10 Best East Coast Stops to Make This Summer

I know how the saying goes, west coast best coast right? WRONG- In my humble opinion of course. 😉

Here are the top 10 things to do when you find yourself East coast chillin’ for the summer…

1. MISQUAMICUT BEACH!

The coolest little one lane beach town in the smallest state in the U.S., Misquamicat Beach, Westerly,  RI! PADDY’S beach bar is where it’s at here! You walk up barefoot in your bathing suit to the bar and you most definitely need to order yourself a shark tank and some clam fritters! 👅 (*MOUTH WATERS*)

2. CONEY ISLAND!

Ride the wonder wheel at Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY not once, but twice. Eat an original NATHAN’s famous hot dog and crinkle fries and hang with the old school carnies!

3. CAPE COD!

Here’s your go to for the BEST DAMN lobster rolls you have ever had! Captain Frosty’s is #1, but let’s be real. You really can’t go wrong with any seafood at the Cape.

4. YANKEES GAME!

 Of course you have to go to a Yanks game! Yeah the beers are $14 dollars, but seeing the 27 champion World Series banners is pretty badass. Not to mention, there’s always the celebs that go to games you can spot on the jumbo-tron. If you’re on a budget, bleacher seats are the best to catch a home run and make rowdy friends!

5. WASHINGTON D.C.!

Check out the Lincoln Memorial, White House and countless museums. It’s okay to look for Olivia Pope on Scandal, but make sure you stop by the famous GEORGETOWN CUPCAKES while mingling with famous congressman and senators.

6. VIRGINIA BEACH!

Known for its beautiful bike boardwalk, salt water taffy and in late August, Virginia Beach even hosts the East Coast Surfing Championships. Yeah, the waves are small, but there are still plenty of babes and booze so you know we love it.

7. SARATOGA!

Head to the horse track and play the ponies in Saratoga, NY. Opening day was Friday July 24th and they allow you to bring in your own coolers for all day tailgating! (*Large fancy hat not required, but hey if you’re feeling festive!*)

8. SEACRETS!

Located in Ocean City, MD, if you’re looking for ratchet beach bars, house music and old bay crab cakes this is the place for you.

9. LONG TRAIL BREWING COMPANY!

Looking for a brewery tour? Here’s a great one in VT! I also highly recommended buying Vermont sharp cheddar cheese, homemade maple syrup and anything maple flavored from Vermont. It’s amazing. And the donuts… DYING.

10. THE HAMPTONS!

We had to. I mean, it’s the Hamptons. If you’re feeling bougie, head to an oyster roast, crash a bachelor party or look for Kimye’s mansion. Montauk has the best beaches and the Surf Lodge is a total go-to as well. Go on, embrace your inner stardom and sip on some rose and put on the biggest sunglasses you own and show the Hamptons who’s boss!

Live it up wile you can peeps before these long summer days are over! Go, go, GO!

– Morgan

The Newest Mr. 3,000

Mr. 3,000.

I’m not talking about Stan Ross (played by Bernie Mac), although that was a great movie. I’m talking about Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. On June 19^th, Rodriguez became a member of the 3,000 hit club when he blasted a solo home run off of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in the first inning.

CHILLSSSSS! Think about what the announcer just said in the video above. Over 18,000 men to play professional baseball and only 29 are a part of this club. Pretty elite, right?!

A-Rod’s name will now go on a list with big names like Rod Carew (3,053), Ricky Henderson (3,055), Cal Ripken (3,184), Willie Mays (3,283), Derek Jeter (3,465), Hank Aaron (3,771) and the famous cheater Pete Rose (4,256).

Let’s talk about cheating real quick.

Everyone thinks about that word when they think about A-Rod– kind of hard not too.

If you can remember back in 2009, Rodriguez held a press conference and admitted to using PED’s. He apologized and asked for forgiveness. He went on to set records and even win the World Series in 2009.

But like they say, once a cheater always a cheater. In 2014, A-Rod was suspended the ENTIRE season for his involvement with Anthony Bosch and the biogenesis scandal.

Well, he suffered the consequences so I’ll leave the man alone, especially since fellow MLB players are still letting him have it.

So where does A-Rod go from here?

Well, he is certainly not slowing down his pace. Almost all fans thought his year suspension would be the beginning to the end of his career. I mean, after all he is pushing 40 years old. But boy were those A-Rod haters wrong.

Rodriguez is a true leader on his team with 69 hits, 15 HR and 44 RBIs. He even has a couple more years with the Yankees. In December of 2007, he signed a 10 year, 275 million dollar deal with them.

He is even up for an ESPY award this July.

Well, keep doing what you do A-Rod – the baseball thing, not the cheating thing.

– Paige

Remember the Name- MLB Players Who Are Killing it

Article published June 10, 2015- all stats up to date as of then

Yes. My favorite thing to talk about.

