Browns Should Not Draft A QB at #7
March 17, 2010No QB at #7? OK, Then When *Should* The Browns Take One?
March 17, 2010We like to think of WaitingForNextYear as more than just a website, but a community of like minded individuals banding together to discuss our favorite sports teams. And as a community, we the editors of this site are often humbled by the great ideas and leads that are sent to us by our faithful readers. On this occasion, one of our loyal and long time readers and commenters, SummitOmar, just returned from a trip to Goodyear for Spring Training and offered to give us a Do’s and Don’ts guide to the fans’ experience in Arizona. The idea was too good to pass up, and SummitOmar delivered a great guide to his experience there. Thank you to SummitOmar for the submission and we hope you all enjoy it.
THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF SPRING TRAINING IN GOODYEAR
DO get to the Ballpark by noon. (Unless you want to park for free then get there before 11 but the park does not open till 11:30) This is the best time for autographs, especially if you can recognize the players by face instead of jersey as they are more responsive when asked by first name. As always be polite!
DON’T think there are any discounts in the Team Shop. The Team Shop is shared with the Reds and the Indians half was mostly t-shirts. An example of the pricing, for a decent golf shirt it was $55.
DO show up with an appetite. There is an interesting collection of food at the ballpark from Hot Dog Nation with its Cleveland Dog (BBQ sauce, bacon, onions, and cheese) to Papa John’s pizza to Mexican food.
DON’T jump in front of a grandmother and steal a ball when she was about to get a baseball thrown to her by her favorite player. Seriously don’t be THAT guy!
DO sit in either section 117 in seats 1-5 or 118 in seats 20 on up. Obviously in the closest row, row A. This is the area for autographs. It is right next to the Indians dugout and the only reliable area to get autographs.
DON’T lie about your deceased husband to get Grady to sign a jersey and then show up at the next game wearing the jersey you were supposed to donate to Relay for Life in your husband’s honor bragging how you got to go to the practice facility and meet him and get his autograph. It will only upset everyone who tried to help you get the autograph.
DO bring your camera. The view of the field with the mountains in the background is awesome.
DON’T worry about being in a promotion. All of the sponsors are in Arizona and you won’t have time to use what you win.
DO meet the staff around the park. They are extremely nice and friendly, unlike some of the staff in major league ballparks.
DON’T get in Manny Acta’s way when he is in signing mode! I saw a 5-6 year old kid with a blank jersey that Acta put his number and name on. The kid did not look pleased.
DO stay at the Holiday Inn. There were Indians minor leaguers all around as this was one of their hotels.
DON’T drive at rush hour. Every lane is clogged with the elderly who no longer know how to drive.
DO eat at In-N-Out Burger and order off of the secret menu. Seriously one of the best fast food places and it is only out west. I enjoyed the 2×4 and animal fries.
DON’T try to take home plate if you are allowed to run the bases after the game. You will be tackled.
DO take at least two days to head up to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. I cannot recommend this enough; they are both absolutely breathtaking and unforgettable sights!
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As a current California resident – I can attest to the wonder that is In-n-Out Burger. The animal fries are incredible. A minor suggestion, get the 2X4 with extra toast.
DO ask Kerry Wood if he is making daily marks on his wall for every day he’s stuck in that uni.
DON’T ask Jhonny how many points that eye surgery he pushes has added to his batting average.
I spy a Chief Wahoo on the jumbotron. Excellent.
DO hang out in Tempe at least a day/night or two if you are a single guy. Incredible…
DON’T be a drunk creepy old letch when hanging out in Tempe.
Also the Sun Devils mascot Sparky is one of the coolest…
The DON’T about Manny Acta signing the kids jersey was priceless. I enjoyed the whole list, though.
I was at an Indians/Tigers game a few years back at Comerica. Curtis Granderson caught the final out of an inning in Centerfield and was jogging into the tigers dugout along the thirdbase side, where I was sitting.
I stood up and started waving my arms for the ball, I was the only person standing in a 20 foot diameter. Granderson spotted me and tossed the ball to me…
Then, this dude who looked like a poor man’s Jim Carrey stood up and swatted at the ball trying unsuccessfully to catch it and sending it back onto the field….
I was upset, understandably. And made sure I told the guy what kind of a female he was for trying to catch the baseball like he was swatting flies….
Do schedule your fantasy baseball draft as part of a Spring Training Weekend. Condos around the area are pretty inexpensive for 8-12 guys/people.
