Going Social

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Zygi, It's Cold Outside

Wow, it was cold in Minnesota last night, eh? Not that I was at the game. Heck no. I was sitting comfortably in the man cave, sipping on hot cocoa. Yummy.

What wasn’t so good was the game. It was a stinker by most measures. A stinker unless you like the way weather often inserts itself into sports. I do. That’s why I (sometimes) write this blog. You do. That’s why you’re wasting time, probably at work, reading this nonsense.



When we looked at the NFL schedule back in September – when the Vikings had Super Bowl hopes and the Bears… we’ll, we didn’t know what to think about the Bears – we thought that, come December 20, the Vikes would be sitting as comfortable in the playoff picture – playing in the cozy Metrodome – as me sitting on my man cave couch.

It’s funny how 16 inches of snow on the Metrodome roof – not to mention an aging quarterback’s banged up body – can change things.

By the way, in case you somehow missed the action or any news reports, the Bears won 40-14 and clinched the NFC North title. Game time temperatures were 20 degrees with a wind chill of 9. Burrrr! Pass the hot cocoa… and someone take the whip cream away from Ty.


Zygi said what? You would think last night’s conditions would prompt the Vikings brass to build some sort of super indoor football facility and perhaps chip in a little cash so that all cold-weather teams could build a dome. Not the case. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said he’d like all the Vikings home games played outdoors. “Football should be played outdoors, and for the Vikings in the past, the weather has given the Vikings a big advantage," Wilf said… uh, before the game. We’ll see if he changes his tune.

Before we go today, let’s take one more look at that Metrodome roof collapse. I just can’t get enough.

Good night everybody.

Going to the World Series Tonight? Bring an Umbrella

It was a beautiful night for baseball in San Francisco last night, at least as far as I could observe by sitting on the comfy couch in my man cave.
Tonight’s Game Two of the World Series, however, may be a have a different feel to fans at AT&T Park – a wet feel.

According to the National Weather Service, a weather system will be approaching the ballpark from the north, just about the same time – 4:57 Pacific – Giants’ starter Matt Cain tosses the first pitch.

Chances of rain are at 30 percent – according to Weather.com – at game time, decreasing to about 10 percent as the game progresses. No heavy rain is expected, so the game should be completed tonight. Temperature at first pitch should be around 63 degrees.

Someone please inform Kristen Lee about the impending rain, so she won't think Giants fans are spitting on her. Thank you.

Blog Drought

Hey, there you are, Perry.

Oh, wait. It’s me who’s been gone for so long.

Have you missed me? Don’t answer that.

You know, I’d update The Rainout Blog more often if wasn’t for this work thing I have to do everyday.

Anyway, I thought I’d share this Associated Press cool photo of a mechanic for Red Bull driver Mark Webber pushing a rack tires through rain following a practice session for the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix. This weekend’s race in Kuala Lumpur, where thunderstorms are forecasted through Sunday, could turn out to be another thrilling soaker like last week’s Australian Grand Prix.

Ok, is this a triumphant return for The Rainout Blog? Nope. But, I hope to update this thing a little more frequently, particularly since baseball season is about to begin. You know how I love baseball rainout stories.

Yeah, It's Cold in Wisconsin

When you look at the NFL schedule and notice that the Green Bay Packers are playing on a Monday night in December, one question immediately pops to mind: Will there be snow?

According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance, a small chance, of white stuff falling on Lambeau Field. And if it does snow, no accumulation is expected.

Bummer!

However, it is Green Bay in December, so you know it’s going to be frostier than Thanksgiving dinner at Elin and Tiger’s house. At the moment, the 10-day forecast is calling for temps to dip to about 25 degrees.

Hold on.

Ok. Vince Lombardi just called and said that sounds like a heat wave.

Anyway, Tom Silverstein has a story in the Journal Sentinel today about the Packers’ remaining frostbitten schedule, which includes road games in Chicago and Pittsburgh and a game back at Lambeau against the Seahawks.

And Kevin Cowherd of The Baltimore Sun advises Ravens players to stay close to the bench heaters Monday night.

The photo above is from the AP. Thanks, guys.

Man U Gotta Love Soccer in the Rain

Turkish champion Besiktas is facing Manchester United Wednesday night in the Champion’s League group B match at Old Trafford. In the photo above, Besiktas players are seen practicing in the pouring rain. There’s only a 20 percent chance of rain when the two teams meet Wednesday night, but it will be cold. The wind chill is projected at 33 degrees. If you go to the game, send me a photo and I’ll post it on The Rainout Blog. The e-mail address is rainoutblog@gmail.com.

Word from the Booth

Hey, I know this sports-weather blog stuff is a fascinating, riveting read. However, if you really want something totally cool and interesting, check out Word from the Booth. It’s a new blog created by my pal in Tennessee – I thought the Jets would win the Super Bowl before this guy started blogging – and it offers compelling topics about stuff that you may have never heard of. For example, do you know about Thanksgiving maskers? Me neither, until I read Word from the Booth.

