Although the MLB All-Star Game and Statefarm Home Run Derby are not the most watched events in sports, I felt compelled to watch. Here are my favorite moments from the All-Star break.
1. David Ortiz getting booed during his introduction for the Home Run Derby followed by him asking Vernon Wells and Nick Swisher, "Why am I getting booed? Who did I kill?".
2. David Ortiz winning the Home Run Derby and then being cheered by all the same fans that booed him to begin the event. Classic bandwagon jumpers that booed him because he plays in the American League, not for their team, but won the event and got the respect he deserved at the end.
3. Nick Swisher fouling back the first pitch to begin his at bat in the first round followed by cheers from the fans and a nice laugh by Swisher at the plate and Alex Rodriguez even laughing in the announcers booth at the same time. Youkilis wouldn't have fouled off the first pitch.
4. Chris Berman, everything about him. Especially the fact that he's a fan of all the Boston area sports teams.
5. Seeing Mike Piazza get seriously upset about "time being called" when Bo Jackson tried using the hidden ball trick on him during the celebrity softball game after Bo pretended to be hurt by a misplayed ball at first base. Also the only part of the celebrity softball game that I watched after the Home Run Derby since I decided to see John Cena take on six guys at once on WWE Raw. It was intense to see Cena bleeding from the face while holding a chair to defend himself against six juice heads on a rampage.
6. Again, listening to all of the American League fans boo every Red Sox and Yankees player on the entire roster during the introductions. The unknowing fans may not have realized that those were the players that were battling for home field advantage for their league in the World Series. Not like the Angels would make it that far, but they showed no class in doing that.
7. Instead of being able to watch the entire game, I was lucky enough to flip back and forth and watch the final episode ever of MTV's The Hills and the season finale of The City followed by an hour long after-show of The Hills due to my love for the SportsFanGirl.
8. Watching Marlon Byrd and Jose Valverde sharing laughs during the final at bat of the top of the ninth, showing that baseball is fun even though the All-Star game was meaningful.
9. The All-Star Game ending, allowing us to relish in the fact that normal baseball will resume in two more days. Only one more day now!
Thanks to Al HikesAZ for the photo of David Ortiz at the Home Run Derby.
Thanks to Big Ed's Photos for the picture of John Cena.
