Why I finally love Father's Day...

Perhaps it was the pregnancy announcement that my brother and his girlfriend had recently made saying there was a "Baby Kleinschmidt" due in January that made this year the most difficult Father's Day yet.

Each year as the days passed, the anniversary of my daddy's death comes and goes, along with his birthday, his wedding anniversary to my mom; seven times now. Seven years without him, seven years of holidays and memories of me thinking "Damn, I really wish daddy were here to see this, hear this, feel this." Still, nothing compares to having a Father's Day without him. Absolutely nothing.

I was the luckiest girl in the world to have a man like him in my life. As strict and serious as he was; nobody got to see the softer side of him like I did. I was blessed to see the sides of him he wouldn't show anyone. He was a baseball coach to boys and men, still, he would come home and let me sleep in his lap. He would show up on dates if he did not get a good feeling about a guy, and take me out for dinner instead. Even when I was in trouble, I was never "really in trouble." Had that big man wrapped around my little finger, and I loved every moment of it.

God gave me someone for 19 years who shaped the person I am today. Every positive characteristic about myself is because of my father, and for that I will forever be thankful. 

It's strange. This has been the best year of my life. I have everything I have ever wanted, but he isn't here. 

I realize I am not the only person in the world to lose a parent, or the only daughter whose father was taken away from her at 19, still, I decided instead of ignoring this day and curling up like a little ball, I will celebrate this day. I will make sure each and every one of my friends and family gives their dads a call and tells him they love him. I didn't always go above and beyond for daddy, but I didn't realize how important those little moments were until he was gone. Now those moments are in a small box that I go through late at night and cry my eyes out.  Take advantage of every moment. Please. 

For those of you who do not have a father still with us, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. 

This could easily be the most difficult Father's Day yet, but probably the best one since he's been gone.

Rest in Peace Daddy, I love you.

-Jessie

Antisocial Media: My Life in this Industry

Before I get started...I want to make sure you know this is my PERSONAL blog. This is in no way affiliated with my employers.

I have also written something similar, but some recent events have happened, and there aren't many people in my life who understand what I go through on social media, so here it goes.

I have been blessed beyond belief in so many ways with how my career has been progressing. Mind you, I'm the most impatient person in the world so there are days I second guess myself and am annoyed that I am not working for ESPN or Fox Sports 1, but I have to remember my hard work will eventually pay off.

So naturally, as I'm trying to make a name for myself in this industry, there are several people who are trying to ruin it for me. I realize you're supposed to "ignore it and let it go," but you're full of shit if you act like it doesn't bother you. If you notice there are a lot of athletes and celebrities who rarely reply to tweets and messages on social media (not saying it's a bad thing) unless it's something negative, then a response usually occurs.

Why is that? Why is it that we can take all of the compliments and positive things that are being said to us and let them roll off of our minds, but the moment something negative is introduced, we let that small phrase, the minute sentence, stick to us like glue?

I've stumbled upon a group of females that I used to consider being cool with. We had even exchanged secrets at one point. Now, through the circles I hear the most terrible things being said about me. And it's hurtful. In this case, I didn't just sit and let it happen, I confronted one of them, and received no response. Like the coward she was, she did not respond and blocked me from every social media outlet that we were "friends" on.

Which is okay. I don't need negative people like that in my life.

The strangest thing is: these women are trying to make it in this industry as well. We are supposed to support one another, be there for one another, and yet here I am dodging bullets that are being shot at me from behind a phone case.

I have been called every name on social media from a cleat chaser to a dumb bitch, and that is okay. I love that on social media you can say whatever the hell you want, but when you put the phone down and the people you ignore on social media are right in front of you, what can you think? It's scary.

I just feel if you're the type of person who will only talk shit over social media, and not to my face (ahem A's Fan Fest) then really, I would love it if I could block you from my real life as well. And that is exactly what I am going to do. I don't have to deal read 140 characters from you, retweet a #hashtag, or give you a star that you do not deserve.

I really don't understand it, and perhaps I never will.

