SI.com's "Things We Miss in Baseball."

Well, my friend, we've had this argument before ... .

I miss Fernando Valenueza.

Fernando Mania!

 

I covered that game, too. spnitty.
It was a helluva story for me because I was working for the paper in Rick Monday's hometown. We were a PM and the game ended early enough for us to get it into the home edition -- same-day coverage.
Funny about things that stick in your mind. That series was delayed because of a rainout, so the media were grilling the Expos about why the roof was never put on that place, even five years after the Olympics. Rich Griffin, the Expos PR guy, took the heat:

Where is the roof?
It's in Paris.
Why is it in Paris?
Because everything has to be somewhere.

That line cracked me up and I still remember it.

 

Darn tootin. ... It's called playoff hockey blood! Tell Gilmour to deal with it.

 

Olympic Stadium had some of the smoothest transportation from ballpark to hotel or ballpark to bar district that there was.

 

Olympic Stadium was an awful place to watch a game. Jarry Park was even worse but at least you knew you were in a minor league park watching a major league game.

 

Jarry Park was a great place to watch a game ... not a major league facility but a great little ballpark.

 

I liked the Big O. It was unique in its faux-futuristic ambiance. I didn't expect a baseball atmosphere and didn't get one, but I imagine that place was rocking when the Expos drew well in the late 70s and early 80s.

And LJB is right, the transportation links to the stadium were impeccable.

 

If we could just be in the middle of Fernando Mania right now, I'd have time to go and change my major.

 

The same Richard Griffin who now covers MLB for the Toronto Star, I presume?

 

Correct, Double J

 

How about this threadjack?

SportsJournalists.com's "Things we DON'T miss in baseball."

I'll start with the Braves being in the NL West...having to wait up for West Coast scores more often than not was a real bummer for this young Braves fan.