Stadium Tour: Nationals Park

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The final baseball stadium I visited in 2010 was Nationals Park, near the end of my August roadtrip to the nation's capital. The game was the first for Mike Quade as Chicago Cubs manager as Lou Piniella orted not to manage the remainder of the Cubs' season the day before. The visit to the park came near the end of four days in Washington and nearby Rosslyn, Virginia.

The stadium is one of the newest in the league and very well laid out. I would rank it ahead of Target Field, but the Nationals' lack of a storied lhistory takes away from the baseball atmosphere a bit. As with most Cubs road games, at least half of the crowd is wearing blue.

The seats I had were on the highest level, but with a great view of the U.S. Capital building and the Naval base on the Potomac River.

The Cubs beat the Nationals in Quade's first game as a manager, and Quade was named full-time manager after a successful two month stint as the interim boss. The race of the presidents in the middle of one of the innings was entertaining as I expected it to be. That is really the only thing that makes Washington unique.

Great park, clean, nice seats, real convenient. It just needs more of a baseball atmosphere.

Rank: 7 out of 10

Kreps guides UIC to stunner over Illini

CHICAGO - Even though they were playing less than two miles from their own campus, Saturday's tilt with the University of Illinois felt like a road game for the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Flames. The United Center was packed with orange as if it were a larger version of Assembly Hall. 

But after a 40-minute grueling in-state rivalry game, the Flames were the ones that showed the Illini that Chicago was their town. UIC led most of the way, and walked off the court Michael Jordan once made famous with a 57-54 stunning victory over the then 14th ranked Fighting Illini.

The only player to play all 40 minutes of the upset was Maroa-Forsyth alum Robo Kreps, who was a part of the Trojans' most recent state championship in 2007. 

Kreps led the Flames with a team-high 15 points, and also contributed five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal to the winning effort. He began the game's scoring by draining a three in the opening minute and had nine points, all from beyond the arc, in the game's first four and a half minutes. 

"The coaches told me I needed to be more aggressive and keep attacking," Kreps said. "I knew tonight I would need to be a leader for my team and attack on the offensive end."

"When Robo gets it going, it gives the team a huge lift offensively," Kreps' UIC teammate Zavion Neely said. Neely added 11 points and four assists for the Flames. 

The teams were tied at 28 at the half, but the Flames did not trail until D.J. Richardson sank a three-pointer to give Illinois a 53-51 lead with 9 minutes, 41 seconds to go in the game. 

Illinois then opened up 49-41 lead and were seemingly ready to pull away. But Kreps hit a huge three with 5:34 to go to cut the Illini lead to five.

UIC would grab a 53-52 lead in the final minute and hold off three Illini possessions where they had a chance to retake the lead. Kreps hit one of two free throw shots in the final seconds to seal the 57-54 victory.

"Obviously this is a huge win," Kreps said. "I think this is a springboard for us. We proved to ourselves that we can beat no matter who we are playing. In our conference, we need to focus on Butler and Cleveland State who are undefeated right now. This (win) gives us a ton of confidence."

Asked on how it was to quiet down a crowd of mostly Illini fans even though they were about a mile away from campus, Kreps responded: "Midway through the second half I took a look at the crown and noticed that the second tier was orange and the third tier was orange. When Illinois scored it was loud and when we scored, it was relatively quiet. But we've been in some tough games before and I thought we fought through really well today."

Flames head coach Howard Moore credited his seniors, including Kreps, for the win.

"You want to have moments like this for your seniors to remember," UIC head coach Howard Moore said. 

The loss dropped the Fighting Illini in the polls, and Illinois is currently on a two-game losing streak; losing to the University of Missouri just days after the UIC defeat. 

UIC followed the win with a road loss to Oregon State Wednesday night. 

Photo: UIC guard and Maroa-Forsyth alum Robo Kreps (3) is guarded by the Illini's D.J. Richardson (1) during Saturday's stunner at the United Center. 

