A Blogapalooza-Sized Boston Sports Give-Away!!!!!

You've read about Blogapalooza on my blog more than once. I've promised to write about some of the awesome bloggers, vendors and people I met there and I'm going to make good on that promise in the coming weeks. Today, however, I'm going to do one better. I'm not only going to write about some of the vendors but I'm also going to host my VERY FIRST SOXY LADY BLOG GIVE-AWAY!!!!!

I'm going to be giving away* a package of 5 awesome prizes in honor of Cinco De May0 and Nomar Day at Fenway Park.

All you need to do is either blog, Tweet or Facebook about this give-away. Once you have done that, leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog/Tweet/Facebook status** and you're entered! If you do all three then you are entered three times :) Make sure you leave your contact information in your comment, or email it to me at soxylady33 {at} gmail {dot} com.

You have until midnight on May 12th to enter. The winner will be announced on my blog on Thursday, May 13th.

The first prize comes from Sportsnecks. Sports jewelry made in the USA! These adorable baseball charms are perfect for the female sports fan in your life.

The winner will have their choice of one of the following:

• A ball and bat charm on a silver chain or red chain
• A glove and ball charm on a black chain
• A white baseball on a silver chain
• A pink baseball on a silver chain
  

(image courtesy of Sportsnecks.com)

The second prize comes from BottomLine Apparel. These Boston Sports shirts are fun and made on quality T-shirts. If you purchase Bottom Line's "Yoouuk" T-shirt $5 is donated to the Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids charity. I'm wearing mine to the game tonight!!

The T-shirt you will win is size L and one of my favorites!

(image courtesy of blshirts.com)

The third prize comes from those Supah people over at Supahfans.com. They sell Boston sports T-shirts, stickers and more!

The sticker you will win is a must-have for any Red Sox fan! Place it on your car, your notebook, your forehead (heh)

(image courtesy of supahfans.com)

The fourth prize is a coupon for one free ticket to any home Brockton Rox game! You'll have a chance to experience professional baseball at a fraction of the price of the major-league team.

The ticket is not assigned to any seat, so for $5 bring a friend or family member!

(image courtesy of the Brockton Rox)

The fifth prize is really 3-in-1. You will win a pair of Wachusett Brewing Company coasters and a Wachusett Brewing Company bottle opener.

This MA-based brewery offers tours and has a store where you can fill 1/2 gallon growlers with their beer!! Bring it home and enjoy :)

(image courtesy of WachusettBrew.com)

All of these companies were represented in one way or another at the first-ever Blogapalooza. I want to thank them for these awesome prizes and hope you enjoy them!

Best of luck on winning!


*Dear, FTC: These prizes were all donated to me either to be part of a SoxyLady giveaway, or as a "door prize" at Boston Sports Blogapalooza.

**To link to the exact Tweet you posted on Twitter, click on the time stamp after the Tweet has been submitted and send me that link. To link to the Facebook status just tag me @SoxyLady in your message! Let me know if you have any questions.

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Rally Wally

I've always been a huge fan of Rally Wally. As a matter of fact, just a quick search through some of my old pictures and I was able to find these:


The first picture is from when Papi hit a 3-run walk-off homer in June of 2006. The Sox were down by 2 in the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, 2 strikes...and the power of Rally Wally took hold.

Truth be told, I don't remember when the second picture is from, but we'll just have to assume it was also an epic night.

Earlier today the folks at the Remy Report urged Red Sox Nation to take part in "Upside-Down Wally night"

To all of Red Sox Nation - something MUST be done to stop this slide into oblivion.

So many of you have a Wally, and many even have his chair. Let's get ALL of Red Sox Nation to recognize "Upside-Down Wally" night as the Sox take on LAA.

We will even have Wally upside down and on his chair at Jerry Remy's Sports Bar & Grill. If you are there tonight, be sure to wish luck on Wally, so that he will bring luck to the Red Sox.
What are you waiting for?

Get Wally on his head before the game begins and tell all your friends and family to do the same! The Nation is waiting!

Did I take part?

You bet I did!!!!


Here is Rally Wally with the Growler of beer we won yesterday at Boston Sports Blogapalooza.

The Nation responded with plenty of pictures posted to the Remy Report's Facebook page. Go and check them out, and add your own photo from tonight if you have one.

I'll say the call to the Nation has paid off. In the 8th inning it is 17-4 Sox over the Angels. Dare I say I don't even think our bullpen can blow this lead?

Don't make me eat my words........

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Boston Sports Blogapalooza

Kudos to Joe Gilll for organizing a very successful Blogapalooza. If you weren't able to make it, definitely try and be there for the rumored 2nd coming of Blogapalooza in the fall.

In the coming days I'll be highlighting many of the bloggers/artists I met and will talk about the various prizes and schwag I walked away with. There is just too much to highlight in one post (and yeah, I'm tired after a long weekend!)

In the mean time, I want to share some linking love with the people I met. If I've missed you I apologize in advance, just shoot me a message and I'll be sure to add you to the list.

