Mark of Fridays: Touch 'em all!

Father's Day had a ballfield flavor to it.

From left to right, that's Tom Seaver, Paul Konerko, David Wright and Mark Buehrle - otherwise known as Big Mark, Little Mark, Matt and Barry.

Obviously, it's no coincidence that both the Mets (8-2 in their last 10 games) and the White Sox (nine straight as of this writing) have been on fire since this picture was snapped.

It's Grandpa Power!

A visit to Citi Field

A few weeks back, Matt and his dad got a chance to go out to New York to see some golf, some baseball and some family.
The Men watched the U.S. Open, which was played at Bethpage Black, a very difficult course. (And one that Matt's Dad has played while growing up on Long Island.) The Men had been to the U.S. Open at Bethpage in 2002. That was a great tournament -Tiger edged Phil. This year didn't have a brand name winner and it had plenty of rain, but it wasn't any less fun. The Men saw all the big golfers and saw them up close. Plus, there was random sightings of Rudy Guliani (walking with Phil) and former Mets catcher Gary Carter (watching golf, oddly enough).
The Men also had a chance to check out the Mets new ballpark, Citi Field for a game against The Rays. The park opened this year, replacing that overgrown behemoth, Shea Stadium.
The outside of Citi Field is supposed to resemble Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The centerpiece is the Jackie Robinson rotunda, which lines up behind home plate. The rotunda includes video and images from Robinson's career and a huge blue No. 42 that you can get your picture with. The space was impressive although the meanings were a bit jumbled. The area seemed designed to invoke storytelling. And, if you know the stories, that's great. Sadly, Matt didn't get a very good picture of the rotunda.

As for the stadium itself, Citi Field is huge and beautiful. Players are complaining about the dimensions and understandably so. The Men saw David Wright launch a ball - for a double. But the park itself is stunning. It's similar to Coors Field, with sightlines from every part of the ballpark. You can watch the game while standing in line for your hot dog. And, the Mets let you walk around in - or look into - every level of the park, rather than forcing you into your ticketed seats (like the White Sox do to upper deckers). Even sitting in the upper deck, The Men had a great view.

The food was average for baseball food and the prices weren't outrageous. The staff there was exceptionally friendly, which goes against some of New York's reputation. And all of the items in the gift shop came out to even dollar amounts so the lines moved faster, which was sort of ingenious.

The only downsides to Citi Field was the surprising lack of baseball history in the stadium. There was very little to commemorate the Mets' two World Series championships, and no team artifacts or tributes to the great Mets. Matt had the feeling those will be added in the future, during special events. (Tom Seaver Day!)

The Mets were generous about keeping the stadium open, even after a night game so The Men got to walk down behind home plate and visit the Big, Big Apple. The Apple used to emerge from the ground of Shea when Mets' players homered, and it has been transported to Citi Field where you can take a picture with it. After that, Matt got to run the bases of Shea Stadium, which are marked in the parking lot.

Overall, a nice park and only going to get better.

So, Matt's baseball stadium total remains at 12, because Matt's goal is to visit the stadium of every team, not every stadium ever. (Matt's dad has been to many more, including a bunch of retired stadiums.

Here's Matt's ratings of the fields he's visited:
First tier: Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox), Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles) and PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Second tier, and close behind: Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals), Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers), Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)
Third tier, still close behind: Coors Field (Colorado Rockies), Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers), Citi Field (Mets)
Fourth tier and further back: Shea Stadium (New York Mets), U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox), Yankee Stadium (New York Stinkees)
Fifth and this is a bad stadium: Metrodome (Minnesota Twins).
You can read ESPN Page 2's else review of all these stadiums right here.

Lynne and Matt plan to add two new stadiums to the list this weekend, so reports will be posted here soon!

I won't even type fast

As Matt writes this, he is also taking the online traffic school class from Waubonsee Community College. It is possibly one of the worst things Matt has ever experienced.

The guy reads every word on the screen so you can't speed up. OK, so that's probably a metaphor for what got Matt into this problem. But still.
Matt hates when the man says, "Let's have some fun!" It is a dirty lie.
The program asked Matt to name five people he cared about to illustrate how important it is to be aware of other drivers around you. Matt was afraid they were going to give hypotheticals involving these people in accidents. Matt put Richard J. Daley, David Wright, Jack, Ichiro and Ringo Starr. They were fine.

Did you know that there were 1.5 million accidents involving deer in 2003? (Then why aren't they taking an Avoiding Cars online course?) Elk are also the cause of many accidents. Or so we are told.

Matt will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever speed again. He swears.

Can't tell the players without a scorecard!

Scoooooorecards! Getch yur scoooorecards here!

A few people mentioned they couldn't get to all the tables to see all the centerpieces, so we'll post the line-up cards here.

