Category: Other
Runyon 5K returns to Yankee Stadium Sunday
Sunday, August 3rd, baseball fans will be able to run around the warning track and see themselves on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard as they help raise funds for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation to fight cancer.
The 6th annual Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. The course goes through the stadium’s concourses, ramps and stairs as well as the field. Participants can register online at www.runyon5k.org or, space permitting, in person on the day of the race from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Yankee Stadium.
Last year’s event raised more than $760,000, and the Runyon 5K has raised more than $3 million for cancer research since it began in 2009.
Damon Runyon, who died from throat cancer in 1946, was a New York writer who began his career as a baseball journalist and often covered Yankees games.
ScoreBig.com promises ticket savings
ScoreBig.com is a marketplace where you can get tickets to sporting events, concerts, Broadway shows and other events. They recently offered me a credit to purchase tickets in exchange for a review.
Unlike some other ticket marketplaces, you don’t get to choose your exact seats at ScoreBig.com. Instead, you select a seating category ranging from one to five stars. You make an offer based on what you are willing to pay and the relative price of seats in that category, and you instantly find out if it is accepted.
Based on a $95.07 “full price” value for three-star seating for the May 25th game between the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks, I made an offer of $50 per ticket for two seats for the game. My offer was accepted, and lowered to $44.50 per ticket… which sounds like a great deal.
My tentative seats are in the Baseline Box Silver category in Section 129, and you could get tickets in that category for $45 per seat from the Mets. Hmm… guess the savings aren’t quite as big as I thought.
Two positives for ScoreBig.com, though – first, there are no service or delivery fees, and second, you are guaranteed to save something on each ticket.
The site is easy to use and looks like a decent option to consider if you’re not concerned about the exact part of the ballpark you’ll be sitting in. Still, I don’t think ScoreBig.com is likely to become my main option for buying Mets tickets.
Disclaimer: I received a credit from ScoreBig.com in exchange for writing a review.
BuildASign.com offers custom banners, signs & business cards
BuildASign.com creates custom signs, banners, business cards, car magnets and other items. They may be of interest to Mets fans who want to go for a more professional look on Banner Day instead of breaking out the poster board & bed sheets, or baseball card bloggers who want some business cards to throw in their trade packages.
A representative of their company recently approached me about doing a product review in exchange for a free sample. I thought about going with a banner, but I really haven’t come up with a Banner Day idea yet and I’m not positive I’ll be able to make it to the game, either.
Instead, I opted for the business cards. Build-A-Sign offers dozens of pre-designed templates that are easily customized through a web-based interface. You can also start from scratch and create your own design.
And here’s the finished product:
Disclaimer: In exchange for this review, I received 250 free business cards from BuildASign.com.
Author Jon Hart chronicles his unique sports experiences in “Man Vs. Ball”
Author Jon Hart is not a professional athlete, but he’s had a greater variety of sports-related experiences than most of us would even imagine.
In a book that’s described as “A George Plimpton-style excursion into the athletic unknown,” Hart chronicled his adventures. He graciously agreed to answer a few questions via an email interview.
Q- What made you decide to write “Man Vs. Ball”?
A– It was a snowball effect. One of my editors asked me to become a Yankee Stadium vendor and write about. From there, I started to really embrace participatory journalism. It was a lot more fun than reporting on community board meetings. I know that noise complaints are important, but that’s just not for me. After I had a half dozen stories under my belt, I figured that I might have a book in me.
Q- Tell me about your most memorable experience that made it into the book.
A- There were so many memorable moments and so many moments I want to forget. I won’t forget getting on Center Court as a U.S. Open ball person. I also got quite a kick out of hawking beer in the upper deck at a sold out Yankees-Mets game. Unfortunately, my tray fell and chaos ensued. I also won’t forget winning a world championship in roller basketball, which is hoops on blades.
Q- Is there something that you really wanted to try that you weren’t able to do for this book?
A- At one point, I really wanted to ski jump. It just did not work out. That’s probably for the best.
Q-How has your view of sports changed since your adventures began?
A- I pay a lot more attention to the people working at the events: the vendors, the volunteers and everyone on the periphery that most people aren’t watching.
Q- What is your favorite sport? Why?
A- My favorite sport is skiing. I’m good at it. Unfortunately, I don’t get a chance to do it enough.
Q – Who is the best baseball player you’ve ever watched?
I’m not qualified to declare anyone the best or the worst. I think Big Papi is pretty darn special. Every time, he’s up, I think he’s gonna knock it out and he has a pretty cool nickname. David Wright is not the best player, but he seems like the best guy. He was always very cool with everyone.
Man versus Ball is available from Amazon and other retailers. To learn more, visit www.manversusball.com.
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