Chicago 2014 Recap

As per usual, it takes a few days to recuperate following one of our trips.  This year was no different.  So please forgive the delay on the recap.  Our trip to Wrigley Field (and Chicago in general) was another rousing success.  Well, except for golf because it seems my team loses every stinking year (maybe it's me?). 

So without further ado...the Chicago 2014 rundown.

Thursday:
Typically Thursdays are the low key days.  And this one was as well.  Last time we went to Chicago, we introduced golf for the first time on the trip.  We decided to play Hickory Woods before heading up.  This time we decided to try a course in Chicago, so we drove up first.  Drive was easy.  Checked in.  Headed for the lunch and the course.  On our way, Paul popped a tire.  One thing you do not want to do in a strange city.  Luckily there was a tire store close by and somehow, someway Paul was able to get a new tire on in about 30 minutes and he was able to join us for the latter part of lunch.

On to golf.  We were able to get in at this old country club called Oak Meadow.  Not great, not terrible.  Looked like they were in the process of cleaning the place up.  Apparently it had gone out of business and went public but the transition wasn't yet complete.  Anyway, the team of Keith, Fish, Matt, and Joe beat Shane, Paul, Jason, and myself by a -3 to -1 score, but it really wasn't that close. 

The rest of Thursday was laid back.  Dinner at the Bar Louie in our hotel, beers, and cigars followed outside. 

Friday:
Golf round #2 began a long day.  Due to Joe's shoulder injury he decided he couldn't play two days in a row so we had our buddy Goody take his place since he lives in Chicago and we hadn't seen him in a while.  We only play one scramble round so this one was everyone playing their own ball, thus no team score kept.  Had a great time playing and catching up at a course called White Pines - East Course. 

Hi, Keith!

Following golf we headed downtown to see what we could get into.  Tried to go to Giordano's but when you get downtown on a Friday night at 6:00 your wait is going to be substantial...which it was.  Instead, back to the Tilted Kilt, which had immediate seating and we could enjoy the atmosphere (yeah, that's it). 

After that, we headed to a bar district that had some really cool places.  Visited a few places like Harry Caray's, Public House, and (the place we spent the most time at) Theory, which was an awesome time.  Bartenders were cool, people were nice, and we had a great time.  When you don't get back to your hotel until around 3:00am you know it was a good time. 

Saturday:
Yes, it's true half of us slept in pretty late because well it was a late night.  But this still gave us plenty of time to get to Wrigleyville, have lunch, then get to the park for a 3:00 game in enough time to catch batting practice and walk around the park taking it all in.  Right?  Well, not all plans work out.  Due to track maintenance and other snags, we finally arrived at the park around 2:00.  Not enough time to, yes, go to Giordano's or any other cool bar around the stadium.  Instead, straight inside and we ate in the park.  Not bad food, just as you'd expect it was overpriced.  But, Shane got his Giordano's inside the park and he finally shut up about it (love you, Shane!).

Some random pics and the only group shot we got all weekend.  Sad but true...

After the game, we headed over to O'Malley's (which was Harry Caray's in 2010) in Wrigleyville.  Ate and had some drinks then attempted to hit the night life in the area.  Unfortunately, it just wasn't happening.  As a collective group our old asses were just too tired to do anymore "partying".  So we limped back to the hotel and crashed.  It was good in a way.  Sometimes when you try and push the issue things go bad.  We didn't push it and nothing went wrong.  It was kind of boring, but when your best partying days are behind you that's not necessarily a bad thing.  We did get to recapture a golden moment of past trips when Keith and Matt got to take pretty much the exact same picture four year apart.  The first one was taken in 2010 with the other one taken Saturday night atop the Sports Corner bar. 

Sunday:
Home.  The End.

It was a good trip.  Lots of fun and laughs.  Lots of ripping on each other, which means you know we had a good time.  Can't wait for next year when we'll likely be visiting New York City again.  Since we haven't seen either of the new parks in NYC it really doesn't matter which one we visit.   Only three hundred some days left!! 

