"For it is money they have, and peace they lack."

-- Terrence Mann, Field of Dreams.

 

Ahem.  Some people have money.

Most of us, like me, buy our polish dogs and kettle corn outside the ballpark on the corner, and then happily climb up to the third deck to watch a live baseball game.

Two weeks ago, I lived as the Other Half lived.  And it was beeeeeaUtiful.  

A friend of mine manages a condo building downtown.  Their tenants?  Members of the Nordstrom Family.  Yeah, THAT Nordstrom.  They couldn't go and gave her two tickets, with parking pass.  And she asked me!  

Let me outline how the other half lives.  

They know nothing of Seattle Sausages across the street.   A special entrance ushers them past the lines and into ...  a buffet.  With crab legs, prime rib, and pretty much anything else you could want.  They have their own hotdog rotisserie, if you're a baseball purist, and an open bar.

The other half sit NEXT to the camera man behind home plate.  Don't believe me?

The other half have a menu at their seats, should they need a sneak during the game.  I casually checked off a beer and garlic fries and handed it to the "waiter".  Five minutes later, "Here you go."

The other half can whisper to Ichiro, and he can HEAR THEM.

Why did I post this under the "Writing" category?  
Because baseball is poetry in my world.  

"I love the game," Shoeless Joe went on.  "I'd have played for food money.  I'd have played free and worked for food.  It was the game, the parks, the smells, the sounds.  Have you ever held a bat or ball to your face?  The varnish, the leather.  And it was the crowd.  The excitement of them rising as one when a ball was hit deep.  The sound was like a chorus."  

-- Shoeless Joe, by WP Kinsella.

The love was passed down from my grandma, a die hard SF Giants fan.  In 1992, my sister and I lived and died by the Atlanta Braves.  There's no team in Oregon, where we lived, but TBS aired the Braves every day.  They were our boys, every last player.

• Game 7, the National League Championship Series.
• Bottom of the ninth.
• Two outs.
• Bases loaded.

Bobby Cox, the general manager, had used every player on the bench.  With the playoffs on the line, he sends up Francisco Cabrera, a player who's only batted 10 times in the Majors.  To me, this is the most exciting play ever made.  

Watch!  

Oh, and don't miss Ted Turner, the owner, high-fiving Jimmie Carter.  Hilarious!

 

Comments

[eden]

I'm trying very hard to convince myself that I prefer the street corner brauts and the third level seats...

[amber]

I thought we were hot stuff when we sat in the swivel chairs way up high, with TV and free beer and snacks (remember that?).

This puts that to shame!

[Kelly Hashway]

I've sat in seats like this twice in my life. Neither time did I pay for the ticket. They were given to me by someone who had box seats. My daughter's first ever baseball game was in seats like these. She had a blast. I just hope she didn't get too used to it because when we go again this summer, we're getting the usual cheap seats.

[Brenda]

You're going to be spoiled now. Those snaps are wonderful, you're up close and personal. I remember seeing a Basketball game with someone who was someone.. he was a pain, but those seats..

[Beverly Diehl]

Baseball rocks! There is definitely a beauty and poetry to baseball - even in the cheap seats.

You can keep the tall millionaires in short pants, I'll take a man who knows how to swing a bat.

[Daniel Genser]

I remember those Braves well. Unfortunately they ran into a stout Twin named Puckett in the World Series. Pendleton had quite a year that year, though, remember? And that pitching staff! Glavine, Smoltz, Avery… was Maddox there yet?

[Girl Parker]

Eden & Amber -- Oh, you know there's no living with me now! Spoiled for life! I'm just sure the batters could benefit from my vast wealth of advice. Ha!

Kelly & Brenda -- So true, going back to "my" level might be hard, but once the game is going, so fun!! Kelly, I'm sure your little girl will have a wonderful time. Heck yes, the date may stink, but live sports rock on!!

Beverly -- AMEN.

Daniel -- Do I remember? I hated Puckett for a year. Braves vs Giants was my first live game, in San Fran that year. And the first player I saw with my own eyes was Terry Pendleton. I about fainted. And there was Lemke and Blauser... Steve Avery pitched. I screamed my lungs out for the Braves, but the guys in front of me took it well. YES, Maddox was there. Do you remember the no-hitter Kent Merker pitched? Not sure when, but it was a beautiful thing.

[michelle]

two words
a-rod!!!!
ahhh, the old days!!

[Girl Parker]

Michelle -- HHHAHHAHHA!!! Oh lord, those were good, good times. Thanks for stopping by! =)

[Daniel Genser]

By the way, you might like this writerly sports blog that was just started by a group of some of my favorite tech people: http://americanmccarver.com/

[Girl Parker]

Daniel -- I love the link! Thanks. Hey, is Zigflitz coming back, or are you moving on?