SHARK WEEK IS HERE

Today is one of the best days of the year. It is the first day of Shark Week. This week, Sharkadina will be sharking up our blog to bring you the best, most jawesome coverage of all things Shark. Be sure to check the blog each day for exciting news and classic Sharkadina photoshops! To celebrate the start of Shark Week, why don't you buy your very own Shark Hat to wear to the next homestand? 

Today we are unveiling an image captured from a never before seen camera angle of THE CATCH OF THE YEAR. This photo was snapped the moment the ball hits Bernadina's glove and perfectly captures his expression. This photo has not been tampered with in any way:

OK, this photo was tampered with and was sent to us by fan of the blog @KarlJPotter. You too could be featured on Sharkadina, just tweet us your pic at @Sharkadina!

More to come.

Shark Jumps, Hits, Steals, and Bunts Way to Victory

Last night, Shark was catching fire! In the series finale against the Houston Astros, The Shark gave Bryce Harper a rest and started in CF and batted 2nd. He went 3-4 including one hit that almost took off the pitchers head and later in the game laid down a perfect Shark Bunt. He also had two Shark Steals bringing his total for the year up to 13!

The Shark also continued his media blitz, being interviewed by Holden and Danny on 106.7 THE FAN. Sadly, no mention of the nickname, but still a good interview!

Last night during the game while recounting the THE CATCH OF THE YEAR, F.P. Santangelo called Bernadina "Air Jaws." That got us thinking here at Sharkadina and we wanted to give some examples of sharks making great leaping catches.

First, go back and watch THE CATCH OF THE YEAR again so you can compare it with these.

First off, this Sharkadina original image from last July is eerily appropriate as the Shark's diving catch and great offense was one of the reasons the Nats swept the Astros in their four game series this year.

The shuttle program doesn't even exist anymore!

Here's a Shark Week preview from the Discovery Channel, which features a Great White named Colossus jumping into the air to eat a fake seal. The resemblance to Bernadina jumping into the air to catch a fly ball is uncanny:



And finally, just for fun and for those who haven't seen it. Here is the famous scene from SyFy original movie "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus" in which A GIANT SHARK JUMPS OUT OF THE WATER AND BITES AN AIRPLANE.



He must have thought it looked like a fly ball.

More to come.

The Shark Speaks

Everyone is STILL talking about The Catch of the Year. And yes, he officially beat out Mike Trout's catch for best of the year. If you haven't voted yet, please do: Which Web Gem do you think is best of the best? Unless you're from Arizona, because that state has clearly been HACKED (it has 50 more votes than California and 98% for Trout) because we already know Arizonans are Shark Fans!

For those of you Shark Fans who have never had the chance to meet Roger Bernadina, you may be wondering what he sounds like in person. Well he just gave two jawesome interviews about the catch. One was in the locker room after the catch and the other was the next day. We unfortunately can't embed them, but they are worth going over to MASN to watch.

After making the game-ending catch in the 12th, Roger Bernadina speaks to the media

Highlights:
Reporter: "Did you think you had a shot to get it the whole way?"
Shark: "Yeah, yeah, I knew I had a shot all the way..."
Off Screen Ian Desmond(?): "He's The Shark, he always thinks he has a shot!"

Reporter: "How about the moment running back to the dugout with everyone doing The Shark move...did you see them doing that?"
Shark: "Yeah, yeah, no my teammates are great!"

Roger Bernadina and Craig Stammen break down the film of the Shark's leaping catch

Highlights:
Kristina: "Regardless of the game situation, he's going after that ball the same way every time- that's why they call him The Shark"

Kristina: "Living up to your nickname The Shark. Do you like that nickname?
Shark: "Yeah, yeah, The Shark...I remember [sic?] those guys came up with the name, but yeah, I love it, I love it. You know, I'll stick with it.

And here's one more snippet from an article in The Washington Times- Nats’ ‘Shark’ savors his catch:

The chants were so loud Roger Bernadina could hear them reverberating as he walked through the tunnel toward the visitors’ clubhouse at Minute Maid Park Tuesday night. Reveling in another victory, the Washington Nationals turned the music up and awaited their hero of the night.

“Shark! Shark! Shark!” They screamed, as they waited for Bernadina to join them after an on-field interview, moments after his jaw-dropping catch in left-center field had saved their win over the Houston Astros. They clapped their hands with their arms outstretched, pantomiming the chomping motion of a shark, the nickname given to Bernadina years ago for the way he hunts down balls in the outfield.

The Nationals’ 28-year-old outfielder, one of the organization’s longest-tenured players, smiled at the sight of his teammates. He stretched out his arms and chomped back at them, soaking in the moment.

The Shark has arrived. Four days until Shark Week!

More to come.

THE CATCH OF THE YEAR

Remember the awesome diving catch by the Shark a couple of weeks ago to rob Nyjer Morgan? How about last year's ridiculous backwards sprawling diving catch by the Shark?  Of course you do.  After all, this is why he is nicknamed the Shark.  HE HUNTS DOWN FLY BALLS LIKE A SHARK GOING AFTER IT'S PREY.

Last night, the Shark further demonstrated this talent with a catch that tops all others...

Watch it again and again and again:

Also, to put it into context, keep an eye on the game information.  Bottom of the 12th, 2 on, 2 outs.  This easily would have been a walk-off double had the catch not been made.  To further put it into context, watch the video again, and look out for Mako Morse's celebratory Shark Chomp (still below)

There has been some great writing out there about last night's catch:

MASN: Reliving Bernadina's 12th-inning heroics 

Washington Post: Nationals vs. Astros: Danny Espinosa has 3 RBI, Roger Bernadina saves win with spectacular catch in 12th 

Dan Steinberg DC Sports Bog: The Nats react to Roger Bernadina’s game-ending catch- this has some awesome images of the players reactions to the catch!

