Farewell...

A part of history took place on Thursday night in the Bronx as a Baseball Legend ended his reign at the only ballpark he's ever called Home on a game-winning base hit. Derek Jeter has been one of the game's most iconic players, and there was no other way his last game in Yankee Stadium could end without him making another magical hit, like he's done countless times in his 20-year career while donning pinstripes. On Saturday night, another legend of the game will say farewell to his longtime ballclub. Chicago White Sox slugger Paul Konerko will be honored throughout the evening on the South Side as he plays his last game of his storied career.

Now, as big of a Sox fan as I am, I know that Jeter's farewell is much larger than Paulie's. However, these are two great ballplayers who deserve all of the accolades and praise that will come from these farewell engagements. Many people can tell you where they were when they saw many of Derek Jeter's classic moments. His Homer in the 2001 World Series at the stroke of Midnight, crowning him as "Mr. November", or his epic leap into the stands against his rival Boston in 2007, or his record-breaking hit to make him the Yankees' all-time hit leader (which took place against my Pale Hose a few years ago). However, only a few can tell you about Paulie's great moments. The countless outs he recorded playing at First Base, which didn't end up on SportsCenter reels night after night. Or his majestic bombs out to the left field Bullpen, usually part of piecing together a comeback rally in a Mid-Summer evening affair as opposed to an October night. Oh, but Konerko saved his biggest moment for the Fall, as his iconic Grand Slam in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series will forever be lamented in White Sox lore as the seat in which the ball landed is still the same small blue seat it was during that Championship year.

The numbers are incredible for both competitors, but the reason why we are talking about these moments over and over. The reason why Jeter received gifts in Baltimore and Texas and why Konerko received gifts in Cleveland and Detroit, aren't just because of how well they played against those cities' ballclubs. It's because in the time and era in which they played, through the era clouded by Steroids, Contract disputes, Mega-Trades and a general decline in times for the game of Baseball, these two gentlemen played the right way, gave their all every single play in the field, every single at-bat, and every single second they put on their uniform. And in a time where Sports has been given a bad name by countless individuals who take for granted the opportunities they have, Sir Derek Jeter and Sir Paulie Konerko respected the game and did so with the utmost amount of love and humility.

No player will ever wear #2 in the Bronx again, and I'm fairly certain no player will ever don #14 on the South Side after Sunday's season comes to a close. And it's all with good reason. These two Legends gave us all so many great memories, those numbers will forever be synonymous with their club, their era, and the great game of Baseball.

I think, Derek's nephew Jalen says it best for all of us fans.

Farewell.

I Lost My (Food Truck) Virginity Today

So today is basically the first day of Summer. Or at least the first day it feels like Summer. After a horrendous Minnesota Winter, it's nice to be out in shorts and a t-shirt, and wear a pair of creeper shades to check out the skirts and dresses walking around town as well. To celebrate this nice Friday before Memorial Day, I clocked myself out of work early, took a nice shower and walked across the street to the park, where a small row of food trucks are always parked during the lunch hours. While these moving eateries have been all the craze for a couple of years now, I've never ordered a meal from one before. (My lunches usually consist of Subway eaten in the office, or Sushi & a couple martini's down the street)

I approach this baby-blue truck called Neato's Burgers, very reminiscent of the ice cream trucks that I rarely ever got to patronize as a youth ("You don't know what the hell is in those trucks!" My germaphobe Mom exclaimed), and I'm greeted with a moderate line of business people and hipster dog-walkers.. The menu is small, simple and to the point. Burgers, made with ground chuck and the usual array of toppings. French Fries, which are fried in Duck Fat and seasoned with Sea Salt, and Milkshakes, which came in either Strawberry or Chocolate Stout. I finally make my turn to order. I get a burger with ketchup and pickles, with a side of fries and a can of Root Beer (an order that immediately took me back to the mid-90's, when I would request the same selections whenever my folks grab burgers, which was often.). The wait wasn't long at all, considering the nice-sized crowd in front, which nearly doubled in the 4 minutes I waited for my meal. Once my food appeared, I scooted back over to my apartment and sat in my courtyard, ready to chow down. The burger was very tasty, juicy and well seasoned. But the star of the show is certainly the Duck Fat Fries. A lot of controversy is stirred up when you talk about the culinary usage of Duck (Foie Gras, anyone?) But this is a very solid match. The greasiness of duck lines up well with the hand-cut fries, almost giving it a bacon-like flavor (which Always works!) While it's not something an Olympic Runner would have in their standard diet, it's certainly a nice treat to nibble on here and there, and I will certainly make it back over to the Neato's truck again this summer.