Lynne and Matt chose players they had some connection to - like a favorite player, or a player who excelled in a game they attended. And, as often as possible, they tried to connect that player to someone sitting at the table - sometimes more directly than others, as you'll see.
(All the cards on the centerpieces were from Matt's collection, except for Ryan Theriot because Matt burns every Cubs card he gets.)

TABLE 1 - Pee Wee Reese: The captain played in 10 All-Star games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984, by the Veteran’s Committee. Reese was one Matt’s grandpa’s favorite players on his fave team, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

TABLE 2 - Ryan Theriot: Since his debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2005, Theriot has found a way to keep himself in the lineup. He’s having one his best season’s yet, batting over .300. He’s Lynne’s favorite Cubbie. She’s often heard saying, “Can’t quiet The Riot.”

TABLE 5 - David Wright: This Gold Glove slugger is one of Matt’s favorites. On July 16, 2006, Matt and his dad enjoyed watching the Mets score 11 runs in the sixth inning against the Cubs, capped by David Wright’s long two-run homer.

TABLE 9 - Ted Williams: Teddy Ballgame has nearly the best offensive numbers ever, despite two stints in the Marines as a fighter pilot. Of the 900 pictures Matt took before seeing a game at Fenway, at least one was in front of the Splendid Splinter’s statue.

Table 12 - Shawon Dunston: The Cubs shortstop with the rocket arm became famous when the "Shawn-o-meter" appeared at Wrigley Field, tracking his batting average. Shawon was one of Megan Hanley's favorite players.

TABLE 14 - Ernie Banks: The slugging shortstop nicknamed Mr. Cub was twice the National League Most Valuable Player, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977. He was also one of Mrs. Hanley’s favorite players on that ill-fated 1969 Cubbies squad.
TABLE 14 - Gil Hodges: After a great career with the Dodgers, Hodges took over as Mets manager. On Sept. 10, when his team passed the Cubs in that fateful 1969 season, Mark Hanley was at the game in Shea and Diane Majewski was at Wrigley. It’s fate!
This was the only split table. With Matt's mom (the Cubs fan) and Matt's Dad (the Mets fan) both seated at Table 14, they couldn't risk a riot.

TABLE 16 - Jack Perconte: The slick-fielding infielder wore #16 in his one season with the Indians. He was twice MVP at Murray State. He’s married to The Rev. Linda Misewicz-Perconte, who officiated Lynne and Matt’s wedding. He also enjoys reading.
Yep, it's true and Mr. Perconte was seated at his own table. Incidentally, that note about his love for reading came from the back of his 1985 Topps card. You can't make stuff like that up!

TABLE 18 - Darryl Strawberry: As a kid, Matt worshipped this lean Mets slugger. In a game against the Cubs, while the crowd chanted ‘Daaa-ryl’, Matt saw him hit one out of Wrigley. Sadly, ‘The Straw’ turned out not to be the best role model for young men.

TABLE 21 - Roberto Clemente: Growing up in West Virginia, the Pirates were the closest baseball team. Barry Seago got to watch Clemente fly around the bases and make rifle throws at Forbes Field. The four-time batting champ finished with exactly 3,000 hits.

TABLE 24 - Joe Crede: This power-hitting, smooth-fielding third baseman is at his best in the clutch, winning the 2005 ALCS MVP for the Chicago White Sox. Joe Crede also happens to be the favorite player of Mrs. Lynne Hanley.

TABLE 25 - Jim Thome: When Thome hit his 500th home run to win the game Sept. 16, 2007, Lynne and Matt were there. Matt was so excited he nearly cried. On an unrelated note, the Peoria native looks remarkably like Buzz Lightyear.

TABLE 27 - Vlad Guerrero: Matt can't find this one, but the fact was something about how this hard-hitting Angel hit a home run at Matt's bachelor party and Lynne's bachelorette party.

TABLE 28 - Matt Hanley: This very light-hitting and average fielding second baseman hit a robust .308 in 1991 with 7 hits, 4 RBIs and no homers. Sadly, the Big League offers never materialized and he retired to life of obscure writing.

TABLE 30 - Ken Griffey Jr.: Matt, Dave, Angela and Adam were in the first row behind home plate when Griffey and Sammy Sosa - both with 500 homers - faced off at Wrigley Field. Sosa went deep to become the Cubs all-time home run leader.

TABLE 31 - Greg Maddux: In 2006, Alex invited Matt to Wrigley to watch Maddux face fellow 300-game winner Roger Clemens, the first time in 106 years that 300-game winners faced off against each other.

TABLE 32 - Manny Sanguillen: This likable catcher was a mainstay on the ‘We Are Family’ Pirates teams of the early 1970s. When Matt visited PNC Park in 2006, Sanguillen was sitting in centerfield greeting fans. Because he apparently had nothing else to do.