Windy City Part III

The most wonderful 4 days of the year are about to come and go as quickly as you can possibly imagine.  Trip #16 (16!!!!) will be to the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field, a place we haven't officially visited on a ball trip since way back on Trip #2 (Fish's first).  Fun fact: that same year we visited Milwaukee's (AlgonquiAn for "the good land") County Stadium as Miller Park was being built in the background.

As per usual, the trip will kick off Thursday morning around 7:00 departing for Chicago (O'Hare area to be exact).  Tentative itinerary as follows...if you care:

Thursday:

• 7:00am depart
• 2:00pm golf
• 8:00 food, beers, cigars

Friday:

• 10:00 golf
• 3:00 food, beers, Chicago.....?????

Saturday:

• 4:00 Eastern Cubs-Rays at Wrigley
• 4:15 Wrigleyville for the rest of the night

Sunday:

• Home (booooooooooooooooooooooo!!!) 

So the thing about Chicago is this: we've NEVER had a bad time there.  Even when not actively seeking out things to get "in trouble".  But the last time we were there (in 2010) was the trip that turned everything up about 10 notches.  If you care to go back and revisit that trip, be my guest .  In case you aren't interested in going back, this was the trip with "Gay Robot", "brrrrrm" and our first encounter with "Wrigleyville".

Ahhh Wrigleyville.  It all started when Paul, Shane, and I (Jeff) wanted to take a tour of Wrigley Field.  Jason, Matt, and Keith did not.  So instead of going back to the hotel (which was our prediction), they decided to have some beers at a few of the local Wrigley bars.  By the time we finished the tour, they were pretty much on their way to drunktown and well, we needed to catch up.  What happened after that, well, you'll have to just take our word for it that it was a blast.  Not sure how we'll be able to top it or repeat it, but we're going to give it a shot.  Wish us luck!   

And oh yeah....those fake IDs look totally real.  

Quickie Fun DLBT Fact

In the 15 years we've been taking these trips, we have seen every team except 5. 

And they are:

• Marlins
• Giants
• Padres
• D-Backs
• Astros

I'm thinking we'll knock the Giants, Padres, and D-Backs off when we take the DLBT out west one year.  Start saving your pennies, guys!

Cleveland Definitely Does Not Rock

Perhaps if you can see your way past the highest number of douchebags per capita in the United States, you might find Cleveland a nice place to visit.  For the most part, we did.  But in general, as a city, Cleveland ROCKS blows and it's not just the amount of popped collars, orange skin, and too-tight shirts.  It's just smelly and ugly.  But I digress.  We had fun anyway because, well, that's what we do.

Thursday was great.  Golf at Phoenix Links in Columbus was very nice.  Not a great course, but challenging enough for us duffers (most of us).  The scramble resulted in the first ever tie at -6 so that was pretty cool.  Afterward, lunch then off to Cleveland where, believe it or not, we arrived at exactly 5:30 on the nose.  5:30 is the start time for the Embassy Suites' Manager's reception that serves free beer.  Perfect timing!!

After the reception we made our way to 'THE ALLIGATOR!!!!!" aka the "Winking Lizard" as you can see here

It was an awesome night.  Perfect weather.  Good food, we ate at the outdoor bar and were actually able to someone to let us watch "the Falcons game" as they took on those dastardly Bengals.  Following dinner, we went back to the hotel for some cornhole, beers, and cigars in the parking lot...and managed not to get thrown out (hear that, Atlanta?????).

Friday morning was supposed to be another round of 18 holes at Seneca Course, which is a municipal course in Cleveland just about 15 minutes from our hotel.  It was a good, long course which was more challenging than Phoenix Links, but still a very nice course.  The team of Fish, Jason, Matt, and Joe defeated Shane, Paul, and Jeff even to +1 in another evenly matched contest.  About hole 16, Shane brilliantly pondered if anyone would be interested in playing the other 18 hole course on the property since the day was so nice and we were all having a great time.  So, surprisingly we decided to make it a 36-hole day.  I think everyone did all right until about the last five or six holes.  10 hours or so of sunshine and physical activity can take its toll on us older dudes.

Oh, proof of golf?  Here ya go...

