First 4 Mile Walk

After taking the weekend off I knew the first of the long walks was going to be a tough one...but it wasn't too bad. Took me 1 hour and 8 minutes. I had hoped to be under 1 hour. Guess I got something to shoot for this week. I removed the jogging for the time being as that was hurting my knees. Maybe in a few more weeks I can add that back in, but not for now. I did add 10 push ups before the walk though. Going to be awhile before I can do sit ups; just too much gut.

Base Ball at Greenfield Village

Yes, that is correct...base ball. Historic Base Ball that is, as it was played in 1867. Every year Greenfield Village is host to historic base ball every Saturday and Sunday during the summer. They also play host to the annual World Tournament of Historic Base Ball where teams from all over come and compete.

You can can read more here. Remember to bring your own seat and pack a lunch. They sell beer, soda, water, peanuts, popcorn and caramel corn. Mix in a little good weather and you have a great afternoon!

Demolition Part 2

Updated @ 5:28pm - Click here for photos!

Download Demolition Part 3 - File size: 4.11mb

Download Demolition Part 4 - File size: 3.00mb

Here are some more photos and a couple small videos of the continued demolition of Tiger Stadium mid morning on Sunday, July 27th, 2008.

Good workout

I had a pretty bad headache all day; woke up with it. Not sure what it was from but didn't feel well. I procrastinated long enough and told myself I have to do my walk as today starts 3 Miles. 2pm passed. 3pm passed. 6pm passed. I have no choice, I have to do this. So, once the sun went down behind the trees I went.

3 mile walk + 1/5 mile jog.

I know that doesn't sound like much to you. For someone who has been obese, and still is, it was a good workout.

Bring on tomorrow!

1st week progress

Played a new golf course today; well new to me, St. Clair Shores Country Club. Not a very long course but there were 6 or so holes where water comes into play. It was a 2-person scramble; 4 teams. My team shot a +1 for the round. Front 9 we didn't do too well, but when the rain started on the back 9 we started shooting real well with a birdie-birdie-par-eagle; then par the rest of the way.

Just finished my first week of 2 Mile walks. It has been taking 29 - 32 minutes for 2 miles. I lost 4.8lbs this week. Not too bad for just starting out. Tomorrow I start doing 3 miles a day and add in some push-ups and sit-ups. Sit-ups will be hard simply for the fact that my gut is so big; can't fully sit up. But, that should change over time.

Hole Sponsorship

Mom and I talked and it would be best to simply do the $100 JV sponsorship instead of the $250 Varsity sponsorship. It isn't the cost; it is just too much to have the "In Memory..." recognition on the t-shirts, welcome banner, dinner placements and the tee box. Makes more sense.

Thanks again for everyone's support!

No photo updates today

I won't be making it downtown today to shoot any new photos of Tiger Stadium. If I can work it out for next week, I'll try then.

1st Annual Mason High School Soccer Golf Outing

Download Brochure: mhssoccer.doc

I just received the brochure for the 1st Annual Mason High School Golf Outing for Saturday, August 23, 2008. The event will help raise money for the boys and girls soccer programs at MHS. I will be sponsoring the 18th hole, my jersey number, in memory of my dad. It should be a fun outing!

Scramble cost includes golf, lunch, dinner and t-shirt. Team of 4 for the scramble costs $260. 50/50 raffle, mulligans and prizes will also be available. Sponsorship cost will include a sign on the tee box. Hole sponsorship runs $250 $100.

If you are able to squeeze a few bucks out, I'm looking to collect donations for the hole sponsorship. Dad was a pretty big (pun intended) supporter of my soccer career and I think this event would be fitting. He even tried to hit that damn little white ball around for a few years too. I have to have all the money in (for the sponsorship and scramble) by August 1st.

Please let me know t-shirt size if you are golfing and the amount of any donation plus scramble money. I can then plan accordingly. For more information about the scramble or hole sponsorship donation, contact me.

Thanks!

"The Challenge" is on!

Keep track of "The Challenge" with the links on the right hand side. Can Andy and Marc meet their target goals? What is the bet? Can it be a simple monetary gain? Could additional side bets be made? Wanna bet against one of us?

All those questions and more will be answered in the next 5 months!

Weekend Recap

I finally got around to finishing the trim in my living room/hallway/etc. New doors and trim were installed, oh I don't know, 2 years ago. So, I started nail setting and hole filling. Got the first 2 coats down on the trim in the hallway and around all the doors. Still need to do the living room, but that requires moving furniture and didn't feel like it this weekend.

Went golfing Saturday afternoon at Salt River; once all the rain passed that is. Turned out to be a pretty okay day. The course was a little damp in places but the golf was good. My buddy and I tied with a 94 so we had started in on a playoff. Only took one hole; I put my drive into the water. Oh well. Still a good day of golf.

Those damn Tigers. They should have won all 4 games against the Twins. Hopefully after the All-Star break they can get their act together and start beating their Central opponents.

Next visit to Tiger Stadium will be Wednesday, July 16th.

Friday's Ramblings

I've gotten a number of emails and comments about my first Tiger Stadium post; mostly negative.

It seems most of you don't get it.

"The stadium should have been torn down almost a decade ago". "It is just an old falling apart building that lived a great life, move on". Etc. I agree, those statements are true. I'm not disputing that. Or the fact that the city and possible investors dragged this on for far too long. And yeah, I was tired of every week a new article saying the stadium will be saved. Then now it is being torn down. And then now it is being saved again. Ugh.

But what you don't get is the process of documenting something important and sharing those past memories. This just isn't some old vacant home or commercial high-rise that has fallen into disrepair. It is a place where tens of millions of visitors have shared something together. A local professional sport(s) stadium is an important part of the community. It is the place where kids can dream and see their hero(s) play. It is a place where tradition is passed down from parent to child. It is a place where old friends gather to celebrate. And a it is a place where new friendships are formed.

I plan on making several more trips downtown and will continue to document the demolition process. I would have done the same back in 1999 if the city had torn it down the day after it closed. I will do the same when Joe Louise Arena comes down. I will do the same when the Pontiac Silverdome comes down too.

Why? Because the local print and TV media coverage isn't personal enough for me. Because in another 10 years from now I would regret not taking these photos. Because it is important to me. Because I want to experience it. Feel it. Touch it. Film it.

Then share it.

Do you get it now?

- Hooter

And down comes Tiger Stadium...

Updated @ 6:01pm - Click here for photos!

Today is the first full day of demolition at "The Corner". As of this afternoon, crews were taking down left center field along the I-75 service road near Trumbull. I arrived just after noon and there were 3 or 4 other people snapping photos and chatting. Channel 7 Action News was busy filming and WWJ was interviewing a few visitors as the demo crews were hard at work. By the time I left shortly before 1pm around 100 people where there and additional security was arriving.

Below are links to two videos. Each video is around 1 minute and includes sound. These were taken one right after the other at a pretty close vantage point to the demolition. The videos where shot using my Casio EX-S600 digital camera.

Download Left Center Exterior Demolition 1 - File size: 7.8mb

Download Left Center Exterior Demolition 2 - File size: 8.2mb

I plan on making a few trips down to Tiger Stadium during the demolition so check back often for updated photos!