Ticket scalping

Singer Miley Cyrus announced that her upcoming tour will be paperless, meaning that Ticketmaster will only offer e-tickets in an attempt to thwart ticket scalpers. Other anti-scalping technologies will be implemented at each venue as well.

My experience has taught me that there are two kinds of ticket scalpers.

There is the guy whose wife's cousin couldn't go to the game, so he is stuck with an extra ticket. He is wearing khaki shorts with his polo shirt neatly tucked in. Footwear consists of penny loafers and no socks.

He tells everyone else in his party to go ahead into the stadium and he will sell the ticket. His wife will think he is such a sweet guy. The reality is he doesn't want her to witness the pathetic display that is about to happen.

He holds the ticket up in the air, but does not say anything. Scared out of his mind, he will sell the ticket to the first person who approaches him. The guy walks away feeling like a rebel, a bad-boy. The misses will have his wine cooler ready when he meets her at the stadium bar.

The "professional" ticket scalpers are the guys you see with a sign in one hand and 50 tickets in the other. On the back of their sign will be a seating chart. This is to show you how great the seats are.

If they do not have anything that you want, their buddy down the block will certainly have your perfect seat. He will walk you down the street to another guy with a crooked baseball hat and clothes big enough for an elephant.

They also know where all ATM machines in the area are located.

Is this American capitalism at its finest? Or is this the way that many fans get screwed out of going to games?

If someone in your party is unable to attend a game at the last minute, shouldn't you be able to sell that ticket? However, should a ticket broker be allowed to buy up hundreds of tickets just to walk down the street and double the price for a family to see a ballgame?

Maybe Ticketmaster and Miley Cyrus are on to something. But how do you manage it? How do you monitor the situation without checking each person's identification as they enter the venue?

I really don't have an answer. I believe in the free market. I also believe that kids should be able to see their favorite singer or sports team even if their parents don't have six figures in the bank.

Meeting Red Dawson

Marshall University's Great American Thunderfest kicked off yesterday in Cincinnati. Fans, friends and alumni gathered at Great American Ball Park to watch and/or participate in numerous activities.

Former Marshall star and current Bengals safety Chris Crocker threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

As far as I am concerned, the highlight of the day came as my family was having lunch at the Machine Room.

We were sitting at a table overlooking leftfield. Just as we were finishing our food and gathering our stuff, a man leans over and asks if we are fixin' to leave. At first, I did not recognize the man. He asked my son's name, then proceeded to sign a picture and hand it to him. I looked at the photo.

Red Dawson.

I shook his hand and said what a pleasure it was to meet him. He could not have been nicer.

If you have never seen the movie, We Are Marshall, check it out. If you do not know the story, prepare to be immersed in a tremendously emotional journey.

The Star-Spangled Banner

At the Reds game on Sunday, we were having lunch in the outdoor area of the Machine Room. It is a little patio area overlooking the field at Great American Ball Park.

The public address announcer notifies everyone that the National Anthem is about to begin. I stand up, remove my hat and place it over my heart. My four-year old son does the same. My wife and six-year old daughter both stand and put their hands over their hearts.

There was a couple seated next to us that didn't even stand up. There was a table of four people behind us that couldn't stop stuffing their face for the three minutes it takes to sing the song.

Of course, I would never expect someone to stand that is physically unable to do so. My mother is in a wheelchair. She will look at the flag with her hand over her heart and sing proudly.

Several weeks ago we were inside the Machine Room sitting at our table. As the National Anthem was being performed, the server brought our food. I stood still with my eyes on the flag and am proud to say that my family did the same. The server paused for a moment, thinking I would take the plates. He then leaned around us and put the plates on the table.

Was I being a jerk?

How far we distanced ourselves from the unity that this country had eight years ago is amazing to me.

Sports played a big role in returning our lives to a state of partial normalcy after the attacks on September 11, 2001. It allows people to forget about the real world for a few hours and cheer on their favorite team or player. Besides, what exemplifies being an American more than a sunny afternoon with your family at a ballpark?

Please feel free to express your opinions on this subject. This is something I feel very strongly about. I have taught my children to respect the flag and what it stands for. I have taught them that we should be proud to be Americans.

Both of my grandfathers served in the military. My father did as well. I did not, but have tremendous respect for those who did, do and will.

All soldiers and their families make a sacrifice. Some make the ultimate sacrifice. The only sacrifice I am asking people to make is to stand up and shut up for three minutes.

I just might have the answer

So, the steroid problem continues. Manny Ramirez has been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.

The difference here is that, given his history, I don't think Manny Ramirez really cares. We have all heard the phrase "Manny being Manny". We have watched him lazily go after a ball in the outfield. We have seen him walk to first base, only to have the ball hit the top of the wall and him end up with a long single. The contract negotiations this spring was just to get out of spring training workouts. Frankly, I am tired of his act.

To be fair, I must note that Manny Ramirez claims that the substance he tested positive for was for a personal medical condition. He has also supposedly apologized to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Please excuse me if I don't shed a tear.

I am not sure what the policy is across the United States. But in Ohio, people convicted of drunk driving have a yellow license plate with red letters.

Hmmmmm.....

Instead of suspending Manny Ramirez, make him play without pay. Also, make him wear a yellow uniform.

Do this from now on, and go all out. Head to toe. Yellow hat/helmet, jersey, pants, socks and shoes. From now on, any player who tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs must wear the yellow uniform!

Who suffers from Ramirez being gone for 50 games? The Dodgers and their fans. Make him play in the yellow uniform. If he doesn't give the expected effort, add a day to the suspension.

You can't take away his money. You can't take away his ability to hit a baseball. But you can take away some of his pride. Point at him. Laugh at him. Embarrass him. Humiliate him.

Here we go again...

Manny suspended 50 games for PED use

Ramirez biggest name to be sidelined by MLB's drug policy

LOS ANGELES -- Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez for 50 games on Thursday for use of performance enhancing drugs.

Major League Baseball made an official announcement shortly after noon ET.

Ramirez, who turns 37 on May 30, will begin the suspension with Thursday night's Dodgers-Nationals game. He would be eligible to return around July 3, depending on rainouts.

Ramirez -- an 12-time All-Star who immediately became the face of the Dodgers franchise upon his acquisition last summer -- is the biggest name player to be issued a 50-game suspension under the MLB's more stringent drug policy that was adopted in 2006.

According to the drug policy, a player receives a 50-game suspension for a first positive drug test, a 100-game suspension for a second positive test and a lifetime ban for a third positive test. The suspensions are without pay.

Ramirez re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this spring to a two-year contract that was to pay him $25 million.

Ramirez has been a key component in leading the Dodgers to the best record in baseball this year. In 27 games, he is batting .348 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. He is among league leaders in slugging and on-base percentage and has become the biggest drawing card the Dodgers have had since Fernando Valenzuela, even recently having a portion of the left-field box seats rechristened "Mannywood."

Juan Pierre would be the immediate replacement for Ramirez in left field, while the Dodgers are expected to promote rookie Xavier Paul from Triple-A Albuqueruque to replace Ramirez on the active roster.