 



 L to R: Fish, Shane, Jeff, Joe, Jason, Paul, Matt











Jeff: this one goes right, as all my drives do

Paul getting ready to blast one farther than any drive Keith has ever had.  #teebox

Shane hits this one about 350 yards.  Or is that 350 feet?  Can't remember.

Sadly, Joe did not run and catch this tee shot in the air

Matt making better contact than at last year's #1 tee box.

Jason - You probably heard this oil can make contact from Cincinnati or wherever you are in this world

Fish with a likely perfectly played draw off the box, leaving himself with a full shot to the center of the green.





Following golf, we returned to the hotel to get pretty for our night out on the town.  And then it went up a notch.  Keith, unable to make the whole trip, decided to surprise us in the hotel on his way up to Geneva to do some work on his wife's grandma's (uncle's nephew's dogsitter's) house.  So at least for 14 hours we got our boy to join us for our usual crazy night of debauchery.  And that's when we met the Douchebags of Cleveland.  Lucky us.  Let me paint a quick picture: popped collars, too much tanning, shirts two sizes too small (said shirts apparently are sold in only "deep vee" style in Cleveland) guys trying WAY too hard, bad attitudes.  This all took place at a very cool place called the "Barley House" in the Warehouse District in downtown Cleveland.  It started out great.  We ate outside basically on the street.  Good food, excellent "scenery".  Plaid skirts are ALWAYS nice. 

But then, around 10:00 the worm turned.  So maybe we're all too old and don't get out much.  Maybe every city is like this now.  Good lord I hope not.  If so, I feel sorry for the younger women who have these guys to pick from in the love pool.  Anyway, despite a few fights, spilled beers (including the ones Jason cracked), we managed to still have a good time staying above the fray.  As usual, don't ask what happened between 10:00pm and 2:00am when the bar closed.  No one knows or can remember.  But here is a fuzzy representation of what the night was like...

L to R: Joe, Fish, Matt, Paul, Keith, Jeff, Shane (bottom)...Jason nowhere to be found







Following the club, half of us went back to the hotel (Keith, Paul, Joe, and Matt).  Keith proceeded to lose every one of his worldly possessions in the process.  Keys, phone, flip flops, wallet, and yes even his wedding band even though some of us think that was on purpose.

Shane, Jason, Fish, and I decided drunk gambling was the thing to do.  So, Horseshoe Casino was our destination.  2 1/2 hours later (not the 30 minutes Shane believed it to be) we headed home a little heavier (oh yes, we won some money) in the wallet.  After arriving back to our hotel at a little after 5:00am, I found this gem...

Oh yeah, that's our boy 9er dreaming of lord knows exactly what














After a refreshing four hours of sleep, it was time to greet Saturday.  OK not really.  It was a slow start to Saturday.  But we finally got rolling around 2:00pm and headed back downtown to see pretty much nothing in Cleveland but a place to eat and hang before hitting up the Indians-Angels game.  Nothing exciting at all.  Kinda boring really.  But relaxed and laid back, which is just what we needed.

As for the game.  Just like the past few years, couldn't tell you who won.  But here are some lovely pictures from "The Jake" (not Progressive Field).

 

 

L to R: Jeff, Joe, Shane, Paul, Jason, Fish, Matt

Following the game, I think we'd about had enough.  Not sure if we're all just getting old or what, but there was no drinking.  There was really nothing else.  We went back to the hotel where we basically vegged for a few hours.  Sat in the hotel lobby and just chilled and hung out.  It was a nice, laid-back night.  

Sunday morning...Bob Evans for breakfast, then we returned home.  Along the way, we saw this which made perfect sense for anyone who knows exactly why it is called the "Dan Lipscomb Ball Trip" 

So, #DLBT2013 is in the books.  Great time as always.  Next year's trip destination is up in the air.  Detroit, Chicago, DC, or NYC seem to be the names most mentioned.  But, it all depends on how we can align our schedules.  It's amazing that we can still find one common weekend over the summer where all 8 of us can get away for a few days.  Hopefully that continues.  Until next time, I'll leave you with this year's theme that began on the car ride to Columbus.  Enjoy... The "Odd Couple" Theme  (just don't ask).

