Shattered Mid-Summer Classic Dreams

This past week, as a Yankees season ticket holder, I received my invoice for this year’s All-Star Game at the Stadium. It’s always been a dream of mine to go to an All-Star Game - any big league All-Star Game.

I know that many baseball fans think the All-Star Game is junk. Not me. I’m not sure why - but, I’ve always loved it. For sure, I’ve watched every All-Star game on TV since 1975 - - maybe I’ve missed parts of a game; but, 85% of the time, I’ve watched the whole game.

Well, when I say every game, it’s not true - - I missed the 1982 game - - because of a girl. I was all of 19. Her name was Jill. Somehow [wink] she influenced me to pass on the game and spend the evening with her. In the end, I would have been better off watching the game. To this day, it ticks me that I missed it. (This was before the days of VCRs, so, I truly missed all of the game.) To this day, I cannot think of Jill ********* without thinking - “Damn her, I missed the All-Stars!”

Back to point, you can only imagine how thrilled I was when I first heard that this year’s game was going to be at the Stadium. An All-Star Game and Yankee Stadium? For me, there’s no better combination.

But, because you have to “buy” tickets for everything with this Yankees All-Star package - meaning the game, the homerun derby, double tickets to the FanFest thing, etc. - the total bill on my invoice was for $2,479. (On the bright side, according to the invoice, the game tickets are for my usual seats in Section 15 of the Loge.)

That’s a pretty steep price. And, for me, now, it’s way too steep. (Five weeks ago, I was informed that my employer, who has had 74 rounds of layoffs in the last 30 months, was doing a 75th round now - and my job was eliminated in that round. Given that income reality for me, with a family of four to feed, and the current economy, etc., it would be insane to spend twenty-five hundred bucks just to see the All-Star Game.)

So, I turned the ticket package over to the rest of the gang that I share my season tickets with - and, one of them jumped on it. (I guess I could have bought the tickets and sold everything off but the game itself. But, even that amount just does work in my budget now.)

I just told my package-mate that he’s living out my dream - and practically begged him to take some pictures from “our” seats to share with me (and may here as well). I guess that’s better than nothing, huh?

Still, even though I know that I’m doing the mature, sensible, and responsible thing here (by passing on my dream) - this still hurts. Well, if anything, in the “All-Star Department” of my brain, this now pushes “Jill” (from 1982) down to # 2 in the “Disappointment Chain.” From now on, when I think “All-Star Game,” I’ll be having a Niagara Falls reflection towards the economy of 2008.

Slowly I turned … step by step … inch by inch …

May 4, 2008 | Filed Under Random Thoughts

Comments

7 Responses to “Shattered Mid-Summer Classic Dreams”

baileywalk on May 4th, 2008 12:43 pm

You know, it’s odd. In the one post where you have every right to be negative, bitter and angry — since you’re unfortunately losing your job — you seem pretty even-keeled. But talk baseball and you sound like one of those guys who says “Why bother? We’re all going to die anyway.”

Anyway, hope you have something else lined up… and that everything works out fine.
Harsha on May 4th, 2008 1:47 pm

Hi Steve,

I’ve been a reader for a while now (couple years), and used to post on occasion (when I felt like arguing with you) here at waswatching.com. This particular post really made me want to write a response to you, so here I am all registered and ready to go.

I just wanted to say, its tough, when your dreams of going to something like this (especially when it involves such an avid and intelligent fan such as yourself) can’t be fulfilled, but I wanted to tell you to not give up this dream.

I’m going through a tough time as well with the current state of the economy and job market. I would never mean to trivialize your situation so I will not compare it to mine, but I just want to remind you to have faith in the fact that you are deserving person, and that what goes around, comes around in a lot of ways. You provide your loyal readership with honest, fair, and incredibly sophisiticated analysis of something you have true passion for, and that clearly shows in your writing. maybe its not this year that you go to the game, but if you keep the dream alive, i’m sure you’ll be enjoying a few beers and a hot dog, watching phil hughes and joba chamberlain dominate the national league all stars.

Thanks for all your hard work,
Harsha
antone on May 4th, 2008 2:14 pm

Steve, I can definitely relate to your experience since I went through this same situation in October and now at my new job I recently found out that they are transitioning my department away by next March.

I also love the All-Star Game and am looking forward to watching it on tv this year since it’s at Yankee Stadium.

Keep your head up Steve.
Joel on May 4th, 2008 2:45 pm

Best of luck on your job search, Steve. I hope you find a good position soon.
Rich on May 4th, 2008 4:29 pm

Sorry, Steve. I’m confident that you will end up with a great job in the near future.
Steve Lombardi on May 4th, 2008 6:09 pm

Thanks all.

It’s been an interesting time. Stressing. Depressing. Hectic. Confusing. All the things that one would imagine.

I hope to have something new soon. But, I also realize that it might take several months to find something else.

All I can do is take it a day at a time.

I will say this - writing the blog is a nice outlet to have…in terms of having something fun to do in a time like this.

Of course, I realize that things could be A LOT worse. And, I try and focus on the positive things, as much as I can.

Still, having been here now, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. And, I can now understand anyone else who’s been in this spot. It’s really a test.
Aw, If Only I Could Keep Them! : WasWatching.com on June 19th, 2008 11:19 am

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