Pacific Beauty

For those of us who didn't grow up by the ocean it is difficult to understand its beauty until you get a chance to really soak it in. I'm in Mexico at the moment on a trip covering the Jr Pan Am games in Ixtapa. As I right I am sitting 50 meters from the shoreline watching the waves crash.

Last night I slept with the balcony door open and I must admit, I slept better than I had in days.

I'm not sure what the attraction is but I think a person could stare at the ocean an entire day and never really feel like its boring. I find it a bit funny actually. It's just water. It's a big stretch of water actually.

I don't particularly enjoy going out great distances in the ocean. To be honest the idea of being so far from land that I can't see it makes me uneasy. I get the same feeling on airplanes when the in-seat gps shows that you are not within emergency landing distance of land (not that it would help). Yet I could sit in front of the ocean for hours and just enjoy it.

Personally I think it has something to do with the thought of the great unknown. What's out there kind of stuff. I don't want to go check or anything, but I will gladly sit and wonder while enjoying a cup of coffee.

The Blandness of America

Every time I visit the U.S. I notice more and more things that I simply didn't realize when I lived there. I know what you're thinking...duh! It is inevitable when one changes environments and returns to their old premises they will notice all the changes, mostly the negative ones.

On this trip I am enroute to Mexico for a tournament. The trip featured a one night layover in Miami with a connection in Houston the following day before arriving in Ixtapa, Mexico. While gliding over the scenic coast of the Gulf of Mexico I couldn't help but to notice the multitude of pre-fabricated homes built in neslted communities each featuring a cul de sac and manicured green lawns and nicely paved driveways. Growing up I rode my bicycle through neighborhoods like this thinking that this was where the rich people lived. Now I simply laugh at the notion.

I find it odd in a country where people at one time seemed so frightened of communism, that now they all live in a world where almost everything looks the same every place you go.

Every shopping center features Borders Books or Barnes and Noble, Starbucks or Caribou Coffee, Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren. Shopping malls lined with miles and miles of yellow painted parking spots sheltered by nothing.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy many of the beautiful conveniences and pleasures that these places have to offer. I'm one to visit starbucks.com before any trip to find the nearest location so I can consume my favorite mocha or Estema blend and I can't get enough of chipotle's chicken burittos when I make a stop in the States.

My question is, what the hell happened? Or has it always been like this and I simply never new it? Where's the flavor, uniqueness, or coziness? America is a culture bubbling with ingenuity and creativity but I can't help but to think that it is difficult to believe the creative mind of another Picasso will emerge from the blandness of one of America's suburbs.

My Top Picks

I apologize for the lack of entries lately. I've been busy looking for the grey ghost of European Baseball. But I'm back on track and to kick off my return I've decided to provide a little glimpse of where i have been this summer in what I feel are a couple of Europes best baseball environments, and subsequently great adventures for the pure baseball soul.

1. The World Port Tournament in Rotterdam is held every other year. It counterbalances the Haarlem Baseball Week held in Haarlem, Netherlands. This is by far one of the least well known, but without a doubt, more entertaining events in international baseball. This years tournament included USA, Cuba, Chinese Taipai, Netherlands, and Japan.

The U.S. team consisted this year of some of the countries top amateur talent and a handful of first round draft picks. If you want to see stars before they become ESPN highlight reels this is a great place to see them up close and personal.

The Cubans always field an interesting team whether they send their best players or not. What makes the Cuban team so interesting is the romanticsm of knowing that many of these players would be in the big leagues had they defected or been allowed to freely play in the U.S. It doesn't hurt that they are more than willing to sell the uniform off their back following a game, making it a great place to collect souvineers.

Taipai's team is usually a collection of competetive college players who play fundamental baseball and provide a entertaining view of the 'Asian' brand of baseball.

Japan often sends a group of young hopefuls from their Industrial League. These are guys who work for large companies and subsequently play for their companies baseball team. They play hard intense baseball and take an impressive pregame infield outfield that is usually met with a rousing ovation.

The Dutch are always competetive and play fundamental baseball while preparing for the upcoming European championship.

The tickets are cheap, the baseball is good, the weather is a crap shoot, and the beer flows smoothly. Next year its Haarlem Baseball Week!

2. Major League Baseball's European Academy is located on the west coast of Italy in a small resort town called Tirrenia. It rests only 20 minutes from Pisa (the planes fly directly over the field as you land), 1 hour from Florence, and is held every August. It features the top 50 prospects in Europe and Africa for a 3 week development/showcase of talent. Each year a few kids sign out of the academy.

The baseball environment is sleepy from a spectator point of view, but for the die hard baseball fan who simply likes to watch batting practice and drills it is a great find. It is run in a similar format to spring training and lower minor league systems. The weather is usually outstanding if not too hot. Not to worry however as there is numerous hotels with swimming pools and of course the beaches of the Mediteranean are only 1km from the field.

Quiet mornings at the golf course, warm days at the field, evenings at the pool, and nights with Italian food. You can't go wrong here.

Next on deck for me is a trip into Mexico, barring Hurricane effects followed by a stint at the European Championships in Barcelona. See you at the yard.