Yanks/Red Sox Last Night
I try to go a baseball game a few times a year. Its one of the rare occurances that legions of New Yorkers can actually find a common thread and agree on something; at least in the South Bronx its the case... way out in Queens its just a bunch of people being gay, but thats beside the point.
Clearly though, my favorite games are when Boston comes to town. Their fans are some of the most despicable people you could ever hope to come across. Theyre unfriendly, mean, and take to people wearing blue and white as if you had punched their mother in the face. Whereas here in NY, its more just another game. There just happens to be a degree of icing on top of the whole experience because of the Red Sox faithfuls ever present spectacle they unintentionally bring.
So when a three game stretch crossed paths with me having three days off...
Well I found myself with three extra tickets... and then things got wierd. I couldnt unload the tickets for shit! Being the middle of the week, I couldnt find anyoneto break away. It got so bad I posted a craigslist ad to move the things...
Of course, once someone replied, and wanted them, then waited too long to get back to me, I finally found coworkers to head to the game with. And that is always when people call back and say "Im ready!"
Too late, sweetheart. Theyre gone.
So off to the game I go. Two guys I work with, and one of theirs Dad. We drink beers. We heckle. We swear, chant, howl and cheer. We 'root, root, root'ed for the Yankeeeeeees. We had a damn good time.
When it was over, it was only 10. I was ready to head out. But I was largely alone in that sense. The other guys had to work the next day. So we parted ways. Then my phone rang. The girl I teased with the tickets wanted to meet up for a drink. Why not...
So I tried to catch a train, but was promptly stopped by some plain clothed NYPD due to my hobo-quality brown bagged Ballantine Ale. Fortunately, I had my handydandy FDNY ID on top of my drivers license... and that was that. I was on my way.
You gotta love fraternal respect.
Then somewhere between the end of the 7 train in Times Square and the street, I got so fucking lost, even I was impressed. I found myself in some bus station, and ducked out to get on the street. But it was just an elevated bus lane waaaaay over the street. And no real sidewalk. I knew I wasnt supposed to be there. When I saw a stair case (a construction stair case, that is) I jumped on it. Right down into a locked up construction yard with huge spiked fences, and with the exception of how I got in, no way out. Its still beyond me how I never tripped over a single sleeping bum. I think I was just lucky.
I finally found a door, and when I had my arm out to knock on it, the door opened. A snaggletoothed fat lady took one look at me and SPAZZED OUT.
"Your not supposed to be here! (duh) This is a womans shelter and your a man! (I know) How did you get in here?! (Stairs) Youre not supposed to be here! (Said that already)"
I asked if I could just cut through the building, that I was just trying to get to the sidewalk. She didnt care. She was too busy wigging. I showed her a badge. She just kept screaming. I invited her to call the police if she was that uncomfortable. She ate that up.
"I am! Im calling them right now! Im dialing!" It was bizarre. The whole experience was just bizarre.
Eventually a pair of Port Authority cops showed up. Must have been a slow night. I was saved a degree of 'the business' thanks to the Yanks shirt I was wearing. And I suspect I got honesty points for "Been drinking?"
"Yeah I been drinking. Im coming from the Yankee game. Been drinkin' a lot!"
They let me out with a "Gnight" and I was on my way. Again. Police encounter #2 of the night and still unscathed.
Of course my 20 minute ETA that id given the girl an hour and a half ago was a bit inaccurate. But she was a sport about it. If Id been ditched twice in the same day, Id be leery, to say the least.
But met up, had a few more, and parted ways. Made a new friend. Saw the sun come up and the morning commuters going to work. Finally got back here at 8am. As much fun as I had... I dont wanna do it again anytime soon. It was too wierd. I mean, who gets lost and trapped in a construction yard in Time Square? Fucking cops... I dunno. At least I got the story to tell.
Did I mention the Yanks won? Pettite pitched a real good game...
Clearly though, my favorite games are when Boston comes to town. Their fans are some of the most despicable people you could ever hope to come across. Theyre unfriendly, mean, and take to people wearing blue and white as if you had punched their mother in the face. Whereas here in NY, its more just another game. There just happens to be a degree of icing on top of the whole experience because of the Red Sox faithfuls ever present spectacle they unintentionally bring.
So when a three game stretch crossed paths with me having three days off...
Well I found myself with three extra tickets... and then things got wierd. I couldnt unload the tickets for shit! Being the middle of the week, I couldnt find anyoneto break away. It got so bad I posted a craigslist ad to move the things...
Of course, once someone replied, and wanted them, then waited too long to get back to me, I finally found coworkers to head to the game with. And that is always when people call back and say "Im ready!"
Too late, sweetheart. Theyre gone.
So off to the game I go. Two guys I work with, and one of theirs Dad. We drink beers. We heckle. We swear, chant, howl and cheer. We 'root, root, root'ed for the Yankeeeeeees. We had a damn good time.
When it was over, it was only 10. I was ready to head out. But I was largely alone in that sense. The other guys had to work the next day. So we parted ways. Then my phone rang. The girl I teased with the tickets wanted to meet up for a drink. Why not...
So I tried to catch a train, but was promptly stopped by some plain clothed NYPD due to my hobo-quality brown bagged Ballantine Ale. Fortunately, I had my handydandy FDNY ID on top of my drivers license... and that was that. I was on my way.
You gotta love fraternal respect.
Then somewhere between the end of the 7 train in Times Square and the street, I got so fucking lost, even I was impressed. I found myself in some bus station, and ducked out to get on the street. But it was just an elevated bus lane waaaaay over the street. And no real sidewalk. I knew I wasnt supposed to be there. When I saw a stair case (a construction stair case, that is) I jumped on it. Right down into a locked up construction yard with huge spiked fences, and with the exception of how I got in, no way out. Its still beyond me how I never tripped over a single sleeping bum. I think I was just lucky.
I finally found a door, and when I had my arm out to knock on it, the door opened. A snaggletoothed fat lady took one look at me and SPAZZED OUT.
"Your not supposed to be here! (duh) This is a womans shelter and your a man! (I know) How did you get in here?! (Stairs) Youre not supposed to be here! (Said that already)"
I asked if I could just cut through the building, that I was just trying to get to the sidewalk. She didnt care. She was too busy wigging. I showed her a badge. She just kept screaming. I invited her to call the police if she was that uncomfortable. She ate that up.
"I am! Im calling them right now! Im dialing!" It was bizarre. The whole experience was just bizarre.
Eventually a pair of Port Authority cops showed up. Must have been a slow night. I was saved a degree of 'the business' thanks to the Yanks shirt I was wearing. And I suspect I got honesty points for "Been drinking?"
"Yeah I been drinking. Im coming from the Yankee game. Been drinkin' a lot!"
They let me out with a "Gnight" and I was on my way. Again. Police encounter #2 of the night and still unscathed.
Of course my 20 minute ETA that id given the girl an hour and a half ago was a bit inaccurate. But she was a sport about it. If Id been ditched twice in the same day, Id be leery, to say the least.
But met up, had a few more, and parted ways. Made a new friend. Saw the sun come up and the morning commuters going to work. Finally got back here at 8am. As much fun as I had... I dont wanna do it again anytime soon. It was too wierd. I mean, who gets lost and trapped in a construction yard in Time Square? Fucking cops... I dunno. At least I got the story to tell.
Did I mention the Yanks won? Pettite pitched a real good game...