During a Wednesday evening stint with the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, Trenton Thunder, third baseman Alex Rodriguez (and the rest of the internet) found out about one of the best things in all of minor league baseball…
For the first two innings of Trenton home games, golden retrievers Derby and Rookie pickup the bats after each player’s at-bat. Below are the dogs in action after Rodriguez grounded out early on.
A-Rod grounded out, ran slowly to first. Meanwhile, golden retrievers *retrieve* the bats here. Awesome. #Yankeespic.twitter.com/osrRKaMeY7
The New York Daily News has a great story on the origins of the bat dogs. As is the way of minor league baseball, Trenton was looking for something new and different that would attract fans to the ballpark. When a fans fell in love with traveling act “Jake, the Diamond Dog” in the late 90’s, the team knew they needed one to call their own. Jake’s trainer found the Thunder a puppy named Chase, who served as Jake’s understudy before going full-time with the club.
The bat dogs have been a staple in Trenton since 2003. Chase bred Derby in 2009 and Rookie was born in 2013. When the team goes on the road, the dogs go home with Thunder Sr. VP of corporate sales and partnerships Eric Lipsman. They don’t leave teeth marks on the bats and the only issue is that dogs really don’t like pine tar, which is understandable.
Some Major League organizations host their “Bark at the Park” promotional nights, which is an awesome opportunity to bring your pup to a ballgame. Others have their own Team Dog, like the Brewers and their little bichon frise named Hank. The first MLB team to implement bat dogs will be the real winner though. It’s not like they are taking jobs from bat boys, as they the dogs could just retrieve bats for the first two innings like in Trenton.
Having dogs around the clubhouse may be good for morale, unlike Adam LaRoche having his child around 24/7 (I couldn’t resist). Just take it into consideration, MLB marketing executives. Who doesn’t love dogs?
I didn’t know how sports-centric Amy Schumer’s sorta-RomCom feature would be prior to seeing it yesterday. Sure Bill Hader’s character is a sports physician/surgeon and his closest friend in the film is LeBron James, but Judd Apatow goes above and beyond in sports-ness throughout the film.
If you haven’t seen “Trainwreck” yet, I’ll warn you that there are spoilers ahead…but you should have assumed that before clicking. Let’s take a look at the numerous cameos and references that made a generally “okay” movie a little bit better.
10. Hader Sports Trivia
In an effort to distract Amy’s dad (Colin Quinn) while sewing up stitches for him following a fall in an assisted living home, Bill Hader asks him a Trivia question that many sports fans have been asking to kill time or break the ice with for years…
“Which 9 Pro Sports Team Names Don’t End With ‘S’…?”
Tampa Bay Lightning
Minnesota Wild
Colorado Avalanche
Miami Heat
Utah Jazz
Orlando Magic
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
You’re welcome…for future parties.
9. Amy’s Cheerleader Number
Anyone who tells me that Cheerleading isn’t a sport is dead wrong. This scene is certainly evidence of that. While it also puts the icing on the cake to define “Trainwreck” as a RomCom (like as How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days as it gets), it’s actually a super impressive scene. Schumer said herself that it took 2 and a half months to train for the scene…and at least 10 takes.
The reason I didn’t rank this higher, despite the admirable effort by Schumer, the scene and its conclusion made me walk away feeling like I just watched an Adam Sandler movie. Not a good thing.
8. “Dallas Sucks”, Tony Romo
Kind of a sleeper in this film is Amare Stoudamire and his handful of scenes, despite being a real focal point to the movie’s plot. It’s awkward and a little dated because Amare isn’t even in New York anymore, but how can you not appreciate a “Dallas Sucks” heckle when Tony Romo is trying to have a semi-heartfelt moment introducing Hader’s character for an award.
7. John Cena “Dirty Talk”
I’m going to have a hard time looking at John Cena the same way again…and wash cloths.
In an attempt to spice things up, Amy tells John Cena’s character, Steven, to try talking dirty. Cena warns her that he’s not very good at that but he gives it a shot anyway…It goes from talking about “protein” to his best attempt at a cheesy sports movie coach’s inspirational speech. The sad part is that it pretty much summed up all of the cliches Gene Hackman used in “The Replacements.”
6. Hader hitting a shot on LeBron
I’ll be more extensive in my appreciation for LeBron James later, but I have to give props to Hader first…He takes a beating for most of this scene while LeBron is trying to give him dating advice and blocking every attempt made. It ends with a Hader jumper from the elbow, a weak contest from LeBron, and the ball hitting nothing but net.
I too would give up playing basketball forever if I hit a shot over LeBron James.
5. Colin Quinn vs. Babe Ruth
Anyone else wonder where Colin Quinn had been for the last thousand years? The former SNL ‘Weekend Update’ Anchor opens the film explaining why monogamy is dumb to his kids and that kinda-but-not-really justifies Schumer’s “Trainwreck” behavior throughout the film.
