Coaster Palooza Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 Day 2 - Pick up JJ at the airport, go to Statue of Liberty, Times Square, HRC, and finally head to the Yankee game. Ellis Island... The papparazzi is always around the big man. They didn't have smashed pennies, but they did have this machine. Neither was this... This was not photo shopped. Mike was having issues with the steps, so he decided to wait for the elevator. Another shot of the staircase as we leave the observation area and head back down. Jim and JJ. I think it was pretty windy that day. My head takes up too much room... Never enough photos. Ellis Island This is the spiral staircase. They told us that having a 4 hour wait, along with the weight, wouldn't be smart to keep her open anymore. At the top, they have glass bottoms to show you how they used to be able to go up inside of Lady Liberty. Finally, only 24 to go... We're heading up many stairs to get to the observation deck. If you aren't in shape, don't go! I don't know what was with the skeleton arm holding the book. It isn't Halloween. An original model. I think this appeared on someone else's TR. This is the first section of the museum area. Yep, the orignal, never goes out of style. The museum area going up to the observation area was packed with info, models, etc. The original torch, now where have I seen this before? I think Jim was stip searched. The Big Man getting everything back in his pockets. They really have this place protected. Heading over to the security area. Our American flag is so beautiful! Thank You! Ooops! I shouldn't squash her. There could never be too many photos of her. It was so great to finally be able to go there. Hello Liberty! Good-bye New York I thought we were closer, that is one heck of a zoom! There she is, lady Liberty. I am sure this won't be the last photo in the TR of her. I decided to be one level down to take photos as we arrive. Don't trip... First ferry to the Statue of Liberty at 8:30am. Woohoo! We're here. Getting closer to our destination. I get the sudden urge to sing the Men in Black theme song. JJ, Jim's son, arrives after his red-eye flight from San Francisco. This was a little different. The reporter was getting ready for a live feed and the guy with the blue backpack wouldn't stop looking at her. Kinda creepy, but hey, I took a picture of it. What am I? Next update...Yankee Stadium...ADIOS! What can brown do for you??? Provide a paycheck! Behind the scenes of the Big Mike Road Show... Once we were done eating, we took a few more photos around Times Square before heading to the baseball game. Turn right at the Beatles... Follow that arrow... Next stop, HRC!!! If I can, make it there, I will make it anywhere! Where are we heading? This looks like Times Square! We didn't get out, so photos from the car is the best we could do. We went by ground zero on our way to Times Square. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Shame on me for not keeping up with this great thread. Thanks for posting all this stuff, especially the parts of Europe and The Statue of Liberty. Thank you too for the Rip Roaring Rapids shots here recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I didn't realize the stairs up to Lady Liberty's crown were never re-opened. What a shame! I made that trek at least a half dozen times when I was in school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bovinejumpsuit Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 What I find weird is that I have lived under 20 minutes away from Windsor my entire life but have never been there but I have been to everywhere on your New York trip... twice. Some great photos btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 For all the cracks Bi Mike makes about what I wear from time to time, he goes ahead and wears a shortsleeve turtle neck....wtf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Rick, I am sorry that the luxurious king sized beds were not delivered in time for your visit! I specifically told them I had guests coming and they failed. I have restocked the open bar for your next visit!! Peace, Big Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnusername Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Holy shit! I never knew Brian Dennehy was a member of this board. I loved First Blood, way to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 For all the cracks Bi Mike makes about what I wear from time to time, he goes ahead and wears a shortsleeve turtle neck....wtf? Big Mike is always the fashion trendsetter! The hot babes were flocking to the Big Man all day long! Peace, Big Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hey Guys, Thanks for the posts. RapidsNerd Quote: Shame on me for not keeping up with this great thread. Thanks for posting all this stuff, especially the parts of Europe and The Statue of Liberty. Thank you too for the Rip Roaring Rapids shots here recently. ME: I agree, shame on you for not keeping up with this thread, or shame on me for not doing more! Larrygator Quote: I didn't realize the stairs up to Lady Liberty's crown were never re-opened. What a shame! I made that trek at least a half dozen times when I was in school. ME: I always wanted to go up to the crown. I guess I never will… We missed you by the way Larry! Wish you could have been around. Bovinejumpsuit Quote: What I find weird is that I have lived under 20 minutes away from Windsor my entire life but have never been there but I have been to everywhere on your New York trip... twice. Some great photos btw ME: Thank You! Sfne2005 Quote: For all the cracks Bi Mike makes about what I wear from time to time, he goes ahead and wears a shortsleeve turtle neck....wtf? ME: Rich, when Mike came out of his room that morning I said, “What’s up good humor man!” We wish you would have been around that weekend too Rich. Big Mike Quote: Rick, I am sorry that the luxurious king sized beds were not delivered in time for your visit! I specifically told them I had guests coming and they failed. I have restocked the open bar for your next visit!! ME: It is no problem Big Man! The room is ready for you next Friday! Check in anytime you want… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 The time has finally come. I am going to Yankee Stadium for my first time and, over the next 2 days, my last time. Let's go to the photos...video to follow! Day one was a lot of fun. I can't wait to post the next two days at the park... Time to start singing New York, New York! Final out! That's Bill Fahey next to JJ. He used to catch in the big leagues and he coached first base for the SF Giants in 1989 during the World Series earthquake. Great stories! I do have us singing New York, New York on video. I will post soon. Everyone stood for the top of the 9th. I don't think we have been seen enough. Here's the Big Man, Mr. New York, and a great host! I think JJ is feeling better after a couple of those! The blonde is Lance's mother-in-law. We talked with them a little bit. The girls in front of us were Lance Cormier's wife's cousins from Alabama. Jeter coming up to bat again. All cameras start taking photos! This is one of my other favorite songs btw. God Bless America...the song by the way! It's hard to see, but there was a little scuffle down the left side at some point. Hey JJ, how do you feel with a red-eye flight, seeing the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Hard Rock Cafe, and now attending a Yankees' game? This was the result after he caught the ball. It was a great catch. The final score was 3-2. Without the catch, it would have been tied 3-3. I might still be there....LOL! This was by far the play of the game. Center fielder, Brett Gardner, went up high and pulled back a homerun. Look at Arod, Jeter, Pavano, and Cano looking at the scoreboard, but Gardner isn't. He gets the fans happy with a base hit. DEREK JETER.... First pitch, Brian Roberts promptly hits it for a double down the right field line. National Anthem, one of my two favorite songs. Plate meeting They had some POWs there. Awwww, you're welcome! See... MetLife sign shows only 3 games left. My first look at the old park. First stop...get some souvenirs. I usually take a photo with the person that scans my ticket. He told me that in the new stadium, they wouldn't have ticket scanners. It would all be automated. I felt bad for him not having his job next year. Jim picks up our tickets at Will Call. Thanks Brian! This is a good sign. Are they playing football there? Not until Sunday. As we head to Yankee Stadium, we pass by the Giants Stadium. How many professional teams are out here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 This is the video of us singing New York, New York at the end of the game on 9/19. New_York_New_York.mpg Hopefully you enjoy it. I think we had a few "sodapops" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bovinejumpsuit Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 nice video. I'm a bit upset with the lack of high kicking though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Actually, during the next games, Rick actually told us to high kick! LOL Rick, I have watched this about 5 different times already Peace, Big Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I remember climbing that spiral staircase in the Statue of Liberty when I went on my 10th grade class trip, the stairs were steep and weren't big and it was very difficult to climb up them especially since it took about 45 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted September 30, 2008 Author Share Posted September 30, 2008 Hi, Sorry for the delay in the update. I need to finish this before the weekend because a special guest is coming out. Game 2 was a day game at Yankee Stadium. Brian Burres, Jim's friend, was starting for the Orioles. He pitched 7 shutout innings against the Yankees, but they lost in the bottom of the 9th. We went to Mickey Mantle's restaurant after the game. Enjoy! To the hotel lounge! We have one more day left. I will actually have some roller coaster pictures next. I think we're heading up for a night cap. They stay somewhere in Manhattan. After the restaurant, we went back