A’s Clinch Second Consecutive AL West Title

A combination of beards, booze, and “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang being played over the speakers blanketed O.co Coliseum Sunday.  The Oakland Athletics won their second AL West title in two consecutive seasons.



via sports.yahoo.com

“Pure joy and happiness,” said Will MacNeil, A’s season ticket holder, and famous Section 149er.  “For me personally having Dan Straily point up to me and go ‘Hell yeah Will!’ felt pretty cool and special.”

Oakland was playing the Minnesota twins when talk got around The Coli of Kansas City Royal’s Justin Maxwell’s grand slam against the Rangers that resulted in a Texas loss.  This meant the A’s can officially call themselves the American League West champions.

Following the news, Evan Scribner struck out Josmil Pinto for the final out in the ninth inning.  A sea of gold uniforms swarmed the field from the Oakland dugout.

 “The atmosphere yesterday was different than it was when they clinched against the Rangers in the final games of the season last year,” said Brandon Plotz, Oakland A’s fan who was at the game Sunday. “Last year us fans were on cloud nine and yesterday it was more of a ‘yeah this was supposed to happen’ type of feeling.”

 With his now famous gold robe on, outfielder Josh Reddick ran around the Oakland clubhouse drinking beer.  And when he wasn’t drinking it, he was pouring it on the heads of anyone he spotted.  AJ Griffin danced around while sipping on a bottle of champagne, and Ray Fosse and Grant Balfour received a beer shower from Reddick. 

“It was insane,” says Taylor Fernandez, long time Oakland A’s fan.  “Everyone was giving each other high fives, hugs everywhere, and of course the ‘Let’s Go Oakland!’ chants started right away.”  “Tears were shed and then as soon as the scoreboard was changed (after the Royals win) the entire stadium stood up and cheered for the team while the team gave handshakes to each other in the dugout.”

 The A’s have won 20 of their last 26 games to go from 2.5 games back in the AL West to eight games ahead.

They clinch their 16^th division title and 25^th postseason appearance. Only the Yankees (51) and the Dodgers (27) have more postseason appearances than the A’s.

Love is the Most Important Thing in the World, but Baseball is Pretty Good too...

The First Kiss

"How can you not be romantic about baseball?" Billy Beane spoke these words, and you hear them all the time, I know you do.  However, when you really stop to think about it, I mean really let that question sink in, you almost want to kiss Beane yourself.  

I may not come off as the romantic type, but I am a female, this means once in a while I do love the mushy gushy romance stuff.  While I don't have a special guy in my life to share those romantic moments with, I do realize there are other ways to express your love for something until someONE comes along.  As most of you know I work...a lot.  However in addition to my day job that I've had for almost a decade, I am blessed to have many career opportunities in the thing I'm the most passionate about.  Baseball.  

Your first thought is "Oh she loves men in tight, white pants..." Well duh.  I'm human.  However think about that man in tight white pants, making a web-gem diving catch, covered in red dirt, making Sportscenter's Top 10 plays of the day.  You kind of give out a sigh only The Notebook could give someone right?  

Love doesn't necessarily have to mean romance though.  Love and baseball also means spending time with your friends and family at a baseball game.  Think about it.  You are combined with so many people who share a passion not only about the game itself, but most of the time, the team you're watching.  I can't tell you how many times I leave O.co Coliseum with such a high.  That type of high you get after an amazing date, and possibly a hot make-out session.  What?  You were thinking it.  

Make my cleat pop-up when we kiss so I know it's real.

My parents, brothers, and myself spent most days at a baseball field.  Whether daddy was coaching, mom was score keeping, or one of my brothers or myself had a game.  So growing up, you're surrounded by the exact same people for years and years and years.  You spend crappy weathered games bundled up in your favorite MLB team blankets,  the hot days sweating from places you didn't know existed,  getting bleacher butt which is extremely annoying (especially for someone like me who NEVER sat the bench ;) and of course the grueling hours of practices, games, and inclement weather.  Sounds horrible right?  IT WAS AWESOME.  Then, some of the brothers don't go on to play college baseball, or stop playing, and some of us grow a part, but you never lose the feeling you get when you're at a baseball field.  To the point you think it's weird people think it's weird you have those feelings.  I know, it's weird.

