Just a quick clip taken from the top floor of an office building in Lower Manhattan that faces The Statue of Liberty. Symbolic as we enter the long July 4th weekend.

I was traveling when I heard the news about Peter Gammons being stricken with brain aneurism and was both startled and saddened. He is my favorite baseball analyst and was peerless as a sportswriter when he covered the Boston Red Sox. He’s in the Hall of Fame for good reason. We will miss seeing him at the MLB All-Star game. Here’s a clip of Gammons from the World Baseball Classic.

Get well soon Peter and all the best to your family.

All-Star madness is less than three weeks away. I see on mlb.com that Fergie Jenkins, former Cub and member of the Hall of Fame, will manage the “World” team for the Futures Game on Sunday July 9th. Jenkins lives in the Phoenix area and shows up at many Diamondbacks games; here’s a shot of him in the stands at a recent game.

As if losing 12 of the last 13 games wasn't bad enough for the Diamondbacks, here's a lame
between-the-innings Chase Field promotion called "Dancing on the Dugout" that gives
new meaning to "seemed like a good idea at the time." If they did this in my hometown,
the fans would have either booed these mascots off the field or pelted them with
rotten vegetables.

With three weeks left before we head off to the MLB All-Star Game, we wanted to begin our journey into baseball mode. Our first stop (of a few) was at Phoenix Muni to see the first day of tryouts for the USA Baseball Women’s National Team. Tryouts are two days and are being held in three different spots in the U.S. Since the team is not picking up expenses for the tryouts, the goal was to have them located so that a significant number of women athletes would be close to one of the tryout facilities.

You have to hand it to these athletes—it was about 102 out and those leading the tryouts didn’t let up as they went through the paces of pitching, throwing and batting. The winners of these tryouts have to come back for a second round later this summer, and from there, those selected are whisked off to play in Taiwan for their first official game. In fact, those who make this cut, and are asked to return, have to bring their passports with for the next go-round.

Today's installment: various random musings on mobile content etc.

Led by manager Bob Melvin, a number of Arizona Diamondbacks sign autographs before the game. Included are Tony Clark, Chad Tracy, Kevin Jarvis and coach Lee Tinsley.

Talk about your poorly executed between-the-innings entertainment, the Food Fighter race at the Diamondbacks-Mets game is a far cry from the wonderful Sausage Races. Who do you root for in a battle between a burrito, a taco and a Pepsi?

At the Diamondbacks-Mets game on June 10th, home plate umpire Jim Reynolds takes time away from calling balls and strikes to rescue a rather confused bird who was trapped on the pitcher’s mound.

Our trip to the Florida Panhandle seems like a blur. We were off to this place that few people outside the South seem to visit, but it’s a paradise: great beaches, wonderful food, warm weather, interesting sites, etc.. Unless you live in the Southeast, it’s a major trek to get to the Pensacola-Destin-Panama City area, I think most people go by car based on the number of out-of-state license plates making their way along Highway 98. Some fly in using the Atlanta hub or come via Houston. But if you want to come from the Northeast, Northwest or West Coast, you cannot (easily) get from there to there. And that's sad.

My highlights:


The best thing of all: we certainly will be back!

Here’s a place that not even Jane and Michael Stern have spotted in their food travels: Dewey Destin Seafood, a short ride off of Highway 98 in Destin. It’s a fish shack on a pier that juts into the bay overlooking Crab Island and serves shellfish and fish right out of the water. It’s all lightly BBQ-ed or grilled and served with simple sides. If you are in these parts, don’t miss it!

We finally made it off the beach on our last day in the Florida Panhandle to go on a dolphin cruise. The Southern Star takes you out to the Gulf in search of dolphins as well as a look at the waterway homes and shoreline.

Yes, that's me with the corny Miami Dolphins joke.