SMALL BALL GOES TO WASHINGTON
I'd say I can't begin to illustrate how much fun I had at last week's RFK games, but I can.
I was planning to upload brilliant comic video episodes on the fly each night, but my dad's cool computer lacks some fast-editing tools I require. Had to wait until I got home before I could whip up the little movie I wanted to share.
Observations on going to a Nationals game:
RFK is ass. What a horrible stadium. OK, I'm weaned on and spoiled by Wrigley (mythic) and SBC (the stadium other stadiums admire), but come on, RFK is a big claustrophobic donut hole: everywhere you turn, there's an unfriendly wall or overhang. It made Stanley Kubrick's Petco Park in San Diego seem warm and cozy. Despite its deficiencies, it was a great place—raw and uncomplicated—to watch baseball.
Local Nationals' fans are really decent about their fandom. They're not dicks like, oh, Dodgers' fans, nor are they all college-frat about it like San Diego fans (messy).
I was shocked by how few black people were at RFK, not because I expect any kind of quota, but because the D.C. area is one of the most vigorous and populous black sports markets in the country. My Dad explained it brilliantly: in the absence of baseball for over 30 years, D.C.'s baseball muscle has atrophied among young blacks who turned to basketball and, more dramatically, football for the usual assortment of sports inspirations. That will change in no time, as grade-school kids and high-school kids and, by association, their friends and family, hitch once again to the baseball wagon.
GAME 1 | September 20, 2005 | Giants: 4-3
As thrilled as I was to see Bonds in action again, I was doubly thrilled to watch (and extensively videotape) young Matt Cain, who did well. Felipe – shockingly – used him only as long he needed to – much to the Giants' benefit. Unfortunately, Frank Robinson didn't have the same restraint with his ace starter, Livan Hernandez, late of Giants' pedigree. Armando Benitez tugged a save out of his butt as if it was a bad burrito, thanks only to Todd Linden's superhero stunt in left field at the last possible moment. The Nationals could have closed this with the assistance of the Chief, who was persona non grata for reasons I still don't understand.
I captured Bonds home run 706 on my nifty new camcorder, including the preceding pitch from Livan. I'll upload that when I can, although you will already have seen it 6,000 times on ESPN. I also caught the critical Alou homer, and lots of other great stuff…again, annotated and edited creatively for your delectation once I've overcome technical limitations here at Pop's house.
GAME 2 | September 21, 2005 | Giants: 5-1
Exciting and frustrating. A heady mix for a multi-tasking fan.
Exciting because the Giants wrangled their 5th win in a row. Exciting because Barry Bonds proved yet again why he's perennial MVP material, if not at the division or league level because of his 2005 absence, then at least at the team level, where he's been instrumental in raising San Francisco's offense to "formidable" on the effectiveness scale. Inches, ever inches closer to the Padres.
Frustrating because each of these RFK wins for the Giants knocked Washington further down the Wildcard pole. Argh.
GAME 3 | September 22, 2005 | Nationals: 2-0
Much to the consternation of D.C. locals, the Orioles monopolize the airwaves in this market and are reluctant to charitably release ESPN, Fox Sports, and others from their arrangements for exclusivity. This means that most of the Nationals' games this season have gone unaired. That's a crime for a new team in a new city! Despite Baltimore's Vader-like grip on two major cities, legal wrangling over broadcast rights supposedly culminates in the off-season and all will be well again in '06. In the meantime, if you're not watching a day game on channel 20 on Sunday and you're not at RFK, you're only hope is radio. WFED does a high-caliber job of bringing thoughtful, generous (they never ridicule other teams like certain asshat broadcasters on the Southside of Chicago or in Milwaukee) broadcasting to an elegant new team in a market starving for juicy baseball.
Radio. I had to buy one to catch today's game (I did not attend). I crossed 7 different zip codes while listening to this game and was pleased to see the Nationals win late thanks to substitute players Zimmerman and Short.
There was a bit of drama in the bottom of the 9th when Felipe Alou threatened to bring out Barry (day off) if the offense could put a man on base. But the offense couldn't, thanks to the Chief, who seemed back in fine form after his abysmal disappointments in the last two games of the Padres series.
All in all, a splendid trip. More soon.
I was planning to upload brilliant comic video episodes on the fly each night, but my dad's cool computer lacks some fast-editing tools I require. Had to wait until I got home before I could whip up the little movie I wanted to share.
