| MVP (Male) | - | Todd |
| MVP (Female) | - | Janna |
| Golden Glove (Male) | - | Todd |
| Golden Glove (Female) | - | Janna |
| Rookie of the Year (Male) | - | Todd |
| Rookie of the Year (Female) | - | Janna |
| Best Dressed | - | Charisse |
| Sexiest Male | - | Pete |
| Sexiest Female | - | Charisse |
| Most Likely to Get Knocked Up | - | Janna |
| Most Likely to Incite a Riot | - | Coach |
| Jesus H. Christ Spiritual Leader Award | - | Coach |
| Best Coach That's Not Coach | - | Jeff |
| Most Smokes Consumed per Game | - | Pete |
| Photo of the Year 1st Place | - | Pete |
Where is the second-drunkest city in America?
Chances are you are living in it — according to Forbes Magazine, at least. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area is surpassed only by Milwaukee in the magazine's first-ever "drunkest cities" evaluation.
"You mean we beat out New Orleans? Sounds kind of nuts to me," bartender Chris Fish said as he filled a glass of beer behind the bar of the Hat Trick Lounge in St. Paul.
From corner taps to government offices, experts on drinking scratched their heads Wednesday to try to explain what the survey means.
In the past, officials have boasted that surveys have been kind to the Twin Cities, praising the area lavishly for health, happiness and overall living conditions.
Or is that just the beer talking?
"It seems like that survey is a bit of a stretch," said Bob Hume, spokesman for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.
Hume said that only two months ago, Kiplinger's Magazine ranked the Twin Cities metro area second in its "Smart Places to Live" survey.
"The criteria there were vibrant, fun, affordable," Hume said. "Enjoy our recreational opportunities responsibly."
How, he asked, could the same metro area be the nation's second-drunkest?
David Ewalt had some answers. He conducted the survey for Forbes as part of a series of stories on the night-life industry. Ewalt said he used a combination of government statistics from 2004 measuring rates of alcoholism, binge drinking, Alcoholics Anonymous participation and other figures.
He was surprised to see Milwaukee and the Twin Cities besting notorious party areas such as New Orleans (ranked 24th) and Las Vegas (No. 14).
"You go to New Orleans or Las Vegas, and they are very liberal about alcohol. You can drink beer on the streets," he said. "To a tourist, they can seem like very drunk towns."
It's likely, he said, that the pattern of drinking in Minnesota is more private.
But some experts said Ewalt's methods might have skewed the results.
"No. 2? I think we should be lower than that," said John Steiger, spokesman for the state Health Department, which compiles records of alcoholism rates.
He conceded that Minnesota and Wisconsin have ranked high on alcoholism surveys, but he said some data can be misconstrued.
For example, high participation in Alcoholics Anonymous could be a sign people are willing to address their problems, he said, and not an indication of drunkenness.
Hume also noted that, with 11 colleges, St. Paul has the second-highest number of students per capita after Boston. That could contribute to a high percentage of binge drinkers, he said.
In the cozy darkness of the Hat Trick Lounge in downtown St. Paul, several patrons — decidedly not problem drinkers themselves — sipped beers Wednesday and pondered the report's conclusion.
"I can see Milwaukee, with the reputation for beer drinking," said Greg Dols, a remodeler who lifted the brim of his paint-spattered baseball cap. "But here? I don't have any theories on that."
Shelley Meredith of Eau Claire, Wis., did. She thought the survey was wrong, period. "Every place has its drunks," she said. But having lived all around the country, she has seen no sign that the Twin Cities could be much "drunker" than elsewhere. "I just don't think that could be true," she said.
Mike Fiumano's reaction was blunt. "I think it's offensive to say that St. Paul is one of the drunkest cities, because I don't see that at all," he said. "I see a lot of young, responsible, business-minded people who want to do right in life."
Bartender Fish walked outside, where patrons were sipping suds in a sidewalk patio area, and he asked one customer about the Twin Cities' ranking.
"As least we are good at something," came the reply.
Bob Shaw can be reached at bshaw@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5433.
We play at 7:15 this week versus Crappies. I had a dream last week that we got into a fight with the MOMARS. They had camoflage uniforms.
