rick Vaughn and walks a batter and hits a guy to set the stage for that guy on the right. Jimmy Rollins, the hero of Philly belts a laser to right center field scoring to and winning the game 5-4. A great night for eastern PA, but not for me, nor Crzblue or Cat. Now I'm not a Dodgers fan by anymeans but I hate to see Philly win. I'm a fan of the Dodgers in the series and was really looking forward to blasting some Randy Newman, no not "you've got a friend in me" rather 'i love LA"

But while these teams are celebrating and gearing up for another grueling game there is one team that is trying to cope with a loss, while gearing up for their tough contest.

 Known mostly for their basketball power the, UCONN Huskies suffered something so terrible that no team, family or anyone should have to go through. A member if their football team was stabbed to death Saturday night following Connecticut's victory over Louisville. At the homecoming dance following the win cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed following an altercation. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead.

He was known as a great teammate, friend, son and soon to be father. He was just a junior and 20 years old, like myself. Watching this unfold over such news outlets as Sports Center and even Nancy Grace is very touching and scary at the same time. I didn't know this guy but I know how important it is to be part of a team and treat my friends like a family. The UCONN family lost a brother over the weekend and it shatters the minds of everyone thinking, what if this happened to me?

I go to West Virginia University as much of you know, so you may be thinking why is this such a big deal to me. It is rather a huge deal to me because UCONN and my WVU Mountaineers square off on Saturday here in Morgantown. I'm nervous for this game because the Mountaineers snuck by a mediocre Marshall team 24-7 on Saturday and UCONN handled Louisville well. However aside from stats and figures, the Huskies will be so pumped up for this game in hopes of winning for the fallen teammate.  I'm a huge fan of the Mountaineers, no one can question that, but I have to wonder of life is more important than a game. There's no question it is. That being said, I will still be cheering my heart out for my 'Eeers, however I can only hope I will be joined by my Mountaineer brothers in honoring Jasper Howard at Mountaineer Field on Saturday.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=156541713542&ref=mf

this link shows that I am not the only one who wants to get Mountaineer nation on board for honoring the life of Mr. Howard. There is talk of making armbands with a blue #6 on them to pay homage to Howard who wore number 6.

West Virginia is known for having rowdy fans so there are questions out there whether or not the movement will be followed. It is customary to boo the opposing team when they run out of the tunnel just like it is anywhere across the world when your opponenet rushes out onto your home turf. We see it in every baseball park when a batter steps up to the plate. Heck, the entire Yankees roster is booed whenever they are out there. I hope for Saturday that the UCONN team will be cheered when they come out. The fact that they are still playing this game is a tribute to the strong will of the Huskies, that in itself deserves an applause. 

From my front row seats it is tough to be respectful to the opposing team. They stretch in fronT of the student section and even taunt some of our fans. It'll be interesting to see the reaction of players and fans alike on Saturday. 

The game is televised at noon eastern time on ESPNU. I plan on being front row in the end zone, I'm going to be making a sign honoring Jasper and I hope to not only get on TV to show off my handsom figure but also so the world can see the Mountaineer fans have a soft spot for those who are in need.

 http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101809aaa.html

The above link has a musical tribute to Howard, honestly brought a tear to my eye.

                                                            R.I.P #6 

Well technically I am not in Pittsburgh but rather in Morgantown, West Virginia. I've had many arguments with buddies because I say that Morgantown is a suburb of Pittsburgh. Considering it is an hour away and the citizens here are big Pittsburgh professional sports team fans. But in my eyes the Pittsburgh metropolitan area is encompassed by Morgantown. Actually come to think of it, Youngstown, OH, my summer home too is a Pittsburgh suburb. The tri-city area which I call my home is considered "Pittsburgh" in my eyes.

You see how close the states are? Plus Pittsburgh is the heart of it all. From Morgantown to Youngstown it is only a two hour drive. Pittsburgh is the halfway meeting point between the two cities and a great meeting point at that.

Now back to what really matters here, the NLCS and ALCS.

Tonight it gets going. LA vs Philly. 

Here at WVU there are many students from Eastern, PA, big Phillies fans at that. The Fever is catching and turning Morgantown into the City of Brotherly Cheesesteaks. It really upsets me. I don't like seeing the other MLB team in Pennsylvania getting all the pub. Not that the Pirates deserve any, it just gets under my skin that my team has never been here in quite some time. Nothing would please me more than to see the Dodgers pick apart the Phillies.

 

He is 21 years old, a few months older than me but yet he is being called upon to notch a victory for the Dodgers. People are saying that Clayton Kershaw may be too young to make theimpact the Dodgers expect. I disagree. Kershaw has been lights out all season and his age is not a factor. 21 year olds are tough people and in the prime of their lives. Experience will not play a factor becuase talent will ultimately prevail.

 

 

The Philies have a high potent offense lead by Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez. I said before that experience really shouldn't be a factor but these Philies have been here before and will be hungry for a repeat.