Something different in Sawyer

SAWYER, Mich. - I always welcome the chance to experience something different, and Sawyer, Michigan gave me that chance Saturday night.

One of the classier experiences I've had came that night in my only visit to Sawyer to date. I always knew Sawyer was an elite community right on Lake Michigan in the southwest part of the state. A number of high end Chicago families have second homes up there and the town is the favorite vacation spot for Illinois U.S. Senator Mark Kirk.

But Saturday night impressed me even more. I was on hand at Fritz Olsen Sculptures for an 'Art of Giving' event. The donations taken from the event were gathered to benefit Radio Harbor Country, the area's local radio station run by volunteers.

I enjoyed looking at the expensive art, hanging out with people richer than I'll ever been and seeing entertaining short story plays that were pretty absurd. It was my first wine and cheese tasting event I've ever been to.

Three short absurd plays were performed by professional actors Gail Isaacson, Gwynne Winsberg, Arnie Saks and Robert Swan. Swan appeared in the famous movie, The Untouchables.

Isaacson, who wrote the three hilarious plays, and Winsberg, also have radio shows on Radio Harbor Country.

It still isn't my thing, but I am thankful that I got the opportunity to do it. I have been looking to experience pretty much anything at least once. My new job at the Harbor Country News seems to allow me to do that.

Photo: Fritz Olsen (founder of Fritz Olsen Sculptures) and his wife, Martha Cares (car-A) pose for a photo at the Art of Giving benefit Saturday night at Fritz Olsen Sculptures in Sawyer, Michigan.

My Travel History 1992-1996

Here's a list of a few vacations I have went on. I did some traveling prior to 1992, but it was as a baby and therefore I do not remember the specifics. Mostly trips to Florida and Michiana Shores before I turned eight. 

Spring 1993: Turkey Run State Park - My family's first roadtrip of the 1990s was a short trek down to the state park in Indiana. We camped for a few nights in the tent before returning to Chicago via Rte. 41 in Western Indiana. 

August 1993: Apostle Island - We had our first August week long trip in 1993. This marks the only time I have been to the UP of Michigan and the closest I have been to Green Bay. It was another van ride up the state of Wisconsin. I remember being excited passing Milwaukee County Stadium on the ride home. 

Spring 1994: Turkey Run/Terre Haute - We camped at the same spot for the second year in a row during Spring Break in third grade. We also went to Terre Haute to stay at the Boston Connection, a hotel centered around basketball legend Larry Bird. His brother Mark was at the hotel one of the days we were. I remember this trip mostly for breaking my ribs while crossing a fallen tree over a river near the campsite. 

August/September 1994: Mount Rushmore - Our first major trip out west. We drove through Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota with Mt. Rushmore being the final destination. On the way back from the monument we made memorable stops at Wall Drug and the Mitchell Corn Palace. Had pictures taken in hot air balloon at a South Dakota museum.

August 1995: Yellowstone - We did the same thing that we did in 1994, just making it furthur west. We camped at Yellowstone, in the bitter cold even though it was August. Lots of Buffalo. Saw Old Faithful and many geysers in Wyoming. President Bill Clinton and his family were visiting the park at the exact same time we were. On the way home, attended a Rodeo in Cody, Wyoming and made a stop at a museum in Gillette. Also went by Mt. Rushmore, Corn Palace and Wall Drug on I-90 on the way home. 

August/September 1996: Niagara Falls - Our first major trip out east. We did a lot of camping, but was forced to a hotel one night because of dangerous weather in Western New York. Passed Cleveland on the way there and Detroit on the way home. Enjoyed Niagara Falls from both US and Canada. Was the first time I left the country. Stayed one night at the Skydome in Toronto where we met many Chicago White Sox players who were also staying there. Met Frank Thomas in the elevator twice. Went to first White Sox away game, an 11-2 victory over the Blue Jays. Drove through Michigan including a stop in Benton Harbor on the way home.