The Bulldog Coaching Staff is hosting it's 4th annual summer pinata party in Minneapolis this weekend.
I
hurt myself in the first inning last week running from 2nd to 3rd base in order to get us a run. I am still walking with a bad-ass gansta' limp.
Dear Dr. Ioss,
We found a new pitcher - Ryan of Leah and Ryan fame is almost a pro. That's how good he is.
I forgot to bring a marker for the whiteboard. Someone bring a backup for me.
Ideas
Sell antiMOMAR goods on Café Press - how about a MOMARS c*m rag?
Picture day - let's have it soon. Probably after a 7:15 game so we still have good natural light. We'll have a couple of shoots so more people are included. Post game photoshoot with Bulldog waitresses.
Ginger - bring my mustache
Pre-game BBQ. Unknown date. I have a mini grill. Someone would have to bring some food. I would bring drinks too.
Bribe the ump with drinks.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - The umpire called a player safe on a close play at first base. The spectator didn't like it and threw a beer bottle. The umpire dodged it, then punched the fan, knocking out one of his teeth.
That's what Beaufort County deputies said happened at a three-inning pickup softball game on Hilton Head Island Sunday night.
Tensions between the teams were high because about $3,400 was riding on the outcome, deputies said.
Rony Ruiz, 23, and several other fans stormed the field and began pushing the ump because a run scored on the play at first, cutting the lead of the team they were rooting for to 6-5 in the second inning, authorities said.
After Ruiz threw the bottle at 32-year-old umpire Nelson Montano, he punched Ruiz in the mouth, knocking out a tooth, according to a police report.
The men, whom Montano said are friends, appeared on Monday in municipal court, where they agreed to drop the charges.
I have a new level of hatred of the MOMARS. I found their team website and I am upset and angry at what I saw. They mercilessly ragged on their opponents and did quite a bit of bragging about themselves. They also publish league standings (it shows us in last place). Worst of all they are trying to proliferate there unholy images by selling "Official Gear" with the MOMARS logo. Check it out: MOMARS Crap.
Dear Dr. C-Lo:
I made up a recipe. It was inspired by a long night at McGuinness Pub located somewherre in sprawling suburban Washington DC.
I feel that I haven’t been a good role model. I’ve been asking my players to play their hearts out for me but I haven’t lived up to my end of the bargain as coach.
Rowdy. Flash mob. Exhilarating. Loud. Disap-pointment.
The catcher on the opposing team told me, "It's like your team is having a party. Did you guys come on a bus together?" Then I said, "No, there's no bus. But we could use one if everyone keeps drinkin'."
We have a strong group of playas and will only get better as the weather warms up. There's only one problem. We don't have time to gradually get better. We have to win now. Karl made a bet that we'd have a .500 record this year.
Watch the Video: Karl Tough Talk
Below is our first ever box score (thanks to Ryan).
We struck out 8 times in the first game. Don’t do that. Hit the ball. Maybe the other team will make an error. Then you will be a hero. If we keep striking out at this pace the Kangaroo court will be forced to levy a fine.
Game 1
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F | ||
MOMARS | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 16 | |
Bulldog | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Show up at the field by 7:40 pm so I can get the squad organized, make the roster, give hugs/rub downs/etc. Be considerate of the time, I don’t want to forfeit because you sat on your ass for an extra 15 minutes to finish watching that rerun of Fear Factor.
We will be holding our first ever team practice on Friday April 21. It will start at 6:30PM at Home Run Hitters (batting cage zone) in Golden Valley. Be on time!
The 2006 Bulldog Softball season is going to be dedicated to the memory of Kirby Puckett.
He had great enthusiasm for life. He loved baseball, pizza, ribs, and burgers. I think it's no accident that I have a great enthusiasm for life and a love of softball, pizza, ribs, and burgers.
Yesterday was the end of my innocense. I am not longer a child. One of my childhood heroes is gone. Let us honor Kirby by dedicating our season to him and by lobbying McDonald's to bring back the Puck Pack Meal Deal and the Kerby Puckett McPhilly Cheesesteak Meal Deal. He would have wanted it this way.
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