Baseball
It was the bottom of the ninth, full count, 2 men on base with 2 outs. And I was on the floor in front of the tv. At it's mercy and the mercy of Brian Wilson's fastball. TV blasting so could only be embraced by the horrific taunts and screams of Phillie fanatics. All I wanted to hear was the scream from blue. I was on the verge of an asthma attack, heartattack and loss of complete self control. When the homeplate umpire made the call, my heart froze for a good 10 seconds. And in that moment, I knew that this was it. I was not only insane, but in that moment I knew I would be a San Francisco Giants fan for life.
For most of the game, it had been a tied score of 2 runs. This was the moment that would make or break our team. Nobody had paid too much attention to the San Francisco Giants this year. Except for the die-hard's and fanatics that paid close attention to the standings and how our team was performing. Not only as a whole but on each player's negative and positive capabilities. Most fans struggled it off, when we struggled with being at the bottom of the NL West. More attention was focused on the San Diego Padres sudden overtaking of the top position in the NLW. The Padres didn't have any outstanding players, just a team that put the team in teamwork. Hitters/fielders such as ex-Giant Yorvit Torrealba and contributor to our 2002 loss David Eckstein. Also the Colorado Rockies were knocking on the door. They had a superb starting pitcher, one of true cy-young qualities and great control. We had fears he would be on a non-stop streak. However after a loss at At&t park, Ubaldo Jimenez seemed to just fall off. Still a fantastic pitcher indeed, but 2010 would not be the year of his victory.
On the final day of their 2010 season, my eyes teared up. At this point, one might think that I might be insane or just another crazy fanatic. I don't know what 'title' or what category I fall into. I do know that all this craziness comes from a place, where true happiness is born. Everyone I knew at the park were huddled together in the upper deck. When the fireworks flew out from the back of the scoreboard and I heard the roar of the foghorn, we all knew. Bruises from moments so great and filled with so much happiness. Like many players who get injured during celebration, we found ourselves in a similar situation.
It took me a good while for it to hit me. As I saw Wilson's hands point upward into the heavens, I knew that we had finally made it. "The 2010 San Francisco Giants had won the pennant for the first time in 8 years." Flashes of home-runs, catches and strike-out's flooded my mind. Baseball had finally returned to San Francisco and the hearts of everyone in the city. My mind was semi-prepared to fly into a complete chaos of either negative or positive proportions. Everyone hopes for the best, but as a Giants fan you learn to cope with the torture.
The moment the ball hit the glove, will live in my mind forever. Buster Posey flew out of his position behind Ryan Howard and showed more emotion than he had all year. He had come off as shy and somewhat introverted most of the season, but in this moment we knew how proud he was to wear SF jersey number 28. Howard stepped out of the box and stood there for a moment. Taking in the boos and screams from overzealous Phillies fans. He took another glaze out into the field as he walked back to the dugout, with the look of ultimate defeat. Those same tears from October 3rd returned and from my shrunken position, rose a fan who would be totally changed forever.
Those distant memories of Mays, Thompson, McCovey, Cepeda, Marichal, Bonds, Clark, Williams and all the Giants hall-of-famer's flooded my mind. Many times had I watched, over and over again, clips of historic Giants games and plays. They always made me wonder, when would baseball truly return to San Francisco? Had it ever been there in the first place? We had no trophies and barely any pennants to prove it. We were recognized more for our lack of 'jewelry' and our few pennants, than our Hall of Famers. The newer generation of Giants shows just as much promise as those from the past. It has been quite a horrific ride, one filled with minor heartattacks and the fondest of memories. Baseball had changed the way I think. My mind was more like one of a 10 year old boy, than a 21 year old girl. Instead of admiring rockstars and lifestyles, nothing made me happier than a San Francisco Giants game. My eyes lit up anytime I watched the ball sail into the bleachers or the icy waters of McCovey cove.
