Tuesday, May 23, 2006

May 23, 2005: Mets vs. Phillies

Around the 6th inning, LA comes up from the loge to say hello. We chat briefly, and I decide to go downstairs and watch the rest of the game with them; catch up. Little did I know I would be watching an entire other game from the blue seats. LA’s other half abandoned ship somewhere around the 10th inning, as she had to be at work early the next day.

As Shea emptied out after each inning, it became apparent that we had more than a few Phillies fans in our section. And were soon overwhelmed with taunting.

“Is it Philly sucks, or Phillies suck?” I ask, rhetorically. “Are we taunting the city, the team, or both?”
“CHEESE STEAKS ARE DELICIOUS! CHEESE STEAKS ARE DELICIOUS!” the fans - wearing EAGLES jerseys - offered in response, as the game dragged on. And on.

To stay extra innings on a school night takes a certain kind of determination, or some kind of statement somewhere that I.will.never.leave.a.game.early.for.any.reason, or You Never Know What Might Happen. I think I fall inbetween both of those, but I am also someone who will never ever leave a concert before the encore just so I can beat traffic (okay, I did once, but I didn’t leave the building until the last note had been played).

10. 11. 12. 13. 14, and another 7th inning stretch. 15.

Oh, my god. We’re going to be here ALL NIGHT. They are playing with us, playing “Rock Around The Clock” and “After Midnight” and, well, okay, it’s funny.  (This was also the night that we were greeted with “Welcome To the City of Blinding Lights” on Diamondvision as we entered; that song has a definite future in sporting events beyond the World Cup.)

16. LA is pacing in the row behind me. I am tromping on peanut shells in my row.
Mr. Beltran comes to the plate, and—

For five seconds, we are thrilled, and then for the next five, as we wait for the victory dance on the field which is more a dance of relief, we, too, straggle wearily out of Shea.