Baseball is a team sport, but let’s be real, every team has that one player that every fan knows of. With the season rolling along and the all-star game (half-way through the season) approaching, I figured we’d take a look at the big names putting the team on their back, Greg Jennings style.

Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers

Gonzalez is all over the stats board for the Dodgers. He is in the top of all offensive categories with a .324 batting average, 11 HR, 39 RBIs and has an OPS of .985. He is an extra-base hitting machine, delivering doubles left and right in clutch situations. The Dodgers are first in the NL West and can thank their all-star game bound first baseman for his contributions to the team.

Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins

The Twins are in second place in the AL Central with a record of 33-26, just trailing the Kansas City Royals. Brian Dozier has stepped up big time and can be thought of as the best second baseman in the AL. He is batting .265, has 11 HR, 28 RBIs and an OPS of .863. He also leads the MLB with 47 runs. Not only can he perform at the plate, he is great in the field.

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

The question is what can’t Harper do? Not only can he chase down baseballs in the outfield and throw runners out, Harper is a threat at the plate. He is batting .330 and leading the MLB with 20 HR (yes, I said TWENTY) and OPS of 1.187. OW, OW! Harper has also knocked in 47 RBIs helping his team move to first place in the NL East at 31-28. With the numbers to show, Harper has proved this season he can hit any pitch from any pitcher. Harper is playing “put your money where your mouth is” kind of ball.

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays

Talk about an ace! Archer seems pretty much untouchable. He is 7-4 with a 1.84 ERA and leading the MLB with 108 strikeouts. He surely is doing all he can to keep his team in the race, as they trail the New York Yankees by 1.5 games. With Archer’s crazy ability to find the strike zone, you hardly ever see this guy walk a batter. It’s not even all-star break yet and he is already going down in history for what he has done this season.

Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

Can Keuchel pitch every night? He can be thought of as one of the best pitchers in the AL. No, I am not being biased – he has been named the AL pitcher of the month for April and May. He is 7-2 with an ERA of 1.9 and 72 strikeouts. He has been dominant all year and is a big reason why the Astros are in first place in the AL West. Keep your eyes on Keuchel to see if he will be the starting pitcher in this years all-star game.

Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

Hosmer really emerged last season when he helped his team to the World Series. This season he is looking to do the same, and he is off to the best start of his career. He is hitting .301 with 7 HR and an OPS of .859. Although Hosmer is not always the long-ball hitter, he is efficient at the plate with 35 RBIs. On top of his stats, Hosmer is the backbone of the Royals composure on the field and in the clubhouse – just the type of player you would want on your team.

Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year is off to a great start again. deGrom is 7-4 with an ERA of 2.42 and 81 strikeouts. This season he has taken a perfect game into the sixth-inning and although he could not pull that gem off, he showed everyone what he was capable of. He also has the ability to settle down after a rough start – something all baseball fans want their pitchers to be able to do. The Mets are second in the NL East and look to deGrom to keep pitching well.

Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals

The best team in the MLB (39-21) has many weapons but there’s one in particular. Peralta is leading the Cardinals in almost all offensive categories. He is batting .315, has 10 HR, 35 RBIs and a .900 OPS. He also leads the team with 69 hits. Peralta is the go-to guy to get a rally going, which is what he did recently to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also is great on the field making plays at shortstop look too easy.

Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees

The Yankees are in a close race with the Tampa Bay Rays, but Teixeira is doing all he can to keep them in the top spot. He is batting .238 with 17 HR and a .917 OPS. His batting average is not as high as he is capable of, but with 45 RBIs he proves that he can pull through in the right situations.

Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers

Coming back from an injury-ending season, Fielder is on a roll and proving why the Rangers paid the big bucks for him. He is hitting .354, has 10 HR, 41 RBIs and an OPS of .953. Oh, and he has 81 hits. Not too shabby. Fielder has also come up with a couple of walk off wins, helping the Rangers pull within two games behind the AL West leading Astros. Good news for the Rangers that they got this “Fielder” back.

With the first half of the season almost in the books, it’s time for teams to focus on their play-off push. It is a long season but EVERY GAME COUNTS. Look for these big names to hopefully take their team into October and win the pennant.

But let’s be real. Hopefully I will be sipping some World Series champagne – Go Astros!

XO!

– Paige

10 Best Player Tattoos

Ladies and gentlemen, ’tis the season to be single and if you’re opinion is anything like mine, a tatted man is the best kind of man. There’s something beautiful and badass about a man who’s willing to have a needle stabbed into his body several times to ultimately create a work of art. No? Athletes are notorious for showcasing their art so without further a due, here are the 10 BEST Player Tattoos!

10. CC Sabathia

NY Yankees pitcher, CC Sabathia, is the next badass on this list. Although CC doesn’t have pecks like Kap, he sure is feeling himself like Nicki and Bey! Sabathia makes this list simply because of all the detail put into his back! His last name coming out of flames is actually fuego, and take a look at that San Fran backdrop underneath with a lion and unicorn framing it. Okay, we see you!

