Wally the Green Monster Wally the Green Monster is the official mascot for the Boston Red Sox. His name is derived from the Green Monster, the nickname of the 37-foot 2-inch wall in left field at Fenway Park. Wally debuted on April 13, 1997 to the chagrin of many older Red Sox fans. Although he was a big hit with children, older fans did not immediately adopt him as part of the franchise. As of 2009, Wally has become more accepted by Red Sox fans of all ages, largely due to broadcaster Jerry Remy creating stories about him and sharing them during televised games.
Biography According to the Red Sox, Wally the Green Monster has long been a resident of Fenway Park, residing in the Green Monster wall since 1947. Wally has seen many legendary outfielders (and even a few National Baseball Hall of Famers) play Left Field and master the infamous "Green Monster" at Fenway. In 1997, Wally emerged from the wall to everyone's surprise on Opening Day. After 15 years, Wally has become a family favorite and entertains the crowds of fans who come to Fenway to see the Red Sox play. He wears Red Sox Jersey #97, indicating the Year of his emergence from the Wall, and his trusty Team-Issued Size 37 ballcap is never far from his green head. In his spare time Wally likes to play catch with the Red Sox players, read his favorite book "Hello, Wally" written by his good friend and NESN Red Sox Broadcaster Jerry Remy, and sneak into the concession stands when no one is looking to grab a bite - or more, to eat. He prepares for every Red Sox game by eating a good meal, watching batting practice, and tuning into Red Sox Pregame as he ties up his shoes and grabs his trusty Red Sox flag. As pregame starts, Wally is on the field greeting fans near Field Level by taking pictures, signing autographs and sneaking in a kiss or two to the many fans of Red Sox Nation. After photo ops with some of Fenway's special guests of the game, he can be seen waving his flag and cheering on the Red Sox as the starting lineups are announced. The National Anthem is performed for all 37,000+ fans at Fenway and Wally, along with his special friend of the game, yell every baseball fans two favorite words, "PLAY BALL" and the game is ready to begin. Wally is a busy monster throughout the game. From doing seat visits for some special guests, to jumping up on the dugout to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch, Wally stays plenty busy meeting and greeting the fans of Red Sox Nation. And on weekends, Wally can be seen out on Yawkey Way taking pictures with fans who visit the "street fair atmosphere" of Wally's World around the Third Inning of the ballgame. Some of Wally's memorable moments of being the Red Sox Mascot have come away from Fenway. Whether it is traveling to Fort Myers, Florida and jetBlue Park for Red Sox spring training or visiting other cities for special events, Wally is a well traveled monster. For example, this last December Wally was invited to Washington, D.C. to perform with Smokey Robinson in a tribute to a Red Sox favorite, and Music Legend, Neil Diamond (Writer/Performer of "Sweet Caroline") at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. When he was told that President Obama, his family, Mr. Diamond and many other celebrities would be in attendance, Wally knew he could not do it alone. He made some calls and brought 100 members of Red Sox Nation to Washington to perform on stage alongside him. Wally also travels to the Major League Baseball All Star Game every year to meet up with his furry friends from all over Major League Baseball for various fan-fests, signings and gatherings. Wally loves to meet new people and visit the various parts of Red Sox Nation. He can be rented by visiting the team's official website for various events Rivalry Wally 'Behind Enemy Lines' riding the Subway in NYC on a trip to the MLB FanCave Wally has an ongoing rivalry with Tampa Bay Rays' mascot Raymond. Before the Red Sox play a series in Tampa Bay, Raymond typically attacks or pranks either Wally or the visiting broadcast booth where the miniature Wally stays with Remy and Don Orsillo. Raymond's more publicized attacks have involved running Wally over with a four-wheeler and hanging over 40 miniature Raymond dolls in the visiting broadcasters' booth. Another rivalry that Wally takes part in every year is the competition between himself and his Fort Myers Spring Training Counterpart, T.C. Bear of the Minnesota Twins for the All Star Game Mascot Home Run Derby Crown. T.C. Bear got the better of the competition for the first couple years, but Wally struck back in 2011 with a laser-show of his own to bring the crown back to Fenway. Facts About Wally Wally at Frozen Fenway 2012
Green Apples Granny Smith apples are full of antioxidants that improve health. Granny Smith apples are a crisp, tart apple that make a delicious snack or a tasteful addition to recipes. Because these green apples are have a higher acid content than other apples, they take longer to go brown once you cut into them. Toss diced Granny Smith apples into salads or stir them into your oatmeal at breakfast. Caramelize chopped Granny Smith apples with a touch of butter and cinnamon to make a warm topping for frozen yogurt. No matter how you enjoy these tart green apples, your body will reap a nutritional harvest of benefits. Antioxidants Apples are the main source of flavonoids in the Western diet and they are rich in vitamin C, explains Dr. Silvina Lotito, a research associate with the Linus Pauling Institute. Granny Smith apples are particularly high in the flavonoids cyanidin and epicatechin, although Red Delicious has more. Vitamin C and flavonoids act as antioxidants in your system and neutralize harmful