*Cue “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” song… or otherwise known as the AT&T commercial song*
I attended my first-ever baseball game on June 6 and went with my siblings who—wait for it—WON all four tickets on a prize wheel! Lucky us. The game was between the San Jose Giants and High Desert Mavericks at the SJ Municipal Stadium.
Now, it probably goes without saying that I’m not a sports-girl--I was never introduced to playing sports or even the concept of rooting for a team. Hell, I didn’t even know what the Super Bowl was until I was 10. All the sports I played throughout school were only adopted by trial-and-error. And to be quite honest, I don’t know how I ever made it onto any of the teams. Granted, basketball and volleyball are easy to get the hang of once you get into it, but man, think of all the travels and fouls I must have made, or sprained thumbs I endured, just learning to play.
Despite my profound absence of sports knowledge, I was extremely thrilled to watch the game to start my first week of summer. I had been meaning to start learning and watching more sports (and perhaps even play!). It may come as a shocker, but yes, I actually knew what was going on, all thanks to fourth grade kickball.
I attended my first-ever baseball game on June 6 and went with my siblings who—wait for it—WON all four tickets on a prize wheel! Lucky us. The game was between the San Jose Giants and High Desert Mavericks at the SJ Municipal Stadium.
Now, it probably goes without saying that I’m not a sports-girl--I was never introduced to playing sports or even the concept of rooting for a team. Hell, I didn’t even know what the Super Bowl was until I was 10. All the sports I played throughout school were only adopted by trial-and-error. And to be quite honest, I don’t know how I ever made it onto any of the teams. Granted, basketball and volleyball are easy to get the hang of once you get into it, but man, think of all the travels and fouls I must have made, or sprained thumbs I endured, just learning to play.
Despite my profound absence of sports knowledge, I was extremely thrilled to watch the game to start my first week of summer. I had been meaning to start learning and watching more sports (and perhaps even play!). It may come as a shocker, but yes, I actually knew what was going on, all thanks to fourth grade kickball.
I strove for an authentic All-American baseball game experience, complete with overpriced peanut snacks and cheesy pre-game cheers.
When I say overpriced, I mean $6 for a mediocre-tasting bag of nuts and $3.75 for a 5-inch hot dog that can be gobbled up in three bites. When I say cheesy pre-game cheers, I mean spontaneous YMCA song blasting on the speaker.
When I say overpriced, I mean $6 for a mediocre-tasting bag of nuts and $3.75 for a 5-inch hot dog that can be gobbled up in three bites. When I say cheesy pre-game cheers, I mean spontaneous YMCA song blasting on the speaker.
The game was an incredibly unique experience. I witnessed the craze over flying baseballs, which I had patiently waited to witness since baseball-catching episode in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Man, baseball fans are c-r-a-z-y, sacrificing a hit to the noggin just for a ball! (Though, I can totally see myself doing that as well.) I also forcefully sat through live commercials, which should not be a thing. For those of you who are lost, live commercials are just breaks when commentators advertise local sponsors by providing activities within the crowd; and all the while, they somehow maintain that Billy Mays voice from the Sham Wow commercials.
When things were getting dry on the field, the commentators casually played Drake’s “Running Through the Six With My Woes”, which —I’m pretty sure—was their attempt to increase excitement. But all it did was increase awkwardness... unless I am mistaken, and Drake's songs are family-friendly?
I sang along to the National Anthem for the first time since 5th grade (and got scolded at for accidentally not taking off my cap), I screamed at the top of my lungs to win free sunflower seeds (and still went unnoticed), and I suffered through the endless shouts from the annoying kid sitting behind me yelling across the bleachers “Mom! You were on the screen! MOOOM!”.
The game started a 5 pm and still hadn’t ended by 7:30 pm. I had forgotten that baseball was a slow game, unlike basketball or hockey. My parents and I had to disappoint my siblings by leaving a little over mid-game, which left them perturbed, since they wanted to try to catch a baseball, which apparently is thrown after games. It was a fun and very American experience. Next on the list? Take me to a Warriors game!
I sang along to the National Anthem for the first time since 5th grade (and got scolded at for accidentally not taking off my cap), I screamed at the top of my lungs to win free sunflower seeds (and still went unnoticed), and I suffered through the endless shouts from the annoying kid sitting behind me yelling across the bleachers “Mom! You were on the screen! MOOOM!”.
The game started a 5 pm and still hadn’t ended by 7:30 pm. I had forgotten that baseball was a slow game, unlike basketball or hockey. My parents and I had to disappoint my siblings by leaving a little over mid-game, which left them perturbed, since they wanted to try to catch a baseball, which apparently is thrown after games. It was a fun and very American experience. Next on the list? Take me to a Warriors game!