9. Jermaine Jones

Jermaine Jones is arguably one of the best midfielders in America. But nothing says I rock heavy with my country like an American flag in a star tat on the knee! Keep being dope! #Mericuh

8. Mike Scott

Please hear me out. Emojis are definitely a millennial thing: mostly overused but definitely glad we have them because sometimes they make the conversation a million times better. But for you to actually take your favorite Emojis and have them permanently tatted on your body?! You the real MVP. Atlanta Hawks forward, Mike Scott ladies and gents.

7. Matt Kemp

LA Dodgers Matt Kemp makes the list because this beautiful portrait of his grandparents on his chest. Keeping family closest to his heart. What. A. Guy. (Swoon)

6. Colin Kaepernick

San Francisco Niners QB Colin Kaepernick is next on the list. Now his tattoos may not look like much but you have to give a man props for the full chest tattoo that’s supposed to stand for “inner strength, spiritual growth, and humility” and in the mix of that says “against all odds.” Regardless if you love the tat or not, enjoy looking at his chest. 😉 #goodGAWD

5. Daniel Agger

Now I’m no soccer pro, but when I see a tattoo I love, I ride for that player. Danish footballer, Daniel Agger has this insane portrait of Vikings in a graveyard that takes up his entire back. I won’t say much about it, because all you can really do is appreciate the detail in this true work of art.

4. Monta Ellis

The Dallas Mav’s Monta Ellis has a full tree on his stomach. Stretching from his chest all the way down to his naval. Should I say more?

3. Devin Thomas

Okay so remember earlier when I said “a tatted man is the best kind of man,” well that’s true. AND if it’s paired with a guy who’s still in touch with his inner child? Count me in! TWICE! Yeah, sure, Detriot Lions’ Devin Thomas has other tattoos, but come on! Having Goku from Dragon Ball Z tatted on your back is the flyest thing since Nike Air Force Ones first drop! Play on playa! 😉

2. J.R. Smith

Cleveland Cavs guard J.R. Smith obviously makes the top 2 on this list. Of course we all know JR is super tatted but if you look closely at his neck, you’d think you’re staring at simply a Yankees symbol, but over that tattoo says “Young Money.” As in the record group that Lil’ Wayne owns. Oh yes, he did. The brave soul has a Young Money tattooed on his throat and yes, I’m here for it.

1. Tim Howard

How could I make a list about tattoos and not have Tim Howard at numero uno! This American goalie is completely covered in ink. He has a dragon, a crucifix, pictures of his mother as a young woman and his grandfather in military uniform, and a Superman logo. With all those tats, I’ll be his Lois Lane any day of the week! #comefindme

– Nicolette

 

A-Rod: Breaking Records but Not Bank?

When people think of Alex Rodriguez, some words that might come to mind include (but not limited to): liar, cheater, chump, choke artist and some other words that are certainly not appropriate. In short, they see baseball’s biggest monster, who happens to play for baseball’s Evil Empire. Long gone are the days that we looked at A-Rod as the young prospect from Miami ready to break some serious records in the big leagues. However, if any attention has been paid to the Yankees since the return of Mr. Rodriguez, he is doing exactly that: breaking records.

Since Rodriguez has returned to the league after a long investigation and a year suspension, he has been a non-stop train to a successful year in baseball. According to Baseball Reference, his OPB since becoming DH is one of the best in the league standing at .358 with 137 at bats and a batting an average of .255. Facing the Yankees’ biggest and oldest rival, the Boston Red Sox in Fenway, Rodriguez hit the 661^st home run of his career, moving him ahead of Hall of Famer, Willie Mays. Now with A-Rod on his next quest to surpass another Yankee legend, Lou Gehrig, in RBI numbers (1,993), people must begin to think, how much bank is Rodriguez making right now due to his record breaking performance of a year so far, and the answer is none really.

In 2007, Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $275 million contract that contained a marketing agreement. The agreement is separate from his player contract stating that the Yankees had the right to designate a “milestone” valued at $6 million for each occurrence. Unfortunately for the 39 year old, he has reaped none of his rewards. According to MLB.com, New York Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, has made it very clear that the Yankees do not plan on paying Rodriguez for his “milestones” due to their obligation not to. The organization has been reluctant to pay A-Rod due to their inability to truly profit off his “milestone” achievements. Cashman said in a presser with the MLB back in early May, “We have the right but not the obligation, in quotes, and it’s as simple as that…if we choose to pursue something, we’ll choose to pursue it. If we choose not to, it’s our right not to. In both cases, we’re honoring the contract.”

The truth is, everyone seems to be loving A-Rod all over again. The #FORG1V3 t-shirts have been selling like churros at DisneyLand and fans can be seen wearing them throughout Yankee Stadium. It sounds like Rodriguez is regaining his reputation and should probably take a key from Rihanna and ask for what’s owed to him.

– Nicolette