TABLE 41 - Tom Seaver: ‘Tom Terrific’ was Mark Hanley’s favorite. When Seaver was traded, Mark wrote the Mets a letter, vowing to never come back. He didn’t break the promise until 2007, when his son took him. Matt later got to interview Seaver.

TABLE 42 - Curtis Granderson: This University of Illinois graduate was patrolling centerfield when Matt and his dad visited Comerica Park on Father’s Day, 2008. Granderson, who was not fazed by actor Gene Hackman sitting in the stands that day, hit a single and a triple.
TABLE 45 - Bobby Jenks: In 2005, the burly righty became the first rookie to save the clinching game of a World Series. Lynne, Matt and Barry love to see big ‘ole Bobby Jenks coming in to the song: ‘Here comes the boom!’ A Sox win is sure to follow.

TABLE 47 - Tom Glavine: On Aug. 5, 2007, while with the New York Mets, the lefty won his 300th game, vs. 197 losses. While he beat the Cubs 8-3 that day Lynne, Matt, Mr. Seago and Laura Seago cheered him on.

TABLE 53 - Moose Skowron: When he came up in 1953, Moose wore #53. He went on to hit eight World Series homers, won five rings and was inducted to the Polish-American Hall of Fame. Later, Matt, his dad and grandpa met him in a Hoffman Estates video store.

TABLE 72 - Carlton Fisk: Fisk wore 72 while with the White Sox, reversing his Red Sox number. Matt has more than 100 of the Hall of Fame catcher’s cards. Matt got to interview “Pudge” when the Field Museum opened a new Hall of Fame exhibit.

Jose Reyes, Ichirio, Jonathan Papelbon and Todd Helton just missed the cut. Should have hustled a little more!

All-Star voting and All-Star seating?

Lynne and Matt have a few more wedding posts to get up before The Big Day, but meanwhile they thought they'd use this opportunity to make a public service announcement.
Through Thursday, you can vote to add one more player to the All-Star roster of the National and American leagues. This is a very important decision because the league that wins the All-Star game gets home field in the World Series, which could be key when the Mets face off against the White Sox for all the marbles in October.
So, go here and vote. You can vote up to 25 times. And, you know, Matt would never tell you who to vote for (Nader) and how to live your life (quietly) but if you wanted to vote for Jermaine Dye and David Wright 25 times, then Matt would have to consider giving you priority seating at the church.
You know, no promises, but it would happen for sure.

Happy birthday to Matt!

When Matt was around 24, he came up with a brilliant plan. He started telling everyone he was a year older than he actually was. Then, when he turned 30 - and everyone was telling him old he was, boo hoo hoo, Matt would suddenly pop out his driver's license.
"Aha!" Matt would exclaim. "I have been tricking you! For I, Matt Hanley, am only 29! Bwwwa-ha-ha-ha!"
And for a while, Matt really had it going. He even mixed up his Mom who, after all, was there when Matt was born. But Matt started to get confused, too, so the plan was scrapped.
Somehow, Matt turns (well, turned) 30 today, for real. Whatever 30 feels like, Matt certainly doesn't feel that way. He feels like a young, spring chicken.
Except on the days when he's sore. And the days when he falls asleep at 8:30. And the days when he can't hear too good. And the days when he forgets to
30? Really?
Matt and Lynne are running a road race this morning, just so Matt can prove he's still a mover and a shaker. Sadly, Matt has to move up to the next age group. That's OK, 25-29 was for wimps, anyhow.

The first 30 years have been great to Matt. Ran a few marathons, hiked a few canyons, went to a few baseball games, wrote a few stories.
But the next 30 will be better!

Matt finally asks The Big Q: an inside look

So, here's the great irony in preparing to ask The Big Question. You want this person to trust you. You want them to want to spend the rest of their life with you. You want to "cement the relationship," as Matt once so eloquently said.
But in the weeks leading up to The Big Question, you - or, in this case, Matt - tell lie after lie after lie. After fib. After half-truth. After fiction...
"Work was awful today, Lynne. I was there so late. They're slave drivers!" (Actual activity: Matt telling his parents The Big News.)
"They're keeping me here late again today. Darn bosses." (Really: Matt making sure that Lynne's parents are OK with his occasionally odd, but always well-intentioned, behavior.)
"I've got to go to Walgreens for toothpaste. Right now. No, that's not weird." (In real life: Getting ring cleaned.)
"I'll take Jack, the dog who likes to bite me, for a walk." (Honestly: Matt getting ice cream. It's stressful lying so much!)
Anyhow, there were all sorts of tasks that had to be done before The Big Question was laid out there, so a lot of time was spent hustling around, then trying to come up with intricate lies that didn't intersect or conflict with previous lies.
It was sort of awful doing so many things that were All About Lynne, and she had no part in any of them.
But, now the lies are over. Truly. Matt swears. On the life of former Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk.
Ahem.

