This blog began as a way to record my musings about preparations and travels to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada February 16-27, 2010. From that amazing experience came this ongoing story of becoming a sports fan. You can follow my tales of awe, agony, and all the emotions in between as well as view pics from seasons of Phillies baseball. Along the way is a little Eagles football thrown in for fun, and even some astronomy and weather related tales. I feel lucky to have witnessed some historic games, some heartbreaking losses, but all wonderful when told from this new fan's point of view.

Blog Archives postings:
Dec 2009-Feb 2010
Olympics
March 2010-Dec 2011
Baseball and more
2011 The Phillies do again, winning the Eastern Championship for the 5th straight year.
April 2012-Sept 27 2012 Not the best season for the Phillies
2013-We wait and see!

Monday, September 19, 2011

The moon, no rain, and a free set of Phillies postcards

The Ballpark is electric the day after the Phillies clinch the east division title. My goal is to arrive on time to cheer them on as they come onto the field. It is just as I expected-a standing ovation, loud and proud. We settle in and watch as Cole Hamels pitches a first strike. So far, so good. But all goes awry for the night when the Cardinals get hit after hit, and home run after home run, 2 in the first inning. Cole does produce some strike outs, but the damage has been done. It doesn't help that the fans have more energy than the batters who hit some singles and doubles, or hit almost to the stands, but can't seem to string anything together.

The 114 section leads a wave that manages rather lethargically to make it around the ballpark once-only to die as soon as the Cardinals hit a homerun. That is enough to dampen the fun spirit. Later in the game, the same section attempts a clapping rally and another wave, but it goes no where. Even the Phillie Phanatics monkeying around can't lift the energy.

Tonight I meet the Sunday game season ticket holders. In fact, the ticket I bought on StubHub was sold by the man next to me for a reasonable price. I'm learning more about how this works-season ticket holders oftern cannot get to games and many don't even bother to sell their tickets. Those that do might sell it at cost, but often more. Easiest to get tickets the day of the game when tickets often get discounted. Behind me another group of season ticket holders talks about playoff tickets, so I ask them how much they cost. Well, it is shocking how much people jack up the prices on the ticket broker sites, and then again how much the ticket brokers charge over and above that.  Stub hub charges 10% plus to both the seller and the buyer, and the buyer also pays a 5.00$ fee. Other brokers charge even more.

The end of the game 5-0. We have named it The Hangover Game. The best parts: the moon, no rain, and a free set of Phillies postcards.