Do re-route your plans for nightlife from Tempe to Scottsdale. Scottsdale is a mecca for 21-30 year old models/wanna be models/nice young ladies who take advantage of the wonderful plastic surgery options in the Phoenix area.
Do check out other spring training games. If you’re a die hard Indians fan and want to make the trek or stay in Goodyear for a weekend that’s fine. But if you want to experience other stadiums and see a little better “scenery” when it comes to the Ladies hit up Scottsdale (Giants), Tempe (Angels) or Peoria (Pads and M’s). Scottsdale has lawn seats that sell out before the regular seats and it’s pretty much just a huge party.
Do rent a car from Advantage. If you need to rent a car while you’re out there Advantage has the cheapest rates.
Do find some friends in the Phoenix area. It’s always good to stay for free somewhere.
Do try to find some Suzanne’s hot sauce. I like a lot of different hot sauces, but you’ll find excuses to eat certain foods just to eat it with the sauce.
Do try every kind of dog at Hot Dog Nation. The stadium employees at Hot Dog Nation make sure they give you a ton of toppings and get the dogs fast. The line might look huge, but it goes quick.
Don’t speed and Don’t drink and drive. Arizona has speed traps and certain areas with speed cameras. You can get 3 speeding tickets and not even know it until a week later when you get the tickets in the mail. Arizona also has the harshest DUI laws.
Been down there a few times over spring break for spring training as its an easy drive from Denver. Went out there last year for the first year the Tribe was there and got to see them a few times. This list is spot on about everything. Especially where to sit (sat in/near that same section, exactly where you’re talking about), In-N-Out, and rush hour. Rush hour out there is during all of the games though. Its kinda unavoidable. Its so bad, one car exploded on the highway in frustration (I have the pictures of it on fire to prove it).
Also, as #7 mentioned – Scottsdale is where its at. Near the ASU campus, there are clubs and girls as far as the eye can see.
If you can too, get out and see a Suns game. Afterwards, go across the street to Jackson’s on 3rd. I don’t remember much of it, but there were a bunch of players from both teams there and according to my camera, my buddy and I took care of business. Place is badass, and Phoenix is down to party.
There are places of extremes, from the college town to the old folks towns, but the scenery is awesome anywhere you go. I’m considering moving down there this fall because its my 2nd favorite place to visit behind Cleveland.
At #1 – I tried with extra toast and the bun was just a little too difficult to chew, maybe they over did it but I definitely tried it.
I kept the list PG as this website is but man the women there… Now I need napkin for all this drool.
The closest club/bar scene to Goodyear seemed to be in Glendale next to the Cardinals Stadium.
The guy who stole the bar story: See my grandmother loves Choo, so much that she bought a shirt that read It’s all about Choo! At this particular game I was able to get Choo to not only sign her shirt (as she wanted) but to take a photo with her which you see above. It was at this game that Choo catches the last out of an inning and is running towards the dugout. I stand and call for the ball with my grandmother. He makes eye contact and throws it on the run, and it was right on target when the guy 2 rows in front and about 4 seats to the right of me jumps up and steals the ball. Boy was my grandmother upset! Things were helped the next game when she participate in seniors stroll the bases. Except she gets to first base and she takes off like Lofton trying to steal second! She runs the bases with her arms up over her head as if she hit a homerun. She gets to third base and tries to go home and they wave her off, then she gets around the people and tries to take home anyways. I had to correct quickly to exit the field. As we left the officer there said it was good I stopped her because he would have had to tackle her.
Yes I came back with WAY too many stories. It was a fantastic trip and I highly recommend going.
Since I live in Arizona I’d say
Do check out Sedona. Beautiful scenery.
Do check out some of the fantastic food joints… In n Out is something to talk about, however there is a place in Downtown Tempe called Five Guys Burgers and Fries. hmmm good. I know they are out of the east coast but oh so good.
Don’t Drive on I-10 anywhere near 5:00 pm. Just murder that is.
Don’t go to Downtown Mesa… Unless you want a very boring experience.
Do check out the WM Phoenix Open 16h hole… Unreal and the Birds Nest.
@SummitOmar, thanks for the great post and so many personal experiences you share from spring training in Arizona. I hope to get there too one year. I laughed at the stories you told and hope to hear more when WFNY gets together again for a ball game like we did last year. Don’t forget to bring your photos with you when we all meet!!
Desert Wahoo, Go to downtown mesa on the first friday of any month in the evening. You’d be surprised about your boring comment, some are trying to change things but they are pretty good at keeping that a secret. See Motorycycles on Main on facebook for pictures of a not so boring Mesa.