He’s living in an assisted living home due to MS and goes on typical Colin Quinn rants whenever he’s on screen. The best of his rants comes toward the beginning when one of the residents brings up Babe Ruth. As a huge Mets fan, he ruins the old Yankee fan’s dreams by telling him that every latin pitcher today would destroy Babe Ruth…who never played against black ballplayers.
4. Amare really likes Tom Brady’s wife
As I mentioned earlier, Amare is a serious sleeper in this flick. There is (and isn’t) a lot riding on Hader being able to successfully operate on Amare’s knee to get him back playing for the Knicks.
Sidenote: If this is taking place during the NBA season, why is LeBron spending so much time in New York following Hader around?
Anywho, Amare asks Hader how the procedure went and he is told that it was “Tom Brady” good. That prompts a medically drug induced Amare to profess his love and admiration for Gisele Bundchen.
From “I need me one of those” to “I follow her on Instagram”, that single scene was the perfect contrast to the creepy and gross Tom Brady stalking in “Ted 2”.
3. Marv Albert in the Intervention
While the scene seemed wildly out of place, and even more Sandler’ish than the cheerleader number, Marv Albert calling play-by-play of an intervention curated by LeBron for Hader following his breakup was too good.
Matthew Broderick and Chris Evert were there as well (why?), but that randomness was subsided by Marv doing his Marv thing.
2. Any and All LeBron Scenes
I want LeBron to be my best friend after seeing this movie.
He makes the movie fun by trying to be a normal dude looking out for his “best friend.” You’re not totally sure if Hader feels the same way about the LeBron, but that makes the chemistry all the more entertaining.
And you giggle like a kid when he gets pumped about “Sexual Intercourse”.
1. Hader’s “Client” Namedropping
I laughed the loudest (and probably way more than the few people where in the theater with me) at this scene, warranting it’s #1 ranking.
While at a birthday party for Schumer’s nephew, Hader gets the “new boyfriend” treatment from the other guys there. Tim Meadows and Mike Birbiglia ask Hader specifically who he has worked on as a sports surgeon and it goes a little like this…
Bill: “Tom Brady…”
Them: “Wow!”
Bill: “Jay Cutler…”
Them: “Cool.”
Bill: “Alex Rodriguez…”
Tim Meadows: “FUCK THAT GUY!”
Yep. The “Ladies Man” gets the smallest part in the movie, but drops the best timed punchline over the course of 2 hours and too many more minutes.
Can you think of anything else from “Trainwreck” that sticks out to you? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
In the year that doesn’t feel like it was 8 years ago…
Steve Jobs announced the first generation iPhone.
J.K. Rowlings releases “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows”, the fastest selling book ever.
Track Star Marion Jones surrendered her 5 Olympic gold medals after admitting to doping.
Legendary 49ers head coach Bill Walsh passed away at the age of 75.
4-time Best Drama Series Emmy award winning Mad Men premiered.
(Fingers crossed for Jon Hamm this year)And here’s the what happened in Movies, Music and Sports…
Movies
Comedy
Knocked Up, Superbad, Enchanted, Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Hot Fuzz, Juno, Evan Almighty, Balls of Fury, Good Luck Chuck, Hot Rod, Death at a Funeral, Lars and the Real Girl, Epic Movie, Wild Hogs, The Game Plan, The Heartbreak Kid, Who’s Your Caddy?, Dan in Real Life, Fred Clause, The Bucket List, Mr. Woodcock, License to Wed, AND…
The Simpsons Movie
Action
The Bourne Ultimatum, Grindhouse, Zodiac, Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers, I Am Legend, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Kingdom, Sweeney Todd, Hitman, Death Sentence, 28 Weeks Later, Disturbia, Spiderman 3, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Hannibal Rising, The Mist, Fracture, Ghost Rider, The Condemned, Vacancy, Rush Hour 3, War, Funny Games, Paranormal Activity, Mr. Brooks, The Hitcher, Resident Evil: Extinction AND…
Shooter
Drama
Into the Wild, Gone Baby Gone, Atonement, There Will Be Blood, American Gangster, Michael Clayton, Reign Over Me, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Visitor, The Girl Next Door, Premonition, We Own The Night, 3:10 To Yuma, In the Valley of Elah, PS. I Love You, The Lookout, Across the Universe, The Invisible, Breach, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Man From Earth, Control, Evening, Trade, Rendition, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Eastern Promises AND…
No Country For Old Men
The 80th Academy Awards
Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood – Winner
(This was the 2nd of Daniel Day-Lewis’s 3 Best Actor Oscar wins)
Best Supporting Actor
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men – Winner
(It was Javier Bardem’s first win out of 3 Oscar nominations)
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose – Winner
(Marion Cotillard has been nominated twice for Best Leading Actress. This was her first win)
Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton – Winner
(Swinton is batting 1.000 going one-for-one in Oscar nominations and awards, so far)
Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
There Will Be Blood
No Country For Old Men – Winner
