I attended Billy Joel's concert at Shea Stadium last night.  I may be the only native Long Islander that isn't completely enamored by Joel, but I couldn't pass up a shot at going to a concert at Shea.

Needless to say, it was a great event, full of cameos from artists such as Tony Bennett and John Mayer, but it was the transformation of Shea that impressed me most. It was an excellent way to send off the old stadium.

Seeing Shea in concert mode was truly special, and it was a great venue to see a show in.  I have included an abbreviated slideshow from the event which you can view by clicking here.

Update...

Well, although our show was great, people who went to the first show like myself got somewhat shafted. Here's an excerpt from the Times about last night's REAL 'Last Play At Shea'.

"[Paul] McCartney wasn’t the only big guest. The country star Garth Brooks, dressed in a Mets T-shirt, sang Mr. Joel’s “Shameless,” which was a big hit for Mr. Brooks; Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performed “Walk This Way;” and Roger Daltrey of The Who— which played at Shea in 1982 — sang “My Generation” as Mr. Joel smashed a guitar on the center-field stage."

I would have liked to see Mr. Met slam the Fanatic but what can you do...

It was bad enough to see the NL lose their twelfth straight All-Star Game last night by the score of 4-3, but to do it in fifteen innings and almost five hours is just absurd. Having the Orioles closer, George Sherrill, pitch two-and-a-third innings is not right. Clint Hurdle having to consider David Wright as a pitcher, although partly in jest, is simply ridiculous.

The All-Star game winner gets home field advantage in the World Series, a financial strategy by Bud Selig to make players try harder, and make fans watch longer. Well this fan turned the game off after nine innings, stressed out by Billy Wagner blowing the lead.  The game should be an exhibition because this game should be fun, and a bit of a break, even for those selected to play.  But I needed a break as well from the rigors of watching baseball every day.  Perhaps I’m being selfish, but thank you Selig, for stressing me out with a  game that I should have been enjoying.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

To be fair, I said earlier that Utley has no class for his Derby intro expletive.

The Phillies site 700 level forwards an apology from the ever-slick haired second baseman:

I might have said the same thing, but Chase needs to have a bit more presence of mind.

During tonight's introductions to the Home Run Derby, Chase Utley got a few boos, and live on air said "Boo? F*$@ You."