Am I weird?  Probably.  Most girls get obsessed with the newest Chanel perfume (well I do that sometimes), I'm sitting there, you look over and my face is ass-deep my baseball mitt, because have you smelt a leather baseball mitt?!  Or the sound when a Fungo bat hits a ball when the team takes the infield.  The clink of a metal bat against metal cleats.  If you're not turned on by now, I don't know what to tell you.

Ok ok ok, so this may even be borderline inappropriate, and I'm not exactly allowed to say things that will get me in trouble, I'm just simply showing you how much I appreciate the sport of baseball.  From the time I was little up until now, it's played a huge role in my life.  My first KISS happened in the dugout of my little league field.  Think about it.  The lights shining down on you, the beautiful green grass and red dirt beneath your feet, the bench to sit on.  It's pretty romantic.

One of my favorite baseball romance stories to tell is one time when I was at a baseball game (I can't remember if I was working or there for fun) and I was near the wives and girlfriends (I happen to know someone on staff so she gave me tickets to sit in the "family section"), one of the girls was in the middle of a conversation when I hear "HEADS UP!" we look over and there's a ball the rolled perfectly to her feet.  It was thrown by her boyfriend, one of the pitchers from the team.  It had his autograph on it (with the jersey number of course), and it simply said "I LOVE YOU."  My heart melted, and I was insanely jealous.  They are now married with a beautiful daughter last I heard.  Just brought the biggest smile to my face.  

I've also never been on a date to a baseball game.  I'm saving that first one for someone special.  Why not?  I am probably the most strange female to go to a game with.  

I know, I probably totally weirded you out on the cheesiness.  It could be that time of year.  Every one of my friends seems to have found their soul mate.  

Until my time comes, I remain me.  Watching a stolen base, in hopes of one day finding that perfect man, who has stolen my heart.

Baseball Heaven

5 years ago, my father went to Baseball Heaven.  We received a letter in the mail in a card saying "I believe in the Field of Dreams, and I'm pretty sure that's where your dad went..."

Since then, I literally find sanctuary at the baseball fields.  Afterall, we spent almost every day at the fields, John Adam and I would have a game, dad would be coaching, mom would be working the snack bar, or tending to parental matters ("You don't know politics until you become the President of a Little League," daddy used to say). Our family dinners were Saturday nights, in the Snack Bar of Valley Providence Little League in Reno, Nevada. 

So I heard long ago Heaven is whatever you want it to be. You are surrounded by everything and everyone you love.  I believe in Baseball Heaven.  This is my idea of Baseball Heaven.

• There are no lines at the Snack Bar-and there is no groaning coming from the crowds worried about spending so much money on food and beer.  Snack Bar food in Baseball Heaven is free.
• You get every Big League Chew flavor you can handle...and get this guys-it NEVER loses it's flavor.
• You get to have batting practice with Jackie Robinson, Willy Mays, and Mickey Mantle-and you pull the ball oppo field every time.
• You have the perfect pop-up slide into 2nd and 3rd base.  I would say your uniform doesn't get dirty, but in Baseball Heaven, a dirty jersey, is a great jersey.
• Baseball Heaven your team is not only made up of legends and Hall of Famers, but your shortstop could be your mom, your dad, your favorite little league coach...or the love of your life that you may have lost.
• You have a decent batting average.  One that keeps you honest, and still reminds you to play hard.
• Your sunflower seeds peel off the shell perfectly every time-and you throw the shell on the ground because there is no sign at the Baseball Heaven fields saying "No seeds allowed..."
• Angel Hernandez does not umpire in Baseball Heaven
• Your parents are in the stands and cheer for you every time you are at the plate and on the field.  And they are waiting for you after your game to tell you how proud they are of you.  Even after and 0-for game. (In Baseball Heaven-0-fors to not excist)
• When you pitch, you throw perfect games.  This doesn't mean the batters couldn't hit off of you necessarily. This means- every game you throw in Baseball Heaven, is a perfect game.
• Your mit is perfectly oiled and broken in.
• Nasty one-hoppers do not exist in Baseball Heaven unless they conclude in a web-gem catch.
• Your cleats kiss the concrete in the dugout perfectly everytime-a sound that makes you smile.
• Cleat chasers, are in Baseball Hell. They are not in Baseball Heaven.
• Every mom is The Team Mom.
• You still cannot step on the foul lines in Baseball Heaven.
• You don't have to measure the plate in Baseball Heaven.  Your bat will cover it just fine.
• You rob homeruns, then give them to the poor.
• Pete Rose makes the Hall of Fame in Baseball Heaven.
• I get to play catch with my dad again in Baseball Heaven.
• There are no rain delays in Baseball Heaven.
• You don't have to break in your cleats.
• Everyone has his/her own walkup song.
• The umpires in Baseball Heaven have a consistent strike-zone
• There's no crying in Baseball...Heaven
• Every player makes the All Star team

