Home Run Derby!

I am usually meh about the home run derby. I like home runs well enough. They are exciting and fun to watch and can completely change a game. I just don't like all the focus put on homeruns.

I was living in San Francisco at the time of the Barry Bonds home run hoopla, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Also, I'd prefer a player who consistently gets on base to someone who gets flashy homeruns every once in a while.

At any rate, I got in from golf in the middle of the home run derby and decided to turn it on. Justin Morneau (Twins first-baseman) was in the derby, and I figured it would be fun to cheer him on. I missed him in the first round, but did catch Josh Hamilton's first round, which was *amazing*. You can read about it at ESPN. This was the first I'd heard of his life as a drug addict and turn-around. Really an inspiring story. In the end, Morneau won, although Hamilton is obviously the main story of the night. And Morneau recognized that, I thought his acceptance speech was very gracious.

Another highlight of the evening was when they interviewed Mauer. First, because the interviewer was a fancy lady in a skirt, and Mauer had this look on his face like he was a junior high kid and she was a high school cheerleader :) Second because he was talking about some volunteer work and one of the clips they showed was him and Nick Punto playing Wii at a retirement home. Seriously?? My time at retirement homes has mainly consisted of: serving lunch, serving coffee, playing bingo, quilting, wheeling people in wheelchairs, socializing, reading the newspaper aloud, and sitting in sunny rooms. I need to find these retirement homes with Wiis.

I'm glad I watched. And the AllStar game is tonight! I'm excited!