George Carlin – The Sports Fan Project

**^{I’ve been to a lot of ballparks, but I’m unsure the view is any better than this one from the final Saturday of the regular season at Oracle Park in San Francisco.}**

(Reminder: You’re receiving this edition of Inside Baseball because you’re a subscriber to The Sports Fan Project. It’s my way of giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what’s happening [and being planned] here and on our podcast, Conversations with Sports Fans. If you know of others who might enjoy our content, please invite them to subscribe. The link is in the right-hand column on the website.)

Charlie Brown on Halloween — **^{I feel ya, Charlie Brown.}**

Lately, it seems as though I’ve been collecting rejection notices from various ticket lotteries/ballots I’ve entered at about the same rate that Charlie Brown received rocks when he trick-or-treated.

The 2027 Masters? Hello Rae’s Creek!

The 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews? My entry was, apparently, out of bounds on the “Road Hole!”

The 2027 NCAA Men’s Final Four (in my home city, no less)? Airball!

The 2027 Wimbledon Championships? That’s a double-fault, my friend! It doesn’t even notify you if your entry was successful (or rejected) until just before the tournament begins.

The only good news I’ve received in the past few months has come from the 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four, where I’m now the proud owner of a pair of tickets to the Friday semifinals and Sunday championship games in Columbus, OH.

So it’s off to the secondary market for that Men’s Final Four, hoping to keep my dream of attending both Final Fours simultaneously over four consecutive days in April.

Screenshot of the NCAA letting me know I was drawn to receive two 2027 Women's Final Four Tickets. — **^{Some success! The NCAA Women’s Final Four is accepting my presence:-)}**

Other Ticketing Trends and News

As someone who’s devoted an inordinate amount of time trying to secure tickets to sporting events across the globe for the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, I’m discovering a new trend.

The NCAA did it for each of its Final Fours this year (a full deposit several months in advance to enter the lottery), and now I’m seeing The Open Championship doing something similar.

Shortly after I received word about losing out on the 2027 Open at St. Andrews, I received an email from The Open inviting me to secure tickets to the 2028 Open at Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s for the mere price of 99 Pounds Sterling, which will allow me to skip the ballot and buy tickets and accommodations in advance. Graciously, if, in 21 months, I determine that I’m unable or unwilling to buy said tickets and lodging, they’ll refund by deposit … but I’m sure they’ll put that money to good use between now and then.

I have secured seats for a few more events on my journey to 80: the Battle of Alberta in Edmonton, the Maui Invitational, Duke vs. South Carolina women in Cameron Indoor Stadium (as part of what’s becoming a Tobacco Road Hoops Fest), the Daytona 500, and the Kentucky Derby (and Kentucky Oaks!).

The current get-in-the-door price for Super Bowl LXI is over $5,500, which is (well) outside my price range, so I’m holding out hope that my research on the best times to buy will deliver.

I Can’t Believe What I Did!

^{Our Waymo experience, clockwise from upper left: Mike going to retrieve his car; we were kept abreast of what was happening by the large display; the wheel makes it clear who was driving; clearly the robots had fun with the playlist for our ride; my view from the backseat.}

Late last month, as my friend Mike and I were finding our way from the Union Square part of San Francisco to Oracle Park for our second Dodgers-Giants game, we decided to try out a Waymo self-driving taxi. A first for both of us.

Surreal is probably the best way to describe it.

Mike did the heavy lifting by downloading the app and requesting the ride. On its first attempted pickup, traffic in the area was too heavy, so it took a lap around the block before stopping for us. After climbing in, we were given a tutorial by the disembodied voice and encouraged to sit back and relax.

A couple of observations:

As a passenger, you’re able to control the temperature and audio from the app. We chose to do neither, as it was a comfortable 70 degrees inside. The music selections, we felt, were a wink-wink, nudge-nudge moment. Check out the playlist during our 20-minute ride:
- “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum; “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” by Cutting Crew; “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell; “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat; “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon; and “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House.