Above, a liar who does not share his ice cream.

So, you probably want to know how Matt asked The Big Question. Well, it was a crafty scheme all the way, if Matt does say so himself. (Which he does, because Lynne isn't typing any of this.)
The goal was to take Lynne out on a canoe trip since she loves to be outdoors and Matt and Lynne first met on canoes (a story for another post). So, after hiding The Ring (originally Lynne's grandmother's) in a zipped pocket, in a Zip-Lock bag, inside a Q-Tip box (don't ask, Matt's paranoid) they shoved off into the Fox River.

Here's Lynne and Matt before leaving - she suspects nothing. But eagle-eyed readers can already see the streams of sweat drenching Matt's first three layers of shirts.



Matt was ready to find the most romantic spot on the 8 mile stretch. In his sights were a series of three islands the guide had mentioned were good places to get out and hike around.
First island: too soon. They'd only been paddling 15 minutes. Matt needed to get his heart rate down.
Second island: too rocky. Deemed, by Matt, too hard to dock a canoe. Also, the heart rate thing.
Third island: perfect! Matt's ready. He's checking access to The Ring, preparing The Words, looking for a non-muddy place to kneel.
Lynne says she doesn't want to stop. She wants to keep going.
What to do? What to do? Don't want to risk a fight. Keep paddling. Heart rate way up.

Now, Matt is scouring the shore for a really, really romantic spot. There must be song birds, skywriters, maybe Tom Jones singing in a bush somewhere.
But it's private property.
Or a pontoon boat is going by loudly.
Or Lynne thinks a rock on shore looks like a scary face. Bad omen.
Suddenly, Lynne and Matt reach the only known mile marker on the river: a bridge at 5-1/2 miles. Matt is really sweating now. They got here much faster than he planned! Panic! Danger Will Robinson! Danger!
Then, ahead, a rocky outcropping at a bend in the river. Matt is full speed ahead. "Lynne, I gotta stretch out my back." Hurry. Paddle! Let's go! (Lynne, interior: "He must have to go to the bathroom.")
Lynne and Matt find a place to pull over.
Lynne: "It's too muddy here. I'm sinking."
Matt: Just get up on the rocks!
"These are new shoes."
Get on the rocks, let's go.
"Is the boat going to float away?'
It's fine, hon. Just go. We don't need a boat.
"Matt, what is this? Leaves of three."
Just don't step in it; you'll be fine. (Matt, interior: "Need a place to kneel, place to kneel, place to kneel. Don't want to sink into mud when I kneel; bad karma.)
At this point, Matt is practically dragging Lynne over fallen trees, discarded coolers, slippery rocks, until they find The Perfect Spot. (Except that later an apple did fall on Lynne's head, with no permanent damage occurring.)
Matt: "Cough. Ahem. Cough. So, this is a pretty good adventure."
Lynne: "Um, yeah."
Matt: "Want to go on another adventure? A long one? A really good one?"
Lynne: "Uhh." (interior: "Oh my god. This is really happening. He finally got his act together.")
Now, this is a tip for those of you planning to propose while canoeing. It will be very tempting - possibly even excruciatingly enticing - to use a funny proposal line. It's understandable. For instance, you consider:
- Dear, would you like to paddle down the river of life with me?
- Honey, it's sink or swim time. If I throw the life preserver of love, will you pull me in?
- Cutie pie, I don't want you to be the one that got away. Can I reel you in? (This one only applies if you're also fishing off the canoe.)
- Sweetheart, I can get married. Canoe?
Resist the urge to say these things. Matt did.

He wasn't nervous until the last possible second and then he flubbed through the lines, the main point being: He would be incredibly proud, extremely honored and happy beyond comprehension if Lynne would agree to marry him. You know what she said. (A stunned and happy yes.)
Ironically, while they were sitting there talking about all the things that led up to The Big Question, (Lynne: "Oh, I get it - we're on a canoe.") at least three times an airplane buzzed no more than 150 feet over their head. Later, Lynne couldn't even remember hearing it. She must have been too worried about the poison ivy.


Here's Lynne and Matt at the end of the more-interesting-than-usual canoe trip. Does Lynne look happier? Or just in shock?
Apparently, somewhere along the river, Matt's long sleeved shirt melted completely off his body. And he said he wasn't nervous.
Also, please notice the subtle homage to American Gothic. It's very subtle.


But, there was one surprise left: a party with some friends. Matt and Lynne will post more about that later. Right now, they have caterers to haggle over icing prices with.