Matthew Arnold Stern » baseball

What I would have said

Matthew Arnold Stern — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:08:00 +0000

One of my duties as a Little League president is to give a speech at the Opening Day ceremony. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to be rained out for the second Saturday in a row. So, we had to cancel the ceremony. Here is what I would have said to the parents of Saddleback …

Calling All Angels

Matthew Arnold Stern — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:16:36 +0000

This year, my son’s Little League team is the Angels. Although I am an Orange County resident, there is a lot more to my relationship with the Angels than it just being the team in our community. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, so the Dodgers became my ball club. The Angels in …

Look what I found at the 99 Cents Only Store!

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:48:50 +0000

I’m not sure how happy Dave Winfield would be to see his book Making the Play: How to Get the Best of Baseball Back at the 99 Cents Only Store. It was one of the books I got from the library last summer when I was trying to figure out how to be a Little League president. …

Notes from The Opposite Field

Matthew Arnold Stern — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:55:10 +0000

A Jewish writer gets roped into leading his son’s troubled youth baseball league. That’s the story of The Opposite Field: A Memoir by Jesse Katz. It has also been my experience for almost a year and a half, so I knew this was a book I had to get. It must be a thing with …

A Jewish perspective on winning

Matthew Arnold Stern — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:22:55 +0000

It was a day of baseball that was both thrilling and frustrating. My son’s Winterball team played its best game this season, but the other team seemed to do better. So, when I opened my weekly newsletter from Aish.com, a story about the Jewish perspective on winning caught my attention. In short, the story said …

A batty decision

Matthew Arnold Stern — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:44:34 +0000

Deadspin.com (ESPN and the NBA’s favorite sports blog) reports an $850,000 settlement against Louisville Slugger in the accidental death of an 18-year-old baseball player. The pitcher was killed when he couldn’t react to a come-backer in time. A Montana jury found the bat manufacturer liable. It’s terrible to see a young baseball player get killed, but …

So, who do you like in the World Series?

Matthew Arnold Stern — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:16:32 +0000

As a Dodgers fan, I should wish a pox on both the Yankees and Phillies in the World Series. At least, I should hope they freeze to death trying to play a summer game in November. (Seriously, Bud? You were probably wishing for a Freeway Series in sunny Southern California, weren’t you?) If you followed …

Lessons from a She-Fan (Updated)

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:33:38 +0000

I just finished reading and enjoying Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankeesby Jane Heller. You don’t have to be a Yankees fan to enjoy this book. In fact, we Angels fans can savor knowing that our team is now just below the Red Sox in the list …

Was the Adenhart tribute kosher?

Matthew Arnold Stern — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:31:30 +0000

Celebrating Angels douse Nick Adenhart’s jersey after winning AL West title (photo courtesy Gawker.com). Inappropriate? Ironic? Or a tribute? Before we judge the Angels pouring alcohol on the jersey of someone killed by a drunk driver, there’s one thing to consider: Not all drinking is the same. I belong to a culture where alcohol (specifically …

Can Western Region do it again?

Matthew Arnold Stern — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:59:29 +0000

Once again, a Western Region team has a shot at winning the Little League World Series. Last year, Waipio, Hawaii won the championship. Now, Park View Little League of Chula Vista, California can bring it home. I’ve been very impressed with Park View. They had a thrilling come-from-behind victory over favored Warner Robbins in the semis. In …