San Diego State Retires Tony Gwynn's No.19

In the near future, my hope is to transfer to San Diego State. I love the weather down South and love the vibe that SDSU's campus has. I saw earlier this week that for the opening of SDSU's baseball season, they were planning to honor the late Tony Gwynn by retiring his number, 19. This is his second number that is being retired by the university, (he was number 3 in his Aztec playing days.) Seeing this reminded me just how much Tony Gwynn meant to me. He was the perfect example of a true baseball player, a great head coach for the Aztec baseball team, and was a huge inspiration for me in my hopes of attending San Diego State.

I very vaguely remember seeing him play in the MLB, but that is due to the fact that I was 6 years old when he was playing his last year of professional baseball. Even though I was young when I watched him play, I knew he was special. Watching old interviews on MLB Network, and hearing stories about him from others has always made me jealous that I wasn't able to appreciate him more in his playing days.

I made sure to follow him as head coach at SDSU so I wouldn't miss out on any more of his fantastic career. Even though he was a hall of famer and one of the best baseball talents ever, Aztec baseball was where his heart was. Even though he was battling cancer (most likely due to chewing tobacco) and seemed to be getting more and more run down, he continued coaching the Aztecs and signing contracts to coach another season. This showed how much he loved his job and how deeply he cared for the game of baseball. The fact that current players, like Stephen Strasburg and Addison Reed were coached by him at SDSU shows how much of an impact he had as well as the kind of work ethic he instilled in the Aztec baseball team.

If and when I am an Aztec, I know I will be thinking of Tony Gwynn's legacy everyday. Seeing the remembrance patches on SDSU's jerseys made me smile, yet made my heart sink. He was too young to leave us, and had much left to do in the world of baseball. Number 19 will live on forever not only in San Diego, but to all sports fans.

Thank you, Tony Gwynn.

The Japanese Crowd

I was super excited when I heard One Direction was taking the On The Road Again Tour to Japan. I love the fact that whenever the boys go there, the crowd is very respectful. No girls screaming out their love for Harry Styles while I'm trying to listen to the boys' gorgeous voices. Last night, I watched the Osaka concerts through YouTube, and came to an interesting observation.

In 2008 and 2012, the Oakland A's traveled to Japan for the opening of the season. In both of these years, it was evident how much the Japanese love the game of baseball. They are standing and cheering constantly. They have coordinated chants and play the drums, almost like a version of Oakland's left and right field bleachers. They are very loud and proud of the team they are supporting, no matter the score.

When I watched the video of 'Little Things' in Osaka and could hear Niall's beautiful solo perfectly clear, I realized that the Japanese understand how to be a good crowd. During concerts, they are respectful and listen intently, only cheering when it's appropriate. During baseball games, they understand that your team needs you to show them that you have their back and are there for them.

I think the way a crowd acts can really impact a performance. Whether it be a show or a sporting event, you have to show the people/team you are supporting your respect. Screaming at the top of your lungs when Zayn hits his high note in 'You & I' and drowning him out isn't giving his breathtaking voice the respect it deserves. Screaming at the top of your lungs for a walk-off home run, is obviously very acceptable.

Next time you are a part of a crowd, try to take the advice of the Japanese and see how much better your experience is.

This Is Me!

Hello everyone! I wanted to start off my blog by introducing myself. My name is Becca and I am a college student who is majoring in Sports Journalism. I am from the Bay Area in California. I am a HUGE Oakland A's fan, and baseball is my all time favorite sport and most prominent obsession. I am also a huge Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and San Jose Sharks fan. I am currently a student at Napa Valley College and hope to transfer to San Diego State in the future.

Another obsession of mine is the band, One Direction. I fell in love with them due to the fact that they are five genuine guys who can actually sing, write beautiful songs, and truly have a passion for what they do. Many people turn away from them immediately, thinking only 12 year old girls like them, without truly listening to their music and learning about who they are as people. My favorite member of the band is Niall Horan, (the blonde, Irish one.) He and I are very similar, due to our love of sports, music, food, and our obnoxious (yet charming) laughs. 

My hope for this blog is to write articles about my experiences with and opinions on my favorite topics and to share my experiences in life. I named it after the two things (which both happen to start with 'H') that describe what my life revolves around; sports (Home Runs) and One Direction (Horan).

Follow me on twitter:
Sports Stuff- @beccaluvstheas
1D Stuff- @stockhoransndrm