to Brian's hotel. Maybe that was the problem, we needed another beer. Everyone has one... I don't know what is with the serious looks... A couple of soda-pops, dinner, and a shot... I can't remember what was so funny. Our waitress and Big Mike! JJ told me I could take one more photo... Hi Jim! After a lengthy wait, we have our table. He tried to shmoosh his way in, but couldn't. Big Mike took us over to another restaurant close by. We tried to tell them that we were with the guy that shutout the Yankees today for 7 innings. That didn't help our wait. We made it to Mickey Mantle's. The wait was an hour! I wasn't taking a photo of the garbage. I was actually taking a photo of the Statue of Liberty person. I don't know why.... We'll be back tomorrow for more memories! Hello new stadium... Good-bye Yankee Stadium... After getting Brian through the mad crowd at the stadium, we are in the parking lot. They played New York, New York again. No video this time. Nobody wants to leave. Yanks Win! Yanks Win! Yankees score their one run in the bottom of the 9th. He can't believe he takes a strike! Jeter fouls off a pitch. Nice job Brian! We think you could have shutout the Yankees through 9. Jim is very proud of him! but he gets out of it... Brian is in a bit of a jam... 7th inning stretch...God Bless America! Mariano Rivera changes the number to 1... Arod flew out! Abreu got the first hit off of Brian. First pitch from Brian... I have some game photos coming up. I will comment when needed. Here comes Brian! First pitch, Brian Roberts swung at it and fouled it off. The next pitch he hit for a lead-off double, just like the night before. National Anthem... There's Bill Fahey and family. Plate meeting, almost time for the first pitch... Brian is coming in from the bull-pen Jeter receives another award. The view from our seats. I had to touch it! Brian gets a little running in... I'm at Monument Park...sort of. Brian has just come out to get warmed up. He wears high socks. behind the scenes of The Big Mike Road Show! The leftfield foul pole. Here is part of it. Unfortunately we didn't make it! Just 2 more games. Mike and I walked around the stadium, tryiing to get to monument park before they closed. Way to happy. Of course I would find a smashed penny machine! Ticket scanner guy was a little camera shy. I was wondering how I could take this the following night. It didn't happen. Now our tickets are ready. 45 minutes before the game! Brian is pitching by the way. Jim and JJ, don't worry about the lack of sleep we're getting, think of all the stories we have! If you can see Jim, I think he is saying I'm number 1 The new place, oh so close. I'm glad we had the time to walk around and take photos outside the park. This is the "bat" outside of Yankee Stadium. The big man and myself. Our tickets weren't ready just yet. They're still working on the new place. There she is. It seems like we were just here 11 hours ago! As we were pulling up, we saw that each pigeon was on their own post. I had to take a couple of photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themeparkguy27 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Pretty cool to hang out with an MLB player, the same day he pitches! Sweet report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Can't wait for the last game! Peace, Big Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted October 1, 2008 Author Share Posted October 1, 2008 Final day! Big Mike and I went to SFGAdv before the Yankee game on Sunday. We met up with El Toro girl and her boyfriend before the opening. All we had time to do was ride El Toro and Kingda Ka because we had to get to Yankee Stadium. Next stop, Yankee Stadium. Last update coming up... Sorry, no photos of Kinda Ka and we didn't get over to ride the Dark Knight. I guess I will just have to come back. Is that okay Mike? Some coaster photos, just so you know it isn't all about a baseball game! I didn't realize the bull was hollow and when I hit my hand on it, the loudest sound echoed! Spider-man was hard at work here. This is a great ride. The "new" area, well at least to me! Self photo of making my way through. The rope has dropped, they're off! I said no running...if you run you will be kicked out, or warned again... A little song and dance... I'm getting ready... The crowd getting ready for the rope to drop. I made it! I love Halloween decorations. They're getting ready for Fright Fest. What else would we do with 30 minutes to kill? More parking lot photos... Gyendolynne and I went here before this was built. It definitely changes the look! Final day, September 21, 2008. The hat and the duck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Awesome stuff, Rick! I so wish I could've been there for those games. What a thrill that must have been for Brian though. I mean, being part of the Big Mike Road Show has to be the biggest accomplishment in his career thus far, wouldn't you say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 . LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 ^^We missed you too! Brian did say that it was a HUGE honor to be involved in 2 very special events. Coaster Palooza 2008, and The Big Mike Road Show. We asked him about closing Yankee Stadium, and he said, "Oh yeah, that would be 3 big events. Thanks for reminding me..