They are equally matched on the opposing side with the Dodgers.

Matt Kemp, James Loney and Andre Either make up the best lineup in my opinion. Supporting actors Rafeal Furcal, Casey Blake and Manny Ramirez add to the balanced aggressive attack.

These two teams are rather carbon copies of each other and it will be great to watch.

I give the nod to the Dodgers in six games. With decent pitching on either sides of the squads the offense will be the key. I see LA breaking out and scoring more runs.

The ALCS tells the same story.

Everyone in New York is smiling along with you Alex. He is breaking out here in the playoffs and showing power when it needs to be there. He along with Tex, Jet and Godzilla may actually see their way to the trophy for the first time in quite some time. The Evil Empire has been in a drought and this year they have shown that the wait has paid off. The team is better this year with an improved pitching staff. The threesome of C.C. A.J. and Andy-the Yankees have a full team, something we haven't seen since the days of Boomer Wells and Bern baby Bern Williams.

 

 

 

 

 

Torii Hunter says don't count me out yet.

Hunter wants this playoff series more than anybody. He is a vocal leader and his passion for the game is unmatched. The entire Anaheim club wants to win in honor of #34, Nick Adenhart. The team ahs come together since the very beginning to honor their fallen rookie. Nothing will prove more fitting than an Angels World Series. They manhandles the Red Sox and are ready for the Yanks.

This series too is evenly matched. It'll be tight all the way and I'd say at least two games will go to extra innings. In seven games the Yankees will be propelled back into the limelight to face the Dodgers in the World Series.

In Aaron Boone type fashion I can see a walkoff in game 7 by a New York player.

 

 

This postseason looks to shape up to be one that will forever go down in history. There are familiar faces and new stars to be made. What will 2009 bring to the baseball world? We'll have to wait and see.

 

I LIVE FOR THIS

Closed for renovations are the Pittsburgh Pirates. The dismal season is officially in the books after a 6-0 loss to the Reds on Sunday. Pittsburgh finishes the season at 62-99. One loss away from the 100 plateau. If there is one thing to take from this season it is that there is alot of work to be done-but will it be completed-probably not.

The team you're looking at now will be in place for years to come. There are pros and cons to this.

Pro: They're young and have so much room for improvement.

Con: nearly 100 losses and no signs of improvement

Kind of contradictory but hey its the truth.

I will say of all the Buccos on the team Lastings Milledge ascaught my eye the most. He has turned things around from his past few controversial seasons. He's drawn a lot of criticism in Pittsburgh because he had to replace teh vibrant, happy go lucky Nyjer Morgan. He was off to a slow start but finially pickign it up in terms of defense and power. I like what I see and Milledge has turned into my favorite Pirate. Is a jersey purchase in the offseason sound good? I think it does.

It is very depressing now. My favorite sport and favorite team is done. What ever do i do?

Well West Virginia football is right in the thick of things.

At 3-1 the Mountaineers have been exciting to watch and look good and will compete in the Big East.

Anybody have ESPN on last Thursday night? If you did you might have seen my buddies and I, front row at the WVU-Colorado game. West Virginia came away with a 35-24 win. We looked good but still have to get better if we want to make a BCS Bowl. WVU fumbled four times and has 14 turnovers in the last three games. That stat alone holds us back from national championship contention.

West Virginia heads to Syracuse this weekend.

My WVU women's soccer team is coming off a 2-0 blanking of Depaul on Sunday. The girls are 5-4-4 but are still one of the most competitive teams in the Big East. The game Friday against Notre Dame was a heartbreaker. WVU lost 3-2 in overtime. The game was broadcast on ESPNU nationwide. That is greta publicity for this women's soccer program and WVU as a whole.

One of my articles was published in the paper today and you can read it here...

http://www.thedaonline.com/sports/corroto-making-an-impact-in-starts-1.627147#

Now onto what October really means,

BASEBALL

Without ever seeing the Pirates in the playoffs I have to get excited over every other team in contention.

I'm so pumped for Tuesday.

This is a great graphic shown on the mblogs.com homepage. What a way to close out the Metrodome in Minnesota. The stretch run the Twins have had is amazing. They're a great time and play as a collective unit. They're my pick to win the Tiebreaker and enter the playoffs. The Tigers are one of my favorite teams always and I love the fire they bring as well. My buddy Andrew, the Yankee fan is dying for the Tigers to win. He wants the chance to see a Yankee playoff game and the best chance he has is to drive up to Detroit for that match up. Detroit is a mere 8 hour drive from his hometown, Youngstown, OH.

It amazes me that it all comes down to a tiebreaker anyway. Theres 162 games to decide the season and everyone really is meaningful. Number 163 will be the turning point for both these teams and every eye in the baseball world will be on them.

PHOTO CREDIT:

superstock.com

AP Photo

msnsportsnet.com

mlblogs.com