Baseball Converse-sations

What’s it like going to a baseball game in hostile territory? “I guess it would depend on where we’re sitting,” say my converse sneakers. While attending a baseball game, rooting on the Giants at Dodgers Stadium, we got Field Level seats in our usual section behind the Visitor’s dugout, between home and first base. Although we’ve all heard the crazy stories of the visiting team’s fans getting heckled, harassed, and even assaulted in the parking lot, we’ve never personally had an issue attending a game in LA wearing Giants gear. On our way to meet up with several friends, with seats in different parts of the stadium, we passed through several different sections. My converses noticed that the higher we went towards the top deck, the louder it became, and the more we wondered whether wearing a Giants hat was a good idea. A group of ten all ended up on the Club Level at the Stadium Club restaurant with an awesome gourmet all-you-can eat buffet, sitting at an outdoor table on the patio with a great view overlooking the field, enjoying the game and enjoying great conversations. My sneakers; however, told me that they overheard a man around the corner complain to his companion that there were too many Giants fans and it was too damn loud. As the night went on the Dodgers were up, we all heard a Dodgers fan ask a Giants fan if he wanted to get thrown over the balcony after he was heard rooting for his team. My converses commented, “I truly believe that we’ve come a long way in terms of racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination; however, it seems like society has created other ‘-isms’ in terms of people having prejudices against others who don’t think alike or who don’t share the same interests. Of course, there’s still a lot of ignorance and bias in this world, but more than ever it seems like every one is polarized based on our belief systems… liberals vs. conservatives, pro-lifer vs. pro-choices, Republicans vs. Democrats…” I ask them if we should we call this beliefism? My converses took our casual baseball conversation on a slight tangent, but they tried to make a point about the hecklers saying, “They are a perfect example of the those who think others are automatic arch enemies just by rooting for opposing teams, and they are supposed to hate each other. I don’t know, call that teamism.” I say, maybe one day we can have a conversation about it with some one from the other team. What happens when that person just simply disagrees with what we’re saying? What do we call that? Can’t call if Disagreeism. My converse reply, “What happens when that person says, yes why don’t we both go outside and talk about it, but I assure you there won’t be a whole lot of talking…” That’s when I say we better get the hell out of dodge(r’s stadium). When the Giants lost the game that’s exactly what we did, which meant I had to do more walking with my shoes and less talking. That was the end of that baseball converse-sation.

Baseball Game Craves & Savors

What’s not to love about baseball games? Watching America’s favorite past time has always been enjoyable, especially growing up when the San Francisco Giants played at Candlestick Park and bleacher seat specials were $1. In addition to being able to bring in our own drinks and snacks into the stadium, vendors walked around selling red vines, malts, cracker jacks, and cotton candy. The quality time with family and friends at the game and the food made watching the actual game that much more enjoyable. Now-a-days, prices for seats are not quite as ‘special,’ but everything else still has the same appeal.

My bf and I attended the last game of the opening series at the LA Dodger’s stadium, where Big Time Timmy Jim Lincecum was the starting pitcher. We had awesome seats behind the Giants dugout, between home plate and first base, which also gave us access to the Stadium Club, where food options are a little less pretzels, fries, and nachos and a little more salads, cheeses, and veggies. After the third inning in which the Giants scored 4 runs, including 3 runs that came in from a home run by Pablo Panda Sandoval, we headed to get some food for the next three innings where we sat out in the patio of the Stadium Club that overlooks the field, and has TVs plastered everywhere inside the bar and dining areas. We both ordered the Famous Chef’s Table (buffet). I filled two plates full of food, including the tomato wedge salad, roasted beet salad, sauteed broccolini, classic caesar, faurot farms crunch salad, quinoa salad, asian noodle salad, couscous salad, shrimp cocktail, salmon en croute, garlic roasted mashed potato and mushroom ragout pizza. For dessert, we had the banana cream pie, which I was craving after seeing it delivered to a neighboring table. We savored the sweet dessert, while witnessing Buster Posey hit one over the wall for another home run. We headed back down to our sets, in time for the seventh inning stretch. The Giants proceeded to win the game 5-3, and won the series 2-1, which allowed us to also savor sweet sweet victory. “For it’s root root root for the GIANTS, if they don’t win it’s a shame, ‘cuz it’s one, two, three strikes your out at the ol’ ball game!”

Raving About My Baseball Jacket

Who’s excited about baseball season? After the Giants won the world series last year, my family and I were able to take photos with the World Championship trophies that the Giants won in both 2010 and 2012 at beautiful AT&T Park. I was excited to share in San Francisco’s celebration of the Giants’ big win, and equally excited to get some baseball gear at the Giants Dugout Store. While searching for gifts as well as myself, I learned that the men’s section had so much more than the women’s section… the guys seemed to have all of the good stuff. There were a ton of really cool letterman and baseball jackets that I wish they made for women or children, or even in smaller men’s sizes. Even while attempting to find a size small in the a men’s letter jackets, I was informed most of the styles weren’t even made in a size small. I wanted a Giants jacket, but I didn’t want one that was going to be giant on me. So, I decided I was going to make my own San Francisco Giants baseball jacket, one that was going to fit. There are so many trendy baseball style jackets for women, so it was easy for me to pick out a simple black jacket with white vegan leather sleeves and white buttons from H&M for a reasonable price. I carefully took off the letter “B” that was originally on the jacket and went on eBay to look for some San Francisco Giants patches. I found two vintage Giants patches that I thought would look great on my jacket, each under $10. The patches were super easy to iron on and I was left with a baseball jacket with a vintage feel, that represents my favorite team. Creating a team jacket turned out to be a lot less costly than purchasing one in-store, but a lot more form fitting and unique to personal preferences. Nothing should stop us from something that we want, especially if it’s easy enough to make ourselves. Now, we can be all excited about dressing for baseball season. Go Team Go!!

Raving About Fan Footballs and Baseballs, Island Style

Who’s got it better than us (San Francisco Fans)? Nobody! It would be pretty amazing if, or rather when, the 49ers win tomorrow’s Superbowl; which would follow the Giant’s World Series win. After coming back from Hawaii, I thought I’d share the pieces of art that I ordered from an artist who resides in Maui by the name of Vince, who hand paints coconuts with various designs. Being a big time sports fan, I ordered a football and baseball with our sports teams logos to give to one of my best friends and her hubby to add to their extensive fan memorabilia. They are usually sold in Hawaiian flea markets as souvenirs, but can also be ordered by sending an email to: salondelacruz@yahoo.com. I enjoy supporting local artists and think these make great and unique gifts. The ultimate gift to us fans; however, would be the Superbowl trophy going to SF.