I found a LA Fitnesss facility not far from the Casino Arizona (my home port), so I went inside and met John. John gave me a tour of the place and it was just right for my needs. However, the only rate plan available for a traveler like me was way too expensive.
"Why do they charge so much for guy who just wants to use the place a couple of times a week for a month?" I asked John.
"Uh...I don't know." He looked a little disappointed that I wasn't going to pay a registration fee plus an enormous weekly amount to work on my chest and flabby waist.
So I left and drove toward Surprise for my date with the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. On my way I stopped by an RV showroom and looked at a travel trailer. I found one just the right size for $13,995. I told Dan, the salesman, "Well, let me go see the Rangers play some ball, and I'll think about it." He looked a little disappointed, too.
I made a stop by Walmart to buy some snacks and water before heading for the stadium. Suggestion: take food and water with you when you go to the ballpark. Otherwise, you'll have to take out a second mortgage and sell your bedroom furniture to buy a hamburger and coke at the stadium. The stadium rules for these games at Surprise Stadium: you can bring in food, unopened bottled water (no soft drinks), and your bag must fit under your seat.
Today's photo album is below. By the way, for you photographers who might read my blog (Linda, Jay, etc.), I use a Nikon Coolpix 5200 with 7.1 Megapixels, 2.5 inch LCD screen, ISO up to 1000, and a 3x Zoom. The camera is the size of a credit card, less than one-half inch thick, and easily fits in my pocket. I paid around $200 for it last Fall. The quality of the photos are not that bad for such a small and inexpensive camera.
Banners are hung around the major roadways leading to the stadium.
My seat location is much better today, and I'll have this seat for the remainder of my games. Next year I have made plans to return to this seat...and hopefully see a World Series pennant hanging on the dugout. (Well, we can dream can't we?) I'm on the first row, just behind the Rangers dugout. I can spit on Michael Young if he strikes out. (Notice I'm wearing a Dallas Mavericks shirt along with my Rangers cap. My sweats are red and they have an Arizona University Wildcat logo on them. I looked like a sports dork.)
The view of the dugout from my seat.
Michael Young about to hit a home run. He knocked the approaching pitch into far right center field for a 2-run homer. The Rangers were behind 5-0 at the time. After the next inning, Young and a few other starters left the field. He only played three innings today.
Josh Hamilton on first base. Josh is a fan favorite this spring. Most fans want the former drug addict to make it back and be successful this time around. He says with "God's help, all things are possible."
Former Ranger great and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan was at the game. He was recently hired as President of the ball club, and he hopes to see success here before he retires from baseball for good. He signed a two-year contract. A long line of fans were waiting for him to sign autographs. I asked him to give me his jacket. It's very cool. He told me to get lost.
Here is Nolan biting his tongue before he says the Rangers sucked last year. Maybe this year will be different.
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