It was funny watching members of the Baltimore Orioles run out to dig up some dirt from the mound after the last game at “Historic Yankee Stadium” for a souvenir.

They do realize that the dirt on the mound was actually laid there in 1973 when Yankee management ripped out the guts of the “House that Ruth Built” and replaced it with an entire new interior.

The original Yankee Stadium disappeared when Steinbrenner wanted more premium seating and tore everything away.

Granted the outside was still basically the same, but it was a new stadium nonetheless.

So out with the old — again — and in with the new.

Unfortunately, a regular fan will never be able to go to a game with the new prices at Yankee Stadium III. Unless they work for a major corporation that can afford the cost and then write it off or are related to a current player.

And what about poor New York Mets fans? With all the hoopla surrounding the closing of the Yankee house and the opening of the new one, does anyone even remember or care that the Mets are moving too?

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I’m sure Citi Field in Queens will have outrageous prices as well, once again excluding Joe Regular Fan and his family from going.

Unfortunately, one thing in the new stadiums will remain a constant — Some low level moron from the big corporations that can afford tickets, will still sit behind home plate, on his cell phone, and wave at somebody.

Hopefully in the new digs, The Wave will be banned.

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Should Manny Ramirez receive MVP recognition for helping turn around the Dodgers? No. Should he receive a huge contract to recognize his contributions? Yes — but not a long-term contract.

Hey, it looks like Joe Torre is going to be in the playoffs and the Yankees will not ... That’s a shame.

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In the first exhibition games of the hockey pre-season, two split-squad teams of LA Kings won against St. Louis and Phoenix. Does that mean they are twice as good as last year?

Most likely no, but as a die-hard fan, I’m with them ... until probably December at least.

Who will be worse this year — the Los Angeles Kings, Sacramento Kings or Burger King? Is it just me or is that Burger King guy the creepiest TV character of all time?

Sacramento has the advantage — they have nowhere to go but up.

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On a local note: Attention freshmen, JV and youth sports parents. Have your coaches send in their scores to my e-mail and they will get mentioned. Call me and leave a message of complaint on my phone, probably not.

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For the first time in my life, I don’t think I’ve sat through an entire NFL football game this year. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but the games seem to drag and are not as exciting as I remember. Or it could be that my favorite teams — the Raiders, 49ers and Bears just stink. Although the Niners are showing some life. You gotta love Mike Martz.

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Dear Mr. William Clay Ford, what took you so long? Matt Millan is a nice guy, but enough was enough. Bring him back to TV, maybe he can replace Dan Dierdorf, please, please.

Sports writer Brad Memberto can be reached at 737-1055 or by e-mail to bmemberto@lompocrecord.com

September 25, 2008