World Series Game 1
I've watched at least part of the World Series on TV every year since I can remember. Except in 2003 when I was in England. To me, it was always something that you watch on TV -- not something that people actually go to. Or at least not someone like me. Anyway, I've always loved the pomp and circumstance at the beginnings of World Series games -- the player introductions, the military flyovers, the national anthem. I never thought that I'd actually be there for it. But thanks to my brother winning the ticket lottery, I got to go to Game 1 of the 2007 World Series. Wednesday, October 24 was one of the best days of my life.
I had a ton of work to do on Wednesday for the first time, so I left work at around 5:20 and headed over to Fenway where my brother was already waiting in line to get in. We had standing room tickets, so it was important to get in early. He also scouted out the best place to wait (Gate D) and planned where we should watch (behind 1st base). We waited in a crush of people for about 20 minutes until the gates opened. We grabbed our souvenir MLB/Taco Bell lanyards and ran up the ramp and the grandstand steps. We staked out a spot, and then I went to wander around near the field, which was covered in media and Rockies players taking batting practice.
Pictures are here:
World Series 2007 Game 1 Pics
Charlie discovered that if we stood behind section 14, we had the best view because we'd be standing behind a row of wheelchairs, and there was a railing we could lean on. We took turns walking around and defending our territory. Getting there early was totally worth as we had a fantastic view of the field (minus one pole in the way, but that's everywhere in the grandstand). Fenway is so small that even standing room areas are really close to the field. Where we were standing would be considered premium seating in normal-sized parks. Josh Beckett started out by striking out the side in the first. The energy in the park made me feel like the Sox were really on top of their game. Sure enough, Dustin Pedroia, my favorite because he's so short and cute, led off the game by hitting a homerun into the Green Monster seats on a second-pitch fastball. I screamed, and my heart was filled with joy. For me, the game was in the bag at that moment. Sure enough, the Sox went on to win 13-1. It was awesome, albeit not very dramatic.
Around the 6th inning, people starting leaving. I mean, yeah, it was getting late, the Sox were obviously going to win, but good seats were going for thousands of dollars from ticket brokers. So, Charlie and I moved down to grandstand seats. A couple of innings later, we moved down to loge boxes, and by the final inning, we were sitting on the best seats in the house -- 4 rows back from the Red Sox dugout. It was incredible. After they made the final out, I danced to "Dirty Water" and "Tessie" and watched the post-game interviews from up close. Then I left to walk over to Bukowski's to get a beer with Jeff and his friend Kyle. That Bukowski's had a beer on tap called "Mojo," which was insane because Ruth is always saying that she and I have mojo power for the Red Sox or something. And they also had Elephant Beer, which is like 7% alcohol or something.
Besides the World Series, I experienced another first that night -- a roadside sobriety test. The Lawyer used to talk about them all the time because that was his entire business -- defending drunk drivers -- but thankfully I'd never seen one up close. Kyle drove me and Jeff back to Cambridge and got pulled over in that area where Memorial Drive, Storrow Drive, and Mount Auburn St. all come together. The cop made him stand on one leg, walk heel to toe, and a couple of other tests. He passed (thank Clapton) and drove us the rest of the way home. It was a little freaky for a while there, though.
Anyway, I should get back to work, but, yeah, the World Series was kickass. Even the normally-insipid Ashanti sounded good on "God Bless America." And I got a really nice World Series fleece blanket from Bank of America for filling out a credit card application. Life is good. I'm still way behind on sleep. Maybe I can finally catch up on Sunday morning. I guess I'll look appropriately strung out as Amy Winehouse tonight and tomorrow night.
I had a ton of work to do on Wednesday for the first time, so I left work at around 5:20 and headed over to Fenway where my brother was already waiting in line to get in. We had standing room tickets, so it was important to get in early. He also scouted out the best place to wait (Gate D) and planned where we should watch (behind 1st base). We waited in a crush of people for about 20 minutes until the gates opened. We grabbed our souvenir MLB/Taco Bell lanyards and ran up the ramp and the grandstand steps. We staked out a spot, and then I went to wander around near the field, which was covered in media and Rockies players taking batting practice.
Pictures are here:
World Series 2007 Game 1 Pics
Charlie discovered that if we stood behind section 14, we had the best view because we'd be standing behind a row of wheelchairs, and there was a railing we could lean on. We took turns walking around and defending our territory. Getting there early was totally worth as we had a fantastic view of the field (minus one pole in the way, but that's everywhere in the grandstand). Fenway is so small that even standing room areas are really close to the field. Where we were standing would be considered premium seating in normal-sized parks. Josh Beckett started out by striking out the side in the first. The energy in the park made me feel like the Sox were really on top of their game. Sure enough, Dustin Pedroia, my favorite because he's so short and cute, led off the game by hitting a homerun into the Green Monster seats on a second-pitch fastball. I screamed, and my heart was filled with joy. For me, the game was in the bag at that moment. Sure enough, the Sox went on to win 13-1. It was awesome, albeit not very dramatic.
Around the 6th inning, people starting leaving. I mean, yeah, it was getting late, the Sox were obviously going to win, but good seats were going for thousands of dollars from ticket brokers. So, Charlie and I moved down to grandstand seats. A couple of innings later, we moved down to loge boxes, and by the final inning, we were sitting on the best seats in the house -- 4 rows back from the Red Sox dugout. It was incredible. After they made the final out, I danced to "Dirty Water" and "Tessie" and watched the post-game interviews from up close. Then I left to walk over to Bukowski's to get a beer with Jeff and his friend Kyle. That Bukowski's had a beer on tap called "Mojo," which was insane because Ruth is always saying that she and I have mojo power for the Red Sox or something. And they also had Elephant Beer, which is like 7% alcohol or something.
Besides the World Series, I experienced another first that night -- a roadside sobriety test. The Lawyer used to talk about them all the time because that was his entire business -- defending drunk drivers -- but thankfully I'd never seen one up close. Kyle drove me and Jeff back to Cambridge and got pulled over in that area where Memorial Drive, Storrow Drive, and Mount Auburn St. all come together. The cop made him stand on one leg, walk heel to toe, and a couple of other tests. He passed (thank Clapton) and drove us the rest of the way home. It was a little freaky for a while there, though.
Anyway, I should get back to work, but, yeah, the World Series was kickass. Even the normally-insipid Ashanti sounded good on "God Bless America." And I got a really nice World Series fleece blanket from Bank of America for filling out a credit card application. Life is good. I'm still way behind on sleep. Maybe I can finally catch up on Sunday morning. I guess I'll look appropriately strung out as Amy Winehouse tonight and tomorrow night.