Also you can vote for it for Web Gem of the Year here. Currently it is winning 86% to 14% for Mike Trout's catch early this season.

Just for kicks, watch the video of his spectacular catch from last year.

If there is anyone out there that doesn't believe he's the Shark, speak now. 

More to come.

Sharkadina on Fox Sports Florida

I know what you are all saying to yourself (and please correct me if I am wrong), "It's great to see that Sharkadina is posting and all, but they haven't been at a game in FOREVER!"

Let's be honest, the games are definitely the most fun.  Remember the first game Tyler met the Shark and won Fan of the Game?  Or the time, we hung out with the Shark after the game outside the clubhouse? When Terry won Fan of the Game and the Shark autographed his game worn jersey? How about when MARK GRACE TALKED ABOUT US FOR AN ENTIRE INNING on Fox Sports Arizona?!

Well, wait no more, avid Shark fans! As promised, Tyler and I (Terry) attended today's game and watched as Strasburg and the Nats beat the Miami Marlins 4-1 (Shark bunted out in his only AB).  Despite the intoxicating (or was that heat stroking) sun, baking and burning us, we sported our Shark hoods and chomped through the 9 innings.  We also brought a California Tortilla fish taco for Bernadina, but will have more information about that later...

...because, the best part of the game was that we had the opportunity to be interviewed LIVE on air during the sixth inning on Fox Sports Florida! We were interviewed by the talented sideline reporter Allison Williams:

Terry and Tyler do a synchronized Shark wave on FSMarlins

If you had the opportunity to watch it live, lucky you!  If not, you can watch the bootleg version below:

In other news, we also are getting some more attention by the media, as our story was featured on BreakThru Radio in there article about five famous guys with the nickname "The Shark" Just Call Me "The Shark"- Shark Week. Of course, one of those guys is Roger Bernadina.  Check out this article, because honestly, they do a better job talking through the origin of the nickname than we ever do...

More to come.

Shark Fever

A shark-themed epidemic is sweeping Nationals Park!

With Shark Week only a week away, Shark fans are coming out in droves to support the Nationals and their favorite player.  Jimmy Kloke (who we met about a year ago) and his family have been donning shark hats to recent games, rooting for the Shark.  The reception has been well received and  Sharkadina appreciates every Shark fan we can round up!  With the exception of one small interference issue, we love seeing the Shark Fever spreading all over the park. Even FP Santangelo (who loves calling Bernadina the Shark) apparently sported a Shark hat!

The Shark Fever reached a new intensity last night in the second game of a double header with the Miami Marlins (Nats won game 1, but lost game 2).  During the president's race, the president's came sprinting out of the center field gate with swim caps.  It was a close race until the they rounded the right field corner, when A SHARK BURST OUT OF NOWHERE AND ATTACKED TEDDY ROOSEVELT!

I know what you are thinking, "why would one of Roger Bernadina's relatives attack Teddy Roosevelt?!"  Well, I believe I have found the answer.  I think (though I have no proof) that this shark was not a Shark at all, but a HUMAN DRESSED AS A SHARK!  FP noted that it was "the most mutant looking shark [he's] ever seen in [his] life."  Check out the Let Teddy Win or click below to watch the video and be the judge if this was a real shark or someone wearing fake shark garb (despicable).

As we mentioned before, Tyler and I (Terry) will be at the game tomorrow with our original shark hoods and fish tacos.  Plus we might have another surprise up our gills...

More to come.

Shark Tanks at Full

The Shark Tank is back!

... and the results are immediately clear!  After dropping 2 games to the Phillies and there filthy fans. the Nats shut out the Phils 3-0 tonight.  The fact that the Shark only came in as a defensive sub at the end of the game only goes to prove how much control the Nats really had.  They didn't need the Shark Knight to rise this time (which is okay so long as I have @valliant306's jaw-dropping poster to stare at for an unhealthy amount of time).  If the Shark had played, I'm sure the outcome would have been even more lopsided, though Jonathon Papelbon would have been in a little more pain...

In other news...

The Sharkadina Tank is back, too!

After a long hiatus, I (Terry) am back to posting alongside Tyler.  I am the first to admit that Tyler's recent posts (especially this one, and this one) were brilliant and Sharkadina 3.0 is going to stay strong through October.  Because of a stupid work schedule, I've been out of commission since July 4th, and as it turns out, neither of the Sharkadina founders have been to a game since July 6th (what the SH**K?!) The plan is for that to change on Sunday, when Tyler and I can both go.  We just need to get tickets.

In addition to our traditional Shark garb, we will be bringing with us one additional item.  That item, of course, is a California Tortilla Fish Taco!!  For the second year in a row, @CalTort is offering anyone who can get a picture of the Shark with a fish taco,  free burritos for a year.  We want those free burritos and we are going to get them.  Apparently, they didn't believe it when we snapped this picture last year...

Maybe it was the fact that Hanley Ramirez was the fish stuffed in the taco... I dunno.

More to come.

Shark Knight Rises POSTER

Our series of Batman themed posts (BatShark Begins and The Shark Knight Rises) has inspired the most epic image in the history of Sharkadina, Roger Bernadina, Sharks, or even dare I say, Batman. And that's saying something:

This image is too good for words. It was created by a mystery graphic designer who is a friend of @valliant306.  All we can say is thank you for sharing this piece of art with us and the world - it is a better place because of it. Between this and the best Shark drawing of all time, the quality of Roger Bernadina/Shark fan art is really booming right now. Keep them coming Loyal Shark Fans!

More to come.