Entry bubble Play Ball!

By: Colleen | April 02, 2008 | Category: Fun

Monday kicked off my favorite time of the year as a sports fan. It was Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park. baseball

Although the Phils dropped the home opener, it does nothing to diminish my excitement that baseball season is here.

Baseball is my favorite sport to watch in person (followed closely by college basketball and NFL football. On TV my favs are: college basketball, NFL football, college football, and then baseball...the differences in these two lists call for a another post entirely.)

Few things in life beat sitting in the warm sunshine on a clear afternoon with your friends and a hot dog, watching your favorite player crush a home run and your team ultimately winning the game.

Baseball has long been known as our "national pastime" and plays an important role in American history.

  • Each year, the President throws out the first pitch of the World Series
  • Franklin Roosevelt urged MLB to continue play during World War II to boost the spirit of the American people and to show resiliency
  • April 15, 2004 marked the first Jackie Robinson Day. This annual tradition serves as a reminder of when Jackie broke the color barrier—not just sending a message in sports, but society as well.
  • In the spring of 2001, President Bush opened the South Lawn of the White House for kids to play t-ball, keeping in the tradition of the "people's house."

Warm up your vocals and get ready to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," baseball is back!

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: baseball   colleen   national   pastime   president   series   sports   world  

 

Entry bubble March Madness

By: Colleen | March 19, 2008 | Category: Fun

bballFill in your brackets and gather 'round your office water cooler—the madness has arrived!

It's the time of year when loyalty to one's school runs especially deep, and bitterness lingers long after your team is eliminated. It is simultaneously one of the most unifying, yet dividing events of the year.

While nothing is more satisfying than seeing your favorite team move on to the next round (or winning the Big East championship) there are an amazing few minutes right before tip-off when everyone is on the same team and rivalry is forgotten.

Just after each team is announced the whole crowd stands as one and sings the National Anthem. Singing the "Star Spangled Banner" can be an emotional moment as it reminds Americans of their great country.

A memorable instance for me was the first PITT football game after 9/11. An American Flag covering the entire field was brought out as the sold-out Heinz Field all stood and sang with one voice. We lost that game, but it still remains one of my fondest college memories.

While we may be rooting for one of 65 teams as the Big Dance starts up tomorrow, there are always those few moments pre-game, that we're all on the same squad.

Who is in YOUR final 4?

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: american   anthem   basketball   flag   madness   march   national   team  

 

Entry bubble Go West, Young Man!

By: Sam | December 12, 2007 | Category: Travel

Recently, I saw the movie “Into the Wild,” which is a screen adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s acclaimed bestseller. The book tells the true story of Christopher McCandless who, after graduating from college, donates all his money to charity and heads on a journey out West.

When I read the book several years ago, I was not only struck by McCandless’ inner journey but also his outer one through the American West. It’s a part of the country that I haven’t really explored, but the spirit and scenery has always fascinated me. And seeing the breathtaking images of the Pacific Crest Trail and Denali National Park on the big screen only heightened my curiosity and sense of adventure.

If I truly wanted to “go west young man” (or lady in my case), where would I go and what would I want to see? At pueblo.gsa.gov, I found two helpful publications, National Park System Map and Guide and National Trails System Map and Guide. These full-color maps list activities at more than 300 parks, monuments, and historic sites, along with 17 national trails. They’re a great starting point for discovering all that our national parks and trails system have to offer.

Another great resource is USA.gov. Just typing “national parks” in the Search box gave me tons of quick links and images to help make my planning easier. You can find a national park by name, location, topic, or activity. This link is great for someone like me who likes to swim and hike but isn’t so into snow skiing. There’s also a link to National Register Travel Itineraries, which can take a lot of guesswork out of your planning.

Once you’re ready to explore, visit Recreation.gov to make reservations for campgrounds and tours and to buy an annual pass for national parks and federal recreational lands. If you aren’t able to take a trip sometime soon, don’t worry—you can still experience the wonder of our national parks with the National Park Service’s Soundscapes. Make sure to check out this sound clip of a bison in Yellowstone!

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: into   national   park   parks   pueblo.gsa.gov   recreation   service   the   travel   usa.gov   wild