(Won 4 of the 8 Oscars it was nominated, including Best Writing and Directing)
Music
Rock Albums
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Hip Hop Albums
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Pop Albums
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Billboard Year-End Top 25
01. “Irreplaceable” – Beyonce
02. “Umbrella” – Rihanna
03. “The Sweet Escape” – Gwen Stefani and Akon
04. “Big Girls Don’t Cry” – Fergie
05. “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” – T-Pain featuring Young Joc
06. “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
07. “Hey There Delilah” – Plain White T’s
08. “I Wanna Love You” – Akon featuring Snoop Dogg
09. “Say It Right” – Nelly Furtado
10. “Glamorous” – Fergie featuring Ludacris
11. “Don’t Matter” – Akon
12. “Girlfriend” – Avril Lavigne
13. “Makes Me Wonder” – Maroon 5
14. “Party Like a Rockstar” – Shop Boyz
15. “Smack That” – Akon featuring Eminem
16. “This Is Why I’m Hot” – Mims
17. “It’s Not Over” – Daughtry
18. “The Way I Are” – Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson
19. “Fergalicious” – Fergie featuring will.i.am.
20. “Crank That (Soulja Boy) – Soulja Boy Tell’em
21. “Give It To Me” – Timbaland featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake
Watergate whistleblower “Deep Throat” was revealed to be former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt.
Pope John Paul II passed away, Pope Benedict XVI succeeded him.
YouTube is launched. First video is uploaded April 23rd at 8:27 PM ET.
“Live 8”, 10 simultaneous concerts around the world, took place featuring more than 1,000 artists broadcasted on 182 TV networks and 2,000 radio stations.
Actor John Spencer passed away at the age of 58.
And here’s what we saw from the world’s of Movies, Music, and Sports
Movies
Comedy
The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Wedding Crashers, Hitch, The Longest Yard, The Pacifier, Bewitched, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Fun with Dick and Jane, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Fever Pitch, Waiting, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Just Like Heaven, Guess Who, The Duke’s of Hazzard, The Man, The Ringer, Kicking and Screaming, Rumor Has It, A Lot Like Love, Be Cool, and…
Thank You For Smoking
(starring Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg’s doppleganger)
Action/Thriller
Batman Begins, Lord of War, Harsh Times, Saw II, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Island, Hostage, V for Vendetta, Flightplan, The Interpreter, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chaos, Doom, Red Eye, The Descent, Into the Blue, Assault on Precinct 13, War of the Worlds, Hostel, The Cave, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Four Brothers, Transporter 2, Serenity, Elektra, Stay, Hide and Seek, Hard Candy, The Skeleton Key, The Devil’s Rejects, Domino, House of Wax, Revolver, and…
Sin City
(wish the sequel was better)
Drama
Brokeback Mountain, Walk the Line, North Country, Kingdom of Heaven, Pride and Prejudice, The New World, Capote, The Constant Gardner, A History of Violence, The Family Stone, Coach Carter, Proof, Derailed, Cinderella Man, Elvis, Munich, The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio, Green Street Hooligans, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Squid and the Whale, The Jacket, An Unfinished Life, The Proposition, Syriana, Archangel, Lords of Dogtown, Jarhead, and…
Good Night and Good Luck
And the Oscar goes to…
The 78th Academy Awards
Best Actor
Terrance Howard, Hustle and Flow
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
David Strathairn, Good Night and Good Luck
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote – Winner
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Dillon, Crash
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt, A History of Violence
George Clooney, Syriana- Winner
(Clooney was also nominated twice more that night for Directing and Writing Good Night and Good Luck)
Best Actress
Judie Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica
Keira Knightly, Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron, North Country
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line – Winner
Best Supporting Actress
Frances McDormand, North Country
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain
Amy Adams, Junebug
Catherine Keener, Capote
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener – Winner
Best Picture
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Good Night and Good Luck
Munich
Crash – Winner
(Also won Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing)
Music
Rock Albums
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Hip Hop Albums
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Pop Albums
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Billboard Year-End Top 25
01. “We Belong Together” – Mariah Carey
02. “Hollaback Girl” – Gwen Stefani
03. “Let Me Love You” – Mario
04. “Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson
05. “1, 2 Step” – Ciara and Missy Elliott
06. “Gold Digger” – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
07. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day
08. “Candy Shop” – 50 Cent
09. “Don’t Cha” – The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
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