A Day At the Ballpark

It has been a while since my last post.  My computer hard drive died, finals arrived, and then I went home for a week to decompress and relax.  So these are the reasons there have been no new posts recently.  While I was home I went to an Athletics/Yankees game and truly felt like I was home.  Walking into the stadium the smells hit me like the waves at the beach.  The combination of sausages, beer, nachos, old cement, human sweat, pizza, and french fries combine to make the greatest scent known to man (or woman in my case).  Sure many people probably think the scent is disgusting and they have every right to think that but to me, the ballpark smell is heaven on earth.  I grew up with that smell and whenever I catch a whiff I know I have come home.  It being a Yankee game the stadium was bustling with people practically clad in more Yankee blue than Athletics green and gold.  Being a true baseball fan I hate the Yankees and everything they symbolize.  Their logo has come to stand as a national symbol for cool, hip, rich, success, status, and in my mind corporate greed.  While I was in middle school Limp Bizkit rocked the red Yankee hat and ever since then people across the nation have been rocking Yankee hats with no real allegiance or rationale.  The hats can be bought in any sports store or even Oakland AM PM quick marts that oddly enough often don't sell Athletics gear.  So when the Yankees come to town I rock my green and gold and try to drown out the Yankee cheers with my own.  Of course the Athletics lost as they often seem to do when I am in attendance but it was a fun game to attend. 

At games I am a creature of habit and they always begin with a large lemonade and a baked potato with lots of fake cheese and broccoli.  (Where would our life be with out fake cheese?) If you know where to look the Coliseum has some interesting food.  Personally I have yet to and want to try the chili cheese fries, the tofu dog, and a beer in the pub.  (I am a vegetarian who doesn't drink so ballparks are the perfect place for me! Right...) I always go in the team stores to see if there are any sales or hot new items I want but can't afford.  (Poor college students should not be purchasing $ 100 jackets or $ 30 Athletics tank tops as much as we may want them.) My favorite part of any game I have to say is getting there early and just sitting and soaking in the park.  I love watching the opposing team take batting practice, watching the jumbotron, no lines at concessions, talking with my father and having the park to myself before the hordes of people arrive.  My father and I get to the park at least 1 or 2 hours early and juts sit and talk baseball.  Honestly it is one of my favorite things to do in life.  We talk injuries, who is hot and who it not, the match ups for that day, our favorite games, favorite plays, and favorite players.  We could go on for hours which drives the rest of my family crazy.  I wish every day could be a day at the ballpark.