With Father's Day just around the corner, I became inspired, and just like every Father's Day before that, I will pour a bottle of dad's favorite whiskey in the coach's box where he would rarely give me the sign to bunt.

A Girl's Advice to Get Through Her Man's Fantasy Football Season

So you got yourself a boyfriend/husband/significant other.  Good for you babe! (You're already doing better than me---I digress)

Now you are probably passed the "honeymoon" stage where you pretend to be interested in what he's doing, and can kind of do your own thing right?

Well here are some tips on how to maintain your sanity when dealing with a man who plays fantasy sports.  And trust me, if you follow my rules, he will make every one of YOUR fantasies come true ;)

1. THE DRAFT PARTY RULES AND REGULATIONS

There are a couple ways to have a Fantasy Draft, before your man enters the draft, here's a little tip-go to the local grocery store and pickup a draft magazine for him. I can promise you that ring from Tiffany's will be ordered REAL quick.  Let me give you the 411 on each of them.

• Draft Party: This is where your hubby gets together with all of his friends at a location (usually a place with wifi and it's more than likely at the only single guy in the league's pad) and gets his roster filled.  WARNING: If you can get out of this DO IT!  Unless you are in the league yourself, or are weird like me, you will be BORED out of your mind.  Stay home, go shopping, get drunk do whatever you want, he'll end up appreciating the fact you weren't begging him for attention during the draft.
• Online Draft: Refer to the Draft Party.  Leave him the HELL alone.  For instance: If you had to get a lineup of extremely sexy guys to do a "Magic Mike" type of routine, and when it was your turn to snag Channing Tatum, and you were distracted because your boyfriend needed toilet paper, so you had to settle for a John Goodman-looking dude? Yeah you would be pissed.  So let him be.  The beauty of the draft from home is it doesn't take too long.   

   2. SAVE YOUR CHEAT DAYS FOR SUNDAYS

Babe, your Sundays will be non-existent during football season. Even myself who was in a league, I'm constantly dieting (because Victoria's Secret models and Mila Kunis make me hate myself) I made sure I saved my cheat days for Sundays. I can promise you though there is nothing more fun than drinking beer, wearing a really cute football jersey, and eating carbs until you wind up in the fetal position.  NOTHING.


   3. ACTUALLY WATCH THE GAMES

Remember that Tiffany's ring I mentioned?  That thing will have more karats than Bugs Bunny's diet if you shout something to the TV like "Holy crap AP just got you some fantasy points..." And I will expect a wedding invitation in the mail.

  4.  ASK HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON

Believe it or not, guys do realize not every girl will love sports.  However, they have no problem teaching you about it.  You probably talk to them about stuff you know they're not into.  Go ahead and ask.  He'll love you for it.


  5.  BUY NFL GEAR

Every guy has a fantasy of a beautiful girl wearing their favorite team's apparel.  So fantasy football has more than one meaning pretty girl ;)  I can promise you too, after watching a little bit every now and then you will grow an appreciation.  A lot of girls tend to like football without even realizing it.  


  6.  HOW TO DEAL WHEN YOUR MAN'S TEAM LOSES

Do. Not. Panic.  This happens.  It's a rarity (like no line at a Chipotle rarity)  that your man will have an undefeated season.  He may be pissed which means punching walls, silent with you for an hour or so, and heavily drinking---actually scratch that last one...it's not football Sunday without a Hangover Monday-let the man drink.  Just wait until he approaches you.  Check online at his team and see what went wrong even...he will be so appreciative and you will get so much respect from your man.