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 This will be the final update from the New York trip. What a great time we had! Big Mike is an awesome host. Thanks so much dude. I will try to make comments on the photos where I can. I am running out of "smart" things to say... Thanks for the Memories! It was a great weekend. Now I have to get the "hotel" fixed up for the Big Mike Road Show's arrival tomorrow. The Yankees took a final lap around the field. Final speech... I can't believe that anyone would run on the field. One idiot did. They took Jeter out before the final out. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. Bob Sheppard had a poem. God Bless America for the 7th inning stretch! Grounds crew doing YMCA for the final time. This was the total attendance since 1923. I figured that if the 5 of us didn't show up, the figure would have been - 151,959,000... See ya Andy. Pettitte threw a great game. Instead of saying zero, they went with Forever because the games will continue on across the street. Time for the stadium countdown. I thought the life-size Derek Jeter bobblehead was pretty cool. Johnny Damon hits a 3-run homerun. First pitch, sorry it is so blurry. Your umpires for tonight's game. Babe Ruth says I'll see you next door. That's where our seats are. I thought it would be great to see this area in left field. They brought out the 1923 "team" There it is! They had some pre-game ceremonies. The first one was unveiling their first title. I am happy too! Big Mike is happy with his ticket! This is our group! You can see that our seats were in left field for the final game. Helicopter provided some great views on TV. Mike was down there too, taking the photo. Jim made it down to the field to take a photo with Brian. The Big man and Jim headed down to talk to Brian and get a couple of autographed baseballs. Yankees warming up before Batting Practice. Big Mike says "HI" to his TPR readers while he was at the game. They were allowing people on the field. We were late and the closed it before we could get there. One more game... I thought it would be good to take in the Stadium a little bit. Way to go Mike! Thanks for doing what you did. Amazingly he did it! I don't know what Big Mike can do, or say, that will get us in before 6:30. Are you kidding me? The lines are huge! How is Big Mike going to get us into Yankee Stadium without a ticket? No need to fear fellers, I will take care of this. First stop, will call. What do you mean our tickets aren't ready and won't be ready until 6:30? We're here at 2:30! Hi Yankee Stadium, one more time, Thanks for the Memories! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Let me get this straight, I don't understand! It was the final game EVER at Yankee Stadium with ticket prices going for thousands of dollars? There was massive security all over the place? You did not have tickets yet? How in the world does this Big Mike guy get your whole group of 4 in without any tickets???? Next your probably going to tell us that this Big Mike guy lead you to Derek Jeter or something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 ^ That's ALL? Pfft, Rick should've been throwing out the first pitch too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 ^^Okay, the Big Mike story time. This is actually pretty incredible! When we were told the tickets wouldn’t be there until 6:30 at the earliest, Mike said, “Let me talk to someone.” I thought, who is he going to talk to? He talked to the security guard who told him to talk to the press window. Jim, JJ and I just sat and waited, not knowing what he was doing. He came back and said, “I can get us in! Follow me fellers.” We were walking up the aisle where the players enter. The fans were up against the barriers and Mike says, “This way guys.” A cop stopped him. We thought, this is over. Mike tells the cop that he is supposed to talk to another cop to get through here. “Jenna” (I am protecting her real name) in the press office said it was okay. The cop lets us through! Jim, JJ and I walked about 10 feet behind Mike out of fear that the cops would jump him at any moment. Then the next funniest thing happened. The crowd started chanting, “Derek Jeter.” Mike screams, “Hey it’s Derek Jeter!” He walks right up to him and took his picture. Unfortunately the photo didn’t come out and I didn’t have my camera out either. At this point I’m thinking we’re done. A cop is going to jump him….NOPE! We continued to the press office where Mike told his story to “Jenna” earlier. She asked if we were all there and they let us in the stadium…WITH NO TICKETS! Is that how it happened Mike, or do you want to embelish? Honestly, my story has no embelishing in it. I like to add things to the story, but this was way too good as it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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