me: day what?
senior attorney: day off.
me: *staring at Gmail: they make those?*
So the only reason I left my house yesterday was to head to Nationals Park. Since I’d been to RFK, but never made it last season, I can say that this footstep…
… is me crossing the threshold of the Center Field Gates to Nationals Park before they were the gates to Comcast Amer-arena, or whatever corporate extension it will soon be as all sports arenas eventually become.
But now that f.B’s first steps are said and done?
I’m going to become a Nationals fan.
Say what?
Say word.
You read “the transplant episode,” right? I’m trying to fit in, here.
This shouldn’t be too hard. I mean, the team is dreadful. But I went to GW. And just how much winning goes on there?
Besides the field is gorgeous. See?
A little more…
There were only two downers.
1) We sat high.
Hey: neither of us were fans going in. Actually, once Barack pulled out from throwing the first pitch, I considered missing the game altogether. So we sat high to see if it was worth it at all. It wasn’t that bad. We weren’t in nose-bleeds and the view from behind first base was cool.
But every time they set off fireworks, ashes of fire sprinkled down upon us. Not cool, kids. Not cool. MB literally brushed embers off of my shoulders. And if I have to refresh the instructions for “stop, drop and roll” while at the game, something has to change.
2) The loud asshat behind us yelling nonsense.
There were AARP jokes, because the Phillies’ pitcher, Jamie Moyer, is 46 (though, the dude yelling was easily late 60s; so quick new rule: you cannot yell AARP jokes if you could be an AARP spokesperson). Then there was the yelling at a 9 year old child from Philly and something about Teddy Pendergrass.
I wanted to get this guy a first class ticket on the…
That’s right: the Straight Talk Express. Apparently bad dreams never die and this other guy was sporting the jacket at the game, in April 2009. But I figured once I got the asshat on the Express, I could finally give him some straight talk about mentioning Teddy Pendergrass. Yell at the kiddies if you want. But keep Teddy’s name out your mouth, son.
Anyway, the asshat wrapped it all up with this gem between him and his seemingly unwilling companion:
him: can you feel it?
her: it’s damp. I can smell it.
MB: *starting to turn around*
me: *placing hand on her knee, pleading with eyes, shaking head “no, for the love of god, no”*
But all in all, better than being at work.
Let my fandom begin.
I am not really a fan either, but to me games are about beer and brats anyway.
Agreed. I’m just happy to be somewhere where people know the difference between brats and hot dogs. I won’t touch the latter.
Umm so I was sitting at work when your tweet came through and I seriously burned your message with my eyes! Thats right I set the FB twitter status on fire with rays of jealousy.
Glad to hear you had a good time!
I eventually saw that. AT&T service at the park was, well, AT&T service. So I didn’t even know my tweet had gone through so I gave up trying.
It could be worse…you could be a Mets fan like me.
I love that you’re not a Yankees fan. I never picked a NY team, but I always pushed for the Mets in a subway series.
love the “overheard at Nationals Park” segment. that could have had *so* many meanings, that was quite the willpower you had NOT to turn around find out!
If you had seen the guy, you’d know my willpower didn’t have to be that strong.
I’m wearing those shoes today. I’m also wearing baggy jeans and an NYU sweatshirt. Casual friday doesn’t have shit on my Tuesday. Totally off topic.
And I would have laughed loudly at the dude in the McCain jacket. So he noticed. Because I’m a jerk.
I got so close to the jacket guy. You should’ve seen it. It was crazy awkward.
While I don’t support the Nats, I still say go for it. They need all the fans they can get.
However, when I go to the game on Thursday, I’ll be decked out in my Philllies t-shirt. And possibly trash talking with the rest of them.
I love trash talking. But Teddy Pendergrass? Not fair game. That’s how fights get started.
#4898 on list of things to do when I move into the city: Take friend’s offer on free Nats tix.
Why do you have to wait until you’re here? You should go now. Though, I’d love to gather people to roll into Nats Park like 30 deep one day. So let me know.
Goes along the lines of today’s post.
And I totally will
Awesomes. (And sorry it took so long for me to get to that post today.)
I’ll forgive you…
This time.
Short leash? Got it.
I lost that jacket last week! That dude totally stole it from me!
Me? Red Sox fan to the core. And off subject, two Super Bowls ago, I got in a fight with a Giants fan b/c they beat The Patriots. I tackled this chick of the stool and got pulled of by bouncers and thrown outside. It was AWESOME!
I loved this. Is there a mugshot?
Are you about to step in beer or pee in that picture?
You and me = like minds. I almost wrote that it was a puddle of urine. It was too early to spill a beer.
if I’d seen that dude in the coat I might’ve tripped him…
Seriously. It’s April. It’s over.
Re: dude in the coat. Is he living in the twilight zone? Wish I had yesterday off! Sadly it was just a regular day in the romance factory.
The romance factory? You have my attention.
I can’t wait for my first ballgame this year. It’s going to be a good year. GO CUBBIES!
I’ve never been to Wrigley. I feel incomplete as a human being.
Baseball days are here again! Horray!
What kind of doucher wears a Straight Talk Express jacket? COME ON. Show some pride.
Right? It was 6 months ago. (And silly, then.)
that jacket looks like it was nylon…..you know nylon and fire do not get along.
Hmm. This I had forgotten.
I guess I’m a bad person for be a Yanks fan? Since birth, ah well. I really like the Nats Stadium.. I especially love the fans that never give up, no matter how much they suck
No worries. Yankees fans are still good people. It’s just a little counter-culture love. I grew up in North Jersey, and everybody loved the Yankees and no one ever mentioned the Mets. So I’m not a fan, but I pull for them because they seem like perennial underdogs.
I heart any and all baseball games… but as a Masshole, my heart belongs in Fenway. Viva Yawkey Way!
Are the Sox coming to DC? I feel like those tickets may already be sold out…
Aw man how did I miss not meeting up with you?
I’m not a a die-hard Nats fan but I am a fan of baseball.
Read about my time at the park:
http://dc.metblogs.com/2009/04/14/daily-dc-item-metblogs-meetup-at-nats-opening-day/
If you are going to be committed to seeing the games I’ll have to invite you into the Suite sometime!
We came in just before Patti Austin hit the mic. And I will definitely hit you up for the next time. Promise.
That dude in that jacket on April 2009 deserves a Darwin prize. Hope he did not get to reproduce.
He seemed pretty aged. He probably has already. And if his kids liked the jacket, so be it. Hopefully it was because of solid beliefs, though, and not misplaced convenience.
I will try and make it to a few National games this year because, hello, outdoor baseball and I’m going stir crazy waiting for the Twins’ new stadium to open next season. I heard the Nats stadium is quite nice.
Truth be told, though, I might not be cheering for the Nats. I’ll probably go to the games against the Mets in hopes of seeing Johan pitch because I seriously miss that man.
The stadium is really, really nice. And sorry about Johan. Letting go of aces always feels premature.