WESTCHEDDAR

This Source Magazine Rhyme of the Month clipping of Nas’ “Verbal Intercourse” verse used to hang on the wall in my bedroom back when I was in high school. I stumbled across it tonight on the web, and felt a nostalgic need to post it. The fall weather always makes me feel like this. And to add to the NAStalgia (you like how cornily I did that right?) check out this vintage footage of his first interview, backstage at the famous nightclub The Fever on Video Music Box. When asked who he would like to work with in the future, he responds, “The Beatles. Nah, I’m buggin’” hahaha…

I also want to post the video for this song I’ve been bumping all week that really brings me back to the time when I first got into hip hop. Organized Konfusion featuring O.C. “Fudge Pudge.” This song is dope because the beat is hard and it’s super lyrical, but it’s also really fun! Yes, underground early 90′s New York hip hop at its finest. O.C. especially spits fire on the third verse…

For all your other throwback hip hop (and sports) needs, go to UpNorthTrips. In fact, here’s an example of some throwback baseball shit that was posted on there earlier in the week. We call this WALLY CHAMP…

Get it? Wally Joyner was the man! Anyway, I’ve been working on a new weekly rap music feature for UNT that should be debuting soon (“Fudge Pudge” was a bit of a preview), so stay tuned to their Twitter feed for all the action. One love.

*UPDATE*

Watch Nas’ new video for his summer banger  ”Nasty” HERE. It’s hot.

See that autograph above?  Ted Williams baby.  Right on the sweet spot.  I got that myself, back at Spring Training in 1988, when my cousin Chris and I spotted him riding on a golf cart outside the ballpark after a game.  I told this story once before here at Westcheddar, back when I first started up the blog (CLICK HERE TO READ AND SEE PICS), but great baseball stories are meant to be retold.  Which is why I asked my father, Jimmy I, to retell me his version of our epic Spring Training trips to Florida with my uncle Steve and my older cousin Chris and to Arizona with our west coast family, and also some old school Isenberg baseball stories about his own little league days and my grandfather’s love of the game.  And if there’s one thing my Dad is good at doing (just ask my Mom or my little sister Becca), it’s telling the same story over and over!  Ha!

As I remember, the spring training trips, at least for us, started when Steve became a New York Newsday publisher.  He asked if you and I would like to join him and Chris.  At the time, you were probably about eight years old and Bec was not considered because of her age though we now know that she is a rabid ball fan.  Anyway, I remember our first Yankee game as we arrived in Miami and immediately drove to Fort Lauerdale where the Yankees were then located.  Yes, the famous exit in the rented car and the “penis” shout from Uncle Steve set the tone of “freedom” from all “home” norms.  So we were off to a ball game with no parental rules and a great evening weather.  I can remember sitting in the Ft Lauerdale stadium feeling like I was in the movie, “Cocoon”.  Yes, we were sitting with about 5,000 older men on a beautiful warm evening and it felt like this was a version of heaven!  We had a great time and then ventured on to St. Petersburg and our soon to be regular stay at the Don Cesar hotel and a visit with Gabe Paul, the former Yankee GM.

Now a day with Gabe was very memorable.  He was a “real gentleman”.  All of the older baseball men were gentlemen and loved kids.  I think all the ball players, managerial people and fans shared a love for kids and ball.  So they embraced Steve for bringing Christopher and of course, you.  I was the kid brother so I was accepted too.  When we visited Gabe, he took us to a Reds ball game and that was terrific.  I told Gabe that I worked my way through college as a baseball umpire, so he set me down next to the famous baseball umpire, the retired Augie Donatelli.  I remember Augie was surrounded by a few other retired umps and we had a grand day of challenging calls and listening to tales of baseball from behind the plate and through the voice of authority.  I also loved to watch the scouts with their note pads and “guns” as they observed the pitchers’ speed and talked loads of baseball “shit” about everything and everybody.

When we were in Tampa with Gabe, the end of the day was as glorious as the ball game.  We all gathered for dinner at Burns Steak House.  The interior looked like a brothel with red leather walls and seats, but the spirit was baseball and comradery.  We had a thrilling evening with Steve’s then food columnist, Molly O’Neill and her brother, the then Reds outfielder, Paul O’Neill.  I remember Paul giving you and Chris autographed Reds team baseballs and really be a “mensch” about bonding with the two of you and taking a photo which I remember with you.  As to the Don Ceasar hotel, that was a beautiful spot and everyone enjoyed the weather and relaxing together.  I do remember a rather strange and almost testy dinner with one of Newsday’s sports writers who was really checking Steve out to see what kind of publisher he would be.  Steve handled the “challenges” well and I was impressed with his ability to take on this somewhat combative sports writer character.

Of course, we always went to a Tigers game out of respect to Steve’s Detroit roots.  I think we usually saw about seven or eight games during the trip, but the Tigers was mandatory.  I do remember that we visited Bobby Valentine in Sarasota when he was managing the Rangers and had a great visit to Kissimee with John McMullen and the Astros.  I remember a wonderful Astros game with their young second baseman really tearing up the pads.  Steve and I had a memorable dinner with McMullen and his wife.  Though McMullen was a hard line Republican and military guy, he was again, the gracious gentlemen and host.

