June 2008 Archives

5:25 p.m. (local) June 13 TORONTO, Ont.---Jay Spillane, my old counselor at the Matchbox in Chicago, used to say how you didn't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy a baseball road trip. He argued the game only takes a few hours and you and your significant other can spend the rest of the time exploring a city.
I had to get out of town a couple of days because people were breaking me down, in the words of Texas Ranger outfielder Milton Bradley. I'm in his corner.
And Toronto was the perfect tonic.
The Cubs (the best team in baseball) are here. I don't expect them to do well on this domed/Astroturf road trip, but Toronto already has been very very good to me......

3:05 p.m. (local) June 3---
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--- Delayed at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport which gives me ample time to reminisce about "Nights in White Satin: The Trip" ride I took last night at the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The psychedelic inspired journey is what industry folks call a "Dark Ride" which dates back to 1800s "scenic railways" and Futurama at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Think a "Tunnel of Love" boat ride.
Earlier in the day Moody Blues songwriter Justin Hayward told me he wrote the song about sex. The Hard Rock Park ride does not reflect that, although my pal Jen told me the first time she had sex was to "Nights in White Satin." So Justin, as our fearless leader has said, "Mission Accomplished."
As we boarded the "Trip" a friendly teenager handed us cardboard 3-D glasses........

1:50 p.m. June 2

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.---In the long and winding road of rock n' roll tourism there's the Jungle Room at Graceland, the gravesite of Jim Morrison in Paris and Barney's Beanery on Route 66 in Los Angeles where Janis Joplin had her last stand. Straight. No chaser.
I've seen them all.
But nothing compares to the Monday morning grand opening of Hard Rock Park. Hearing Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues talk about the park's "Nights In White Satin: The Trip" ride is just plain weird.
The world's first rock n' roll theme park is just three miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The Eagles are playing the Grand Opening concert tonight at the 10,000 seat pavilion on the 55-acre park. The Moody Blues are playing tomorrow. The Nirvana line "Here We Are, Now Entertain Us" greets park guests over a Spanish-influenced archway.
I ran into Hayward while he was sitting in front of a small pub that faced the "Rock n' Roll Heaven" section of the park. I am not kidding.........