A few random thoughts on last night's Home Run Derby and associated festivities:

• As you know, I'm down on the players these days because of the whole strike thing. But, man, it's cool to see them with their kids and video cameras having a blast during All-Star Monday. And as a bonus, if they do strike and ruin baseball, all the cameras will be available on eBay pretty soon -- maybe some will still have the ASG footage loaded!
• I loved seeing all the mascots up in Bernie Brewer's loft. I can't see Billy the Marlin without giggling a little. And when a Sammy Sosa homer made them all bounce around in unison...priceless.
• Memo to Chris Berman: Enough. I think you're great on the NFL postgame highlight shows, but 2 hours of you calling the Derby had me clawing the walls. When we've heard "BACKBACKBACKBACK!" for the 20th time...we get the idea.
• I can't decide how I feel about Miller Park. Some of the newest stadiums - Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Francisco - look like they've really raised the standard for the new ones to come. Miller looks sort of like a cross between Camden Yards, Tropicana Field, and an airport terminal. Just weird. And I'm dismayed that Bernie doesn't slide into a beer stein anymore; I hope that's not a lame attempt at political correctness, considering both the team and the stadium have beer-related names.
• (From the celebrity/oldtimer game) Nothing sums up the changes in baseball better than seeing the '82 Brewers stars hanging around. At the time, they were the biggest, toughest, hardest-hitting team for a decade. Now, in person and on ESPN Classic, they (physically) look like they'd be best suited as utility infielders. Even Stormin' Gorman Thomas looks little next to current shortstops.