Observations on going to a Nationals game:
RFK is ass. What a horrible stadium. OK, I'm weaned on and spoiled by Wrigley (mythic) and SBC (the stadium other stadiums admire), but come on, RFK is a big claustrophobic donut hole: everywhere you turn, there's an unfriendly wall or overhang. It made Stanley Kubrick's Petco Park in San Diego seem warm and cozy. Despite its deficiencies, it was a great place—raw and uncomplicated—to watch baseball.
Local Nationals' fans are really decent about their fandom. They're not dicks like, oh, Dodgers' fans, nor are they all college-frat about it like San Diego fans (messy).
I was shocked by how few black people were at RFK, not because I expect any kind of quota, but because the D.C. area is one of the most vigorous and populous black sports markets in the country. My Dad explained it brilliantly: in the absence of baseball for over 30 years, D.C.'s baseball muscle has atrophied among young blacks who turned to basketball and, more dramatically, football for the usual assortment of sports inspirations. That will change in no time, as grade-school kids and high-school kids and, by association, their friends and family, hitch once again to the baseball wagon.
GAME 1 | September 20, 2005 | Giants: 4-3
As thrilled as I was to see Bonds in action again, I was doubly thrilled to watch (and extensively videotape) young Matt Cain, who did well. Felipe – shockingly – used him only as long he needed to – much to the Giants' benefit. Unfortunately, Frank Robinson didn't have the same restraint with his ace starter, Livan Hernandez, late of Giants' pedigree. Armando Benitez tugged a save out of his butt as if it was a bad burrito, thanks only to Todd Linden's superhero stunt in left field at the last possible moment. The Nationals could have closed this with the assistance of the Chief, who was persona non grata for reasons I still don't understand.
I captured Bonds home run 706 on my nifty new camcorder, including the preceding pitch from Livan. I'll upload that when I can, although you will already have seen it 6,000 times on ESPN. I also caught the critical Alou homer, and lots of other great stuff…again, annotated and edited creatively for your delectation once I've overcome technical limitations here at Pop's house.
GAME 2 | September 21, 2005 | Giants: 5-1
Exciting and frustrating. A heady mix for a multi-tasking fan.
Exciting because the Giants wrangled their 5th win in a row. Exciting because Barry Bonds proved yet again why he's perennial MVP material, if not at the division or league level because of his 2005 absence, then at least at the team level, where he's been instrumental in raising San Francisco's offense to "formidable" on the effectiveness scale. Inches, ever inches closer to the Padres.
Frustrating because each of these RFK wins for the Giants knocked Washington further down the Wildcard pole. Argh.
GAME 3 | September 22, 2005 | Nationals: 2-0
Much to the consternation of D.C. locals, the Orioles monopolize the airwaves in this market and are reluctant to charitably release ESPN, Fox Sports, and others from their arrangements for exclusivity. This means that most of the Nationals' games this season have gone unaired. That's a crime for a new team in a new city! Despite Baltimore's Vader-like grip on two major cities, legal wrangling over broadcast rights supposedly culminates in the off-season and all will be well again in '06. In the meantime, if you're not watching a day game on channel 20 on Sunday and you're not at RFK, you're only hope is radio. WFED does a high-caliber job of bringing thoughtful, generous (they never ridicule other teams like certain asshat broadcasters on the Southside of Chicago or in Milwaukee) broadcasting to an elegant new team in a market starving for juicy baseball.
Radio. I had to buy one to catch today's game (I did not attend). I crossed 7 different zip codes while listening to this game and was pleased to see the Nationals win late thanks to substitute players Zimmerman and Short.
There was a bit of drama in the bottom of the 9th when Felipe Alou threatened to bring out Barry (day off) if the offense could put a man on base. But the offense couldn't, thanks to the Chief, who seemed back in fine form after his abysmal disappointments in the last two games of the Padres series.
All in all, a splendid trip. More soon.
posted by Andrew at
6:18 PM
1 Comments:
Interesting observations -- it's sounds like your trip was fun. I had similar mixed feelings when the Royals came to town earlier this season. I ended up wearing my Royals t-shirt and jersey underneath my Giants jersey with my Giants hat. Probably didn't set any new fashion trends, but at least I was true to myself...I think.
By
Daniel, at 3:39 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home