**From the Get Down Lounge on an awesome, spectacular Saturday Afternoon!
Two hours plus until Chrome takes the stage at the Belmont. Can the Coalinga Kid pull through? Wicked on the outside and Commanding Curve make me nervous--Curve especially after that second place finish at the Derby. Here's hoping Chrome saved the best for last in that million dollar tank of his! The streak ends today Chrome--bring him home Victor Espinoza!
NHL finals and NBA finals opened with great game 1's. Lost of drama still to come? If the Spurs will in all in 2014--will the real finals be next Spring, 2015? Can the LA Kings play from ahead? If they follow their script, they will lose the next three games. I am feeling this series hard core, as my New York Rangers gear just arrived! LGR (Which sound a lot like Let's Go Oakland!), bam, bam, bam-bam-bam!
Tennis anyone? Great drama this morning as my-gal Maria held on in a 3-set battle in Paris this morning. Next up tomorrow morning: Rafa vs. Jokovich. Although Fed is my-guy, tomorrow morning's battle should be epic. Rafa just doesn't lose on clay, and Jokovich might be the only player on the world who moves as well as Rafa. As the great Dick Einberg would say, "Oh My!"
The Lancaster Jethawks are the most talented High Single A team to visit Rawhide Ballpark this season. Houston Astros fans--hope is alive!
Part III. Our Double Dip, the Final Leg.
So as we leave SF heading to the O.Co, we are making good time. My original thinking was that if we left the park by 3:15 we could beat some of the traffic. Well, in true Portuguese style, we left our seats just after 3:45. No bueno. We were rolling along until the San Mateo Bridge. AARRGH! Where Highway 101 connects with the span to bridge, bumper to bumper. The key to an enjoyable ride--good company--with my Big Brother and Sister-in-Law in tow, we were in for an enjoyable ride! (You may have to ask them their opinion!?!)
After a quick bite at In-and-Out (once again this menu very agreeable with 9-year old set!) we slide right into the O.Co parking lot at just about 6:15. Not bad, not bad at all. The weather is slightly warmer than normal for Oakland--for a night game, he temperature is perfect! After a couple of minutes of horsing around tailgate style, we head in. The Big Bro--he was a great sport--he heads home on BART.
The trek from AT&T to the O.Co, well it's a bit of time warp. Like going from the 5-star romantic restaurant to your favorite diner. (For you NorCalians, like going from brunch at Meadowwood Spa in Napa Valley to dinner at Al The Wop's in Walnut Grove.) Both places wonderful, the packaging and ambiance however, just a leetle different.
The O.Co is/was/most likely will always be my home away from home. If you watch the DVD of Moneyball, one of the special features takes a behind-the-scene look at the Coli. It will make you say "oohh" and your eyes will water. Walking in on this May 28 my mind is flooded with numerous memories over the past 45 years or so-recollections of great times and great people, here on this sacred ground. It felt as if the spirit of Charlie O Finley an Mr. Al Davis were escorting us in the park. While this stadium has taken a lot of crap over the years--and spit some back up--I would contend the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum has hosted more big games than any ballpark current in use. (The Stick is Close, but remember, the recent Giants success has taken place in the House that Bonds Built.) AFC Championship games, MLB playoff games, and or course, World Series titles in 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1989. I can't help feel in my bones, it would be poetic justice, for the old gal to have at least one more day in the sun, hosting the Fall Classic.
Tonight's game features the Killing-Me-Lately Detroit Tigers. Outside of the Seahawks-49ers, I am not sure how many sincere "rivalries" exist these days. The Tigers however, really burn me. The last three post season series the A's have been a part of, have all ended with the Tigers celebrating on the field. It's been a long time--1972 to be exact--when Reggie stole him to help propel the Green and Gold into the World Series. Justin Verlander (The Verbeast), all I can say is AARRGH!
For the evening game, we have good seats--row 3, just behind the A's bullpen. Reliever Fernando Rodriquez is kind enough to sign a an autograph and personalize it for Noah. Even though Fernando recently was optioned to Sacramento, he is now my favorite reliever....well maybe #2, right behind Sean Doolittle! We were sitting so close to the field, it feels like we are below the level of the playing field--apparently the playing field at the O.Co is below sea level, and well, it felt like it!
The games is a douzy. Annibal Sanchez versus Scott Kazmir--great pitching matchup. The A's don't have a hit through 4 innings, and it dons on me, is this the day I finally witness a no-hitter? Nope, A's single in the fifth....and this game is sailing right along. Either team sprays few balls in the crowd. The Tigers have some near miss homers in our corner--Cabrera crushed one--just foul! We head to the bottom of the ninth, with the Tigers in front, 1-0.
Fortunately for us, we have a pair of great sports fans with us. He may just be the winningest California Community College Basketball Coach of all time; his wife, a hard core, Philadelphia-type sports fan. The two of them pure joy to experience a ballgame with, and they single handily keep Noah in good spirits and having a good time. (One day, when I post some pictures, you will be able to see for yourself.)
Funny Guy-Moment: At one point, after a questionable call, the fans around us start chanting BS, BS. After a while of hearing this, Noah realizes what they are chanting, and this big sneaky grin encompasses his grill. I just ignored it--part of my sweating his mother is going to hear about it; part of me delighted at his amusement.
The A's rally in the bottom of the ninth. With the help of a Tiger miscue, the A's have first and third with one out. Sanchez is pulled in favor of long-time A's killer Joe Nathan. At the plate for the good guys, Josh Donaldson. I am hoping for a sacrifice fly, merely to extend the day. Obviously, a game-ending double play is also in order. The A's insert their fastest baserunner at first base, Craig Gentry. A steal would take care of the double play possibility, and also mean a single coule win it! All of sudden we have some real, excitable drama.
Funny Guy-Moment #2: Nathan is stepping off, throwing over, you know, driving A's fans crazy. As the heckling begins, I tell Noah, you can yell: "Pitch the ball Charlie Brown." Like a wet blanket, he is all over that one! Once again, same cheezey, I am getting over on somebody grill brightens his face. The kid now how has something he craves, serious ammunition!
First pitch to Donaldson....and he crushes it high and far down the left-field line. From where we are sitting, initially it looks like it might be headed foul. I am certain Charlie O and my father help blow it fair, and it lands in the left field stands--A Walk Off home run! Take that Detroit, Happy Birthday Noah! A's win 3-1!
As we are leaving--Noah concerned about the cargo in the trunk--Noah casually mentions that his Grandpa would have enjoyed today. I have a feeling the little freckle said that for my benefit, but it dad warm my pancreas. My father would have complained and griped about such a trip--I do believe, much like Noah stated, he would have enjoyed the day!
On the way home we stop by one of our--well one of mine anyway--favorite restaurants. Yes sirree, Nation's Hamburgers. We grab a Chocolate Cream Pie to share with Noah's Sister and Mother, and we are headed home.
Ideally May 28, 2014 will be a day forever eched in my little comedian's memory. I can only hope in the years to come, perhaps on his own son's 9th birthday, he can carry on the birthday tradition in a way he deems best fit.
Noah, I raise my Big Root Beer to you Son, I hope you had a good day!
(PSST--Time to watch CA Chrome at the Belmont!)
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