• Julia's Rants
• Baseball Reflections
  
• Bottom Line Apparel & The Bottom Line Blog
• Sports Girl Kat, On Being a Sports Girl
• Necessary Roughness with Kisha
• Neal Portnoy from idrawpeople.com
• Saver Sports
• Randy Booth from Over the Monster
• Boston Sports Then and Now
• Respect the Tek
• RSN Governor Jared Carrabis from SoxSpace News
  
• Brett Rudy from Charity Hop
• Tim Daloisio from Fire Brand of the AL
• Brockton Rox
• Lowell Spinners

I want to send a special shout-out to Mike Hall's girlfriend, Laura. I was so excited to find out Laura is a fan of SoxyLady. I hope to get the chance to meet her soon!!

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Minor League Highlight: Lowell Spinners

In 2005 my dad met me in Boston and we drove a few miles north to Lowell to watch the Lowell Spinners play the Batavia Muckdogs.

Dad's former Cape Cod League Baseball host-son, Brett Harker, was going to pitch for the Muckdogs. We were ecstatic to see him play professional ball. I was even more excited because one of my BBBF's (yeah, that's Baseball Boyfriend), Gabe Kapler, was rehabbing in Lowell.

The Spinners are part of the Red Sox Minor League System. They are affiliated as a Class A Short Season Team. As the name implies, their season is short (June - September) and for many players this is their first opportunity to play with a wooden bat (Cape League Alumni have a head start on this!) Short-A ball helps transition rookies to professional baseball; They learn a lot about conditioning and have the opportunity to play on a daily basis.

We were able to meet with Brett before the game. He had always pitched as a closer, but told us the Muckdogs were going to try him out as a starter that day.

I expressed my concern.....I was conflicted because I wanted him to do well, but I had to cheer for the Spinners and for Kapler. My dad joked that when Gabe came up to bat, Brett should buzz the tower. Brett's agent didn't think that was a good idea. We had a few laughs and then headed for the ball park.

I don't remember many details of the game except for these:

• Brett struck out Gabe Kapler. I was proud and frustrated at the same time

• Jacoby Ellsbury was on the Spinners roster. He wasn't a household name yet, but he also played in the Cape League the same season Brett did. Our team beat Ellsbury's team to win the championship
• I was impressed by LeLacheur Park
  
• The fans loved their home team and the Spinners did a lot to get the fans involved
  
• You could feel the passion in every pitch, every at-bat

It's the thing I love most about minor-league ball; The boys are playing for the love of the game. They're playing for the opportunity to perform on the big stage. They are giving it their all to make their dreams come true.

For anyone who lives in the vicinity of Lowell (or any town that hosts a minor-league team) I urge you to take in a game. For mere pennies in comparison to going to Fenway you can experience a night of fun and good, pure baseball for the whole family.

Often times you have the opportunity to meet and interact with players. This is especially beneficial for the kids as they get to pick out a "favorite player" before they become famous. They are able to follow their journey through the professional baseball system and boast to their friends they knew "so and so" way back when he played for the Spinners.

You are able to get a real good look at those boys who may one day turn into men in front of Red Sox Nation. Former Spinners players who are now on the Red Sox:

• Kevin Youkilis
• Jacoby Ellsbury
• Jonathan Papelbon
• Clay Buchholz
  

Oh, and the starting pitcher for the spinners the night Brett pitched? Just two short years later he threw a no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox.

If you're interested in Learning more about the Lowell Spinners come to Boston Sports Blogapalooza on Sunday, May 2nd. They will have a representative on hand.

I hope to see you there!

Follow @SoxyLady

Boston Sports Blogapalooza, This Sunday May 2nd

Ladies, Gentlemen & Sports fans, it's time to get your Blogapalooza on!

If you haven't heard about Blogapalooza yet, check it out:

Blogapalooza is an event where social media and Beantown sports collide. Bloggers, their fans, and Boston Media members will have the opportunity to meet, network, trade social media tips and of course talk sports.

The event is being held at and sponsored by The Baseball Tavern - right in Fenway's back yard. It is being co-sponsored by NESN.com, SwingJuice and Lenovo with the Lowell Spinners, Brockton Rox, SupahFans.com, Sullys and more as participating companies.

Who else is going to be there? Well..me. And lots of other Boston Sports bloggers. Check out the list on the Blogapalooza website.There is still time to RSVP for this free event! Make sure to visit the Facebook page to RSVP today!


Hope to see you all there!

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Boston Sports Blogapalooza

Boston Sports Then & Now, the Rhode Island based Swing Juice and Jerry Remy's Sports Bar & Grill are teaming up to put an event together for us bloggers to meet each other face to face, network, trade tips, eat, drink and be merry!!

Boston Sports Blogapalooza is being held March 28th at Jerry Remy's new Sports Bar at Fenway Park (watch out, Game On!) for all sports bloggers 18+.

Local artists Brian Richard and The Hootchies will be there for our entertainment (and a little Nothern-Fried Rock and Roll).

R.S.V.P. on BSB Facebook Event Page and become a fan!


Some bloggers I've seen on the RSVP list are:

• Cyn from Toeing the Rubber
• Derek from SawxBlog
• Caroline & Jennifer from Respect the Tek (I would not shake of Jason Varitek in my house either!)
• Jared Carrabis from SoxSpace

Will yours be next? I hope to see you there!

For more information Email Joe from Boston Sports Then and Now.

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