#DLBT2013 is HERE!!!

In less than 24 hours, we will embark upon the official Dan Lipscomb Ball Trip 2013.  This year's trip takes us to the lovely, and I truly mean shitty, city of Cleveland.  But hey, they presented the best proposal and won the bid.  What can I say?  Maybe this time we can actually watch a game at Progressive Field.  If that makes no sense (and why would it?), please read this post and you will understand why, despite Cleveland being a ball trip destination previously, we've actually never seen an official game there.

So for those who care (8 of us), here's the rundown.

Thursday:
-7:30 am: departure
-10:00 and 10:08: consecutive tee times at Phoenix Golf Links and Dump (yes, it was built on a former dump).
-5:00 pm (give or take): arrival in Cleveland at Embassy Suites.
-5:01 pm: Manager's Reception (free beer)
-whenever: dinner at either Chili's or THE ALLIGATOR!!!!!!! (aka Winking Lizard) then cigars and cornhole in the parking lot until they run us out

Friday: 
-10:00 and 10:08am: consecutive tee times at Seneca Golf Course ...and that's just about all that's on the official agenda for Friday.

Saturday: 
-Indians-Angels with about 47 of Cleveland's biggest Indians fans (ya know since they don't draw much...and why would they?)
-then whatever our little hearts desire after the game (if we make it there) #shotsonly

Sunday: 
-the ever awful drive home in a cloud of beer and cigars...and maybe a few shots.   

So there you have it.  The trip in a nutshell.  I will have a full trip recap either Monday or Tuesday.  Until then, you can likely follow along on Twitter as all seven of us will be live tweeting the event.  I did say seven because Keith unfortunately is not going to be able to make this trip due to unforeseen circumstances beyond his control.

If you are a twitter person and would like to follow along, here are the twitter handles of the participants:

-Jason Gentil: @beatles62to70 
-Brian Fisher: @fishdawg923 
-Shane Ferguson: @SFERG021 
-Paul Farfsing: @PFARF 
-Joe Farfsing: @JoeFarfsing11 
-Matt Wertz: @bigredsasquatch 
-Jeff Gentil: @jgent15 
-Keith Lawrence: @wrigleyrocky  no he's not going, but will be fully dialed in and commenting.  Will make for some very interesting/funny conversations no doubt.

And as always, try to remember...

2013 Ball Trip City and Dates Set

After a long deliberation and a reconsideration, we have finally settled on a city and date for the 2013 DLBT.  We will be visiting the lovely (and smelly) city of Cleveland August 8-11 to see the Indians play...ah, who cares??? 

Our first choice was Detroit, but the dates didn't line up and we had to pick a date first (brilliant idea, Shane!) then choose a city.  I think, considering everyone's crazy busy schedules, this is what we will have to do from here on. 

So there it is.  Mayhem has a countdown date now!  Hells yeah! 

Minneapolis 2012 Recap

This recap is a couple days late for a number of reasons.  First of all, the 12-hour return home trip that began at 5:00 am was just a little exhausting so I needed to recover.  Secondly, I needed a few days to remember everything (and for people to fill me in on the lost events of Friday night). 

Here goes...

Thursday     

12-hour drive.  Chicago.  Wisconsin.  Minneapolis.  Chili's, beers, cigars, sleep.  Pretty much in that order.

Friday

Golf was either great or crappy depending on which team you were on.  The team of Paul, Matt, Keith, and myself?  We stunk up the course and got crushed by Fish, Jason, Shane, and Shmoe despite the fact we scored a -7 on the last hole.  But, it was fun anyway.  The weather was great.  Course was nice.  And we had a laugh or two (some of us were even on the ground laughing hysterically).

Some photographic evidence we played golf...

After golf, we decided to take a tour of the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area for their only gas station.  That took a few hours and was loads of fun.  We finally got back to the hotel in enough time to change clothes and head back out.