There was a point during our ride where our car found itself in a left-turn-only lane. With a crowded lane to the right, it began to signal, but not finding a willing driver to let us in, it pulled up next to another Waymo and – I’m guessing here – the two vehicles communicated with one another, and we were allowed to change lanes. It was fascinating and probably more of a courtesy than would be afforded by a human driver.

I Can’t Believe What I Saw!

Nake Bike Riders — **^{Imagine our surprise when we saw all these cyclists passing in front of the Sey Hey Kid statue, many sans clothing!}**

Shortly after our Waymo dropped Mike and I off and as we approached Oracle Park, we both noticed a phalanx of bicyclists preparing to turn off of 3rd Street onto King Street in front of the Willie Mays Entrance.

Nothing seemd out of the ordinary until we did a double-take as we crossed King Street and noticed that the riders were naked!

Yes, easily 20 bike riders were tooling through the bustling streets outside Oracle Park devoide of clothing.

It was not until I was comfortably seated that I was able to find out what was happening.

It was the San Francisco World Naked Bike Ride that invited riders to “bare as you dare” and ride to promote the following:

Environmental Protest – The global movement aims to highlight human vulnerability and protest against oil and fossil fuel dependency, advocating for alternative, clean transportation
Traffic & Cyclist Safety – By stripping down, cyclists creatively illustrate just how exposed and defenseless riders and pedestrians are against automobile traffic
Body Positivity & Freedom – The event serves as a celebration of body acceptance, individuality, and the freedom of self-expression

Time Out for a Video … or Three

ESPN’s NHL Lead In … Chef’s Kiss!

^{While I’d love to have access to my neighboring nation’s hockey coverage, I must say ESPN consistently does a lovely job showcasing the game during and, as was the case in this lead-in to opening night, prior to the action.}

Baseball vs. Football

^{It’s October which means we have a confluence of all the sports, but mainly it’s baseball post-season and NFL regular-season that most are focusing on these days. George Carlin’s stand up bit comparing the two is still unrivaled. (Many thanks to my first cousin once removed, Barb Lawrie, for remindming me about Carlin’s routine.)}

Who is on First?

^{In my opnion, this is still one of the best pieces of wordplay … ever! That it also happens to use baseball as a subtext only makes it more enjoyable. There is a TV in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, that runs this on a loop. Each time I visit I make a point of watching the entire routine by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.}

Year-End Podcast Guests Sought

My goal is to host another year-end Conversations with Sports Fans bonus episode (here’s a link to last year’s) that features several voices that discuss one of the following topics (your choice):

Your best sports fan moment from 2026? Why was that?
Your goal, as a sports fan, for 2027? Why is that?
If you had a magic wand and could change one thing about sports/the sports fan experience, what would it be and why?

I’d love to start with you, the subscribers and supporters of The Sports Fans Project. If you think you might have a spare 10-15 minutes between now and mid-December, please email me at hilldouglast@gmail.com so that we can set up a time to record.

The Most Touching Thing I’ve Read Recently

Mason Van Der Heyden and his Matthew Mayich Jersey — **^{St. Louis Blues’ fan Mason Van Der Heyden poses with the Matthew Mayich jersey he purcahsed in 2024. (Photo by Jeremy Rutherford/The Athletic)}**

I know, the last thing you probably want from me is something else to read, but I aim to fuel your frustration;-)

In August, an Arizona State University men’s hockey player, Matthew Mayich, collapsed during a grueling, military-style outdoor workout in the 104-degree heat. He remains unresponsive in a hospital. (If you’re unfamiliar with the story, this Yahoo!Sports article can bring you up to speed.)

Mayich, a defenseman, was drafted by the NHL’s St. Louis Blues in 2023’s sixth round. As is common with hockey draftees and other prospects, he participated in a handful of prospect games with the Blues. A St. Louis fan was shopping the clearance rack at the team authentics’ store in 2024 and purchased a Mayich game-worn jersey.

The rest I’ll let you read for yourself in this Athletic article here. (A tissue or two might come in handy as well:-(