16 years ago...

Cold, Frosted Coors

I’m in the minority here, I know, but I love playoff baseball games played in football weather. According to the forecast for Saturday night, that’s exactly what we’ll get when the Colorado Rockies host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series in Denver. Weather.com is forecasting – get this – a 70 percent chance of snow showers and temperatures to be in the mid 30s when the first pitch is thrown at 7:37 p.m. local time. The wind chill at game time will make fans at Coors Field feel like it’s about 23 degrees.

I know baseball purists hate cold weather baseball games, but I love the added drama that little snow and chill can deliver.

The Open in Pictures

Yahoo! Sports has a great photo gallery of the rain-drenched U.S. Open. I don't think I've ever written more about golf and rain than I have today. The photo here is from the Associated Press.

Done for the Day

Play at the U.S. Open has been suspended for the day. They'll try again Friday morning.

No word yet on a postponement of the Yankees/Nationals game. It's still in a rain delay.

UPDATE: The target -- this has become a moving target -- for the first pitch at Yankee Stadium is now 4:05 p.m.

Send Us Your Rainy Sports Photos

By the way, I've been intending to write this, but keep forgetting: If you happen to be at the U.S. Open or Yankee Stadium, e-mail to me a cool rainy shot and I'll try to post it here. Be sure to send me your name so I can give you credit. The e-mail address is: rainoutblog@gmail.com.

Thanks.

The Organist is Playing “Singing in the Rain”

It’s raining in the Bronx, delaying Joba Chamberlain’s first pitch in the Yankees’ rubber (boots) match with the Washington Nationals. Jack Curry has the rain delay covered, including Johnny Damon’s forecast, on the New York Times’ Bats blog.

Frank Franklin of the Associated Press took the above photo exclusively for The Rainout Blog (that’s not true).

Keep visiting The Rainout Blog for updates on the Yankees/Nationals and U.S. Open rain delays. (That, too, is probably not true. I got stuff to do, ya know?).

Weather Update

...from usopen.com:

"Mike Davis just informed us that it will be at least until 2 p.m. before players possibly could get out to the practice range to warm up for a resumption of play today. Heavy rain is still expected over the next 45 minutes, but the good news is there's a window this afternoon when golf should be able to resume. The hope is that the morning wave of 78 competitors can complete round one today, with the afternoon wave, which includes Phil Mickelson, completing the first round on Friday.

Once the rain does stop, Jim Hyler, the chairman of the Championship Committee, said it would take 30 minutes or so to get the course back into playing condition."

Running updates can be found here.

Rain Delay at Black

Play currently is suspended at the U.S. Open because of heavy rain. While you’re waiting, here is an insightful article about how U.S. Open officials are combating the wet conditions. By the way, the photo is from the Associated Press.

Tracking Tiger

The weather is playing a factor as the U.S. Open begins this morning. Jim Baumbach of Newsday is following Tigers woods throughout the day on the newspaper’s On The Green blog. The photo above is from Newsday’s J. Conrad Williams.

And what's better than reading live updates about the U.S. Open on a blog? Well, watching the tournament on your computer -- if you're not near a large scree TV. You can watch live -- the rain is pouring now -- on the U.S. Open Web site.

Wet Sox

The White Sox game with the Cubs, as you already know, was rained out on Tuesday, but the coolest baseball rain delay photo from the past week is this AP snapshot of the Sox grounds crew as they squeegee water from the tarp covering the field during a rain delayed game between the Pale Hose and the Tigers.

Striking Photo

I’m about two weeks late with posting this AP photo of lightning striking at the Southern California Golf Association golf course in Temecula, Calif. on June 3. It’s a great pic, so you’ll give me a break on its tardiness to the blog, right? Enjoy!

By the way, you can keep up with U.S. Open weather conditions at weather.com

Rain Could Halt U.S. Open

The potential of significant rainfall on Thursday and Friday has USGA officials concerned about possible delays at the beginning and throughout the U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. So, are USGA officials open to extending play into the early part of next week should play be held up by rain? Jim Hyler, a USGA vice president and chair of the championship committee told the New York Times: “If we can’t play it, if it’s not fair to be playing the ball as it lies, we’ll suspend play. We’ll stay here until we get a champion.” Rainfall from last week has the course already soggy, the Times story said.
How much rain will it take to garner a play suspension? “If we get an inch of rain Thursday, I’m fairly sure we’ll get a suspension,” Currier said. “Especially if it’s an inch of rain in a couple hours. If it’s spread over the whole day, we’ll be O.K. But if it comes quickly, the bunkers will fill up fast. It seems like we haven’t seen the sun in a month. I’m gearing myself for four days of rain.”
Read more of the New York Times story>>

Cincinnati Reds Grounds Crew Pulls the Tarp in Thunderstorm