Stop #1: Mall of America.  Big place I guess.  We saw pretty much none of it.  Went to a sports bar whose name escapes me at this point.  Watched the Bengals-Jets and argued about Tim Tebow.  Typical.  The significance of that place was that it was the beginning of the end for a few of us.

Stop #2: The Loon Cafe in downtown Minneapolis.  A bar.  We had one beer, watched Excitebike on the Olympics, danced to some random stranger's homemade song...and left.

Stop #3: Sneaky Pete's.  And this is where things get fuzzy.  Suffice to say there were some shots, beers, dancing, and some expletives tossed around.  I'll spare you the details because to be honest, there are eight different accounts.  Trust me when I say it was a helluva good time.

Stop #4: Back to the hotel...I think

Saturday   

Since Friday night was a very late night, we slept in until around 7:00 am.  That's how we get down!  And since we basically had nothing to do but wait until the ball game at 6:10 downtown we had time to recuperate.

Once we finally got going we went back downtown and had lunch and watched some of the Reds-Cubs game and the PGA Championship (for the record this is the year McIlroy won by 8 strokes!!) and a sports bar called Huberts which was connected to the Target Center where the WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx play!!!!!  T-Wolves too but who cares about them?

Target Field    

The purpose for starting this annual trek across the country was to see all the MLB parks.  We have crossed off 18 now.  No idea if we actually see them all.  Someone might have to win the lottery for that to happen.  Anyway, at this point it's not important.  The trip has evolved into pretty much our only chance to get together and hang out.  But still it's cool to see the different parks. 

Target Field is a nice little stadium.  It's not a huge place but it's nice and cozy.  The upper deck is very small by comparison to most of the other places we've seen.  There are enough different sections to sit that give you a different experience from all over the park.  And probably the most wide-ranging fare you could ever imagine at a Major League stadium.  From pork chop on a stick, to fried walleye, to this (wow did it smell delicious)...

The game itself?  Doesn't really matter anymore.  We went, saw the place, couldn't tell you who won (Rays 4-2).  But, in case you wondered if we actually went, here you go...

After the game, back to the hotel, get about 4 hours of sleep.  Then the return drive home.  Yes, we left at 5:00am Central time.  Unlike the trip up where we were just happy to be out of the house and looking forward to a fun weekend, this drive was awful.  But we survived and made it home around 5:00 pm Eastern.  And we still haven't fully recovered.  But it's one weekend a year and well worth it.  I think. 

Next year we are tentatively planning on the Rogers Centre in Toronto.  Passports are required and some of us have them.  Others have to wait for certain road blocks to be removed (no names mentioned).  It will be a great time as usual.  And a bonus: it's only eight hours away.  Yippee!! 

Finally...

It is here!  The most anticipated 4-day vacation of the year is FINALLY here!! 

Tomorrow morning, we will embark on the 2012 version of the DLBT.  This year we head to Target Field in Minneapolis.  It is admittedly not going to be a fun drive (12 hours) but we'll endure no doubt. 

So, because you care, here is the tentative schedule:

• Thursday 7:00am - depart
• 7:01am - Paul has to pee
• Sometime around 12 hours later - arrival at our hotel.  Knees creak, back hurts...and that's just me.
• After check-in - the traditional kickoff dinner at Chili's where hopefully we can watch the Reds beat the Cubs.
• Friday 11:00am - Golf at Gross National Golf Club( http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=94&parkid=293 ).  With the addition of Shmoe this year we will have two 4-man teams battling in another epic scramble with the grand prize being lunch.  We play for big money!!
• After golf...who knows?  Hopefully it doesn't involve 11 shots.  And if it DOES involve 11 shots hopefully there is no pickle juice this time.  
• Saturday - only thing on the official Clark W. Griswold schedule is 6:10 Twins-Rays ballgame at Target Field.  
• Sunday 4:00am (yes approximately 4:00am) we return home.  My lord that is going to be awful.  But, it's worth it, right?  Right?????  

So there you are.  4 days of pure freedom.  Sorry, ladies.  It's not you, it's me.  Hope you're still around when we get back.  And have dinner waiting.  (yes, it's a joke)

And remember...