Confessions of a concert goer

I went to see Madonna's Confession Tour in Philadelphia on July 13, the first time I'd seen her live in 21 years. I decided to go very last minute, so I got my ticket just after midnight on the day of the show. Sec. 217, Row 9. In other words, almost on the roof and behind the stage. A "cheap seat" at $55. When I got to the arena, the seat was not as bad as I thought and there was a video screen, so I wouldn't miss much. I did have a great view of the top of Madonna's head! 15 minutes after I sat down, an arena guy came up to me and asked if I was by myself.

"Yes." I replied.

"May I see your ticket, please?"

Now I'm thinking to myself, there is no way someone is going to fight me for this seat! This is odd. He looks at my ticket and asks, "Would you like a floor seat?"

"Yeah!"

"Here ya go, you're in Sec. 3. Enjoy the show!"

I ended up about 10 feet from the catwalk part of stage, the $350 seats! Right where Madonna makes her entrance from a giant disco ball. As if that wasn't cool enough, 10 minutes before show time, Lenny Kravitz walked in and sat about 20 ft from me! The show was fantastic. More a Broadway style show than a rock concert. It was amazing to see Madonna that close. She is much smaller in person. When they say the camera adds 10 lbs, they aren't kidding! The Material Girl is about 5'4", a size 2, if that, and all muscle. It turned out to be the best last-minute decision I ever made!

At last! He returns!

I always find it interesting to see professional athletes performing out of their element. That's one of the reasons I enjoy Pam Shriver's Tennis Challenge so much. Okay, so Brady has a lot to do with that. So, in that spirit, I attended the Baltimore Celebrity Golf Classic on Sunday. My main reason for going was Mickey Tettleton. He's a regular on the Celebrity Golf Tour and I promised myself that if it ever came to town, I would go see him. Since it was only a few miles away, I had no excuse not to go. Besides, it's a charity event and I can spare a ten'er for that.

Golf is SO BORING! I went on Sunday, because I figured with the Ravens' season starting, the golf thing would be less crowded. Well, I was right. I am pretty sure I was one of the dozen people who actually paid to get into this event. It was pathetic! I expected at least a few hundred! Mickey didn't tee off until 2 hours after I got there, which was good for him because it meant he was in second place, but left me ready to leave 1/2 hr after I got there!

I followed him for the first 2 holes. He was partnered with Dave Johnson, who pitched for the O's when Mickey played here. It was me and 2 young guys following Mickey's group. After they teed off at #3, I went back to the clubhouse to sit down in the grand stand and wait for them to come around to holes #9 & 10. An 1 hr and 15 minutes later, they finally came back. After he teed off at #10, I couldn't take it anymore and I left. He was in first place, and I never got to talk to him or get an autograph, but I just had to get out of there!! I'd been there for 4 1/2 hrs and he was only halfway through the course! I really just wanted to see him again to get some closure, since he had retired just before the Rangers were coming to town back in '97. That mission was accomplished.

I got on the parking shuttle and the young guys who had been following Mickey and Dave got on with me. Turns out, one of the guys was Dave Johnson's son. Even those guys weren't fans!