Recently I met a young artist (photo above) at an Art Opening and while making conversation I bragged about a one mile open water swim I had just accomplished. Her response was that she had swum around the island. Taken aback, I asked her how long her swim was and she said 12 miles. Nearly speechless, I came back with "That's nearly as far as th …
Be honest, how many of you had the will and endurance to stay up last Wednesday night through the early hours of Thursday morning for the 10th inning, post rain delay, 7th game, Cubs 8-7 World Series, first in 108 years, victory?That's quite a lead, don't you think?After all, the Cubs had to exorcise the curse of the goat and free Steve Bartman fr …
Last Saturday I went back to our old High School (we still live in Roslyn) to take in the Roslyn High School Homecoming football game. So many memories welled up, eg, it is the same field on which Joanne was a cheer leader and upon which I played soccer. Better yet, I was joined by my son David and grandson Jackson, Roslyn High School attendees a …
Big Sexy is the affectionate ironic nickname pinned on the Mets 43 year old 285 pound pitcher Bartolo Colon who has been the winning pitcher in 230 big league games in a MLB career which started in the last century (1997). That's a lot to say about an ever smiling Dominican man who has become the people's choice. He can do no wrong!He just has thi …
On Sunday I watched American runner Galen Rupp win a Bronze medal in the Olympic 26.2 mile Marathon race with special empathetic interest. Some may know that Gotham General Counsel Ben Geizhals was my marathon running partner. We lived by the mantra of "Miles of trials and trials of miles" for a 10 year period in which we devoted ourselves to man …
My sister asked me if I could time travel in my present state would I like to go backward or forward. She chose going forward and said if things were not good at that future time she would "off" herself. I would chose going back to the 1950s. It's a classic case of if I knew then what I know now. I imagine Going to Yankee games as an adult as the …
During the recent exciting run for the Pennant by the Mets I posted the above photo and caption on the Gotham Sports Talk listserve and on Facebook. Inasmuch as most everyone knows me as a Yankee fan who proudly wears a Yankee hat it may have appeared to be hypocritical or front running, but, as they say, not at all.I was there as a fan at the Mets …
This is a follow up to last week's Friday With Fred blog wherein I heralded last Friday night's Mets-Yanks Mania and anticipated a great night communing in our "special" center field bleacher seats with 124 other Gothamites. In the words of Gothamite Ellyne Finklestein it was "A perfect match up. Weather couldn't be better. 125 Bull pen seats fille …
As a life long Yankee fan I was flexible enough in 1962 to let former Yankee Manager and then Met Manager Casey Stengel's "Metsies" in as my second favorite team and am proud to say that Joanne and I won Banner Day at Shea Stadium in 1964 and I caught my only foul ball (off the bat of Felix Millan) in 1976 at Shea. I gave this background as prelude …
Yesterday I posted the above photo of the Williams sisters saying Williams will win last night's US Open match between them. Of course one of them had to win, but I had divided loyalty. In the end younger sister Serena prevailed in 3 sets against Venus, her greatest adversary and best friend. There were so many emotional sub texts. It was amazing …
I am at the field over an hour early (so I won't be late) and I am alone with my nervous anxiety and demons. I have already stretched and I am waiting. Am I at the right field? Why is no one else here?Will I be able to perform up to my expectations? Will I be able to control my pitches and hit with authority? Will I manage the game well? Will …
Joanne and I were talking about the many uses of the word Get and we came up with a list:Get readyGet setGet onGet it onGet crackingGet paid Get downGet up Get byGet closeGet drunkGet stonedGet enoughGet fixedGet goingGet homeGet inGet outGet cleanGet moreGet numbGet overGet pickedGet quietGet realGet softGet tightGet underGet wellGet yoursGet over …
The New York Knicks are owned by the Dolan family (owners of Cablevision and Long Island's Newsday). The family is not very popular for many reasons-not the least of which was the Knicks horrid 17 win past season. I have been a season ticket holder since far better times in the 70's and am partnering with Gothamite Phil Smallman on my 4 (good) se …
Thanks to Gothamite Craig Rosasco (LI Legal Group), we have obtained a permit for the use of a softball field and picnic area in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Park on Saturday, August 22 from 11:00 to 6:00 (there is no raiin day). It will be a coed softball game and picnic (food and drink provided by Gotham) This is a cost free event and you are invi …
For as long as Gotham has had softball teams (Batmen and Bombers) I have pitched for one or the other. However, I was forced to retire this Winter due to chronic hip and back pain. I became the non playing Manager of the Batmen, but never scratched the itch or exorcised the dream to return to the pitching mound. Over the last few months the pain ha …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend