of baseball and fathers

I feel very disconnected from the MLB postseason this year as I have no TV and the only playoff team I had any vested interest in got swept by the Yankees in the ALDS; way to go Twins. Now we are left with four teams, three of which are honest-to-goodness my least favorite clubs in the majors. The outcome of the NLCS will be an absolute lose-lose situation. In the ALCS, I'm left to cheer for the Texas Rangers, a team I'm mildly interested in. At least I can live vicariously through my Dad, brother Matt, and nephew, Jacob (Ranger fans of various loyalties...). My dad used to live in Arlington (where the Rangers play) and I was able to see a game there when I was thirteen. Being a child of Mike Nielson, I was forced into a love of baseball from an early age. Little did I know that he was planting the seed for one of my life's ambitions. You see, just like any loving father, my Dad only wants a few things for/from his daughter in life:

-graduate school

-marry a guy who doesn't deal drugs

-make lots of money so that I can support him in his old age

-visit all the major league ballparks in the country

Well I'm happy to announce that I'm two steps closer to that last goal! A few weeks ago I visited Heidi and Cameron in Michigan and we were able to go to games in both Detroit and Cleveland.

Good looking couple at a good looking ballpark

Baseball was not intended to be a cold sport, but this is the Midwest in Fall afterall.

"Heidizzle, make sure you can see the sign in the background, you know, to prove that I was here." Don't worry, Cameron was able to remedy this situation and get the right shot.

famous Fox theatre in the background

steam rising from the sewer

Lions and Tigers and fans, oh my! Ford Field is literally next door to Tigers Stadium.

Progressive Field, formerly called Jacob's Field or "the Jake"

H & C, looking particularly great on a chilly Cleveland evening.

The entire stadium was so empty! Apparently Ohioans aren't too jazzed about their near-last place team on a cold Tuesday night in September

it was officially the emptiest game I've ever attended. I would estimate less than 4,000 spectators.

All in all, a positive experience. A special thanks goes out to Dizzle, Cameron, Bud Selig, Papa Nielson, Ty Cobb, and these guys

for making it all happen. There may be more coming on my Midwest Mayhem 2010 Tour... stay posted.