7.  PARTICIPATE

I can't tell you how many guys find it SO attractive when a girl participates in a draft league with them.  Especially the same league as your hubby.  TRUST ME.  He will help you win-especially if you both had to pay a fee to enter the league, that means some of the winnings will be his.  Plus, there are a ton of sources that make drafts so easy like magazines, or even the draft itself.  It's not complicated whatsoever, and it makes the games that much more fun on Sundays too.  Then your man gets to brag about you, you gain some sports knowledge, and I feel like there's one more girl on this earth I can spend Sundays with.  Because let's face it, I love the fact I have a bunch of brothers and guy friends, but even I can use some female companionship. 

Have fun with it.  Your man loves you, so you know you will do anything for him.  Good luck my dear, and remember: tackling doesn't have to be left on the football field. ;)

Hiding Behind a Keyboard

I've been wanting to post this type of blog for months now, but have just been too busy and didn't quite know how to put it out there, so I will try my best.

The beauty of social media is this: anonymity. I love that people can express themselves and be completely upfront with how they feel, I think that's a wonderful thing about today's social media.  

The ugliness of social media is this: anonymity. I can't tell you how many times I've been called "cleat chaser" or "stupid" or even slash my articles that I work hard on, then you look at his/her profile and it's a picture of an MLB player giving a stupid face, or a kitty. This is fine. Call me whatever you want, but that's not who I am. So I'm going to tell you who I am.

The term "cleat chaser" is as follows:

This is probably a more harsh version of cleat chaser-it is from urban dictionary after all. 

"Desperately follows." Now let's remember one thing. Everybody on twitter follows an athlete, celebrity, twitter crush, etc. I'm a SPORTS JOURNALIST it is my job to see what these athletes are up to so I have something to write about. Look through your list of people who you are following on your twitter. Does that make you a cleat chaser? Didn't think so. "In hopes of having intercourse with them..." I won't even go there because a) my personal life is none of your damn business b) it's NOT true and c) a crush on a celebrity or athlete-really like you don't have one? Stop it. 

So now the question is: Have I ever been hit on by an athlete/celebrity what have you? Yes, I have. Guess what though? I've been hit on non-athletes and non-celebrities before too. Weird, I know. 

So when somebody hits on you at work, you start dating, fall in love, get married, have children; that's ok right?  But if an athlete hits on another athlete, or member of the media, or a hot babe with a huge rack, it's bad (by the way I'm NOT the hot babe with the huge rack in this scenario).  Please tell me how this is so.

Guess what though?  I could care less if a guy is a baseball player, carpenter, or one of those people who twirl signs on the corner to tell you about the newest model homes to check out. Let people date whoever the hell they want-stick to trying to find your soul mate on X-Box Live.

I don't date somebody specifically because they are an athlete or any specific career type.  Just coincidentally the last boyfriend I had was a baseball player. I didn't even find out until our 3rd date! (I almost feel pathetic having to defend myself, but I feel the truth needs to be out there). And even more importantly he's the only athlete I've ever been with!

The short of it is, my personal life is none of your business.

The Whispers

So you've read an article of mine or two. I appreciate that. I truly do.  Without any reads, I would not feel I was doing my job.  So you give me criticism, even better, it'll only make me a better journalist.  Oh then there's the ones who tell me I'm a straight up idiot and I "know nothing about sports." Or making fun of me for having a Louis Vuitton purse to a baseball game, or high heels during an interview, or even making fun of me for adding a damn FILTER to a photo (I sometimes get breakouts because I'm a freakin human-forgive me, so you bet your ASS I'm putting a Lo-Fi filter on Instagram). My favorite part is when you won't mention me in the twitter shit-talking, that's super special guys. I enjoy that part the most probably.  Grow a pair. Seriously.

I just hope you take a good long look at how you are treating people. If you're going to be a nasty person and bully and troll people on twitter that's fine, if anything it's hilarious, but blatantly hurting someone that you have never met and making stuff up, it's pathetic.  

I realize if I'm going to land my dream job, the hating will only multiply, but at least at this moment in time you know where I stand and how I am feeling. And also if you're not going to like my articles, or my views on sports, the unfollow button is always there, and you don't have to read everything I post. The Mean Girls table at lunch always has room for you.