free radicals. Having an abundance of free radicals roaming through your body leads to permanent damage of healthy cells and increases your risk of chronic diseases. Powerful antioxidants from Granny Smith apples lessen your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Weight Loss Granny Smith apples make a guilt-free addition to your weight-loss efforts. They are naturally low in calories, providing a minimal 80 calories for a medium 3-inch piece of fruit. The high fiber content of Granny Smith apples further helps your weight-loss goals by improving satiety. Soluble fiber, which comes from the soft inside part of the apple, attracts water in your intestinal tract. It forms a gel-like substance, which slows digestion and forces food to back up into your stomach. You may feel full for an extended period of time if you snack on a Granny Smith apple in the afternoon or enjoy one right before a meal. Regulated Blood Sugar Granny Smith apples can help stabilize your blood sugar levels, which is particularly important if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. Foods rich in soluble fiber delay absorption of sugar in your small intestine and may lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Women who eat an apple a day are nearly 30 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, "Best Health Magazine" reports. Make sure you meet your daily fiber recommendation for maximum benefits. You need 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories in your diet, which amounts to 28 daily grams for an average 2,000-calorie diet, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. A medium 3-inch Granny Smith apple provides about 5 grams of dietary fiber. Healthy Teeth If you can't brush your teeth after a meal, reach for a Granny Smith apple. Biting and chewing the tough, fibrous skin of the apple stimulates saliva production. The extreme tartness of Granny Smith apples aids in more salivation than a sweeter type of apple. High levels of saliva decrease bacteria in your mouth that attack teeth and cause cavities. Granny Smith apples are high in acid, which can break down tooth enamel. As a precaution, drink a glass of water with your apple to minimize any damage from acid. Steady Heart Rhythm Granny Smith apples have a slightly higher potassium content than other types of apples. Potassium is an electrolyte that keeps fluid balanced in and around cells. This process is vital to everyday electrical flow through your body, a function that makes your heart beat. If you don't get enough potassium each day, you may wind up having an irregular heartbeat. You need 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. A 100-gram Granny Smith apple, which is equivalent to about 3 1/2 ounces, provides 115 milligrams of potassium. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-granny-smith-apples-3334.html 11 Benefits of Green Tea That You Didn't Know About!! 11 Benefits of Green Tea That You Didn’t Know About Lifestyle by Ciara Conlon I’m a green tea drinker. Not for the love of the taste — no way! I drink it because I’m told it’s good for me…or, to be honest, the real reason I drink it is because I believe it help keeps my weight in check. But recently I decided to look into it a bit deeper and see what are all these other benefits of green tea people talk of. Why Green Tea? Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China but widely used throughout Asia this beverage has a multitude of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it than black tea is (apparently) due to the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation process. As a result, green tea retains maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits. Here’s a list of some of its amazing benefits — benefits that you may not have been aware of. Some of these benefits are still being debated, so please do your own research if you want to use green tea for medicinal purposes. 1.Weight Loss. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories. 2.Diabetes. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage. 3.Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks. 4.Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them. 5.Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol. 6.Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells. 7.Tooth Decay. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions 8.Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. 9.Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers. 10.Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases. 11.Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage. How Much? These are some of the many benefits but the reality is one cup of tea a day will not give you all the abundant gains. The jury is out on how many cups are necessary; some say as little as two cups a day while others five cups — and more still say you can drink up to ten cups a day. If you are thinking of going down this route, you may want to consider taking a green tea supplement instead (it would keep you out of the bathroom). Another thing to point out is that there is caffeine in green tea — so if you are sensitive to caffeine then one cup should be your limit. Green tea also contains tannins (which can decrease the absorption of iron and folic acid), so if you are pregnant or trying to conceive then green tea may not be ideal for you. You can try mixing green tea with other healthy ingredients such as ginger. For the rest of us with all these abundant benefits…it’s a wonder we drink anything else. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/11-benefits-of-green-tea-that-you-didnt-know-about.html
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