No Joshin': Fan Report

Showing posts with label Fan Report. Show all posts

Thursday, May 07, 2009

This Dodger Fan Feels The Blues

No doubt Dodger fans nationwide should be upset with the news about Manny Ramirez testing positive for steroids and being suspended 50 games. Coworkers here at the Long Beach Armada are livid. Other fans are disappointed. My girlfriend, a lifelong Dodger fan who was born just weeks after the team won its last World Series in '88, expresses her disappointment and frustration here:

This Dodger Fan Feels The Blues
By Megan Murray

So this morning I was hit with some terrible news. To most, it probably means nothing. To other sports fans like me in Los Angeles, it’s a huge deal. Manny Ramirez, the pride and joy of the LA community, dubbed “Mayor” of Dodgertown, has been tested positive for drug use.

For anyone who has been paying attention to Dodger baseball recently, you know their home record was on fire, tying previous records and setting modern ones. The boys in blue were most recently tied with the Detroit Tigers in 1911 with 12 consecutive wins at home. On Wednesday May 6th, Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 10-3 to set a modern MLB record with most consecutive wins at home.

I saw the entire game, watching with pride as my guys slaughtered DC inning by inning. It was beautiful, and by the middle of the ninth when the Dodgers had won, I had started to tear up. I just kept thinking how I can tell my kids about this moment some day. Last night felt like Christmas. This morning, it felt like someone punched me in the face and told me Santa isn’t real.

I remember telling my boyfriend last night during the game about how silly all the Manny hype is. “You know, he makes a big difference, but he’s not the entire team.” That’s what makes me the most upset. Not that Manny will be gone for 50 games, because I still believe in what my team can do, but all the money, time, and energy spent on this one person. The dodgers made him seem like some sort of god, and now he feels like one big joke. All the pride I felt last night after the Dodgers’ big win flew out the window. I’m embarrassed as a fan, and I hope the team is too.

Apparently, Ramirez was given a medication prescribed by his doctor and he and his doctor had no idea that it went against MLB’s drug policy. Ramirez said, “LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation.” Well Manny, you should have been more careful. You’ve let down a lot of hopeful fans that looked to you to turn the Dodgers into something great. Let’s just hope that at the end of 50 games, you still have those fans to support you…because who will? Boston? Don’t think so.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Ice Bowl Battle along I-10

Driving back to LA from Phoenix yesterday, I saw this guy: a motorist with a big Packers logo sticker on his rear window and a license plate reading "ICE BOWL" on his bumper. As a good Cowboys fan, I only had one choice. My girlfriend pulled a sheet of poster board from the back seat, grabbed a sharpie, and went to work...

Moments later, our "KRAMER WAS OFFSIDES" anti-Ice-Bowl poster was complete. Now to catch up to the Packer-backer.

There he is. Within our sights. Memories of the 1967 frozen classic replaying in my head. Bart Starr diving into the end zone behind a blatantly offsides Jerry Kramer. The (deliberately?) frozen field. I feel that perhaps my redemption is finally coming to fruition.

The Packer fans laughed, gave us a thumbs up, and gestured for us to hold the poster up again so they could take a picture of it. I figure if you've got a license plate reading "ICE BOWL" then having a Cowboys fan pull up along side you and taunt you is pretty much the goal you're going for.

As I told my girlfriend - a big time Dodgers fan, it'd be like if she was driving and saw a car with San Francisco Giants logos on it and a license plate reading "BONDS 762" ... she would be compelled to hold up a sign with either an asterisk or the word "steroids" on it.

This might be the coolest thing I've ever done when driving across the country.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Ticket stub photo album

Something I've wanted to do for a long time: put together an album of all my old ticket stubs for the sporting events I've been to. I've done my best to save every ticket stub I've ever used, however I had a massive stack of stubs accidentally thrown out a few years back. While it was discouraging to have all those tickets, those memories, no longer with me, I'm working hard to preserve my legacy of attending all sorts of games. It is with that in mind that I present to you my album of ticket stubs....

Ticket Stubs from:
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009

2004

May 23, 2004: NY Yankees @ Texas Rangers

May 26, 2004: Arkansas Travelers @ Frisco Roughriders

2006

Nov 21, 2006: Washington Wizards @ Dallas Mavericks

Nov 22, 2006: Nashville Predators @ Dallas Stars

Nov 23, 2006: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys

Dec 14, 2006: NY Rangers @ Dallas Stars

Dec 22, 2006: LA Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks

Dec 31, 2006: Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys

2007

Jan 2, 2007: Seattle Super Sonics @ Dallas Mavericks

Sept 9, 2007: New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

Sept 15, 2007: Miami Northwestern vs. Southlake Carroll

Sept 30, 2007: St. Louis Rams @ Dallas Cowboys

Oct 9, 2007: San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks [preseason]

Oct 14, 2007: New England Patriots @ Dallas Cowboys

Oct 21, 2007: Minnesota Vikings @ Dallas Cowboys

Nov 3, 2007: Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks

Nov 15, 2007: San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks

Nov 17, 2007: Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks

Nov 26, 2007: Washington Wizards @ Dallas Mavericks
saw former USC standout and classmate Nick Young (now a Wizard) and said hey to him after the game