We have yet to see how baseball will truly prevail in my life. It's not a matter of pure entertainment, but of the lessons one learns. Baseball has taught me to keep trying, never give up on yourself and those you trust around you. Life is a game in so many ways. People coming and going, success and failure. Everyone takes it in differently, but only the strong minded stay in the game. I've learned not to take everything so seriously, even though from this you would think baseball is as serious as it gets for me. It has taught me to sit back and enjoy the game.
For most of the game, it had been a tied score of 2 runs. This was the moment that would make or break our team. Nobody had paid too much attention to the San Francisco Giants this year. Except for the die-hard's and fanatics that paid close attention to the standings and how our team was performing. Not only as a whole but on each player's negative and positive capabilities. Most fans struggled it off, when we struggled with being at the bottom of the NL West. More attention was focused on the San Diego Padres sudden overtaking of the top position in the NLW. The Padres didn't have any outstanding players, just a team that put the team in teamwork. Hitters/fielders such as ex-Giant Yorvit Torrealba and contributor to our 2002 loss David Eckstein. Also the Colorado Rockies were knocking on the door. They had a superb starting pitcher, one of true cy-young qualities and great control. We had fears he would be on a non-stop streak. However after a loss at At&t park, Ubaldo Jimenez seemed to just fall off. Still a fantastic pitcher indeed, but 2010 would not be the year of his victory.
On the final day of their 2010 season, my eyes teared up. At this point, one might think that I might be insane or just another crazy fanatic. I don't know what 'title' or what category I fall into. I do know that all this craziness comes from a place, where true happiness is born. Everyone I knew at the park were huddled together in the upper deck. When the fireworks flew out from the back of the scoreboard and I heard the roar of the foghorn, we all knew. Bruises from moments so great and filled with so much happiness. Like many players who get injured during celebration, we found ourselves in a similar situation.
It took me a good while for it to hit me. As I saw Wilson's hands point upward into the heavens, I knew that we had finally made it. "The 2010 San Francisco Giants had won the pennant for the first time in 8 years." Flashes of home-runs, catches and strike-out's flooded my mind. Baseball had finally returned to San Francisco and the hearts of everyone in the city. My mind was semi-prepared to fly into a complete chaos of either negative or positive proportions. Everyone hopes for the best, but as a Giants fan you learn to cope with the torture.
The moment the ball hit the glove, will live in my mind forever. Buster Posey flew out of his position behind Ryan Howard and showed more emotion than he had all year. He had come off as shy and somewhat introverted most of the season, but in this moment we knew how proud he was to wear SF jersey number 28. Howard stepped out of the box and stood there for a moment. Taking in the boos and screams from overzealous Phillies fans. He took another glaze out into the field as he walked back to the dugout, with the look of ultimate defeat. Those same tears from October 3rd returned and from my shrunken position, rose a fan who would be totally changed forever.
Those distant memories of Mays, Thompson, McCovey, Cepeda, Marichal, Bonds, Clark, Williams and all the Giants hall-of-famer's flooded my mind. Many times had I watched, over and over again, clips of historic Giants games and plays. They always made me wonder, when would baseball truly return to San Francisco? Had it ever been there in the first place? We had no trophies and barely any pennants to prove it. We were recognized more for our lack of 'jewelry' and our few pennants, than our Hall of Famers. The newer generation of Giants shows just as much promise as those from the past. It has been quite a horrific ride, one filled with minor heartattacks and the fondest of memories. Baseball had changed the way I think. My mind was more like one of a 10 year old boy, than a 21 year old girl. Instead of admiring rockstars and lifestyles, nothing made me happier than a San Francisco Giants game. My eyes lit up anytime I watched the ball sail into the bleachers or the icy waters of McCovey cove.
We have yet to see how baseball will truly prevail in my life. It's not a matter of pure entertainment, but of the lessons one learns. Baseball has taught me to keep trying, never give up on yourself and those you trust around you. Life is a game in so many ways. People coming and going, success and failure. Everyone takes it in differently, but only the strong minded stay in the game. I've learned not to take everything so seriously, even though from this you would think baseball is as serious as it gets for me. It has taught me to sit back and enjoy the game.