Now speaking of hosts and someone who was both gracious and not so “cool”, I remember the day that we visited George Steinbrenner in Ft. Lauerdale.  Steve was always aware of “George’s temperament”, so we joined after a game, but only if he was a winner!  So this particular afternoon, the Yankees had won and we ventured back to George’s trailer.  As the four of us entered the trailer, we were the witnesses to George “slaying” his body builder coach.  The guy  was standing in front of George and he was taking a major “dressing down” from the owner.  George was “killing the guy”!  As we stood there in shock, he finished the slaying and then turned immediately to us and said, “Stevie, Chris and fellas.  Great to see you”.  He proceeded to give you and Chris Yankee jackets and the world was sweet and warm.  A relatively shocking moment in contrast to his prior manic madness.  Steve knew George from his days as the mayoralty chief of staff when the stadium was refurbished, but of course, now knew him as a newspaper publisher.  Steve always had a great relationship with the Yankees and that made for a special trip.

Now these were the moments with the players and bosses, but I do remember the early morning visits to the spring practice.  I remember taking you and Chris out early to practice in St. Petersburg.  I loved to watch the coaches working with the catchers. I guess those umpire days reminded me how much I appreciated a catcher actually catching the ball and not having it hit the umpire!  I took a bad hit one day at a high school game when a young catcher completely missed a pitch and I took it in the upper chest!  Anyway, I really enjoyed watching the catchers and of course, loved to watch the pitchers practice picking up a bunt and throwing to first.  I also liked to watch the pitchers practice covering the first base bag.  Another memorable moment was when I watched a scout bring a young pitching prospect to the “head” coaches to give the kid a moment to “see what he’s really got”.  It also seemed that the “kid” was from a small town America venue and it was really a big moment for him and his entire crowd.

Now Florida was fun, but I also enjoyed our trip to Arizona.  Now this was memorable.  We stayed in the same hotel as the Oakland A’s.  It was all very loose as it felt like baseball camp as the players and other guests (that’s us) just hung out together.  I remember standing in the buffet breakfast line behind Mark McGwire.  I didn’t know the steroid story then, but I do remember thinking this guy’s arms are gigantic.  I thought it was the waffles or something, duh?!!  And then there was Canseco who had the right super fly car which Dan took a picture in front of in the parking lot.  The big story one morning was that everyone (in camp) heard Canseco and his wife having a fight!  Oh boy, baseball is good fun and a family game.  The Arizona trip was fun as I remember because our Bay Area pals, Box and Billy McDonald joined us.  I remember lots of playing catch and even an injury for Billy!  I know that we made a trip with Mom and Becca as an Izofam, but it was during the strike so we didn’t see much ball, but sure had some great baseball fantasy stories!!

As to memories of baseball and Grandpa Jerry, I’m sure Steve has told you of my first ball game when I cried like the baby that I was as I had my first home run experience.  Grandpa thought he had to take me home, but Steve convinced him and me to cool it as it was an important game, possibly even a no hitter, so there was no tenderness, only baseball from the two of them!  Grandpa loved baseball and the game itself.  I share that feeling as I never really root for one team, but really for a good ball game.  I guess all of the years of umpiring Little League and Pony League games on the weekends taught me to love the game though I hated a blow out as it made for a long day!  I remember Grandma Lucy not wanting to go to a game because Grandpa always walked ahead or her and she thought she’d get lost.

Another side of the Izobaseballlore was the Sunday morning men’s softball games in Hollywood.  Grandpa didn’t play much, but I went every Sunday to the “men’s” game with Morrie Nussbaum.  It was like a Jewish men’s league, but not really a league.  They played two games, the pitchers included Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom who was the trainer in the wonderful Joe Palooka television series.  Slapsy wear a men’s girdle, ptiched well, voraciously smoked (as most of the men in the l950s did) and told loads of dirty jokes during the ball game.  All of the kids loved to go to the game to watch and play our own ball games.  As you know, I played a load of baseball as a kid both pickup and organized so the baseball world was the centerpiece of our lives.

So those are my memories.  It was a great time for brother bonding, Chris and Dan bonding and all of our bonding with baseball.  I especially enjoyed how you and Chris bonded and you loved to laugh at his jokes and stories.  He also was your guide to the baseball world and shared both his cards, baseballs, and insights about the game.  It was wonderful to watch the two of you share the baseball world and Chris really get the opportunity to have a little brother.    Steve was generous with us and I’ve always appreciated the great experience that we had at spring training.  The norm of the spring training world was that we could do whatever we wanted, no schedule meal times, no time for bed and loads of laughs and storytelling, like this one.

Thanks for the stories Dad!  And yes, that’s me and my cousin Chris above hunting for autographs after a game in Ft. Lauderdale.  That’s us with Don Mattingly!!!  As a kid, it doesn’t get any better than meeting your favorite baseball player and getting his autograph.  I still have the ball.

Well, the Isenberg baseball stories will continue.  I look forward to sharing more baseball memories with my father (let’s have a catch soon!), and now with my son, who is due in May.  Can’t wait to take him to Spring Training and keep the Isenberg tradition alive.

Oh, and the cool thing about Spring Training is that even when it’s ends, you know Opening Day is right around the corner…

Let’s play two!